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Louis Johnson

#23
Belka said:
Good to see Mr. Johnson getting some recognition. In my opinion one of the most underrated bassists around here. As well as the stuff mentioned so far he also played on some Herbie Hancock albums, and I think he even played on a Herb Alpert (Tijuana Brass) record. I'd love to get hold of that!

He also has, in my opinion, the best recorded StingRay sound ever.

Marcus Miller once commented that he used to break strings while slapping because he hit them so hard.

George is no slouch either by the way.
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George is a 'Damn good bass player.It is to bad that these 2 brothers have an adverserial relationship right now.I hope that they can get it together because life is too short.
 
#26
Woodchuck said:
The day I learned the slap solo from "Stomp", I thought I was a god!!! BTW, I just found out that he played an Alembic at one time. I was looking through my CD collection, and he's inside the jacket holding one.
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How 'bout the cover shot of Right On Time?

What I thought was cool about the Bro-Js...
Their 1st album, they're holding their axes(Louis with a natural wood P-bass w/ a white pickguard).
2nd album...they have their axes(Louis with an Alembic).
3rd album(Blam)...they have their axes(Louis with a Music Man).

4th album & final album(IIRC)...they're ready for the cover of GQ.
 
#29
Woodchuck said:
The day I learned the slap solo from "Stomp", I thought I was a god!!! BTW, I just found out that he played an Alembic at one time. I was looking through my CD collection, and he's inside the jacket holding one.
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If you're talking about "Right On Time", that picture is what started me down my jaded path! Most people think Stanley was my indoctrination into the Alembic lifestyle, but it was Louis. I passed on the gold jumpsuit, though :D

Actually both Stanley and Louis intersect my Alembic fetish. The bass I got from Stanley looks almost exactly like the one Louis is holding on the "Right On Time" cover. Also, both have signed an Alembic bass for me, though George & Louis' signatures have long since wiped off :crying:

Peace,

James

BTW, Woodchuck....I decided I had earned my stripes when I nailed the bass solo on Earl Klugh's "Twinkle". One of my favorite Louis Johnson pieces.
 
#31
Davehenning said:
On a video I used to have of Louis, he says that Leo Fender customized his Stingray! Something about Leo tweaking the pickup for more output. I don't remember all the details, but still pretty cool IMO. Serious bragging rights! :)
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I don't doubt; there were so few Sting Rays available back then, Leo Fender probably tweeked them all! ;)
BTW, it was like pulling teeth when I got mine back in '78(waiting list, people buying them as they arrived in-store, people out of State buying them for more than the list price, etc).
 
#32
JimK said:
As far as slapping-
Wooten usually sez he's a Stanley disciple(i.e. "Lopsy Lu").
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Actually, in the Wooten video with Carter Beauford, he talks about how growing up he was huge on Louis Johnson, he still is a big fan but has given up trying to do his technique.

I didn't know what he was talking about, but I downloaded a video of him playing. How can a man's right hand move that damn fast. Make's flea's technique look reasonably light, he's killing that bass man. Not very resourceful as far as economy of motion goes, but DAMN, it's impressive.
 
#33
hands5 said:
George is a 'Damn good bass player.It is to bad that these 2 brothers have an adverserial relationship right now.I hope that they can get it together because life is too short.
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As far as I know, they've patched things up and are making a go of it. I saw them perform July 4th 2002 at an outdoor festival in Detroit. Hung out with them for a little bit in the media tent afterwards. They were having a good time.

I saw the "Where Are They Now" thing on them on VH1 a few years ago. Based on that, I'd have thought they were done forever, but apparently they've forgiven and forgotten, or at least moved on.

Peace

James
 
#34
JimK said:
I don't doubt; there were so few Sting Rays available back then, Leo Fender probably tweeked them all! ;)
BTW, it was like pulling teeth when I got mine back in '78(waiting list, people buying them as they arrived in-store, people out of State buying them for more than the list price, etc).
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IIRC, he kind of hinted at that he was with Leo when he was doing the tweaking. Not positive, but that was what it seemed like.

His grooves with MJ are righteous. So much feel.... *bows to greatness*

BTW, I have a '78 myself. So beat up that it looks like I bought it from Fred G. Sandford! :D






.
 
#35
Davehenning said:
IIRC, he kind of hinted at that he was with Leo when he was doing the tweaking. Not positive, but that was what it seemed like.

His grooves with MJ are righteous. So much feel.... *bows to greatness*

BTW, I have a '78 myself. So beat up that it looks like I bought it from Fred G. Sandford! :D
.
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Yeah he said he saw Leo noodling around with the circuitry "to make it more powerful" and said it would be too expensive to do that with everyone's bass...how far we've come
:cool: :cool:
 
#36
Davehenning said:
IIRC, he kind of hinted at that he was with Leo when he was doing the tweaking. Not positive, but that was what it seemed like.

His grooves with MJ are righteous. So much feel.... *bows to greatness*

BTW, I have a '78 myself. So beat up that it looks like I bought it from Fred G. Sandford! :D
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My Sting Ray had, IMO, a 'metallic' tone(unlike 'wood') that I never liked.
As a result, mine is mint.
;)
 
#39
malthumb said:
All the stuff Jim K mentioned is top shelf Louis J., and Louis was slammin' on "Off The Wall" and Quincy Jones' "The Dude". I'll add a couple more of my favorites....

Look Out For #1: "I'll Be Good To You", "Get The Funk Out Ma Face", "The Devil"

Blam!! "Ain't We Funkin' Now", "Mista Cool"

Right On Time: "Strawberry Letter 23", "Q"

Light Up The Night: "Stomp!", "You Make Me Wanna Wiggle" (Lame song, slammin' bass line)

Another one that I really like but can't find on CD was a song Louis played on an Earl Klugh album. It's called "Twinkle".

Peace,

James
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He was all over early Earl Klugh albums. For example "Finger Painting" (back in the 70's). "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow" (the Baretta theme) is tight. Anthony Jackson is the other bassist on the project.
 
#40
Phatnotes said:
The musicman stingray was built for Louis Johnson. Leo had a concept with slap bass in mind and Quincy Jones had trouble recording Louis and they went to Leo. Louis helped in the testing lab for sound of the stingray. Totally self taught. That was the purpose of his video. He knows how to groove.
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That's interesting, considering his early stuff with Q was on a P bass and sounded fine...
 

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