• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Louis Johnson

#41
StupidMatt said:
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.
Click to expand...

1977

Riding from the USAF bass with a guy I barely knew, on a long weekend trip from Mississippi to Maryland:eek:, the engine blew up in Thomasville, North Carolina. Chair City. Apparently the guy I was with never checked the oil. I can still see the guy who came out of the bushes, in cutoff purple corduroy shorts, who looked down the highway behind at the various pieces of metal on the road and asked "You boys need some help?". Ah, memories.

We somehow got a ride to Charlotte, then decided we neither had the money nor the time to make it home AND make it back to base in time so we decided to catch the bus back.

Anyway, that morning, while walking downtown, we noticed more than a dozen people at various times walking along, holding their left hand out in an upturned fashion while swingly wildly with their right arm. Weird. We finally stopped one of them and asked what was up and they told us...


the Brothers Johnson had just been in town.

:D
 
#42
Brad,

If you listen to the "Look Out For #1" album you do not hear the muted notes that he plays. It was more Graham style. If you listen to "Blam" you start to hear the muted notes and clicks. This comes from strong pickups and the placement of the pickups toward the bridge. He knew he was making rhythmic sounds that were not being heard on the recordings. That is why he had an Alembic on the "Right On Time" album. He was searching for a bass to capture his whole sound.
 
#48
JimK said:
www.dustygroove.com has this George Duke DVD-

Live In Tokyo 1983 with Louis on bass w/ Steve Ferrone on cans & Paul Jackson, Jr. on guitar.
I'm not hip to this concert/DVD/band of Duke's.
Anyone?
Click to expand...

I have it. Just got it from a friend. It has Louis beating the snot out of what appears to be a custom Yamaha, Steve being Steve, George Duke in a white tuxedo w/sneakers, cool 80's fashion and 80's style Duke.

It's a good look at LJ in an ensemble... though it is dated.
 
#49
StupidMatt said:
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.
Click to expand...
I've only seen a couple of bass players that can actually mimick the style of louis Johnson because he has a different type of syncopation going on that most bass players can't cop.It's just a real serious rythm situation happening with Louis.
BTW Louis also has real nice overhand just listen to "Rock with You on the Michael Jackson "Off the Wall lp
 
#53
hands5 said:
I've only seen a couple of bass players that can actually mimick the style of louis Johnson because he has a different type of syncopation going on that most bass players can't cop.It's just a real serious rythm situation happening with Louis.
BTW Louis also has real nice overhand just listen to "Rock with You on the Michael Jackson "Off the Wall lp
Click to expand...

I have a friend who nails the LJ thing, right down to the flailing arm. IME that's the only way to truly get that tone.


I tend not to hand him my basses;)
 
#54
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
Click to expand...
It's funny how just about everybody mentions "Get the Funk outta of my Face with Louis because the truth of the matter is Louis played guitar on this track,his brother George played Bass on this track Live and in the Studio. was playing a White Fender Jazz when I saw them on the "Look out for No.#1 tour and at that time Louis was playing a Precision( the one that's pictured on that lp)when I saw him the 1st time because he didn't have a MM at that time.The 1st time I saw him with a Stingray (which was a Tobacco Sunburst Stingray) they were on Don Kirsheners Rock concert on which he did get to a solo on "Get the Funk outta my Face" but when I saw him a few years later he was playing a Sabre which is why I bought one
 
#56
xolin said:
Woah, crazy, I'd have loved to be at one of those shows! :hyper: :hyper:

Thanks! :bassist:
Click to expand...
Hey man thanks for the upload,however the personnel on this clip are as follows J.R.Robison on Drums or Cans,David Williams-Guitar ,Paulinho Decosta-percussion Louis on bass The irrepresiable Greg "mouse"Phillinganes on keyboard (although not pictured who nonetheless was with this lineup :Larry Williams on keys and sax Jerry Hey,Gary Grant on trumpet) vocals:Patti Austin,and the "Dude himself Quincy Jones out front.I was fortunant to see this tour.Great stuff
 
#58
hands5 said:
.......The 1st time I saw him with a Stingray (which was a Tobacco Sunburst Stingray) they were on Don Kirsheners Rock concert on which he did get to a solo on "Get the Funk outta my Face" but when I saw him a few years later he was playing a Sabre which is why I bought one
Click to expand...

That's kinda funny. I bought a Sabre in '79. My white jazz bass was stolen so I went to the music store to buy another. I really flipped out when I saw the 3 + 1 headstock on the Music Man basses and bought the Sabre since it had two pickups while the Stingray only had one. Everybody thought I bought it 'cause Louis had one. At the time I didn't know he had one.

Then when I started to get into Alembics, people thought it was 'cause I was into Stanley Clarke. Fact is, I started liking them when I saw Louis with one on the "Right On Time" album cover.

Peace,

James
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back