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Rick James and the bass

Hmmm......dunno about his 'live' playing either! I have a old VHS video of him in concert and there were quite a lot of moments when his hands stopped moving but bass was still heard. Kinda the same deal with Verdine White in his later years of performing. Somebody was playing bass offstage somewhere. He may have been 'phenominal' with his bass playing but have we ever really heard 'him' play??

Verdine "finger synching"! Really? Well, that would explain how he's able to run about the stage like a fool and still keep the groove tight. :p
 
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I think I remember reading in a Bass Player article years ago that he never used a Ric, but he posed with it for albums because he thought it looked funky, or something like that. I could very well be misremembering though.
 
Verdine "finger synching"! Really? Well, that would explain how he's able to run about the stage like a fool and still keep the groove tight. :p

i was once accused of 'miming' in a gig I did. I had a wireless system. The guy thought no wire meant I wasn't plugged in. I explained the wireless and he told me 'I saw your hand come away from the bass and it was still playing!' Not sure how I did this :eek:
 
Verdine "finger synching"! Really? Well, that would explain how he's able to run about the stage like a fool and still keep the groove tight. :p

I didn't believe this about Verdine until one day last week. I found a 15 min concert performance of E,W&F from 1990 on a music on demand station. 10 min into the clip Verdine had not only stopped moving his fingers in the last song but even took the bass off and put it down. All the while the bass line was still pumping! LOL Granted this was in order for a "magic trick" to be done on stage. I hope this was one of the "only situations" where Verdine wasn't really playing. ;)
 
I think I remember reading in a Bass Player article years ago that he never used a Ric, but he posed with it for albums because he thought it looked funky, or something like that. I could very well be misremembering though.

That sounds familiar. I think I saw that same info on Behind the Music or something. So, who has ever seen/heard Rick actually play bass? :rollno:
 
BTW OT note. if you have an interest an funk and soul Wax Poetics mag is probably the most in depth enthralling read you could ever pick up. highly suggested for the real behind the scenes in the studio info from cats that were in the room. seriously check it out.

+1,000,000
WaxPoetics is my favorite "periodical". Its not quite a magazine and almost a book. Well worth the price.
 
That sounds familiar. I think I saw that same info on Behind the Music or something. So, who has ever seen/heard Rick actually play bass? :rollno:

I saw Rick play a Music Man bass with The Stone City Band at a concert back in the 70's or 80's? It was at the Old Capital Center in Largo,Md. I think they played for about 3 hours? That was the first time I saw him pull out a Big Ass Joint and smoke it while playing. One of the best Concerts I ever saw! The other bass player from the Stone City Band was also a Great Bass Player!
 
Wow, burst my bubble.
So, Rick didn't play bass on any of his recordings?
Next your gonna tell me Rick never wore over-the-knee red boots in public, only on album covers.

Rick.jpg
 
Wow, burst my bubble.
So, Rick didn't play bass on any of his recordings?
Next your gonna tell me Rick never wore over-the-knee red boots in public, only on album covers.

View attachment 1078299
Rick James was a great front man, singer and composer. He relied heavily on his band to make it all come together on stage. By the way, I've seen him play way more guitar.
 
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Wow, burst my bubble.
So, Rick didn't play bass on any of his recordings?
Next your gonna tell me Rick never wore over-the-knee red boots in public, only on album covers.

View attachment 1078299

He did play bass on some of his recordings, But most of the bass parts on recordings he used bass player Oscar Alston,Andy Rappilo,Richard Shaw, Allen McGrier,Jerry Livington and a few more?
 
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I think I remember reading in a Bass Player article years ago that he never used a Ric, but he posed with it for albums because he thought it looked funky, or something like that. I could very well be misremembering though.

Wow, burst my bubble.
So, Rick didn't play bass on any of his recordings?
Next your gonna tell me Rick never wore over-the-knee red boots in public, only on album covers.

View attachment 1078299

The white Ric, as well as a Music Man were on display at the R&R Hall of Fame on one of my visits. I can't imagine he only owned it to pose for album covers.
 
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