Wilton Felder appreciation thread

[Phillynative]

Felder is my favorite bassist of all time. I love his playing on these songs.






I wish there was footage or more pictures of him. He also didn’t really seem to have many interviews. I know he was more famous as a saxophonist but I think he was a great musician in general and an awesome bassist.

Please share any of his bass lines that you love or any info about him that you can share with me.

 

[Prof.Dr.Metz]

Pretty sure it's Jamerson on Let's Get It On. I could be wrong though.

 

[The Owl]

He plays all the bass on The Crusaders "Chain Reaction" album. Great stuff!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg854s2ah2G1FUEAH_njsm2GxemoHD2V9

 

[wraub]

 

[wraub]

...with Joe Sample,Wilton Felder, David T. Walker, Larry Graham, Stanley Clarke

 

[wraub]

 

[BargeOn]

I know Felder from the Crusaders as well.
Tight is right!

 

[Phillynative]

Pretty sure it's Jamerson on Let's Get It On. I could be wrong though.

Pretty sure it’s Felder. Multiple websites credit him with playing on the song.

 

[Prof.Dr.Metz]

Pretty sure it’s Felder. Multiple websites credit him with playing on the song.

OK, cool

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Wilton Felder is in an odd category of a great bassist whose main identity was not that of a bassist. I guess Ron Wood or Prince, even Lenny Kravitz fall into this category. Ray Parker Jr. was a heck of a bassist when he wanted to be one too.

 

[Tim Grant]

Thank you for this. @Phillynative

 

[bradd]

The bass sound that he achieved in the Root Down album is the sound of bass that I've heard in my head. Hearing that record for the first time made me rush out to buy a tele bass.

 

[Chickenwheels]

More than once I’ve heard song, loved the bass, and then found out it’s Wilton.
He played on some Seals and Crofts stuff. Always spot-on for tone, feel and confidence. Boss player.

 

[ahc]

I may be totally wrong but I think Bass Player Magazine had an article or interview with Wilton Felder years ago in the prehistoric print era.

 

[steubig]

also played on joni mitchell’s “court and spark” and “the hissing of summer lawns.”

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

The Cruasders "The 2nd Crusade" from (1973) is essential and Wilton played bass on every track. Here's a sample (no pun intended):



Seriously, if you're a fan of Wilton Felder's bass playing, you must check out this album.

- Steve

 

[Montana Matt]

This is a groove.

 

[project_c]

The Cruasders "The 2nd Crusade" from (1973) is essential and Wilton played bass on every track. Here's a sample (no pun intended):



Seriously, if you're a fan of Wilton Felder's bass playing, you must check out this album.

- Steve

One of those records that very few people know about, but it’s packed full of great bass lines. I learnt every song on this album a while ago, really fun to play on a p-bass.

 

[jsbarber]

also played on joni mitchell’s “court and spark” and “the hissing of summer lawns.”

He did play on these albums, but not on all tracks. On C&S he played on Free Man In Paris and People’s Parties; and on Hissing of Summer Lawns he played on Edith And The Kingpin and Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow. Max Bennett played most of the remaining songs on those albums, with Jim Hughart playing Trouble Child on C&S. Not to take away from Wilton, he’s one of my favorite bassists.

 

[Phillynative]

I may be totally wrong but I think Bass Player Magazine had an article or interview with Wilton Felder years ago in the prehistoric print era.

I wish the article was available to read. Like I said, I can’t find any footage of him playing bass and there aren’t too many pictures of him playing bass either. From what I can find, he didn’t really seem to have done much bass work after the 1970s.