LOUIS 'Thunder-Thumbs' JOHNSON

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

 

[Trueno 499]

Aaaahhh! Some proper music... superb.

 

[Cato 2,636]

Whenever I hear people moaning about grandstanding slap bass players I always think about Louis Johnson playing for the song.

Even here in a solo spot he he keeps it tasteful and perfectly in the groove.

[chris_b 4,075]

LJ is one of the better purveyors of slap, in my book, but I'm not so sure about this video. Even LJ in a solo gets me yawning.

Loved that drummer, though.

[ezbass 2,846]

This just popped up on my YT feed.

 

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

2 hours ago, chris_b said:

LJ is one of the better purveyors of slap, in my book, but I'm not so sure about this video. Even LJ in a solo gets me yawning.

Loved that drummer, though.

 

His tone is thin in the mix. However, he didn't sound as good anymore as he dumped the StingRay.

[StickyDBRmf 182]

Thumbs up! (couldn't help myself) Anyway, less is more. Always has been, always will be.

[Barking Spiders 1,327]

4 hours ago, Bart Funk Bass said:

 

His tone is thin in the mix. However, he didn't sound as good anymore as he dumped the StingRay.

Fraid I agree and I dont like saying so as LJ's one of my 5 players. I learnt to play slap using his Star Licks vid with him thumping the feck out of his Stingray. 

 

[Tjhooker 34]

4 hours ago, Bart Funk Bass said:

 

His tone is thin in the mix. However, he didn't sound as good anymore as he dumped the StingRay.

What bass is he playing here?

[Barking Spiders 1,327]

Here's some classic Brothers Johnson. And remember this is way before slap /thumb bass became a thing in the 80s UK charts

 

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

3 hours ago, Tjhooker said:

What bass is he playing here?

I know don't know. He was working with lots of less known manufacturers.

[chris_b 4,075]

8 hours ago, Bart Funk Bass said:

 

His tone is thin in the mix. However, he didn't sound as good anymore as he dumped the StingRay.

I was making allowances for the recording. I like his style, it's just slap solos don't do it for me.

I still loved that drummer.

[drTStingray 679]

10 hours ago, Bart Funk Bass said:

 

His tone is thin in the mix. However, he didn't sound as good anymore as he dumped the StingRay.

He is too low in the mix at the start of that solo - the drums and percussion are far louder! And arguably, the sound is too scooped. 

When I saw them live, circa 1978/79 Louis Johnson played an Alembic Series 1 or 2 - sounded amazing. For an encore just Louis walked on with his bass - played about 10 seconds of groove laden slap and then asked whether the people at the back could hear his bass! Then another 10 seconds of even more intense slap - repeated 2 or 3 times - then played a bass line and the rest if the band appeared and they played one of the hits (maybe Get The Funk Outta My Face) 😀

Edited December 12, 2020 by drTStingray

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

Just a short clip I've found in the 'We Are The World' documentary. Too bad there are almost no studio footage of Louis. I bet someone was videotaping "Off The Wall" and "Thriller" sessions.

 

Edited January 17 by Bart Funk Bass

[lowdown 919]

To me, on that OP video, it sounds like LJ is struggling a bit. Certainly not the 'live' powerhouse I remember hearing.

I must say, one of my favourite slap players. I still listen to my Brothers Johnson albums quite a lot...And so do my two teenage boys.

 

This live clip shows his classic sound and powerhouse thumping.

 

 

 

Edited January 18 by lowdown

[lowdown 919]

On 11/12/2020 at 16:12, ezbass said:

This just popped up on my YT feed.

 

 

 I just noticed this post in the comments.

 

 

 

 

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

14 hours ago, lowdown said:

To me, on that OP video, it sounds like LJ is struggling a bit. Certainly not the 'live' powerhouse I remember hearing.

I must say, one of my favourite slap players. I still listen to my Brothers Johnson albums quite a lot...And so do my two teenage boys.

 

This live clip shows his classic sound and powerhouse thumping.

 

 

 

 

He was much healthier back then. I think that's why we almost didn't hear anything from Louis in 2000s.

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

Check THIS out !!!

 

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

I made a compilation of Louis' best moments from George Duke concert from 1983:

 

[Barking Spiders 1,327]

On 18/01/2021 at 10:31, lowdown said:

To me, on that OP video, it sounds like LJ is struggling a bit. Certainly not the 'live' powerhouse I remember hearing.

I must say, one of my favourite slap players. I still listen to my Brothers Johnson albums quite a lot...And so do my two teenage boys.

 

This live clip shows his classic sound and powerhouse thumping.

 

 

 

I'd give that clip 10  Likes if it were poss. That's why he's my all time fave bass player. Only problem with that clip,  the audience looked dead from the nack down. Sure there were chairs but they they're for standing on!

[Barking Spiders 1,327]

43 minutes ago, Bart Funk Bass said:

I made a compilation of Louis' best moments from George Duke concert from 1983:

 

Nice work there! Great showcase for LJ's skills.

[Tjhooker 34]

1 hour ago, Bart Funk Bass said:

I made a compilation of Louis' best moments from George Duke concert from 1983:

 

Do you think he has a phaser or something on here?  💫

[Bart Funk Bass 163]

7 hours ago, Tjhooker said:

Do you think he has a phaser or something on here?  💫

 

I don't think so.