INSTANT FUNK and the Bass Line That Survived Disco
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2023
- #bass #funk #groove #disco #transcription #analysis #paulthompson
Correcting some information from my last video ( • The Funkiest Bass Line... ) and giving props to a true unheralded bass giant - Raymond Earl of INSTANT FUNK, some of my favorite grooves he laid down for Philadelphia International Records, and (probably) his most famous and enduring bass line (you know it!) as played with Evelyn 'Champagne' King in 1977.
I'll break down the line, what makes it such a 'hook', and why a disco hit was able to outlast the disco genre.
Many thanks to @dgwansel for his comment on the last vid!
Some of my favorite Ray Earl bass lines by
INSTANT FUNK - • TOPPOP: Instant Funk -... and • Instant Funk - Witch D...
BUNNY SIGLER - • Bunny Sigler - Keep Sm...
MFSB - • Let's Go Disco
ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS - • Archie Bell & The Drel...
Spotify "pdbass" playlist - open.spotify.com/playlist/76j...
Website: www.paulthompson.us
Instagram @pdbass74
Twitter @pdbass74
Admitting a mistake deserves respect. How you fixed it is even more impressive. Great video. Separate note: how you feeling these days? You look well, and we all hope you are having more good days than rough ones.
I concur 👍🏾 mad respect for him.
I sent this to Ray. He said thank you to all his fans!
Disco was the best thing that happened in music in my life. I like rock and jazz too. But the disco era and being in my late teens was just an awesome time to be alive.
Disco started the SUPER DANCE CLUB craze for sure! Shame how "rock n rollers" bad mouth Disco which
lead to its demise...because they thought it was to synthesized and not produce the traditional way. Yet
they keep quiet about "rap" music which is all beat machines. I believe it was Steven Tyler of aerosmith
(long time ago can't remember) that said he HATED the BeeGees Stayin' Alive and bad mouth it publicly,
but 10 years later in an interview said when he would be driving in his own car he would play that song
blasting loud, singing to it because it sounded good, had a great hook and made him feel like dancing!
He admitted that at the time ALL the rock & soft rock folks were bad mouthing DISCO, because it was
DISCO and he hopped on the bandwagon because it was expected! And regretted his part in it to stop
another form of music because it challenged theirs (rock music). Disco certainly got more ppl dancing
and for more than 3:30 than most other forms of music had. Marvin Gaye Got to Give it up over
11 minutes of pure happiness! Evelyn "Champagne" King - Shame 6:34. The one, The only, Donna
Summer's Hot Stuff flowing effortlessly into Bad Girls over 10mins.
Disco sucked....It was the beginning of the end of having a live band in the studio recording dance music...And it replaced a lot of great drummers...
@@freein2339 If you say so. Great drummers just didn't wanna play Disco for the very reason you opened you comment with and they were just as tantrum-throwing about it as they were over masks, vaccinations and the election in 2020. Their world was falling in on their heads over some music. I'd rather have Disco then today's lousy-behaved people.
Bro this is how you correct a mistake.
I have ALL the records you mentioned in this vid and literally swelling with joy.
Instant Funk... literally 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
1:20 those album covers put a grin on my face :-)) so typical for that time! it is also very remarkable how this rythm section sits in the pocket!!!
The bass and saxophone make this song a classic.
Listen to the lightning fast guitar. That's Kim Miller, a high school friend. His style hasn't changed since the days at Trenton High. Lightning fast ! !
My sister kind of does a good job on it as well...lol! Much love and I agree...
Evelyn's "Shake Down" has a killer bassline too!
I love that you keep shining light on otherwise totally forgotten bass players. This was the time when I was just starting out as a bass player and these were the songs I was trying to play.
Man I was at that Evelyn Champagne King concert in 77’ and didn’t realize that was the guy playing bass, I remember how big that song was on the radio and at clubs me and my now wife dance to that song so many times, Thanks u always bring back great memories for me and u probably wasn’t even around back then 😂🙏🏾
Thank you for informing us about Ray Earl and Instant Funk.
This man doesn't often make mistakes, but when he does, he admits his error. My admiration increases all time. Great dude, great channel, alawys superb music (though gimme more Mingus!)
The great Dexter Wansel is VERY active on the internet, and he DOES respond to UA-cam videos and comments! 😊 Thanks for this video, Professor Paul.
Raymond Earl is my Bass guitar Teacher he is the Man!
Awesome bass line and Instant Funk was awesome as well. My band, Trussel traveled with Evelyn as her backup band when she was 16. Shame climbed the charts as we toured the major venues in cities across the country. Her management team landed us a deal with Electra Records and we released our hit song, Love Injection. We opened for Instant Funk at the Howard Theatre in DC as Trussel, and they rocked the house. I had a line in our song that said, “say you want a little shot of my love, you can get it” so when I heard them singing “I got my mind made up you can get it” I was like wow we both had the same, well almost the same idea. Much respect for their bass man too, that brother wore that axe out with class and I had a ball playing bass on the live gigs with Evelyn Champagne King! I’m the one in the Aladdin pants playing my Rickenbacker in this lip sync clip from a TV show we did with Evelyn found at the following link ua-cam.com/video/RxNqRFBqWzU/v-deo.html
Oh YEAH! I remember this cut quite well. 😎👍👍
Thanks for bringing this beauty back to the forefront for us!
DEFINITELY a serious HOOK!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wished I had a teacher like you when I was a younger man, you’re a real cool brother and I appreciate what you do here♥️
love Instant Funk. Bodyshine has one of the best grooves I've ever heard, just a tight rhythm.
Love this segment , Coming from south philly and the neighborhood where a few members i went to school with , Props to Bunny Sigler.
Went to high school with Kim and Raymond Earl. There were others in Instant Funk at the time they recorded "Life On Mars: Johnny McCants, Dennis Richardson - just to name a couple. They've all gone on to their reward.
Instant Funk evolved from their high school band, The Meditators. Kim's guitar and Raymond Earl's bass playing are unmistakable on any track - especially upbeat tunes.
That is awesome that you are friends with Dexter Wansel!!!
I discovered bands I now love from this video. Lots of inspiration!
Everything about SHAME absolutely ROCKED...much like your videos! Great job correcting your misstep and bringing Raymond Earl to the forefront.
Thanks for the correction and now another great bass player to look up and learn from. Thanks
As a music historian, I applaud you for your admission and correction of the error in your previous video. Thank you for giving credit to the proper bassist!
Much respect for correcting yourself. Thanks Paul. I never knew Instant Funk had such a deep history. I played their biggest hits in cover bands in the 70’s. Great memories. Thanks again 👌🏿
Thank you so very much.. I will look in my Library and find the albums or pick them up Stat! My Collection also thanks you!
Love this video. I remember as a kid my uncle Jimmy Sigler bringing home a gold framed record for he and his brother Bunny's contribution to "I Got My Mind Made Up". I wanted to take it out of the frame and play it. "What a waste of a good record", I thought. LOL. Rest in Power uncle Jimmy and uncle Bunny.
Dagnabbit, yet another bass master for me to check out! Love your videos, maestro- keep 'em comin'! 😃
+1 for dagnabit
Great highlight, thanks for all you do shining a light on these players!
Another great submission! I swear, I come away learning something new and eye-opening watching every single one of your videos. Have you ever considered doing one on Mark King? Level 42 is my favourite band, would love to hear you break down some of Mark’s techniques, classic lines, or speak to his impact on 80s funk/pop bass players. Keep up the great work!
You’re a class act, Paul!
Wow what a great vid!! I love Instant Funk but had no idea they played on so many great songs. That Archie Bell & the Drells song is a killer!!
Another great lesson, professor. That’s song Shame has definitely stood the rest of time
Evelyn Champagne's Body of Work is sensational, just thumping yet addictive chords that all involved should be proud of.
I grew up in Trenton New Jersey, and use to watch Instant Funk perform in Cadwalters Park, all original members.✌️
Excellent Music Lesson as always @pdbass 👏🏾👏🏾
Another great video my man. Thanks for setting us all straight. It’s also nice to see my hometown of PHILLY get some love.
I love that song. I knew PD was humble and he aligned it with his integrity. Well Done :)
Thanks Paul! Love this! And I Got My Mind Made Up' is hypnotic AF. I recommend it as a master class in serious funk!
I learn so much from your videos! Now I’m heading to the shed to learn that bass groove!
Saw Evelyn Champagne King a few months ago. The baselines on all the songs were incredible especially to hear live, including this song.
what up mr. thompson
❤Love your work my man. No one can disect music like you. Thank you. Spasibo, gracious
I appreciate the joy and passion for music expressed here, this video in particular had two highlights for me: it gave more detailed insights into what makes a good song, and it spotlighted Bunny Sigler, who is a tremendous singer and songwriter from the 70s era of funk, an under appreciated gem.
I been in love with this for years this is what is real music !!!!!
Paul, this video confirms even more why I love your channel. So educational. This is music I grew up on and I’m learning things I never knew. As a kid, I would sit by the speaker and while listening to the music, I would read the album jacket for the credits and learned who was playing what instrument, who composed, and who produced. I’m reliving that even more by watching your vids. Thank you! Keep ‘em coming!
The precision bass sounding great. Did you ever hear a track called Manhattan Skyline? Check it out the bass and trumpet are fantastic and the sax solo . Don’t forget to bring a camera on the 1 hour rock tour. Could mention bassists Trevor Bolder , Herbie Flowers with Bowie and Noel Redding
My favorite from Evelyn Champagne King
Thank you so very much. Fantastic tracks with those guys, I didn't realize so many of those had the same rhythm section.
Wow!! Raymond Earl this is so Amazing and Awesome not to mention inspiring hearing & seeing this knowing you personally for so many years Congratulations To one of the Baddest Bassists I’ve met and R.I.P Fonz Earl my bass player who followed in your footsteps #instantfunk #forever
That is a great bassline. Now I'm gonna get me some Instant Funk🤙
You da man, Paul.
Cool, it is . Thanks, Paul. Cheers🙌🏽
Best bass channel on the net.
Nice recommendation 👍 Thanks!
Raymond Earl and Ronnie Baker are two of my faves from Philly
Nice work PDBass👍👍👍
Love your channel, Paul!
Great content!
Continued success! 👍🏾💯
There’s always something to learn on this channel.
I had to look up what Life On Mars you were talking about because I was pretty sure that Bowie used his original band for his song.
Humility, modesty & owning up to ones mistakes are rare nowadays.
Dude i really love ur videos. Thank u so much for uploading
Great👍🎶
Dexter Wansel is a cool cat. I see him online sometimes answering questions from fans.
With the bass *on* the beat it sounds more like an 80's nightly yacht-rock tune. Such a simple change, big difference!
Love all your content, Paul! I can definitely understand how you might've missed that, I took a look at my LP jacket after I saw your follow up post the other day and I definitely would've made the same mistake! lol I really love your content, and the attention you give to so much music that seems less analyzed and appreciated in the bass world. Please keep up the videos like these!
I got my mind made up is a childhood favorite !! And Evelyn champagne king is a Gem
Cool video, songs and explanation! Subbed, liked and loved - keep going, best regards, Stefan!
Excellent vid!
Beautiful song and beautiful review.😊
As a music lover, I love your videos! THANKS for all you do!!!
Absolute Banger of a tune kabooooooooomski 🔥🔥🔥
Great work! Been lovin this cat all my life…you put a face and name to his playing!
There are parts of the world where this is the closest to a conservatory even all those hits made it there. Generations are sharing with their kids how it used to be but close to none can strike a note, a chord, never mind arrange a basic beat, so thank you for these quick simple lessons.
Thanks so much for giving this bassline life again, at least in the recesses of my mind. It really is one of the epic basslines of all time. Your noting that push is such important instruction and is a mini masterclass itself in funk itself.
I've learnt something here that's eluded me - sometimes I'd got it yet I couldn't pin point it. Now I can, thank you Mr pdbass! 👍☺
Love this video! Been listening to this jam, Shame, since I was a toddler!
Excellent presentation, as usual!!! 16th note guitar hook is a banger, too...
R&B disco. the last basic revolution in music providing so much sampling by far, produced the best... prod. Evelyn Champagne King was my fav song as a teen by
It takes a strong person to apologize and then is happier with the truth! Instant Funk were the real deal!
Respect to you for this good Sir! 👊🏾
That's an everlasting bassline.
Nice stuff 👌😊👍🏻
Wow! Great content...very informative and interesting. I have a bunch of the records mentioned and have put the ones I don't on my wants list!
Another great video, my brother!!
☝🏼for the 🤘🏼❤
That’s really something I learned today. Respect to these fine musicians
It is an undying bassline. It throbs smoothly. Where else in creation does THAT happen?
That groove will be in my head all day
learning a lot about
Great bass lesson
my mom is from Trenton, nice
I like your channel a lot.
Love your videos. I`m a sucker for the bass
I play in a disco/funk/ r n'b cover band, we do 2 songs from the 1979 'Instant Funk ' LP
Shame is one of favorites from this era. Thanks!
My hometown OG's! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 (And thank you for pronouncing Trenton correctly. 😂😂😂)
I was just getting into the funk music scene early 1980's 83 if memory serves me right and Instant Funk came out with a track called 'just because',., i think that was the title. I loved it.
magnifico.❣❣❣❣❣❣
Interesting how the ad I was served up right after the video used the two same chords in a similar way. Bm7 to Gmaj7. It would be interesting to know if the algorithm takes harmony into consideration. hmmmm.
Love your vids, I’m just a layman but two bass lines I really love are Cymande’s Bra (the breakdown) and Third Worlds cover of Now That We Found Love.