The Funkiest Bass Line From OUTER SPACE
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2023
- #bass #basshistory #funk #lesson #transcription #analysis #paulthompson
Digging into a PIR deep cut from 1976 - Dexter Wansel's classic funk anthem LIFE ON MARS (Philadelphia International Records) and his unique brand of neo-futurist, outer-space jazz-funk. I'll break down the title cut, that SICK bass line, who played it (and where he is TODAY), and why it's one of the most unique funk bass lines you'll EVER hear!
Apparently, you can slap a bass with flatwounds! Check this out.
Derrick Graves' solo album "Altered Natives" (1994) - • Altered Natives
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Hi, this is Dexter Wansel. Thank you for the wonderful video. However you’ve got the bass player wrong. It was not Derrick Graves who played bass on this track Life On Mars. It was Raymond Earl. At the time I was still a member of Instant Funk and Raymond Earl is the bass player from Instant Funk. He not only played on this track with me, but he also played on Evelyn Champagne King‘s Shame as the bass player with us.
Thank you, Mr. Wansel! I will do a follow-up video for sure. 🙏
I love your music Dexter, thank you for your music
Mr. Wansel, you are an inspiration for many of us out there. Thank you for everything you have given us.
Thank you Mr. Wansel. This bass line has always been one of my favorites. I too was unaware Mr Earl played with you. Thank you for that information. As always, thanks PD Bass for another amazing profile video
i love you dexter
Okay, now you really have my attention -- Dexter Wansel is one of my favorite musicians and greatest inspirations. If Life on Mars, Voyager and Theme From The Planets were his only songs, he'd still be a legend to my mind. But he's done so much more. Thanks for covering this one, it's special to me.
I'm gonna give you guys some deep cut Dexter Wansel magic: Nude and Next to Nature by Jean Claude T. It's hilarious sensual poetry, but the music is incredibly ethereal. It's like sleeping in a sunbeam. There's also a more, let's say, normal version by Billy Paul. Also excellent. The synth work by Mr. Wansel is remarkable. A sonic pioneer.
🎶”You should go there…”🎼🎵Nice touch PD!😂
The Sweetest Pain is the JAM!
When this album first came out, I remember staying up until before day in the morning TRYING to learn this song note for note on a cheap knock-off cherry SG bass with flats and carved country & western scrolling! I spent night after night in the dorm trying to match dynamics and everything when I SHOULD have been studying calculus or biochemistry.
Gear held me back... but I LOVED that song and bass line. INSTANT FUNK... one of the baddest house/studio bands of the 70's!
Thanks professor Paul; you ALWAYS deliver!
Dexter wansel's keyboard playing on If only you knew by Patti labelle, is simply gorgeous! I also love nights over Egypt by the Jones Girls.
Musical Fact: Did you know two of the Jones Girls (Shirley and Brenda) turned down the song? Their sister (Val) convinced them to record due to the Wansel's jazzy keyboard styling. Thank goodness that they did. RIP, Val and Brenda.
Theme From The Planets - another great track off that album, and as a Hip Hop head I love that drum break .... sampled in soo many golden era tracks!
Yeah. That remix of “Vanessa Yo” by Anttex had me searching for that song for years.
Nights over Egypt! Amazing bass line!
Definitely one of my favorites albums that I wore out in the 70’s.
One million miles from the ground was an still is my jam!!!
The 70s was the best decade for Tv and funk , punk , disco , reggae , Rock , country , soul , and all the crazy stuff like Evil Kinevil , Jaws. Star Wars , King Kong 1976 , James Bond
Paul is such a bad ass that he makes the metronome sound funky.
MFSB - Mysteries of the World is another Dexter penned track with an insane b-line. You should do a video on it ;)
Dexter Wansel is a genius. Thank you for this
My brother introduced me to Dexter Wansell with his remix beat sample of Life on Mars in the early 90's and from there it was a wrap! This made me go back and listen to other groups I listened to as a result of jazz samples and I remembered a group named KRAAN who has a song titled Prima Klima. There's 3 versions on UA-cam but the best one is the 1974 demo of the song! It's a standard bass line that allows the drummer and lead guitar the opportunity to "get some"! I'm sure you've already heard of it but have a listen again especially the demo version!
I learned this when I was about 14 y/o or so. It was the most awesome bass line that I ever heard at the time! Awesomeness! Thanks for covering this!
Wow! You have got to be kidding! Paul! I am so glad that you are giving Dexter some attention and props! He is definite a key contributor to the Philly Sound. I still have, and often play his Life On Mars LP! The whole album is awesome, but Theme From The Planets and Life On Mars are a couple of my faves!
Another timely posting about an underrated musician and producer, mostly associated with Philadelphia International Records. Great analysis of an underrated bass track and jam. Great work again, Paul!
Sounds just as funky slower!
Thanks for the great work, Paul.
The baseline for voyager by dexter wansel is right up there man !!!
Gotta be honest, there are like three TV theme songs in just that one two bar groove you played.
I appreciate that you use the Metronome when demonstrating the lines. I wish more folks did that.
Thanks for sharing. Dexter Wansel and the Life On Mars album (my original vinyl from 76) was what I was playing all last week because I just couldn't get enough.
Once again, you’ve introduced me to more good 70s music. Thank you, PDBass!!! I’m gonna search for this on vinyl.
Best way to listen to it.
I'm just learning about you Mr. Wansel. It's a joy to know you are still receiving your flowers in real time.
Brilliant episode, love your stuff! So happy to hear about this music. Dexter Wansel's Time is Sipping Away ('79) is sounding pretty funkin' good too!
I was sure you were going to mention "All Night Long". That is some funky bass.
I really Ike this channel, this guy finds cool old bass lines and brings it to the forefront then breaks it down (with tabs).
I cannot put into words, how great is this channel!! 😊
Thanx for this review because the bassist is truly walking throughout this tune and we love it. Keep up the energy from the 70's.
Oh my days, this track is on my playlist and always kicks in whenever I'm driving.
Motorist must think I'm the happiest driver on the road as it brings pure joy to my face 👌🏾
I'm definitely going to listen to this album as soon as I finish watching this video!
I used to rip this bass line off all the time. You have one of the best bass channel on here!
Album cover definitely shot on water Street in lower Manhattan. Used to walk past that building everyday
have added both dexter and derrick's records to my library. can't wait to listen! this is a really cool channel. thanks PDB!!!
While it is highly unlikely that I'll get to see Mr. Wansel anytime over here in Europe, I will look for his recordings. On vinyl, if necessary. In other words, thank you once again for expanding my musical ken and taste 🙂
amazing! I am interested in producing synth funk and this is EXACTLY what I need.
Absolute banger. Loved this for years.
This jam is on several of my playlists, and Dexter is one of my favorite artists!❤
Fantastic bass line!
This is one of the greatest albums of all time!!! And that cover art.
I'll Never Forget (My Favorite Disco) the another classic bassline which I like the most
Yes sir, I'm from Philly, lived blocks away from PIR. Seen Dex alot..
This is a Very Groovy sound from a Bye gone era!! It's time to bring this Groove back!!
I though you were going to talk about James Manning, who played with Billy Preston (outa-space) but this was a great finding. BTW, that black P-bass with maple neck is sick.
I have one Dexter Wansel album but seeing this video let’s me know I need to go do some research on him. Thanks again for your insight🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
My local radio station put Life on Mars in heavy rotation when I was in high school. I bought the album too. Thanks for this great video!
I like the precision sound on this slap . Yeah reminds me of a summer day in the 70s when I would hear this stuff … but then be obsessed with my Planet of the Apes Cards collection or later on the Sex Pistols but then…. remember tracks like Jupiter by EWF or Kojak or so many things . Was in the Hendrix museum on Sunday , cool
Dexter Wansel's "It's Been Cool" groove (from "Time Is Slipping Away" album - 1978) was my anthem back in the day! Still sounds relevant to me right now! Check it out!
I learn something new everytime I come to this channel!
Thanks for posting,watching your videos has made made able to nail this on the first try 👍🏽
I saw your title , I Said to myself , i got to check This presentation out ...i came here looking to hear Bass line from Billy Preston's OUTER SAPCE! you got me this time ! LOL!
One correction with this video is that the bass line was played by Raymond Earl of the group Instant Funk on this particular track.
This channel is pure gold
I love your channel. Im a musician in my mid 60s. At 14 i lived in Anchorage Alaska next door to a drummer. A new house went up on the other side and a guitarist lived there. Next thing i knew i was the bass player in a garage band. My grandfather had been a DJ a t an Oregon coast radio station for a while. He was into blues and jazz. Grandma said she would tell him he was going to get into trouble playing those race records. Grandpa would laugh and say white people didn't understand. BTW we're all white. Red Skelton had visited one year and sent a Christmas card saying "hope you get lots of puntang". In high-school i got into stage band and was playing guitar on Count Basie and Duke Ellington. I went in the Navy and had black roommates in school. We drove the other white guy crazy listening to the Isley brothers. Recently i started getting more into bass. I had a 5 string with round wounds and recently got a 5 string fretless bass with active electronics and put flatwound strings on it. So sweet. I love funk, jazz, blues, fusion, soul, latin and rock. The musicians you feature are excellent, the bass lines are killer and the presentation is right on. Thank you so much for taking me deeper into the music that speaks to my soul. New subscriber here having a good time.
Thank you Paul! Video after video, you are changing the way I consider and make music and... my bass approach in general! (thanks to the amount of bass lines I discover through your channel!) 🤝
One the great dance tracks of all time. Derek Graves? No, I never heard of him but I knew I'd struck gold the first time I heard this record all those years ago. It's still killer today.
Dexter is killin' it! How about Dexter Redding from The Redding's, "Class, is what you got!"
GREAT VIDEOS! i can't believe i'm just discovering you on youtube. 👍🏿
Many thanks for sharing!
I'll be definitely checking that out.
Love this channel!
Good Album, Dex came from a band called "Yellow Sunshine" back in the day for those who remember.
Great vid. Thanks!
I was in a grocery when I heard this funky song playing through the speaker system. I didn't know who it was, so I used my shazam app and "Life on Mars" came up. This was about a week before you made this video, very strange.
Wow! I need to explore this!
hey my brother , Great stuff your doing keep it up
i am Kym Miller of the Instant Funk band , just wanted to give a little update on your
comments on Raymond Earl and our " Life on Mars" Track we did with Dexter , Ray never thumped with his thumb , he had and still has
a unique style of Patting his bass which gave him a signature sound ...
Wow! Thanks so much, Mr. Miller! That's amazing. What a sound and what a technique. You guys are LEGENDARY! I hope you got to see my video on INSTANT FUNK that just went up. Thank you for watching!!
@pdbass you are so welcome my brother .. a friend of mine sent your post to me , very impressed with your article and your musical talents as well.. blessings to you !
@@pdbass I will also check it out ...
Another excellent analysis. That IS a very faunky Bassline!
Recently found it his my cousin !!! Dude is a badass
Bigole bigole grin on my face! I appreciate what you're doing here. Thanks heaps my brother.🤜🏾🤛🏾
Great lesson, professor
Ahh Man Loved his music thanks
Thunder Thumb Powah !!!!
Escorted by the mighty and deadly notes !!!!
Beware Mortal !
:D
Thx for this video and sharing, premium groove quality as usal !
dang i gotta check this out! sounds goooood
Life on Mars was my year I graduated high school. I was a beautiful time ⏲ I still have the LP
Hello Paul, a quick suggestion. How about a feature on the two classic fusion albums by John Scofield Blue Matter and Loud Jazz featuring the immensely talented Gary Grainger. Just a thought, you can get the Stingray out. All the best 😀
Life On Mars...thanx Dex!
lovely vid..a new discover
Dexter must be the funkiest dentist in Philly, if not the whole world! I can only imagine the music playing in his office, yo! I need to make an appointment and there’s probably a long waiting list!
YOURE SO CLOSE TO 100k LETS GOOOOOO
thank you for sharing my brother you got me more in to playing my bass good info Thank Again
Love this song
thanks for this !!!!!! always great !!!!!!!
Such a cool bassline! Superfunky and hot! Typical for the seventies! Thank you for breaking it down, Paul!
I got to check dexter out!!!!
More to dig in to... this is phat!
THANK YOU for a little home cooking. Life on Mars is an awesome album and that dentist use to practice with Dr Nero DDS
I remember Lou Rawls on the radio in the mid '70s. Classy sound on my dad's quadraphonic headphones.
I often get tracks from this record in my discover weekly ...
Dexter, you are a legend!! ✌️😙
I'm so proud of Philly's musical roots. I grew up listening to all this music. We've had so many great artists to contribute and influence the world. If they weren't born here, they lived here at some point in their lives. John Coltrane, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Billie Holiday, James Mtume. Just to name a few. American Band Stand. I can go on and on. Pennsylvania, in general, has produced some of the most amazing talents in history. Not to mention the generational impact on entertainment altogether. A good bit of Hollywierd's forefathers come from Philly or Pennsylvania. ( I'm not too proud of that, though 😢). Thank you for your time.
As a Pittsburgher, I approve this comment 😎
Dexter also played keyboard with a group called Yellow Sunshine before his solo debut album.
When I first heard Life on Mars I was completely flabbergasted and I'm not even a bass player.
Get your commission, cos I'm definitely seeking this album out. 🤜🤛 Thanks yet again
This was awesome! Idea: How about the bass groove from Zawinul's "Orient Express"?
Yes I remember Mr. Wansel.
I never heard that song but it’s very funky.
I love your channel! Have you ever done or do you plan on doing "Strawberry Letter 23" by The Johnson Brothers?
That was cool.
Man my favorite song is Life On Mars...is no joke...
I like your content so much
I met him last Friday at Ronnie Scotts
THANKS!
When played slowly, it is even more impressive…