WHO'S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER #2 MARK ADAMS

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist's who are in My "Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Week's, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week! 

ARTIST NUMBER 2..............MARK ADAMS 

This Week's Bass Player is Mark Adams (He got my Vote) of the 70's Funk Band Slave, incidentally my Favorite Bass player and my Favorite Band!

I had the Pleasure of seeing Mark Adams and Slave in Concert back in 1984, at The Pink Elephant in Luton UK, it was a Great Concert, by The Best Funk Band Ever!

I have Scoured the Internet, but there is not Too Many Stories and Facts Concerning the Slave Bass Player, so I have Posted about Slave's Early Years, which Mark Adams was an Integral Part.

I will put a Few Links at the End of the Post and if you know anything, which I have not Mentioned Please drop me an e-mail (for a Part 2 Post)!

Mark Leslie Adams was Born during 1960, he was one of 3 Sibling's,(the other 2 were Sisters) and from Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Slave began in 1975, Guitarist Mark "Drac" Hicks had a Band Called Black Satin Soul with Drummer Tim "Tiny" Dozier, they later met Trumpeter Steve Washington in a Local Music Class! 

Mark Hicks also Knew Bassist Mark Adams, who Led another Local band by the Name of "The Young Mystics" which also included Floyd Miller, Tom Lockett Jr, Carter Bradley, Danny Webster and Orion Wilhoite.

All the Members of the 2 Bands Gelled Together after a Music Session at Tim Dozier's House!

The 2 Band's decided to Form 1 Band together, and they Called themselves "Congress"

After 2 or 3 Sessions together the Band decided to Change their Name to "Slave" after Floyd Miller came in to 1 of the Sessions with a T-Shirt on with the Name "Slave" Written across the Front of it!

Slaves early Work included Covers of Band's such as Earth Wind & Fire, Hall & Oates and the Average White Band.

Their First Concert Performance was at "The Roth High School" Talent Show, Steve Washington's Father Brought them Their First P.A System and Mark Hick's Father Brought them their First Amp and a Couple of Guitar's.

After about 6 Month's of Rehearsal's in Mark Hick's Father's Garage, Steve Washington Tried to get Slave their First Contract.

He knew "Jeff Dixon" who was Programme Director from WNJR-AM, he later Became "Slaves" Manager and Producer!    

Jeff Dixon then Set about getting Slave a Music Contract, this took about 6 Weeks and During Spring of 1977, and Slave were Signed by Henry Allen, President of Cottillion Records, a Subsidary of the Great "Atlantic Records".

That same Year of '77 saw "Slave" Release their Debut Album, Entitled "Slave" it was Producer by Jeff Dixon.

The Album reached Number 6 on the Us Billboard Top Soul Chart and was Certified Gold.

The Biggest Hit (& only Single Release from the Album) on the Album and Slave's Biggest Hit of All Time was "Slide" the  Track went "Gold" on 14 July of '77.

"Slide" Reached Number 1 on the US R&B Chart and made it to Number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

The Original Line up for The "Slave" Album was as Follows:



Steve Washington....Trumpet, Percussion and Vocals
Mark Hicks...............Lead and Rythym Guitars and Vocals
Mark Adams............Bass Guitar
Floyd Miller.............Trombone, Trumpet and Vocals
Tom Lockett Jr.......Tenor and Alto Sax
Carter Bradley.......Keyboards
Danny Webster.....Guitar and Vocals
Tim Dozier............Drums, Percussion and Vocals
Orion Wilhoite.....Alto and Tenor sax 

Mark Adams was Ever Present in Slaves Line-up during their 15 Studio Album's, they also Released 7 Compilation Album's and had 21 Single Releases.

Mark Adams Died on March 5th 2011, he was 51 Years of Age,  I Believe he had 6 Children and 10 Grand Kids.

To Hear some of Mark Adams Great Bass Playing check out this Great Slave Mix from ej flavors.com there are some Great Tracks on Here! Full Track Listing as Follows:

01 – Slide
02 – Spice Of Life
03 – Party Lites
04 – Wait For Me
05 – Inside Out – Odyssey
06 – Watching You
07 – Just A Touch Of Love
08 – Dreamin’
09 – Snapshot
10 – Steal Your Heart










HERE ARE SOME GREAT LINKS ON MARK ADAMS:

Tribute to Mark Adams by Vibes and Scribes
Tribute by Wilf on Slave Fanaticism
Tribute by SoulWalking
Mark Adams Slave Discography on Discogs
Facebook Group House of Slave
Comments Soultracks 
The Greatest Funk Band in 6 Posts by F.S.V.B
A Slave & Al Green Mix, Mixed by George the DJ for F.S.V.B

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• THE 162nd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

THE 165th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 165th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Follows on from my Last Post and Features the Late Terry Callier, Its been Mixed by Michael Ruetten, it Contains some Great Tracks, including amongst others: Love Theme from Spartacus, Ordinary Joe, What Colour Is Love and Alley Wind Song.

For a Full Track Listing and Download Go Here

Soulsearching 666 - R.I.P. Terry Callier / Joe Davis Far Out mixtape by Soulsearching: Michael Ruetten on Mixcloud

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TAKEAWAY KEYS and TERRY CALLIER

The time was now around September of 1987, I had found a Takeaway Shop to Rent, it also had a Small Restaurant and Sold Burgers, Fish, Pizza's, Homemade Pies, Chips etc etc.

As I said Previously we Checked the Place out During Opening Times and it seemed a Fairly Busy Place, we also had the Shop Books to Look at, for all the Incomings and Outgoings etc, we had these for about a Week.

I had an Accountant look at the Books and he said he thought Everything Looked Ok, but I Remember at the time, Susan's Father, who was a Businessman, with about 4/5 Betting Shops (so he knew what he was Talking about) said "he thought the Shop was a White Elephant" and a Waste of Time, Energy and Money!

But Unfortunately for Myself, I did not Listen to my Father-in-Law, 
because I had the Chance of a Lifetime to Start a New Business (for Myself and Family) and I only Listened to my Mother, who kept Saying to me "Your Father wanted you to have your Own Business"

So I Stupidly took the Help my Mother was Providing (with Cash) and Signed the Dotted Line to take over the Takeaway Shop! 

The Couple who Ran the Takeaway before me, were a Married Couple from Great Yarmouth, they Lived Near the St.Georges Park in the Centre of Town, I'm Trying to Remember their Names, His Name was Billy, but I cant Remember Her Name or their Surname, but I will Remember Sooner or Later!

The Reasons for Naming them will become Clear in a Few Post's Time, I have Never Seen them Since that Time, we had the Takeaway, but I would Love to Meet them, Just to tell them what I think of them Now (and Back then) and about all the Crap they caused us to Suffer!  

I think it was about October of 1987 that I Finally got the Keys to the Takeaway Shop, but as it Turned Out, this was only the Start of Loads of Trouble and Heartache for Me Susan and Our Kids, while Running this Takeaway Shop!

====================================================================

Now for some Music, this Week saw the Death of another Great Singer "Terry Callier" over his Career he Released 16 Albums, and one of my Favorites was "Fire on Ice" which was Released in 1978.

This was his 5th Album, and it was on the Elektra Record Label, it contained some Great Tracks including: Be a Believer, Holdin' On (To Your Love), Butterfly, Disco in the Sky and the Great African Violet, but the Track I'm going to Feature is "Martin St. Martin"

This Track was a Tribute to "Martin Luther King" and Written by Terry Callier and Larry Wade and Produced by Richard Evans.

Terry Callier Made some Great Music during his Life, I have put a Few Examples Below!

Also this Coming Wednesday's Mix will be a Tribute Mix to Terry Callier, Mixed by Michael Ruetten.

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TH4 164th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 164th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Features the SOS Band, Its been Mixed by DJ Kumbi, it has some Great Tracks, including amongst others: Weekend Girl, Sands of Time, No One Gonna Love You, Just be Good to Me and The Finest.

For a Full Track Listing and Download
Go Here

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WHO'S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER #1 BOOTSY COLLINS

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist's who are in My "Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Week's now, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist, One Every Other Week! 

ARTIST NUMBER 1..............BOOTSY COLLINS

William Earl "Bootsy" Collins was Born on October 26th 1951 in Cincinnati Ohio USA.

He Formed his First Band in 1968, Called "The Pacemakers" with his Brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins (Guitar) Frankie "Kash" Waddy (Drums) and Phillipe "Soul" Wynn (Vocals), Wynn was Later the Lead Singer with "The Detroit Spinners"

From 1969 to 1971 they were the Back Up Band for James Brown.

By 1972 "Bootsy Collins" had joined George Clinton's Parliament/Funkadelic Bands, it was from this time, the Two began a Musical and Personal Friendship which has Lasted for Many Years!

Bootsy Collins Featured on about 5 Funkadelic Albums from 1975 to 1979:

1975...Let's Take it to the Stage 

1976...Tales of Kidd Funkadelic

1976...Hardcore Jollies

1978...One Nation Under a Groove

1979...Uncle Jam Wants You

He also Featured on 9 Parliament Albums from 1974 to 1978:

1974...Up for the Downstroke

1975...Chocolate City

1975...Mothership Connection

1976...Clones of Dr Funkenstein

1977...Live-P Funk Earth Tour

1977...Funkentelechy

1978...Motor Booty Affair

1979...Gloryhallastoopid

1980...Trombipulation

Bootsy Collins Formed 
"Bootsy Rubber Band" in 1976, that same Year the Debut Album was Released "Stretchin' Out"

He went on to Release a Total of 4 Albums between 1976 to 1979, under that Name!

In 1980 he Released 2 Albums, one Under His Own Name and Called "Ultrawave" and another by the Name of "The Sweat Band" and the Album was called the same!

A Further 2 Albums were Released under his own name in 1982 and 1988. Over the Years he has Released a Total of 23 Albums, Many of them Under Different Guises!

He has Worked with some of the Greats from the Funk World including: James Brown, George Clinton, 
Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Zapp, Roger Troutman, Deee-Lite, Bernie Worrell, Junie Morrison, Fred Wesley, just to Name a few! 

Bootsy Collins always Refers to his Bass as "The Space Bass"

Some of Bootsy Collins Greatest Tracks!

 

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