I met and interviewed Brothers Johnson several times when they visited Sweden. A short story: We visited the Polar studio (ABBA's studio) and we listened to Super Trouper. Afterwards, in the cab, the brothers sat in the back seat and started to do an acapella funky version of Super Trouper. Wow, that sounded great. Then the cab driver asked me to tell the brothers to calm down and be quiet. That is a memory for life.

@petertrotman7708

3 ай бұрын

I remember Louis talking enthusiastically about his love for ABBA and the interviewer being thrown by this statement from the funky boy.

@gemmeldrakes2758

Ай бұрын

Wow. I can't imagine how cool a funk version of Super Trouper would have sounded. That cabbie must have tone deaf.

Hello 👋! My name is Darryl Sims and I was in Louis's personal inner circle!!! And beside the fact that he personally taught me BASS !...An awesome &amazing experience I'll NEVER forget ! Enough can't be said about Louis ' Thunder Thumbs ' Johnson...even from the grave he still kickin ass!!! Every session he played on U can tell that's Louis! He had a certain sound....I KNOW THE SECRETS TO LOUIS'S TONE!!! HE SHOWED IT TO ME AND I'M NOT TELLING ANYONE 😮!!! He will ALWAYS be The BADDEST Funkiest Bassist!!! All the sessions he's played on ( REMEMBER) his parts WAS NOT WRITTEN DOWN!!! They would tell him here's a track play what U want!!! His bass lines made the song 🎵 a HIT 💯💣💥!

@vanillathunder3024

3 ай бұрын

You’re a fortunate dude to have that experience

@cartmanrlsusall

2 ай бұрын

If you know how he did it why would you keep it secret, share it and let someone else pick up the torch and improve on it

@benniesmith7511

Ай бұрын

Darryl , didn’t know Louis well we went to Foshay jr high summer school in 1968. He and brother had started a group called the Johnson 3+1. The rest history!!

@darrylsims3242

Ай бұрын

@@benniesmith7511 To Mr. Benniesmith ! This is Darryl Sims, I NEVER said anything about Jr. High School!!! I SPECIFICALLY SAID THEY ATTENDED CRENSHAW HIGH SCHOOL!!! George dated my cousin Diane and Louis dated her sister Laura! Laura still to this present day has Louis's 10th grade ID! This is looonnng before Quincy Jones got wind of them 😏😒😳😲!!! Louis and I started hangin tight in '1987' ! He didn't let many people in his life !!!! But when I reminded him of my cousin Laura his face LIT UP and that's when he took me under his wing!

Strawberry Letter 23 is my fav, but this is an absolute next-level all-time banger - we ain't funkin' now without it.

@BassByTheBay

3 ай бұрын

Agreed. I never get tired of that line and come back to it often. Louis was a true innovator.

@descantinginsalubrious

3 ай бұрын

Agreed

@deansiracusa3966

3 ай бұрын

Agreed! I’m a huge fan of that song too!

@michaeldavis6607

3 ай бұрын

Agreed. Love it

@2009filmit

3 ай бұрын

One of my favorite openings-is the opening for Strawberry Letter 23

This was a magical period when Rod, Toto, Q and his crew were dominating. Thanks !

@sirjer73

3 ай бұрын

indeed

No way you're doing this song tonight! I heard this song just yesterday and was thinking: listen to that bass! Thank you. Love the Brothers Johnson.

Louis Johnson is the sole reason I started playing bass at 14 in 1976. My style of play is less aggressive as his although I tried playing like him. 😂

@PaulaBean

3 ай бұрын

Same here! And Weather Report.

I'm not a musician, but: I enjoy hearing actual musicians highlight the work of their peers. Very informative.

@asher6657

2 ай бұрын

its like listening to an announcer narrate a MMA fight. I would 've missed half of the stuff that is going on.

Simply amazing!! Louis Johnson has always been one of my all-time favorites in the Bass realm!!!

The string arrangement is off the charts

@Realigndadjmusic

3 ай бұрын

Jerry Hey did both horns and strings and that vamp 🔥

@sandrasanders706

3 ай бұрын

​@@RealigndadjmusicA legend

@henrymartin4083

3 ай бұрын

Literally! 😂

RIP Louis "Thunder Thumbs"Johnson. Requesting a spotlight on the late great Mark Adams of Slave, criminally underrated and his murder is still unsolved as far as I know.😔🎸

@soulburst

3 ай бұрын

And chic I want your love. Bernard Edwards was on fire

@shumaremi02

3 ай бұрын

A video on Mark Adams would be great!

@ratherbe7

3 ай бұрын

Yes Mark “Hansolar” Adams definitely deserves a spotlight!

@MasterZhao

3 ай бұрын

@@ratherbe7 Agreed!

@davidwylde8426

3 ай бұрын

I purchased ‘The Hardness Of The World’ back in 1980,( 77-78 album I know), and was blown away by them. Loved Mark’s playing and I know it got more flamboyant later. I’d heard on the internet about stuff relating to his death and it just made me feel sad. Selfishly, if I’m honest, I just just remember him as an early bass hero, and I’d love Paul to do a retrospective of his playing,( he’s probably done one already on an individual track).

This is one of my favorites, but Louis Johnson's work on Q's "Ai No Corrida" is magnificent.

@praisemusic1016

3 ай бұрын

Hush yo mouth...YESSSSS!❤❤❤❤

I'll never forget hearing Stomp for the first time. That bass break blew my mind! Didn't know that overdubbing was a thing when I first heard it 😄. And the outro is like a surprise party - didn't expect it, and it elevates the song. There's so much to learn about bass technique from just this one song.

I had a VHS with Louis Johnson on it it was called bass as a solo instrument and it melted my head

I love the inventiveness of Louis's bassline on "Don't stop 'till you get enough", it's a masterpiece bass job to me.

@strat0871

3 ай бұрын

@_pdbass1Pleasure.

Yes!!!!!!! may Louis Johnson "R.I.P!!!!!!!

Man you NAIL IT! What a great song and such an insane superstar lineup on there.

Louis Johnson was an amazing bass player and his finger style does not get the attention it deserves. Give the Blam! Album a good listen and you will discover. His live slap solos are crazy. Right hand way off the strings so powerful and yet precise. One of my major inspirations when I started playing bass in the seventies.

Wow. Watching you play this tune with such an economy of motion is just fabulous. I think you've inspired me to pull a bass out of the closet and see if I can get anywhere near that smooth and economical while still having some feel. Nice! And yes - the Brothers Johnson delivered some killer funky grooves. Glad to see them covered with examples and notation. Awesome.

Wow you really can feel the overlap with this and Off The Wall and the George Benson stuff. Just brilliant work all round

@sylviamaua745

3 ай бұрын

Rod Temperton, former Heatwave keyboard player, is the connection. Quincy Jones signed him to Qwest Records. Temperton wrote Off The Wall, Thriller, Stomp, Give Me The Night, Love x Love and Heatwave's hits: Boogie Nights, Groove Line, Always and Forever and Mind Blowing Decisions.

I love Stomp! Thanks for breakin' it down. The Brothers Johnson had such a great sound. Quincy Jones was like a 3rd brother. Strawberry Letter 23 was great, and on that same album I really loved their instrumental pieces Q and Brother Man.

My all time favorite bass player and bass. Thank you for showcasing Louis finger style , thumb work, and his left hand technique. He is so underrated because people just focus on his thumb .

First time I heard this song (about 10 years ago) it just floored me! Funky, musical, catchy, solid groove. Checking the personnel out later was a bit of an "of course" moment seeing the all-star crew. Superb bassline, Louis nailed it.

Thank you pdbass for giving us the best analysis/documentary of the most important bass and bassists. You are awesome!

They were just as amazing live, in many ways more so. Even though Louis's thumb and hand would fly far away from the bass, it was still hard to see because he was so fast. RIP Louis Johnson, you truly were one-of-a-kind.

Thank you, Paul, for another bassline sandwich......It continues to amaze me about the artistic talent that went into those basslines we may have taken for granted.

"The human drummachine" strikes with unnatural precision and musical accuracy a forerunner for many many bassplayers and music loves!

What A GREAT bassline! Love his technique and you play so good 🤘!!

LJ played a Sabre (both pickups on) with flats on this track. I danced to this song at my high school prom in May 1980. I clearly remember the bass solo pounding in my chest. That's the only thing I remember from my prom! This song is one of the reasons I fell in love with bass.

@oma7698

3 ай бұрын

I had my prom (we called it ‘Send Off’) at the same time. This was really one of the hit tunes of that era. Lovely memories!

My favourite song since 1980! The keyboard intro always fills me with joy once i hear it and this is the first song i ever played air bass to! A true masterpiece!

Always been one of my favorite songs of all time.

Louis Johnson's work on Something Special by Q And Patti Austin was just as magical!!

I’ve said it many times… LJ had the vibe to bring heavy grooves, but not too fast for the average listener to get into. So funky!

Maestro, you just continue to kill it with your bullet proof analysis of these great bass players and great bass lines. This may be my favorite one of all time. Thanks for all that you do. Watching Lewis Johnson play live was like witnessing a felony assualt. He literally beat the hell out of the Music Man and Alembic. His right hand technique was absolutely precise but heavy handed and even violent at times. We've all heard of tennis elbow, but I think LJ had Bass elbow. What a legend!

@OriginalOldSkoolFunk

3 ай бұрын

@_pdbass1 Wow, I'm really flattered and would love to chop it up with you sometimes. I'm just an OldSkool R&B, Funk, Soul music guitar guy who started playing back in the 70s. I own all these great guitars but rarely even play anymore...but I do a lot of mental reps thanks to KZread. I'm fortunate to have come up in a time (waaaay before the internet and KZread) where you could go to concerts and see all these great acts up close and personal and I went to countless events. I probably have some hearing loss to prove it, too. After these shows, we would sit up until sunrise trying to play what we saw and heard...before we forgot...because there was no video or tabs to refer back to. We developed our ears because we would hear a song on the radio, and we had to learn it before the song ended, because you never knew when you'd hear it again. You figured out the bass line first to get the roots and changes, and then you could figure out the chords. Seeing the artists live just reinforced that we were on the right track or corrected what we were doing wrong. That was the school of hard knocks for us. Fast forward to today, and we have so many great resources to learn from. Concepts that took me years to learn are often covered now in a 5 minute video. I get the best of both worlds, and your channel is absolutely required watching because of your command of theory, solid break downs and analysis. Just the history alone is worth watching for. You have an uncanny way of taking complex ideas and describing them in a very clear and understandable manner. You are a blessing to musicians of all levels and I don't hesitate to watch your videos as soon as a notification hits. I don't even play bass, but I never fail to learn something from your videos, and I often send links to my music loving friends and old band mates. Thanks for all that you do. Continued success to you and your channel. Keep this great content coming, Maestro...! lhjenkinsjr@aol.com

YES!! I was hoping you'd get to do this track. I used to love playing this in a funk coverband.

I hit like before the ads ended. Thunderthumbs is that dude! I still have my Light Up The Night vinyl.

The bass solo that turned me on to playing bass. Great video!

Oh my STOMP Brothers Johnson …clear the floor I am on the dance floor now. The BEST bass solo EVER! Thank you for your excellent analysis of what took place.

@protorhinocerator142

2 ай бұрын

They also made Strawberry Letter #23, one of my favorite songs ever.

@simshill295

2 ай бұрын

@@protorhinocerator142 Oh yes! … and Get the Funk Outta Ma Face…clear the way heading to the dance floor! Running For Your Love

Song is the complete package. Infectious when you hear even a small piece of it.

My favorite.

Stomp is the song that made me decide to pick up the bass...still 20+ years later i've never attempted to seriously learn the slap solo part, like "i'm not worthy !"..! Thank you for breaking it down for us..!

My favorite song in 9th grade. Had a bass player “boyfriend” that loved the Brothers Johnson. Strawberry Letter 23 was another.

Great stuff!!! New Stingray I see.

What a bass player he was, definitely a big inspiration to me and many other bass players!! 😁👍

LOVE the Johnson Brothers music. 🎶🎶🎶

Another Rod Temperton masterpiece composition here, what a songwriter!

@gerrymccullogh665

3 ай бұрын

Genius, the music master from Cleethorpes whose other songs were also mentioned on this video.

Had never listened to Rene and Angela before and daaaaaamn! Got lost for a good 30 minutes before I remembered to come back and finish the video

Fitting tribute to “Thunder Thumbs” ❤

The Space in this song is Genius

Much respect to Brother Johnson music.Stomp.Excellent track till now .

Yup, I remember dancing/disco'ing to this tune back in the day....geez was I ever that young???

Love Louis, and on the other side of the pond, Mark King was doing very similar things. Burning finger style lines and left hand slapped dead notes. King’s background as a drummer did lead him a little into the realms of excess. But, oooh, it was fun! 😊

Brings back so so many memories this song in particular ❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🪬🪬💎💎🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🥃🥃

I'm always happy to see one of your videos pop up. His hands always reminded me of birds' wings. And, yeah, he is such an iconic sound. I could be wrong, but I always thought that serving of disco was fun to listen to but probably didn't help their longevity as Brothers Johnson. There was never any shortage of session work for Louis, but The Brothers got sort of typecast. Thanks for putting this up. You know... this gives you a perfect opportunity to compare this "Stomp" with the song by the same name by Parliament. There's some bruising bass there. Give Boogie Mosson some love?

Man I love your show! I think I’m a little bit older than you and I was on the circuit when Brothers Johnson first exploded onto that scene. I played backup for a group called Enchantment and we did a bunch of concerts with them and I have to tell you ,it was MAGIC! When they played he had two cerwin vegas and he ran through a bi-phase and the sound was out of this world! All the musicians would take over his side of the stage to try to figure out what he was doing ! After seeing Brothers Johnson every bass player I saw was trying to play that style.Trying to pop . Most bass players played finger style,nobody played with their thumb.he changed the whole music scene .Some times he would just spank the bass with a open hand like just whoppin it! I saw the whole bass world change in the matter of about two years! And I was lucky to see it .

As a non musician I am amazed at the skill and artistry involved, wow just wow! 👏🏾👍🏾

I remember coming across a bro' on the street in 1980 carrying this album "you gotta listen to this...!!!" Strawberry Letter 23 was the followup..? Unbelievably FUNKY :~)

This is the one I was waiting for!!!!!

Good stuff... LJ's work on the George Duke album "Guardian Of The Light" is stellar!

I love your videos man. All of ‘em. 👏🏼

Great jam! Louis also did a great job on Michael Jackson's Get In The Floor

@sandrasanders706

3 ай бұрын

My fav MJ song !!!

Louis Johnson - what more can be said! Hoping Dream of Tomorrow by Lonnie Liston Smith will get a look in soon.... Mr Miller did some great stuff on there 😊

Excellent breakdown and demo…Louis Johnson was nothing short of brilliant 💯🎼🎵🎶

I Love your vídeo class, Yes it's school class for me, other point I 'm from Brazil my English it's not so God than I need, but all of your videos are perfect , I understand everything that u tell. Kajagogo for example was a great surprise. Thanks, you are the bass guy

💚That’s Awesome!🌺

This is music that gives me goosebumps! And thank you for including the handclaps - I miss handclaps. I miss music...

Paul, I was so glad to witness you preparing for this video. This is simply excellent, one of the best videos I have seen PERIOD! I have much to learn from you!

@pdbass

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Ken. Still learning SO MUCH from you, Maestro!

Fab work man!! Thankyou for these!

I love the Brother Johnson have all of their albums. I was studying Louis bass lines like crazy. And Stomp is one of their most popular songs. 😊

"Get On The Floor" from Off The Wall (which he co-wrote with MJ) is my favorite. After seeing them live, and seeing how physically demanding his style was, I understood why he stopped touring with his brother lol. It was the Masterjam Tour 1980. Rufus, Brothers Johnson and Narada Michael Walden was the opening act. Bobby Watson (I think Paul is preparing a video on him) is more my style. I prefer less flashy but funky lol. Especially, my guy, RODNEY "SKEET" CURTIS

IT STILL ROCKS EVEN TODAY?????? THANK YOU,"BROTHERS JOHNSON"❤❤❤❤❤

I love this song! I was twelve when it came out.

I fondly recall seeing the BJ supporting Steve Hillage on his Motivation Radio tour. Whilst that may seem an odd pairing, Steve always employed a funky rhythm section. On that tour he had the formidably funky pairing of Curtis Robertson Jr on bass and Jo Blocker on drums (both later of Karma fame). Needless to say the BJ tore it up that night!

Really great, Paul! Nice work and thanks for the stellar video🙌🏽

Superb stuff. Another top vid from you about a great bass man on a great track (Y)

one of my all time favourite dance tracks. still have the 12'' vinyl 🙂

1995 on Sunset bvd HOB I saw them playing live " stomp". Magic.

Great job as ever! This would fill the rink when we heard that intro.

Great song!! And those bass solos!! You nailed it. George's rhythm guitar parts were always tasteful, clean and distinct.

Louis also had a great solo Gospel album with his wife. He was a good vocalist & writer.

Anything quincy had his hands on was awesome

Another great choice! Love this song, thanks for breaking this down. If only this level of musicianship were happening in today's pop.

One of my favorite Louis Johnson fingerstyle bass lines is "Blam!" from the album of the same name. Another great groove on that album is "Street Wave."🔥🔥

Crazy this pops up on my feed when I just brought a fresh 9v battery for my musicman bass. R.I.P LOUIS MY #3 BASS HERO.

I've seen a few of your videos and man...as a musician I love how you dissect them. Keep up the awesome work brother!

Man, you make some of the most delicious videos out there. All my musical heros from my formative years. All the best music ever created, that will never be topped by anyone!! Thank You!

Such an awesome video. Thank you! You did Mr. Johnson proud.

There is always something about that bass in any music. The song itself is a masterpiece. The drums and the bass line....WHOOO!🩷🩷🩷😁😁😁

Man, what a solid assessment. Great job.

The Brothers Johnson were magic! I love them!

Sorry late to this. I'm 55 when this album came out it was one of my first albums I think I was in the seventh grade. And I got hooked on it cause I realize it Louis had played on Michael Jackson's off the wall. And the whole album is great. These guys and Ray Parker Jr. and radio were so good at the R&B the funk but with Pop sensibility. When I heard that Louis had passed away I teared up because he truly was a genius musician. You can hear people across soul funk rock rap who will talk about this man and what a legend he was.❤

We could hear what was coming down the line on '"Get the Funk Out Ma Face" , we just didn't realise how far Louis would take it to create a whole new style of playing bass. Sensational !

Another excellent episode. You are an outstanding teacher!

Stomp changed my life. Thank you Mr. pdbasss !

Just love your channel. Thanks for the breakdown!

Great video Paul !! I just got chance to watch this properly and it is so nostalgic for me. This goes right back to my childhood and I saw this tour when I was about 13 years old,( within a few weeks from this, from memory, I saw Jaco at the same venue in the U.K. on the Weather Report ‘Night Passage’ tour). I’m sure I remember Louis having a small keyboard on stage that he would play synth bass on,( which would make sense for the Light Up The Night album). My favourites when young from that album,( and on listening again over the last twenty years or whatnot, is still probably the case), were ‘Smilin On Ya’ and ‘Celebrations’ on side 2. Fabulous tracks that you remember forever 😊

Excellent vid as usual. Love this song.

DUDE!!! I JUST LOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thunder thumbs and lightning licks.

Amazing Paul, thank you, thank you. 😎

What a fantastic piece of music..And there's another great Song, Strawberry Letter!