All the JW stuff aside, and the stage mannerisms, and the wife with the handkerchiefs or whatever that was about...you can't deny the fact that Larry Graham was (and probably still is) an extremely good and funky musician!

If Prince's music was weak during the LG period (though personally, I'm not so sure about that either), at least it has nothing to do with the bass playing. Larry has nothing to be ashamed of there. I mean, with him, even Kirk Johnson could sound funky!

Besides just being a legend, Larry actually made some great musical contributions to the band - which is more than you can say about Maceo, in my opinion...

I do think you are on the 'wind up' with this 'praise larry' crap. Yes, he may be funky, but in my opinion he took advantage of Prince's state of mind at the time, for very selfish reasons. Yes Prince is a grown man, but he dont put trust in many people. I wonder why? Parasite
Just my opinion, sure he's a real 'nice' guy

bonedaddy said:

I agree

RealMusician said:

I'll be gentle.....
FUCK Larry G.

I haven't heard from LG in a while, he's alright I guess are you his brother or something?

Larry gets no love here

RealMusician said:

The mans bass playing is funky


Maceo is the man and has contributed big time.

the "LG period" is far from over.

he may not be as visible at public appearances, but he's still in the picture. don't forget, he performed at 3121 in vegas this year.

just sayin'.

No, negative

katt said:

Maceo contributed to James Brown's band, for sure. But I would say that:
1. He hasn't really developed as a player since (which is something like 40 years ago...)
2. He doesn't add anything to Prince's music that's not already there - as opposed to Eric Leeds, who contributed extensive bebop language, for instance.

Don't get me wrong, I think Maceo is a fantastic player in what he does...I just don't get why people won't acknowledge Larry's musicianship in the same way!

Graham Central Station were a Poor Mans Sly and The Family Stone.

Why Prince gave him the spotlight so often was beyond me.

Larry was a good bass player and important to the Sly and The Family Stone sound but Sly was the main man.

bonedaddy said:

Can you say this with certainty? Can anyone?

If Larry wanted to go out there and do Larry Graham, he could and he would have a nice fan base too. He chooses not to, so I doubt that his interest in Prince is/was for selfish reason.

Graycap23 said:

Can you put that in a poem?

Ha ha, somehow I knew people would go mad over this...

But all you bass players (and musicians in general) KNOW what I'm talking about.

Dissing Larry Graham from a musical standpoint is like dissing Mike Tyson or Michael Jackson - regardless of how you feel about them for other reasons, you still can't overlook their skill.
[Edited 3/5/07 13:28pm]

RealMusician said:

I still don't understand why people don't like him.
Blaming him for anything Prince does is like saying that Prince is weak or gullible.

Ok, I'll give props to Larry for being one of the funkiest bass players ever! I'll even give him his props for his contributions to Sly and The Family Stone.

Now as for his time with Prince...well, I was none too happy about the whole JW aspects. I will however, be eternally grateful to Jehovah, Larry, Mani and whoever else helped Prince find his way through his really rough times and back to doing what he was put on this earth to do...make music! I've learned to let that fact outweigh any other feelings that have surfaced.

Larry can play the hell out of that bass. Thats all that I care about. And he's funky.Pow.

[/quote]I still don't understand why people don't like him.
Blaming him for anything Prince does is like saying that Prince is weak or gullible.[/quote]

Maybe so, He probably was mentally weak, lets not under-estimate what shit the guy had been through around that period. And another thing, This Larry guy was looked up to by Prince all through his early years, he would have done anything for Larry, and he knew it. in my opinion he was helping Chaka and Larry get back on track offering them some deal, getting them on-board with his new, radical ideas.He needed friends around and he almost bought them really, offering album deals and going on tour with him, Larry knew what he was doing, I can't prove a fucking thing. All you have to do is watch the eyes in interviews, selfish motherfucka.
But hey, he did play funky bass. My the way, Maceo brought a sound which Prince embraced, you can hear it clearly, I believe.

Actually, if you think about the albums that were out when Prince was constantly running around with Larry Graham, they were "New Power Soul" and "Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic". "New Power Soul" should have been called "New Power Shit" because it was full of shit hop and shit hop influences throughout a lot of the album. The album "Rave" had it's shit hop moments also and even included guest stars which Prince never did previously.

I see those years as Prince's "sellout years" more than I see them as the Larry Graham years. Larry didn't influence Prince to make bullshit like that. Larry had been about funk and that bullshit that Prince was releasing during that era was pure selling out to the shit hop sound on the radio.

As for the Jehovah's Witness influence, yeah, I definately think he influenced Prince in that department. I sure as hell don't agree with Jehovah's Witnesses but it's Prince's life, not mine, and I can tune that looney shit out as long as the music is funky. I can tolerate Jehovah Witness preaching long before I can tolerate shit hop.....which is something I do not tolerate period.
.
.
[Edited 3/7/07 8:09am]

bonedaddy said:

And is it possible that perhaps Larry genuinely wanted to help him? I don't know anything about their dealings but is it possible that Prince insisted on including Larry because he was grateful to him or because he genuinely likes him?

Either way, let's say that Larry had bad intentions (Even though no one has yet shown any evidence of this) Prince is not a Larry's Witness so what would have been his gain?

Good thread, RealMusician.

I've been known to add my fair share of criticisim on Larry's relationship with Prince over the years, but it's true... he is a great bass player, and historically, possibly the most influential bass player of the last 40 years.

Props where it's due.

vainandy said:

Exactly, regardless of what you think about those records (I actually happen to like much of it) - musically, Larry was never the one who messed up. He delivered!

toejam said:

Well-said.

anon said:

$$$$$

RealMusician said:

Have U ever seen a Maceo show?
I have. This past Columbus day. That old man is OFF DA HOOK!!! His show was so funky it hurt my feelings.

Don't get me wrong. I love me some Larry.
His religious beliefs or his friendship with Prince has nothing to do with FUNK.

anon said:

maybe prince should have turned to drinking or drugs instead.



with that being said, larry is one annoying entity.

Graycap23 said:

That's pretty harsh. What makes you feel so strongly?

sosgemini said:

-----
I really hope your joking. I agree with the comments below. I don't know if Larry or JW's had everything to do with the changes we are seeing P but, trust me he is growing old with class and style. If he retired today he would be going out on top.

"Now as for his time with Prince...well, I was none too happy about the whole JW aspects. I will however, be eternally grateful to Jehovah, Larry, Mani and whoever else helped Prince find his way through his really rough times and back to doing what he was put on this earth to do...make music! I've learned to let that fact outweigh any other feelings that have surfaced"

Not that this has anything to do with Larry, but when I pick up my guitar and play Prince songs, almost overwhelmingly I play:

Beautiful, Loved and Blessed
Last December
4 The Tears in Your Eyes
The Holy River
One of Us
The Cross
The Word

I am drawn to the spiritual songs. Maybe it's because I think they're more cutting edge.