I found this video of Rick playing bass:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related

Rick sounds groovy but it wasn't enough for me to build my opinion of his bass skills.

Many people say he had great instrumental skills

and that he played everything in studio except horns.

[Edited 12/29/10 19:05pm]

yes

Duh lol

NOt in my book. I find Rick a phenomenal composer of bass riffs, but haven't been very impresed with his ability to play the licks live. If you see him live he's probably rocking the mike as a balladeer, grabbing the neck like a tennis racket. Props go to Oscar ALston for live performance.

To clarify: GOOD yes

GREAT is up for debate!

[Edited 12/29/10 19:38pm]

[Edited 12/29/10 20:11pm]

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I'm not sure what you think this reveals regarding Rick's bass playing abilities. He's strumming an impromptu ditty on 6 string guitar!!

PFunkjazz said:

NOt in my book. I find Rick a pheniomenal composer of bass riffs, but haven't been very impresed with his ability to play the licks live. If you see him live he's probably rocking the mike as a balladeer, grabbing the neck like a tennis racket. Props go to Oscar ALston for live performance.

To clarify: GOOD yes

GREAT is up for debate!

[Edited 12/29/10 19:38pm]

From what I've seen, I totally agree.

PFunkjazz said:

NOt in my book. I find Rick a pheniomenal composer of bass riffs, but haven't been very impresed with his ability to play the licks live. If you see him live he's probably rocking the mike as a balladeer, grabbing the neck like a tennis racket. Props go to Oscar ALston for live performance.

To clarify: GOOD yes

GREAT is up for debate!

[Edited 12/29/10 19:38pm]

True. Rick was good as a musician but yeah I don't think he was a "great" bass player nor do I think that was really his intention anyway.

[Edited 12/29/10 19:54pm]

PFunkjazz said:

NOt in my book. I find Rick a pheniomenal composer of bass riffs, but haven't been very impresed with his ability to play the licks live. If you see him live he's probably rocking the mike as a balladeer, grabbing the neck like a tennis racket. Props go to Oscar ALston for live performance.

To clarify: GOOD yes

GREAT is up for debate!

[Edited 12/29/10 19:38pm]

Agree x 1000. Whether live or on wax I've never seen or heard Rick play any instrument in way that justifies the props he's given as a musician. I wouldn't call him a poser either. But he is not a great musician, on any instrument, based on what I've seen, heard, and even read (credits) over the past 30 years.

Timmy84 said:

PFunkjazz said:

NOt in my book. I find Rick a phenomenal composer of bass riffs, but haven't been very impresed with his ability to play the licks live. If you see him live he's probably rocking the mike as a balladeer, grabbing the neck like a tennis racket. Props go to Oscar ALston for live performance.

To clarify: GOOD yes

GREAT is up for debate!

True. Rick was good as a musician but yeah I don't think he was a "great" bass player nor do I think that was really his intention anyway.

Well see now you're getting into things like his rivalry with Bootsy as a bass innovator (which only existed in Rick's head).

[Edited 12/29/10 20:16pm]

PFunkjazz said:

Timmy84 said:

True. Rick was good as a musician but yeah I don't think he was a "great" bass player nor do I think that was really his intention anyway.

[Edited 12/29/10 19:54pm]

Well see now you're getting into things like his rivalry with Bootsy as a bass innovator (which only existed in Rick's head).

[Edited 12/29/10 20:15pm]

[Edited 12/29/10 20:15pm]

What? I didn't know they even had one! If so Rick was silly to think he could've matched Bootsy!

Timmy84 said:

PFunkjazz said:

Well see now you're getting into things like his rivalry with Bootsy as a bass innovator (which only existed in Rick's head).

[Edited 12/29/10 20:15pm]

[Edited 12/29/10 20:15pm]

What? I didn't know they even had one! If so Rick was silly to think he could've matched Bootsy!

Rick was competing with the George Clinton and Bootsy for funk supremacy on all fronts.

PFunkjazz said:

Timmy84 said:

What? I didn't know they even had one! If so Rick was silly to think he could've matched Bootsy!

Rick was competing with the George Clinton and Bootsy for funk supremacy on all fronts.

Yeah he basically got his look and stage presence from P-Funk (and the Bar-Kays).

Timmy84 said:

PFunkjazz said:

Rick was competing with the George Clinton and Bootsy for funk supremacy on all fronts.

Yeah he basically got his look and stage presence from P-Funk (and the Bar-Kays).

I was just about to mention that

funkpill said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah he basically got his look and stage presence from P-Funk (and the Bar-Kays).

I was just about to mention that

I don't know if anyboody in PFunk was wearing dreads at the time, but Rick has clearly stated he modelled his after Bob Marley.

PFunkjazz said:

funkpill said:

I was just about to mention that

I don't know if anyboody in PFunk was wearing dreads at the time, but Rick has clearly stated he modelled his after Bob Marley.

What the braids? I think if he had wanted to look like Bob, he would've had those wild locks. His dreads (Rick's) look more close to Stevie's around that time so I'm thinking he was emulating Stevie.

Timmy84 said:

PFunkjazz said:

I don't know if anyboody in PFunk was wearing dreads at the time, but Rick has clearly stated he modelled his after Bob Marley.

What the braids? I think if he had wanted to look like Bob, he would've had those wild locks. His dreads (Rick's) look more close to Stevie's around that time so I'm thinking he was emulating Stevie.

Like I said, he clearly stated he was emulating Bob Marley.

Timmy84 said:

PFunkjazz said:

I don't know if anyboody in PFunk was wearing dreads at the time, but Rick has clearly stated he modelled his after Bob Marley.

What the braids? I think if he had wanted to look like Bob, he would've had those wild locks. His dreads (Rick's) look more close to Stevie's around that time so I'm thinking he was emulating Stevie.

In his autobiography he said he saw a performance with african dancers (in the mid 70's) and they were wearing the braids. So he got one of the female dancers to braid his. Whether or not he was going for the Marley look I don't know. I do know he was a big Bob Marley fan, so it doesn't really surprise me, but I haven't seen or heard anything of him mentioning this.

To some extent, Kiss was an influence too. Hence, Rick recording a track called "Love Gun".

They're people who are good at what they do, exceptional great at what they do, and brilliant at what they do. To answer your question . . . Mr. Rick James was a good, solid bass player.