Track Listing

1. We've Been Waiting
2. It Ain't No Fun To Me
3. Hair
4. We Be's Getting Down
5. Tell Me What It Is
6. Can You Handle It
7. People
8. Why
9. Ghetto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146114 in Music
• Released on: 1996-01-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Import
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
Texas-born bassist Larry Graham changed the face of funk forever when he pioneered the thumb-slapping electric bass technique during his late-'60s tenure with Sly & the Family Stone. Subsequently, he set off on his own, starting Graham Central Station with ex-members of Hot Chocolate (of "You Sexy Thing" fame). GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION should strike a familiar chord with Sly Stone fans, as its all-in-the-family brand of greasy, progressive funk has much in common with Graham'sformer employer. Graham puts his thumb-popping style to good use on groove-centred tunes such as "Hair" and the Al Green R&B workout "It Ain't No Fun to Me". On "We Be's Gettin' Down", the interaction of the guitar, keyboards, and polyrhythmic percussion suggests the hazy, heady Sly of THERE'S A RIOT GOIN' ON. The ensemble vocals on "Tell Me What it Is" andthe opener "We've Been Waiting" contribute further to the group aesthetic that was also at the heart of Sly's finest work.

Customer Reviews

AWESOME FUNK POPPING BASS SLAPPING GROOVES!!!
This wonderful funk/soul/rock stew is the first album by former sly and the family stone bassist and musical collaborater,Larry Graham.His bass playing and wonderfully funky vocals can be heard on all the classic Sly and the family stone albums.If youre a fan of Sly Stone then you'll adore the flexible tunes on show on this album.Possibly more accessible and coherent than sly's music, yet none the worse for it, the sound quality is excellent. The tunes are mainly mid to uptempo funk/soul workouts but all have that one important ingredient, they all smoke! GCS have been sadly forgotten in recent times but were, for a while, as popular as Sly Stone himself. In my opinion they are more than ripe for a rediscovery. I can also recommend the albums Release Yourself and Aint no Doubt About it.Whatever you do buy one of these albums instead of the best of as they are far superior. Also check out Betty Davis' first album if you can.

Funkier than Mozart
What can you say? The man who invented the slap technique, an album of unparalleled funkiness, great songwriting, fantastic singing, terrific humour, cool clothes. It is not for nothing that Larry Graham is Prince's great musical hero and has paved the way for everyone from Bootsy to MeShelle NdegeOcello. Absolutely right up there with Innervisions, What's Going On, Headhunters, Back to Oakland as one of the 70's very greatest.
Larry, I salute you!

Bassfest
Larry Graham, formerly of Sly and the Family Stone, should be considerably more feted than he has been, being the father of funk bass. Top players like Mark King, Bootsy, Victor Wooten and Stu Hamm all owe a debt to him. This, and all the early GCS albums ,showcase his thunderous slap and pull technique. More than that though, the vibe is upbeat and chock full of funky tunes. For me the standout track is the very amusing 'Hair', the title of which is self-explanatory. So, if you're bag is 70s classic funk and you're not familiar with GCS, get a copy of this. Also recommended are 'Aint no bout and doubt it' and 'Release yourself'.