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

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

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

Related articles

• Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player!
• Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player #1 Bootsy Collins
• The Greatest Soul Singer of All Time….frankie Beverly
• The Greatest Soul Singer of All Time….eugene Record
• TH4 164th MIX FOR F.S.V.B
• THE 162nd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60’s 70’s and 80’s # 15

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s

The one’s that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I purchased on Vinyl many Years ago and also now have them on CD or Digital Download today.

You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

Number 15………..SLAVE……….SHOWTIME

In 1981 My Favorite Band of All-Time, Dayton Funk Band “Slave” Released their 6th Album on the Cotillion Record Label, Produced by Jimmy Douglass.


It was the Last album to Feature “Steve Arrington” before He left to Form His Own Band “Hall of Fame” the Following Year!


The Album Reached Number 46 on the US Billboard Pop Album Chart and Number 7 on the Us Billboard Soul Album Chart.


The Track list, as follows:

1. “Snap Shot” 4:43 ( Adams,  Arrington,  Carter, Douglass,  Miller)
2. “Party Lites” 4:55 (Adams, Arrington, Carter, Webster)
3. “Spice of Life” 4:57 (Douglas, Carter, Arrington)
4. “Smokin” 5:25 ( Carter, Webster, Arrington)
5. “Wait for Me” 5:18 (Adams, Arrington, Carter, Webster)
6. “Steal Your Heart” 5:24 (Adams, Arrington, Carter, Douglass, Webster)
7. “For the Love of U” 5:08 (Adams, Arrington, Carter, Carter, Miller, Webster)
8. “Funken Town” 3:46 ( Carter, Webster, Miller, Johnson, Parker, Carter, Arrington)

Slave Personal for the Album:

• Danny Webster: lead and rhythm guitar, percussion, lead and backing vocals
• Kevin Johnson: rhythm and lead guitar
• Sam Carter: keyboards, percussion, vocals
• Charles Carter: flute, saxophone, keyboards
• Mark Antone Adams: bass guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Steve Arrington: drums, percussion, vocals
• Roger Parker: drums, percussion
• Delburt Taylor: keyboards, flute, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
• Floyd Miller: trumpet, trombone, percussion

What a Fantastic Album this was, Probably “Slave’s” Best!


All Track’s were Uptempo, apart from One (Track 7) and that was Probably the Weakest Track on the Album!


Which was The Best Track, I would probably say “Wait For Me”
but they are all Great, but as I Love the “Bass” with the Late “Mark Adams” being my Favorite Bass Player,  I also Liked “Smokin”


The Album had 3 Singles Released: Tracks 1, 5 and 2, with “Snap Shot” gaining the Highest Chart Placing!

One thing I always remember about this Particular Album, My Parents went to USA on Holiday in ’81 and they Brought it back for me!


The only Trouble was, on the Journey back from Holiday, the Suitcase must have Been “Really Hot” on the Aeroplane, Because the First Track on the Album was “Warped” so that Meant Track 1 on Both Sides “Was Unplayable” Snap Shot and Wait For Me!


Luckily these were The Single Releases, so I got them that Way.


What a Fantastic Album and to think its now 31 Year’s Old!

Play or Download the Album!

http://www.4shared.com/pl/lM8w_r6D/slave__showtime.html
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SLAVE Part 5

The 1985 release was called “Unchained at Last” it reached number “56” in US R&B Chart!

In UK it was on the “Certain Record Label”

My couple of Favorite tracks on Album were : “Thrill Me” and “Dont Waste My Tyme”

Group members had changed slighty, the Main 3 Members were still in Slave, Mark Adams,Floyd Miller & Danny Webster, 2 members from previous album, Keith Nash & Aubrey Rivers and 2 new members, Kenny Anderson & Billy Beck.

The 1987 release “Make Believe” on Ichiban, was Slaves last Studio Album to Chart in US (@ No:44)

My favorite Tracks were ” Juicy “O” & “You Take My Breathe Away”

Band Members were now down to 4, including Adams, Nash, Webster & Miller, also back for this Album was Charles Cedell Carter (from “Hall of Fame”) he was on Sax Keyboards & Vocals, but strangely enough was not on Album Cover photo shoot!

1988 saw “Slave 88” released on Ichiban, it contained a new version of “Slide” not a patch on the original version.

The same line up as previous Album, but with 2 additions, one was Charles Carter’s Brother”Sam” also from “Hall of Fame” & back was Mark”Drac” Hicks, the original Lead Guitarist!

1990 saw the release of “Rebirth” on Ichiban, 2 great tracks were “Thrill Me” & “Andys Ways”

But what always amazed me about this Album, and I have never seen anything written about it either! was the fact that the rear Album Shot was the same Photo Shoot as the 1987 release “Make Believe”

What was even stranger was Slaves line up was ” Adams, Webster, Nash, Hicks & Sam Carter, but the rear Album cover had Floyd Miller with his Trumbone on it!

I cant find nothing of Floyd Miller in Slave at this time, but as I said this was a photo for 3 years previous, so perhaps money was tight!

I have found some cheap Downloads! of most of Slaves Albums, Click the Links below!



Or check this out , look for “download this torrent” on left hand side of page!

SLAVE part 4

By the time of the 1982 “Visions of the Lite” Album was released (on Cotillion) Steve Arrington had left the Band, but there were 3 new Members, Ronny Cochran, Delbert C Taylor & Marvin Wheatley!

The best track on the Album was “Do you like it Girl”, it was Produced (as was the Album) by the 3 Original Slave members, Floyd Miller, Danny Webster & Mark Adams!

To Download complete Album Press Here!

The next Album “Bad Enuff” came out in 1983, again on Cotillion, and again more changes to the Line-up! By this time Danny Webster was singing Lead Vocals and he was joined by a couple of other Lead Vocalists by the names of Wayne Foote & Eugene Jackson.

To Download the complete Album, Press Here!

See my previous post on Slave , for my encounter with Wayne Foote at a Dazz Band Concert!

The Best Tracks on this Album were “Steppin’ Out” & “Turn you Out”

This Album was Produced by Jimmy Douglass again!

The 1984 release was ” New Plateau” by this time Slave seem to have lost their way a bit! again they had changed the line-up, adding 3 new Band Members including Keith Nash, Aubrey Rivers & Charles Cedell Carter, the latter going on to Steve Arringtons Hall of Fame, later!

My favorite Tracks were “E Z Lovin’ U” & “Jungle Dance”

Two things that did stay the same were the Record Label & the Producer!

To Download complete Album Press Here!

Also in 1984 “Slave” released ” The Best Of” Album!