Don, Fully is one of my best friends (was best man at his wedding) I am in the Blues Hall of Fame as a bassist for Taj Mahal and many other blues artists. I was in a band with Fully and Tony Chin for over 10 years as their keyboard player, Fully's playing is just absolutely sterling..just as he is as a human. We backed Big Youth, U-Roy, The Mighty Diamonds, Eek-A-Mouse and many, many other reggae artists. As a bass player playing keyboards, I got to appreciate his musical artistry...FULLY FULLWOOD IS WICKED!
Stalag is heading for 50 years old and I don’t remember a time when it hasn’t been in rotation during my lifetime. Sister Nancy has a rejuvenated career because of it. Real rock and The Answer are maybe the closest in terms of popularity, but you rarely hear them in their original form. Stalag is Fully and Santa and will always be cemented in the history books of reggae music. I hope this makes Fully proud.
@@donstrumental8905 That reggae lovers in the dancehall to this day still bawl out for classic riddims over 50 years after they were created and recorded is a testament to the ingenuity and simple power of these riddims and the amazing bassists who created them.
When I was coming up playing bass in LA, I would run into Santa playing gigs around the city. Fully didn't like me, not at all ! But Santa would just laugh and say no pay him no mind, he's a born screwface ! I met Robbie ( RIP ), Flabba, Fams, Danny from Firehouse and played gigs w a band that Ronnie Steppa McQueen was in, got along famously w all of them ! But Fully was one o watched because his discography is staggering, whether he liked me or not 😝😂😂😂
I have been listening to reggae since 1984 when I heard “Jammin” by Bob Marley on Miami Vice. I’ve learned so much from your channel and I am a better bass player for it, thank you good sir.
This riddim sweet! There are over 300 separate recordings featuring the Stagalag! The bass is like the fundamental 'drum' that defines the music. I love Heavenless and Shank I Shek same way. But dis ya riddim is so wikked, Bob Marley & the Wailers used to bring Bob up on stage to it! Fully (along with Robbie Shakespeare and Haile Maskel) is my mentor on bass, the one I originally learned from.
Ring the alarm, Bam Bam, and countless others on the mix-tapes, discovering Dance-Hall at that time...indeed this is the one bassline covering everything fun I ever did ...respect!!!!
Love the reggae musical history you're dropping here, I'm so glad I found your channel, I'm learning a ton that I might not have found otherwise. Thank You.
Thank you sir. Just found your station and subbed after your very first question. I often ask that question and then find myself hours later (After going thru a selection of tunes) still none the wiser. Your question "What is the greatest reggae riddim?" - You mention: Answer riddim, Sleng Teng, Stalag, Taxi, Heavy Rock. I would also like to add Real Rock, Pressure & Slide, Lecturer & Pick up the Pieces. If you haven't done so already, I hope you explore each of these champion riddimz. And maybe if time permits, give us your thoughts on who rode each riddim the best. @6:36 You hit the nail on the head when you say that the modern tunes lack interesting riddimz, i couldn't agree more. The Stalag bass you play has stirred me to pick up my bass and follow along and learn. So on so many levels, thank you friend. No, thank you Sensi...Looking forward to more of your stuff.
REGGAE IS A CULTURAL REVOLUTION THAT HAS TOUCHED EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET, MUSIC EDUCATION IS NOT AN EXCEPTION. THERE IS MASTERY AND GENIUS IN THE SIMPLICITY OF THE PRESENT BASS LINE. NEVER THE THE LESS IT IS GREAT CLASSROOM STUFF FOR ANY BEGINNER. IN JUST 30 MINUTES ONE IS READY TO TAKE THIS MASTER PIECE TO THE SHED FOR FURTHER PRACTICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH🎉🎉🎉
BADDEST DRUM AND BASS PLAYER COMBINATION ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE AND SLY DUNBAR. CHECK BASSLINES ON THE BLACK UHURU, ANTHEM ALBUM. As a matter of fact one of the greatest album ever made with top melody lines, creativity, and inventive sounds which change reggae and influence what reggae is today. that album was reggae with a combination of every genre included all mixed in as one. Letting Jamaica and all reggae musicians know reggae can change from its original form. my opinion as a musician, keyboard player, song writer and a member of URIJAH BAND.
Was blessed to open up and warm the stage for Israel Vibration a couple weeks back in Santa Barbara, California and Fully was on bass as Flabba had issues securing his visa. Fully Fullwood is always so down to earth and a joy to reason with.
santa fully fullwood china...what a team !!! what i respect the most with santa and fully fullwood is that they were able to play heavy ghetto style ala roots radics as much as playing more complex and technical sound with word sound and power for exemple. the weird part of it is they are criminally ignored by some when it comes to rank the best at the time..
Riddim up Don. I know this is too much to ask but a 20 greatest riddims video would be most awesome. Real Rock, World Jam, Swing Easy, Freedom Blues, Joy Ride, General, Far East, Day Oh, Sleng Teng, Bam Bam, Gangster Anthem, Good Looking Gal, and of course the Stalag riddim to name a few. Thank you much for all you do.
Don, as a rock and funk bass player, the One Drop drum pattern amazes me. With rock and funk, there is heavy emphasis on the one. I’m very curious as to how this beat developed to where it accents just the three.
Family Man , Fully, Flabba, Shakespeare --->> MASSIVE Vibes for Upliftment of the People .. all doing their part at a very high Level. . not a competition . . straight Vibes. Respect to the Singers and Players of Instruments - Forward (of course I have not listed other incredible bass players here that are also doing the works, but when you mention bass these are the first four that come to mind on those Levels and from JA
Yours are, by far, the best reggae bass lessons on the web. A lot of insight around reggae bass and not just the nuts and bolts. Thank you so much, please keep up the good work.
Another fantastic video Don, going beyond the demo realms and exploring the possibilities for future protégés. Yes of course, General Echo's Arleen, rocked it from time, and the Answer riddim (Phillip Frazer - Never Let Go, great example) along with Realrock riddim, assisted by Vin Gordon's sublime contribution, is another, they are the Dancehall Titans. I have many personal favourites, Bobby Ellis - Shank I Sheck (High Note), Testify riddim, (Treasure Isle), I'm Just a Guy, Alton Ellis (Callie) riddim, (Studio One), Walk Walk, Wailing Souls (Studio One), Iron Side, Jackie Mittoo (Studio One). Gonna Fight riddim, Heptones (Studio One), Won't you Come Home, Delroy Wilson, (Studio One). In fact, Studio One list will go forever. Bless up!
Hey Rich, I hope some of the newbies around here get round to reading your comments. I deliberately titled this video greatest RIDDIM bass line and not greatest bass line as that would be an impossible task to feature the greatest bass line. You specifically mention Philip Frazers Answer which is my favorite cut of Answer and probably Fully on bass. It’s really simple. These riddims are the blueprint for anyone wanting to move forward with reggae bass. I always say Everything any bassist needs to learn about reggae bass was done in the rock steady era. Thanks for the list in this post and I hope watchers of the channel research the riddims you list here.
thanx i love all the irie and teaching get the knowleg and importans of the reggae bass lines the inventors bless up all artist of the 4 strings that are past and still live keep the spirit up the thundring boom bastic sound of the reggae bass.bless and thanx DON..this is defintley a strong bassline ...
Thanks for you videos: helpful,practical. Beginners can practise and immediately enjoy what they've learned. Thanks all the way from senegal,west africa!
Ooh wah..🌺yeps mi bredda.. now, yuh mek me wan see a dive into Soul Syndicate,🤷🏿♂️as a Fully funded conspiracy. I and I in Boston heard them a play in 1978, the I-ras Jahn did record that night, and fed all a we, in 💨Caboose.. fe years with ‘ mariwana’, and every chune, 🇲🇱Jah inspired..from Earl, Donovan Carless, Tony Chin, ‘Wicked a go FeeI It’ , ‘we had love’, so sweet.💥
Big Ups Brother Don… Digging your Massively generous and Fully Well insightful and sweet Bass tone and Vibes Thanks so much for keeping the spirit and long lasting memories of the wonderful and Great musical Genius of the Legends Bless the Flow Bro
Love your channel. I've been playing in band with now a great Jamiacan mate, I just didn't realise how much I didn't know as always played blues/jazz etc. This has lifted me out of a long musical rut. Thank you for giving an old man a new lease of musical life Love, peace and dropbeat to you brother x
Another great video! I was playing this along to the backing track last night and noticed it didn't sound quite like your version. Then realised that you're raking from the D to the G string. Subtle but important detail! Thanks for these great lessons!
Answer has always been an old favourite of mine but wailing souls firehouse rock, though might not be an exploit of many modern reggae artists unlike stagalag and m16 and so on . I just love that bassline
Wow don that was great there is so much info Will get you some guyanse coffee from my resturant many thanks don you are a true teacher of reggae music god bless
I grew up listening to reggae and playing guitar but only recently started learning bass and specifically listening for certain basslines to try to figure them out. I found your channel a few months ago after searching "reggae basslines" to help me make a video for my own channel and now I can't get enough! This has to be the coolest channel or 'niche' as they like to say on RU-vid! Just bought my Riddim Up shirt and can't wait until it comes in! Much love and riddim up!! 🙏 🙌 ❤️ ❤️
