Let’s talk about the legendary Larry Graham, the inventor of the “thump and pluck” style of bass playing without which we’d have no funk. We can stop right there, can’t we? That’s reason enough to give the man a Nobel.

Graham was the bass player for Sly and the Family Stone from 1966 through 1972, which places him on stage during Woodstock’s greatest set. After Sly, the bassist formed Graham Central Station, which is a name he still tours under. The nineties saw Graham collaborating with Prince, and I got my own live fix of Graham Central Station during one of those tours.

Ain’t No ‘Bout-A-Doubt It from 1975 is as funky as you could hope for. Check it out:

Five to ten bucks will get you either a vinyl or CD copy. Happy hunting.