Author Topic: Mark King who? (Read 894 times)

son_of_magni · « **on:** January 06, 2004, 10:18:32 AM »

I guess I spent too much time listening to Jaco, Stanley, and Ron over the years. What is the first Level 42 album I should buy? (More bass, less vocals.)

rogertvr · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2004, 11:54:09 AM »

Try 'Influences', it's his first solo album. The first song is about 18 minutes long and split into various sections. I believe the whole album is a real time recording without much (any?) retouching. I've had it since it first appeared many many years ago, I still love it.

I hope this helps!

Rog

son_of_magni · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2004, 07:50:40 PM »

Thanks, that's great, now on order on Amazon. I stopped at Strawberries on the way home and they had two Level 42 cd's. One was a best of, and since I don't believe in ever buying best of's, I bought the other called Guaranteed. I really hope there's more to this guy than what he shows on this recording. There's hotter guys on the street corners in Boston. There's a couple nice tunes though.

In any case my dream bass should show up day after tomorrow, 6-string fretless. After 30 years of dreaming I'll have my Alembic!

bob · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2004, 11:03:46 PM »

Okay, another fretless player - I guess that means it's my turn to extend my warmest welcome to a new member.

I'll also admit that less than two years ago, when I got my first Alembic brochure, I had to ask someone who this Mark King guy was (and after the obvious response, what was Level 42?). At least I knew who Stanley was, and had a bunch of his recordings, those mostly earlier ones, and on upright - like most of my favorite bass players.

Now maybe I'm going to embarrass myself further, but in this context only two Rons come to mind. To my knowledge, Ron Wickersham only plays the oscilloscope (though brilliantly, of course); the other is Mr. Carter, though as much as I've enjoyed his playing over the years, it's a bit of a stretch to line him up with Jaco and Stanley. Am I missing someone?

At some further personal risk, I'll go out on a limb here: take some time to enjoy your new instrument, and don't be too pestered by the forthcoming pleas from the pauls for pictures. All in due time. But you could ease the pressure a bit by giving us a verbal description - woods, shape, electronics.

Congratulations. Even after 30 years of dreaming, my guess is you'll still find it to be better than you ever imagined.
-Bob

bracheen · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2004, 04:59:38 AM »

Hi Karl, congratulations on the new bass. Sounds like you'll have a great weekend! Wow a brand new MK 6 string. That's a pretty good way to get your Alembic feet wet. Photos are a must by the way.
Thanks, Bob, I was going to ask about Ron also.

Sam

son_of_magni · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2004, 06:43:39 AM »

Wow, thanks to everyone for the warm welcome! First, yes Bob, I meant Ran Carter. Not that his style is like Stanley or Jaco, it's just who I listened to. (I could have mentioned Felix Papalardi and Rick Laird too, heh.) More recently of course there's John Patituchi and Victor Wooten.

Fretless, yeah I started out on cello when I was 8, so soon after I took up bass in the early 70's I bought a fretless Fender P off the shelf and loved it. In the early 90's I wanted to get an Alembic but couldn't afford it and 'settled' for a 5-string fretless Pedula (penta-buzz) which has been my main bass since then. But it never diminished my desire for the Alembic. Over the years the only thing I regretted about the Pedula was that I didn't get a 6-string. So now I'll have what for me should be the perfect bass. Also I think it will be very interesting to compare the Alembic and Pedula for sound, action, playability, etc.

Pictures? I do have a digital camara but I don't have the bass yet. You can check here though:

http://www.basscentral.com/2003/alembic.shtml

It's the 6-string at the very bottom...
Thanks again, Karl

elzie · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2004, 06:48:38 AM »

don't be too pestered by the forthcoming pleas from the pauls for pictures

This is blasphemy!!!

Welcome to the club Karl and don't feel alone about this. When I first saw the Mark King basses in the catalog I said is this the same guy from Level 42? . Look around the site, you will find links to Mark King clips from tv shows, concerts, solos and such. You will then understand who he is. After seeing and hearing all of these, I listen to Level 42 in a completely new view. And one of the best things, to me, is that someone with his level (no pun intended) of talent can play in a band setting without sound like an overpowering presence, he fits right into the mix.

Oh yeah, about those pictures.......

Paul TGO

palembic · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2004, 07:14:58 AM »

Well ... let's prove that we Paul's are absolutely great guys, a sort nearly extinguished in mankind! Pictures???

Pictures!!!!! Karl, welcome to the club. Great to have you here and ...man ...what - a - bass!!! Paul the bad one

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2004, 07:15:33 AM »

I'm guessing the Ron that Karl referred to would be Ron Carter; I can't think of any other Rons at the moment.

I see he's already responded; I guess I'm a bit slow .

(Message edited by davehouck on January 07, 2004)

dean_m · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2004, 07:42:43 AM »

Hey Karl,

Welcome to the club!!!!
You wouldn't happen to be in the Boston area would you!?!?

Dino

jet_powers · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2004, 08:02:04 AM »

Karl,

Welcome to the club. Nice bass too. I started with a fretless P-bass myself and had a Pedulla pushed at me. I resisted though and figured I'd wait until I could get the extra dollars for the Alembic. One of the best decisions I ever made.

Brother Paul the bad one.... that was a good one! What good are empty beer bottles if I can't bang them against the bar and chant Pictures! Pictures!?

Paul the John one

son_of_magni · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2004, 08:09:23 AM »

Paul E, I'll keep listening!
Bad Paul, thanks...
Dino, I live in southern NH, work in North Reading. Ah, I see you are in Lowell, let me know when you are playing in the area! Interesting quote There's no money below the 5th fret. I remember a famous cello player said I make all my money in first position.

dean_m · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2004, 08:59:57 AM »

Wow, my wife and I are looking into moving to the Pelham/Londonderry area. What a small world!!! Well let me be the first to welcome you to the ANEC(Alembic New England Chapter). I think we are up to about 5 or 6 members now.
In fact Paul the John One and Paul TGO are both charter members as well. And Paul The Bad One is an honorary member seeing he named it ANEC, and he's just an all around wonderful person to talk with. We're trying to get him over here from Belgium to sit and drink some beer and play some bass with us. We'll all have to get together sometime soon to compare basses.
In the meantime, I'm at Garrisons in Billerica just about every Friday starting the 23rd of this month. I'm playing upright though so no Alembics will be present.
I actually messed that quote up BTW. It should be there's no money above the 5th fret. I wonder if the instructor I got it from knows your cello player. HMMMMM

Anyway talk soon.

Dino (Paul the Fake One)

palembic · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2004, 09:00:56 AM »

Oh ...euh ...how are you bass-players counting?? I thought the quote was: there is no money ABOVE the fifth fret.

Paul's ...what would be this club without us banging empty bottles on the counter and yelling pictures-pictures !!!?!?!?

You know ...when -ever- we'll come together we'll start a Paul's band. The John one, the good one, the bad one, the fake one may play lead (above the 5th fret ...I KNOW he does brilliantly) and when we are all quite maybe the silent one will join us on his georguous SII guitar (huh ...oh ...eh ....a guitar is the same as a bass but the strings are pitched higher ...they are very noisy ...have you ever seen one of those? LOL).

We'll play a version of Smoke on the water that will be worth to remember ...oh yeah!
(I'll stay hammering on E LOL).

Paul the bad one

Rats ...the Fake one saw it too!
Hi there DIno ...so you want to move? Will I have somne baby-sitting to do in between?? Send your children to their long lost thought uncle in Belgium HA!!!!!

Oh ..euh ... about your bass Karl.
Brothers and Sisters on the club know I'm nor very keen on that pointed headstock but let ne say this: your bass -with the balance point upper horn, omega cutout and with 6 strings is the first model I see where I find that headstock completely acceptable designwise spoken. Beware ...this is highly personal taste.

Oh ...and so you're member of the Drunken Bunnies too? Watch out the Good one ...he's also good in brewing beers. A VERY dangerous man!!!!!!

(Message edited by palembic on January 07, 2004)

dean_m · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2004, 09:54:42 AM »

Brother Paul,

I know my babies couldn't be in better hands with Uncle Paul baby sitting.
Regarding the 5th fret thing, one of my students brought it to my attention that above the 5th fret would be the 6th, 7th etc, So I figured I'd better change it. Like Karl's cello player said I make all my money in first position.
When I'm wrong, I admit it!!!!! Sorry for the confusion.