Album of the Day

The bass is at the bedrock of funk, and Larry Graham is one of the instrument's greatest masters. After cutting several seminal albums with his cousin Sly Stone's band, Graham formed his own group and signed with Warner Bros. The final WB collection from Graham Central Station, STAR WALK, was released in 1979, and is a tour de force of R&B. Of course there's the gutbucket funk of such tracks as "(You're A) Foxy Lady," "Scream" and "The Entertainer," led by Larry's justly famous slap-bass work. But there's also the soul ballad “Tonight” (hinting at the Top 10 success of Graham's “One in a Million You” the following year) and a convincing stab at Eurodisco in the title track. Larry Graham was born on this day in 1946, and we'll wish him a happy birthday with STAR WALK.