Since I first asked the question in 1994 I have come to learn that bass duties on "Fresh" were split between Rusty Allen, Sly Stone and Larry Graham. My first indication that someone other than Rusty Allen might be playing on the album was the article "Hey! Mr. Bassman!" (Black Music & Jazz Review, Sept. 1980:)

"Sly & the Family Stone had twelve hits between 1968 and the Fresh album, after which Graham quit. (Although he played on the album he isn't credited and Rusty Allen is pictured as the band's bassist.)"

Larry Graham has since told me that he does, in fact, play bass on several songs on Fresh, stating: "I'm playing on the ones that were already 'in the can' before I left. That's me playing on 'Que Sera, Sera.'"

In a personal conversation with Neal Austinson, Larry told Neal that he is also playing bass on the song "If it Were Left Up To Me." When Neal asked him who is playing the classic bassline on "If You Want Me To Stay," Larry replied: "That's Sly playing bass. He was a great bass player."

I asked Rusty Allen who is playing bass on "If You Want Me To Stay" in July 1997. He confirmed that it is indeed Sly. Rusty remembers providing basslines for "In Time," "Let Me Have It All" and "Keep On Dancin'." Provided that everyone's memories are correct, this would put the bass lineup for Fresh at: