Just finished listening to one of my favourite crossover tracks, the magnificent Sonny Til - Tears and Misery on RCA. Now in Hammy's opinion, this record has a bassline so sturdy that you could hang a thousand rain drenched duffle coats on it .... that's a complement btw ! lol

Sooooooo.... out of all your soul faves, what are your favourite basslines - it doesn't matter if these are on northern or rare soul tunes. For example, another track which I think has a fantastic bass and rhythm section is James Carr's - Stronger Than Love, I think the bassline can 'make' a track almost ( I did say almost !) as much as the vocal ... and on STL you get a heavenly marriage of both.

Opinions/ thoughts?

Hammy

Just finished listening to one of my favourite crossover tracks, the magnificent Sonny Til - Tears and Misery on RCA. Now in Hammy's opinion, this record has a bassline so sturdy that you could hang a thousand rain drenched duffle coats on it .... that's a complement btw ! lol

Sooooooo.... out of all your soul faves, what are your favourite basslines - it doesn't matter if these are on northern or rare soul tunes. For example, another track which I think has a fantastic bass and rhythm section is James Carr's - Stronger Than Love, I think the bassline can 'make' a track almost ( I did say almost !) as much as the vocal ... and on STL you get a heavenly marriage of both.

Opinions/ thoughts?

Hammy

Great topic Hammy,

The greatest bassline for me is on one of the cheapest records we all own. It ranks up with any 'classical' music or anything I've ever heard recorded in any style or genre. It is of course......

Stevie Wonder - UPIGHT! - Tamla

There are a couple of others I think are fantastic but I'll not hog your thread. Back later with a couple more.

Regards,

Dave

www.theresthatbeat.com

www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

lonely for you baby has probably the strongest bass line i can think of?

Ohh er, loads really, i suppose Nsoul is very base driven so could choose any number.

Was listening to 7th Avenue Aviators as i read this thread & noticed the base lines are more intricate than i would have thought on that record.

I would say base lines got more pronounced & intricate as the decades moved on, one of my favourites from the 70's is 'Hokis Pokis - Swing' the whole song is woven around the base on that one, as if 'the base came first & we'll write a song around it' if you get what i mean ?

Another James Carr classic for me: That's What I Wanna Know. Anyone know who the bass player was on his cuts ?

Kings Of Soul - Is Your Love For Me... has a good one

david coleman my foolish heart

Oooh.. I love a good bass line. For me, favourite has to be Vibrations - Cause You're Mine! Just had a listen to Lancers - Bassology (thank you search) - cool instrumental!

Edited January 29, 200718 yr by ♫ Soulgirl ♫

I'll beat Mr Moore to it with Bernadette. A bass line so complex that no one, I think I am right in saying, has managed to actually perform it the way James Jamerson did.

A virtuoso performance from the undoubted master.

What about.... something a bit more soul-agit-punk-rock-tastic... e.g.

Vickie Baines - Country Girl

OOOhhhh or what about The Embers - Aware of Love. Don't let the image of everyone's favourite North Carolinian "weatherman lookalikes" deceive you! Some bass line on that !

And finally a song I really dislike. Karmello Brooks - Tell Me Baby ... oddly popular and worthy only because of the nimble fretwork in the bass register... lol

Hammy

I used to share a student house with the bass player from a NWOBHM band, and he loved the following because he could copy the bass parts in them...

Montclairs - Hung Up On Your Love

and

Frankie Valli - The Night.

gotta be the cashmeres for me...dont let the door hit your back...goes rite thro ya

cookie

how about gino washington "like my baby" atac / mala

I'll beat Mr Moore to it with Bernadette. A bass line so complex that no one, I think I am right in saying, has managed to actually perform it the way James Jamerson did.

A virtuoso performance from the undoubted master.

Good Call Brian,

One of the enigmas that is Jamerson imo is how he can be so aggressive on one song and yet so delicate on another. Take for instance his contributions to the two songs here:

https://www.soulclub.org/stream/Jackie_Wils..._And_Higher.ram

https://www.soulclub.org/stream/Marvin_Gaye...ing_Brother.ram

First one it's as though he and the drummer (Benjamin?) are the amost 'dragging' everyone else along. Only Jackie Wilson could compete with them on this track. Anyone else would have been smotherd by them imo.

Second one, you can hardly spot his Fender at all, but it's as vital to the whole sound as much as Marvin's vocal.

Maestro indeed.

Regards,

Dave

www.theresthatbeat.com

www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

Have to say... it's this one for me... just awesome!!

ASK FOR ONE GOOD REASON - larry williams - okeh

14061 refosoul

Edited January 29, 200718 yr by jumpinjoan

Have to say... it's this one for me... just awesome!!

ASK FOR ONE GOOD REASON - larry williams - okeh

14061 refosoul

Superb choice from the first lady of soul there - that one bobs along sweet as a nut. Notice how the bassist never loses control of it. He keeps the whole track simmering, and yet never once does it boil over. The key is tasteful restraint - wish I could apply it to my dress sense ;-)

hammy

Now this is how to build a track round a bassline.

Use this to blow the cobwebs away when we set our equipment up.

Prominent - Step Into My World

10153 refosoul

Now this is how to build a track round a bassline.

Use this to blow the cobwebs away when we set our equipment up.

Prominent - Step Into My World

10153 refosoul

You're right about the build! Lottie loved it.

8620 refosoul

Pushin and Pullin - Lovemasters

BASS

Edited January 29, 200718 yr by richard

This is a bit good too.....

NEXT BEST THING - buddy lamp - d town

14063 refosoul

Edited January 29, 200718 yr by jumpinjoan

When I saw the title Two Bass Hit I thought you were on about this......which just happens to contain the brilliant jazz choon Milestones....'kin awsome

I just remembered something....Gavin do you remember playing Milestones at a soul do...I think it was in Derby in a basement somewhere....I think you drove me and Cliff there....and as I remember right you were a mad driver Val

Edited January 29, 200718 yr by Chunky

Little Ann - "Who Are You Trying To Fool"

'Nuff Said!!

Hi Chunky - a fellow Miles fan eh ? Must confess it was a play on words. Glad you picked up on it.

I'll say one thing. Miles could teach today's youngsters how to dress. No hoodies for the prince of darkness !

Hammy

I used to share a student house with the bass player from a NWOBHM band, and he loved the following because he could copy the bass parts in them...

Montclairs - Hung Up On Your Love

and

Frankie Valli - The Night.

A what band?

A what band?

New Wave of British Heavy Metal - I kid ye not !

Hammy

My fave bassline is def. 2001: Black Essence "Change in my life" (JWJ)

Midtempo crossover heaven with HEAVY bass guitar..

Edited January 30, 200718 yr by cC B

Intro and bass line in Fontella Bass - Rescue me- bliss

Earl Grant- Hide nor hair - bass speaker just about avoiding disintegration as the bassist enjoys a few seconds of glory near the end.

Lofty

Now this is how to build a track round a bassline.

Use this to blow the cobwebs away when we set our equipment up.

Prominent - Step Into My World

10153 refosoul

Agree, the above is a killer tune.

One of my favourite plays at the moment is The Imports 'I'm not ashamed of loving you'. Love the haunting bassline.

My kids love listening to Mike Jame's Kirklands 'O Me O My (I'm a fool for you baby)' at the moment and this has some great bass on it too.

Intro and bass line in Fontella Bass - Rescue me- bliss

Lofty

OOH YES!!...anyone know the bass player on this session?...so solid.....and talking of solid, give James a listen as he lays down some serious bass on The Isley's "This Old Heart of Mine"....Top Man.

The Milestones - The Joker

SImple but great! This bloody song has it all, it can be on my all time top 15 or so....

Cheers

Dante

For me:

Everything by James Jamerson (Jnr)

Also, James Jemerson Jnr (Jnr, Jnr) (check out Marlena Shaw - I just want this feeling to last)

Tracks:

Yvonne Elliman - If I Can't Have You

Free - All Right Now

Plus ought by:

Bruce Foxton, The Jam

Andy Rourke, The Smiths

Rob Jones 'The Bass Thing', The Wonderstuff