Bass on 'Rock on' by David Essex?

[bassteban]

I heard this old nugget yesterday, for the first time through semi-decent speakers(stock Honda Pilot vs 70's AM radio). There is some SICKLY low bass on that. It definitely sounds to me like bass guitar, at least in the majority of the track. Does anyone have any idea who played what on that, or where to look/who to ask?
This tune probably also qualifies for that 'cheesy song w/cool bassline' thread.

[Matt Till]

I love that song, and that is some mighty bassly bass. No clues on any info though. Jimmy Dean... James Dean.

[DaveBeny]

I can tell you that it is definitely HERBIE FLOWERS - perhaps the most-recorded British session bassist ever.

The only electric bass he has ever played is an ancient Fender Jazz prototype - i.e. from before the Fender Jazz first went into production!

He uses Rotosound Tru-bass strings and leaves them on for years at a time.

It's Herbie who provided the famous twin basslines on Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side' BTW (probably his best known performance).

[Matt Till]

Would he have downtuned then on rock on?

[bassteban]

It's Herbie who provided the famous twin basslines on Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side' BTW (probably his best known performance).[/quote]

I assume that was double-tracked- ?

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Would he have downtuned then on rock on?

-or they got creative in the studio & turned the tape down 1/2 speed or something. I'd love to hear from someone who was there.

[Adam Barkley]

James Dean

[DaveBeny]

Originally Posted by bassteban

It's Herbie who provided the famous twin basslines on Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side' BTW (probably his best known performance).

I assume that was double-tracked- ?[/quote]

The track has two basslines, both played by Herbie - one on double-bass on one on electric bass - the electric line is more melodic and free-floating.

[JimK]

...and there was the "Late Night" Will Lee played BOTH parts(sorta) to "Walk On The Wild Side" simultaneously. I nearly spit out my chocolate milk.
He tapped the high part with his left hand-
Play "F#"(G-string/11th fret) slide UP to "B"(G-string/16th fret)

Tapping with the right hand-
Play the "D"(E-string/10th fret) slide DOWN to "G"(E-String/3rd fret)

Basically, you're playing the "D" & "F#"(a 10th) & the "G" & "B" together(another 10th...sorta).
Sliding both together gets dicey in the dark.

[Templar]

Zombie post alert!....

Does anyone know how Flowers got his sound on Essex's Rock On?

Specifically, what effects were used?

[Richland123]

I just found out that Herbie Flowers also played on this gem.

Harry Nilsson ~ Jump Into The Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QghwNqlCRE

[Kink Rimson]

[quote=JimK;1953491He tapped the high part with his left hand-
Play "F#"(G-string/11th fret) slide UP to "B"(G-string/16th fret)

Tapping with the right hand-
Play the "D"(E-string/10th fret) slide DOWN to "G"(E-String/3rd fret)

Basically, you're playing the "D" & "F#"(a 10th) & the "G" & "B" together(another 10th...sorta).
Sliding both together gets dicey in the dark. [/QUOTE]

Just tried that - it's a lot easier if you swap hands!

[stephenwrigley]

I was talking to Herbie about this track today. He reckons he detuned the E string to A or Ab to get the really grumbly bass, and tracked it an octave higher, asked the engineer for lots of echo/reverb. There's quite a story attached to the recording, but essentially Herbie was in the studio while Jeff Wayne (who produced it) was out, having previously recorded drums, strings and horns. Herbie put the bass track down, with David Essex singing, in an hour, and Wayne loved it and kept it at that - no guitars or keys etc. Great decision. I've still heard nothing quite like it before or since.

[rockstarbassist]

Def Lepp does an awesome cover of this tune, especially the Abbey Road version.

Sav ftw.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by JimK

...and there was the "Late Night" Will Lee played BOTH parts(sorta) to "Walk On The Wild Side" simultaneously. I nearly spit out my chocolate milk.
He tapped the high part with his left hand-
Play "F#"(G-string/11th fret) slide UP to "B"(G-string/16th fret)

Tapping with the right hand-
Play the "D"(E-string/10th fret) slide DOWN to "G"(E-String/3rd fret)

Basically, you're playing the "D" & "F#"(a 10th) & the "G" & "B" together(another 10th...sorta).
Sliding both together gets dicey in the dark.

I figured out how to do this exact thing quite a few years ago (when I was in college and had time to mess around like that). The closet thing to a "parlor trick" I could ever do on bass -- actually the *only* parlor trick I can do on bass -- but it turned some heads.