Need Some Good Motown Suggestions

nashdog · #1 06-01-2009, 08:37 PM

I've been playing bass for a while and I am really open to all types of music but I've never really listened to that much Motown. So, if anyone could suggest any significant Motown records (particularly any with Jamerson on them) it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Lesfunk · #2 06-01-2009, 08:41 PM

Marvin Gaye What's going on. Jamerson and Babbitt

mrufino1 · #3 06-01-2009, 08:45 PM

Get the box set, Hitsville USA. That should cover it. One of my favorite motown recordings though is Supremes a Go-Go. That's the album that You Can't Hurry Love is on, but there is a great arrangement of "This Old Heart of Mine" on there. I found it on record on ebay. While you're at it, get the stax box set and the Philly Soul box set.

nashdog · #4 06-01-2009, 10:12 PM

Very cool, I just downloaded Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On. Needless to say, I will be studying up on this album. Any other suggestions?

steamthief · #5 06-01-2009, 10:24 PM

Listen to late 60's Isley Brothers - "It's Your Thing" is a sick groove!

El Bajo · #6 06-02-2009, 02:04 AM

Get Standing in the Shadows of Motown: james jamerson. I bought it about 2 weeks ago. Covers alot of popular mowtown songs with james Jamerson Biography and interviews with bassist that where infuenced by him. I'm havent got round to playing the CD and learning the songs yet but it looks pretty good.

paul_wolfe · #7 06-02-2009, 02:32 AM

+10 to getting hold of the Standing In The Shadows book/CD pack.

Also you should check out the Standing in the Shadows Film that's out on DVD. Very informative and generally just cool.

In terms of listening good places to start are the 'Anthology' series that Motown put out of the various acts:

The Four Tops
The Tempations
The Supremes
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Marvin Gaye

This will give you the major tunes, plus some of the lesser known ones. Where you go from there will depend on how deeply you get into Jamerson....

troyus · #8 06-02-2009, 02:36 AM

I know it is not Jamerson, but James Brown has one hell of a Rhythm section, too.

KJung · #9 06-02-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashdog

I've been playing bass for a while and I am really open to all types of music but I've never really listened to that much Motown. So, if anyone could suggest any significant Motown records (particularly any with Jamerson on them) it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

If you can come up with the cash, there are two boxed sets that will give you everything you would ever need for this era:

1) Hitsville USA-The Motown Singles Coolection 1959-1971 (this is a MUST own for bassists, and has 4 CD's with all the 'charting hits' of the classic Motown era).

2) Sould Spectacular - The Greatest Soul Hits of All Time - Adds much of the Stax and other soul label hits of that time.

These 8 CD's will totally take you to school on the mid to late 50's to early 70's Soul/R&B hits.

Vakmere · #10 06-02-2009, 07:04 AM

Listen to all of it, read about it's history, learn why it sounds the way it does, dont just copy bass lines.

pasta4lnch · #11 06-02-2009, 07:06 AM

I'm dying to see "in the shadows of motown" . . . I just discovered motown too (as a bass player) and am becoming emmersed - happily

jackson 5 I want you back
marvin gaye what's going/mercy me
stevie wonder signed sealed delivered
oooh soooo many!

Bruce Lindfield · #12 06-02-2009, 07:09 AM

Songs in Key of Life - Stevie Wonder, is great for bass - Nathan Watts!

etoncrow · #13 06-02-2009, 07:12 AM

50th Anniversary Stax box set (2 CD's for Duck Dunn) / Motown Classics Gold Box 1 & 2 (4 CD's for Jamerson)

mrufino1 · #14 06-02-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

I'm dying to see "in the shadows of motown" . . . I just discovered motown too (as a bass player) and am becoming emmersed - happily

jackson 5 I want you back
marvin gaye what's going/mercy me
stevie wonder signed sealed delivered
oooh soooo many!

Not that it matters, because the bass is still great on all of the tunes you listed, but Mercy Me and Signed Sealed are Bob Babbitt and I Want You Back is Wilton Felder.

Also, don't hesitate to check out Donny Hathaway Live, not motown but unvelievable, Willie Weeks on bass. Also King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West (and the accompanying Aretha Live at the Fillmore West, recorded on the same night by the same band), with Jerry Jemmott on bass. For that matter, BB King Live and Well and Completely Well, also Jerry Jemmott.
And since James Brown was mentioned, Funk Power 1970, a Brand New Thang is killer (Bootsy) and there is an album called Love Power Peace, live at L'Olympia 1971 that is also Bootsy and is unbelievable.

KJung · #15 06-02-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrufino1

Not that it matters, because the bass is still great on all of the tunes you listed, but Mercy Me and Signed Sealed are Bob Babbitt and I Want You Back is Wilton Felder.

Also, don't hesitate to check out Donny Hathaway Live, not motown but unvelievable, Willie Weeks on bass. Also King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West (and the accompanying Aretha Live at the Fillmore West, recorded on the same night by the same band), with Jerry Jemmott on bass. For that matter, BB King Live and Well and Completely Well, also Jerry Jemmott.

+1 all the way. The Hathaway Live CD (You've Got a Friend is worth the whole price of that CD easily), and Aretha at the Fillmore are classics. I still chuckle every time I hear the tempo on Respect, and Aretha just blasting into the verse and dragging the band along with her!!!

In a similar mode, the Bill Withers Live is also just groovin' magic. Another chuckle listening him count off the first tune, and then the band putting it where they want it, which is so behind the beat it almost stops. SMOKING grooves.

mrufino1 · #16 06-02-2009, 12:06 PM

Oh yeah, Bill Wither's Live at Carnegie Hall is awesome. The coolest thing about Bill Withers to me is how quiet and restrained the band is, yet so grooving.
I just found Aretha Live at the Fillmore West on Wolfgang's Vault, one of the nights from which they picked tracks for the album (it was a 3 night stand as I just learned)
http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/d...ampaign=090602

pasta4lnch · #17 06-02-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrufino1

Not that it matters, because the bass is still great on all of the tunes you listed, but Mercy Me and Signed Sealed are Bob Babbitt and I Want You Back is Wilton Felder.

Also, don't hesitate to check out Donny Hathaway Live, not motown but unvelievable, Willie Weeks on bass. Also King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West (and the accompanying Aretha Live at the Fillmore West, recorded on the same night by the same band), with Jerry Jemmott on bass. For that matter, BB King Live and Well and Completely Well, also Jerry Jemmott.
And since James Brown was mentioned, Funk Power 1970, a Brand New Thang is killer (Bootsy) and there is an album called Love Power Peace, live at L'Olympia 1971 that is also Bootsy and is unbelievable.

oh yeah - forgot the OP wanted Jamerson ...

thanks for the suggested listening - I'm really digging this stuff, feel like I just discovered music again.