Recommend me some Motown covers to learn

[Godbody]

Ok, so I've started occasionally jamming with a guitar player who's into Motown. I've never been a fan, but I like it well enough. I want to learn some licks to find some common ground, but nothing comes to mind.

So recommend me some songs, ones that are preferably instantly recognizeable, or are just too good to NOT know. I really dig lines that are hypnotic too, and preferably not much slower than midtempo, if that narrows it down at all.

I know I won't be disappointed; and if you wanna do some busy work for me, you can always link me to a good tab

Thanks!

[scottbass]

As well as Motown, there's also the entire Stax and Atlantic catalogs! Hypnotic groove: Chain of Fools (Aretha Franklin - Atlantic). Also: In the Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett - Atlantic). Simple but effective: Ain't Too Proud to Beg (Temptations - Motown). And check out all the rest of them (Motown, Atlantic and Stax), too!

[dougjwray]

Well, you've got a HUGE body of work to choose from there, but I'd recommend the simpler, more "hypnotic" things first, like the Four Tops' "Same Old Song" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie, Honeybunch)", the Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love", the Miracles' "Tears of a Clown" and the Temptations' "My Girl."
A lot of my fellow James Jamerson devotees might criticize that list and immediately steer you to other, much more demanding songs that are usually cited as Jamerson's masterpieces, but... if I were you, I'd start simpler.
And do yourself a favor: learn by listening to and playing along with the original recordings, not by using TAB!! Please!

[Vorago]

Ain't no mountain high enough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVFT7i94zQU

[MysticMichael]

Screw the tab. If you want to use a chart, learn notation. Otherwise, pick it up by ear...

I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder
Uptight (Everything's All Right) - Stevie Wonder
Bernadette - The Four Tops
Reach Out I'll Be There - The Four Tops
You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes
You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Dancing In The Streets - Martha & The Vandellas

That ought to get you started...

MM

[bass12]

"What's Going On" is THE classic Jamerson line. "Inner City Blues" from the same album is easy and great.

"Shotgun" by Jr. Walker and the All Stars

"Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "My Girl" by The Temptations

"How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder

"War" by Edwin Starr

Also, all of the classic Stevie Wonder stuff from later on: "Do I Do", "I Wish", "Master Blaster", etc. There's a lot to learn from Stevie's lines.

And do yourself a favour - skip the tab. If you can't learn this stuff by ear, sorry, but no one's going to want to listen to you play it. This is soul and you have to hear it...

[Godbody]

Already familiar with every song that's been mentioned...guess I like Motown more than I thought. Downloaded everything mentioned.

The reaction to tablature suprised me... I'm guessing everyone that said 'learn by ear' feels the same way about sight reading? I've only ever used tabs as a starting point, never as a note for note guide. My playing has always had gobs of emotion in it rather than sheer precision, but I guess I'll see if I have soul.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Godbody

The reaction to tablature suprised me... I'm guessing everyone that said 'learn by ear' feels the same way about sight reading? I've only ever used tabs as a starting point, never as a note for note guide. My playing has always had gobs of emotion in it rather than sheer precision, but I guess I'll see if I have soul.

More to the point, if you develop your ear by learning the material directly from the recordings, then you're no longer dependent upon someone else's transcription of it, which can have errors. Not only does it help you gain a more visceral "feel" for the material, but having a great ear also helps you perform it better - particularly when it comes to improvisation and soloing.

The ability to learn well and play well by ear may be the single most important skill any musician can have...

MM

[Godbody]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

More to the point, if you develop your ear by learning the material directly from the recordings, then you're no longer dependent upon someone else's transcription of it, which can have errors. Not only does it help you gain a more visceral "feel" for the material, but having a great ear also helps you perform it better - particularly when it comes to improvisation and soloing.

The ability to learn well and play well by ear may be the single most important skill any musician can have...

MM

My relative pitch is decent, I use tabs as starting points, just to get me in the neighborhood. I have found that almost all tabs are flawed (just like every road map I've ever used).

I don't ever 'solo' in the traditional sense anyway. I've never considered myself tied to tabs, and I've drastically reworked covers in other genres. So no need to be worried, they'll get more than the jukebox treatment in my hands. I promise to do 'em justice.

[tZer]

"Stop, the love you save may be your own" - Jackson 5
"Take me to the River" - Al Greene
"Rock Steady" - Aretha Franklin
"You Better Think" - Aretha
"R.E.S.P.E.C.T." - Aretha
"Midnight Train to Georgia" - Gladys Knight
"I Wish" - Stevie Wonder

[JansenW]

A good first piece would be "My Girl".

[Godbody]

More suggestions I haven't thought of, good....
I shoulda mentioned, I'm not hesitant to tackle difficult pieces.

Any James Brown recommendations?

[bass12]

For James Brown, the Bootsy period is particularly happening.

"Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine)" is essential.

"Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" (There are two studio versions - the "remake" is with Bootsy)

"Get On The Good Foot"

"Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing"

"Soul Power"

"Cold Sweat"

"Bodyheat"

"I Got You (I Feel Good)"

"Superbad"

"Papa's Got A Brand New Bag"

I'll also throw in a couple of other favourites from down South:

"Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight

"Groove Me" by King Floyd

[BiigM]

Learn to read. And get the book "standing in the shadows of motown"
Best bassbook out there!

Or as the others say. Transcribe it all your self :-)

[JimK]

Two must-have books...

James Brown's Funkmasters
http://www.amazon.com/Funkmasters-Gr...3148689&sr=8-1

Jamerson/Standing In The Shadows of Motown
http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Shado...3148716&sr=1-1

...and this one isn't too bad, either-
Motown Bass
http://www.amazon.com/Motown-Bass-Cl...3148793&sr=1-1

[psychotiger]

David Hood's bass line on "I'll Take You There" by the Staple Singers is cool. There is even a bass solo! Could we ask for anything more?

[Godbody]

Update: I had about an hour to play last night, learned "Tears of a Clown" and "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" by ear. Both fun songs. I'm not the type to bust out anything that could properly be termed a solo, but I found that "Rolling Stone" is a fun one to roll around on without ruining the simplicity of the groove. "Tears" was pleasingly complex, took me about 15 min to figure out, and another 15 to actually play it through.

For the record, I used to sight read quite well when I was a kid, about 12 years ago. Then I didn't need to sight read for years after, and I can't do it anymore. I suppose I could relearn pretty quick, if there were a website or something to teach me.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Screw the tab. If you want to use a chart, learn notation. Otherwise, pick it up by ear...

I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder
Uptight (Everything's All Right) - Stevie Wonder
Bernadette - The Four Tops
Reach Out I'll Be There - The Four Tops
You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes
You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Dancing In The Streets - Martha & The Vandellas

That ought to get you started...

MM

+1

tab = bad

[Larry99]

"What's Goin' On" ...nuff said.

[DeanT]

I can't believe no one mentioned the song with the coolest riff in all of Motown: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)." The great Bob Babbitt on bass.