Van Morrison - Moondance

sevenyearsdown · #1 12-27-2008, 10:12 AM

What a great album - both for VM fans and for bass players. I asked for this for X-mas because I knew that I really dug the album after hearing my moms play it to death when I was a kid.

This was the first time I actually paid attention to the bass playing, and was blown away. Simple, yet perfect in every tune - little jazzy in some parts as well.

Thats all.

Blake Bass · #2 12-27-2008, 10:29 AM

I haven't heard the entire album, but I always thought the bass on the original version of Moondance was a little sloppy and definitely not swinging.

sevenyearsdown · #3 12-27-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

I haven't heard the entire album, but I always thought the bass on the original version of Moondance was a little sloppy and definitely not swinging.

Well maybe it's not for everyone.

texasgreg · #4 12-27-2008, 11:34 AM

I always liked the bass playing on that album as well, the whole album.

In the 70's, when that album was new, I played in a cover band. I was in high school band, and the other members were as well. Two were brothers, and they doubled on guitars and horns.

I'll never forget that the brothers had a hearing impaired younger sister. She would either sit in front of the bass drum or in front of the bass amp when we would cover tunes from this album. She had no issues with sloppy bass lines. She loved the rhythm.

One Drop · #5 12-27-2008, 01:02 PM

OT, but one of the all-time greatest bass performances throughout a whole album is Richard Davis playing upright on Van's 'Astral Weeks'. Just incredible playing and great DB tone in a rock setting.

bottomzone · #6 12-29-2008, 01:49 PM

Check out KJ Denhert's version:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/denhertlive2

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

jerry · #7 12-30-2008, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottomzone

Check out KJ Denhert's version:

I'm a huge KJ Denhert fan, her 'Lucky 7' album is one of my favorites of the year. She has a little of everything I dig, jazz/funk/rock/soul, man, talk about a major talent!

......sorry for the derail.........

Philbiker · #8 12-30-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

I haven't heard the entire album, but I always thought the bass on the original version of Moondance was a little sloppy and definitely not swinging.

A little sloppy? It's one of the worst recorded bass lines in history. SIMPLY HORRIBLE.

Caca de Kick · #9 12-30-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

A little sloppy? It's one of the worst recorded bass lines in history. SIMPLY HORRIBLE.

Aw come on, it's not that bad, and it certainly didn't hurt the mass-popularity of that song any.
And hey, at least that bassist had a professional music career...which is more than I or anyone I've heard complain of the bassline can say.

It's kind of a fun song to play. I had never bothered learning it (I'm not a cover bassist), then one night at a blues open-jam a few years ago, a guitarist called it out when a sax player came up. So a quick memory check of what the changes were and I was walking my way through it. I played it several more times at jams with that same guitarist, and that song always got people dancing.

standupright · #10 12-30-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

A little sloppy? It's one of the worst recorded bass lines in history. SIMPLY HORRIBLE.

how do you figure?

MikeBass · #11 12-30-2008, 10:44 AM

It's one of those songs that's on almost every working/cover bands list of "Songs we CAN'T STAND to play".
It's right up there with "Mustang Sally" & "Brown Eyed Girl".

I played in a cover band once (actually was the regular sub) that had a "Menu" of song requests.
Each had a price. Most were a buck or two, some $5.
Neat idea actually. They made a lot off that idea.

Mustang Sally was $20, Brown Eyed Girl and Born To Be Wild were something like $30 a piece.
I remember MoonDance being like $50. As was Old Time Rock and Roll.

Stairway To Heaven was $150!!

I do remember playing Mustang Sally and Born to Be Wild with them though!
But never MoonDance.
They did tell me the whole bar took up a collection one night and bought Stairway and a few other "expensive" tunes just to screw with the band. I'll bet MoonDance was one!

pointbass · #12 12-30-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

A little sloppy? It's one of the worst recorded bass lines in history. SIMPLY HORRIBLE.

That bass line is a mess .... I never was able to figure out how it ever got out of the studio and into airplay with that bass part intact. It's not as if the Van Morrison stuff is always bad, quite the opposite actually, so it makes even less sense that a choppy, poorly voiced, poorly played bass part would be on such a well known successful recording ....

Steve · #13 12-30-2008, 11:15 AM

Hmmm. I always kinda liked the playing.

Anecdotally, Van is fairly well informed and more than a little particular about what's going on. I get the sense that the feel of the line is what he wanted. There's a lot of Van stuff out there that has the bass feeling a little lazy and behind the beat.

57pbass · #14 12-30-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

I haven't heard the entire album, but I always thought the bass on the original version of Moondance was a little sloppy and definitely not swinging.

Thats part of the greatness of that song...IMO I think that bass line is great...

nortonrider · #15 12-30-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

A little sloppy? It's one of the worst recorded bass lines in history. SIMPLY HORRIBLE.

Really?
I like it! Although that isn't saying much.

sevenyearsdown · #16 12-30-2008, 11:51 AM

Wow, I didn't think I would stir the pot much with a Van Morrison reference here. I just think the playing on that record is great for that record...but I am a "rock" bassist, so what do I know?

I think I'll listen to it and enjoy it anyway.

Blake Bass · #17 12-30-2008, 11:59 AM

I was trying to be nice when I said "a little sloppy" !! I must agree that it is one of the worst recorded bass lines I have ever heard. I'm talking mainly about the feel not note choices.

david fitch · #18 12-30-2008, 12:04 PM

Love the album, Love the song, Love Van !

57pbass · #19 12-30-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Anecdotally, Van is fairly well informed and more than a little particular about what's going on. I get the sense that the feel of the line is what he wanted. There's a lot of Van stuff out there that has the bass feeling a little lazy and behind the beat.

+1 ...which makes the bass line even better....