Who played bass on Lynyrd's Simple Man?

[NickInMesa]

I learned it from the recording (all tabs are awful) and I just love this bass line, it's a real gem.

I tried to find out who the bassist was but all I can find on Wikipedia (I know, I know) is this:

Though Lynyrd Skynyrd had only six members at the release of Pronounced, there are seven men visible in the band's photo on the cover. This is because the band's bassist, Leon Wilkeson, left the band before the album's completion - though he wrote many of the bass parts. Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King was asked to fill in for Wilkeson, and remained with the band so that they could replicate the triple-guitar lead during live performances.

There are parts in this line, especially the legato at the octave, that are typical of a guitar guy, which makes me wonder if Ed King did not embellish the original line. It also sounds like it was pick played, which is typical of a guitarist taking bass.

[Woodchuck]

Ed King and Roosevelt Cook are given bass credits on the album, but it doesn't mention who played on which song..

EDIT:
This is from an interview with Ed King:

Oh, it was difficult. Yeah, it was, because the kind of music they were writing , I had a hard time adapting to. I did my best. I was very uncomfortable with it. It wasn't until we were just about finished recording our first album. The old bass player, Leon Wilkeson decided to visit us out at the cabin in the woods where we used to rehearse. He comes out and Ronnie says to Leon, "Leon, put on your bass. Let's play Ed the song called Simple Man", which I had never heard before. So, they played it and I saw Leon play it and I go "OK, that's what the bass player in this band is supposed to play like." So, we went up to Atlanta and recorded Simple Man and that's why my bass part is so different from the other bass parts on the record. Right after we finished that album, Ronnie came up to me, I was sitting on the edge of my bed playing my Stratocaster, which I had just gotten by the way, and he puts his arm around me and goes "Man, you're the worst bass player I ever played with." I thought I was out of a job. After all this, he was gonna fire me. He said "No, we'll just switch you over to guitar and get Leon back in the band." So, the next day, we had off. Leon was working at an ice-cream factory. They went out to get him. Then the next day was our first rehearsal with Leon back on bass and me on guitar. And the first song we wrote was "Sweet Home Alabama". We actually wrote "I Need You" the same day. That was a pretty good day.

[kimokeo]

Ed King did all the bass tracks on the Pronounced album with the exception of Mississippi Kid & Tuesday's Gone. Leon Wilkeson left the band prior to cutting the album, then re-joined the group afterward.

[NickInMesa]

Woodchuck, so Ed King played it ONLY on the recording?

This is getting more confusing

[Woodchuck]

Originally Posted by NickInMesa

Woodchuck, so Ed King played it ONLY on the recording?

This is getting more confusing

They have Leon listed on the live album.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

They have Leon listed on the live album.

I guess you mean the Fox Theatre album from 76.

He pretty much plays the same version with variations (which is what I play of course).

[Blue Moose]

Here's a link to an interview with Ed King that explains the lineup situation.

http://www.classicbands.com/EdKingInterview.html

[corinpills]

Roosevelt Gook is Al Kooper, by the way. He produced the first three Skynyrd albums and contributed some parts. And if you don't know who he is, settle in for a very long wikipedia.