Andy Fraser

Aussie Player · #1 12-02-2011, 12:25 PM

Any Andy Fraser fans here?
I was a fan almost exclusively for perhaps my first 10 years playing. He, along with Jack Bruce, McCartney, JPY and Entwhistle moulded me to my biased (and free) opinion.

The interesting thing is, I have played very few Beatle songs in a band, none in the last 25 years, never played a Who song ever, really went whole hog Cream after the 2005 reunion concert and played more JPY than possibly any other band in covers.

What do your guys think of Fraser's playing, tone and finesse?

JimK · #2 12-02-2011, 03:15 PM

Lotta fans here...what's not to like?
Free - Ride on a Pony - YouTube

Couple of others from that side of the ocean...same era-
Gary Thain
Dee Murray
Herbie Flowers
Alan Spenner

Bob C · #3 12-02-2011, 07:18 PM

He was bass player for Free, right? Great bass solo and tone on "Mr Big", from the Free live album.

Who is JPY?

rymiraflores · #4 12-02-2011, 07:38 PM

Andy Fraser, Jack Bruce, Gary Thain and Felix Pappalardi were the reasons I started playing bass and to this day Fraser and Pappalardi are my favourite bassists. Pappalardi for his melody and Fraser because I never heard anyone make so much music with so few notes.

TBird1958 · #5 12-02-2011, 07:40 PM

Andy Fraser is one reason I started playing the bass, I'm a huge fan!

Here's the live version of Mr Big, his playing (and the whole band) is positively brilliant, his tone from that Gibson EB and pile Marshalls just kills! Still gives me goosebumps to watch, he was like 19 years old at the time - A great bassist!

Free - Mr Big - YouTube

JimmyM · #6 12-03-2011, 02:28 AM

Andy Fraser is one of my Facebook friends

Aussie Player · #7 12-03-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

Her was bass player for Free, right? Great bass solo and tone on "Mr Big", from the Free live album.

Who is JPY?

Sorry...typo...JPJ John Paul Jones

RickC · #8 12-03-2011, 08:36 AM

Been listening to Free Live lately. What a tone!

/rick

AnchorHoy · #9 12-03-2011, 03:33 PM

The only bass player I ever heard that could make an EB-3 sound anywhere near that good. Simply magnificent tone for that style and a mighty fine touch to control it with too

Free - I'll Be Creepin'

jerry · #10 12-03-2011, 09:42 PM

Fraser was a huge influence on my when I started playing, I was a Free fanatic. He was one of the first cats that made me realize the space between the notes were just as important as the notes you do play.

Aussie Player · #11 12-03-2011, 10:27 PM

To this day, I still play "Be My Friend" (Free Live Version) every day in my practice at home.

fingerbun · #12 12-03-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussie Player

Sorry...typo...JPJ John Paul Jones

Thank goodness....I was wondering how John Paul Young could possibly fit in with what you are saying.

Aussie Player · #13 12-04-2011, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerbun

Thank goodness....I was wondering how John Paul Young could possibly fit in with what you are saying.

Now thats funny. Our American friends won't know who he is/was.

JPJ is a famous bass player we all know, but JPY was a singer highly popularized by a locally famous cowboy hatted, gay, TV person with a woman's name and was also noted to have consecutive hits with the almost same, backing tracks. That was original in its day.

I think he was a good bloke though I never met him personally, JPY that is.

JimmyM · #14 12-04-2011, 12:29 AM

BTW, John Paul Young's hit "Love Is In The Air" was written by Harry Vanda and George Young, former leaders of the Easybeats, and are best known for producing AC/DC's first 5 albums as well as a few others along the way.

fingerbun · #15 12-04-2011, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

BTW, John Paul Young's hit "Love Is In The Air" was written by Harry Vanda and George Young, former leaders of the Easybeats, and are best known for producing AC/DC's first 5 albums as well as a few others along the way.

So one American does know!!!!

Other than AC/DC, here is a link to what I think is their best work, with former Easybeats singer Stevie Wright:

Stevie Wright - "Evie" (The Whole Thing) - YouTube

Edit " "their" best work is Vanda and Young, and yes George Young is a relation. Just as good looking as Angus and Malcolm.

ducknturtle · #16 12-04-2011, 07:16 AM

Singularly unique style and tone, plus a terrific songwriter; Most of us here would be proud if we could accomplish half of what he did in his career. Sadly I havn't heard anything from him in the last ten years.

Aussie Player · #17 12-04-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

BTW, John Paul Young's hit "Love Is In The Air" was written by Harry Vanda and George Young, former leaders of the Easybeats, and are best known for producing AC/DC's first 5 albums as well as a few others along the way.

That is because George Young is older brother to Angus and Malcolm. That family has done very well.

Aussie Player · #18 12-04-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducknturtle

Singularly unique style and tone, plus a terrific songwriter; Most of us here would be proud if we could accomplish half of what he did in his career. Sadly I havn't heard anything from him in the last ten years.

This is very interesting to me as he ws finished in the late 70's in OZ.

mav · #19 12-28-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

Her was bass player for Free, right? Great bass solo and tone on "Mr Big", from the Free live album.

Free's Live album is a killer! every bass player should be listening to that one. Beautiful tone, beautiful melodies , raw, live mistakes and all!
Cant be beat!

Bob C · #20 12-29-2011, 07:32 AM

I just noticed and corrected my typo in post #3. Carry on!