Bassist for "The Byrds" (?).

Skel · #1 11-27-2006, 09:16 AM

I think about weird stuff constantly, and I can't help but to mention that, in the song "Turn, Turn, Turn" the bass line to the intro is so simple but so great. I don't know if the guy intentionally did this out of musical wisdom but; He starts on the same note as the guitar riff, but at the 2nd note since the guitar riff ascends, the bass line goes up and decends, doing the exact inverse of the guitar's ascending line until the chord changes. Does anybody else appreciate this kind of great, but subtle stuff?

bassteban · #2 11-27-2006, 09:31 AM

I notice stuff like this, but I'm so devoid of(musical)theory knowledge that I can't put things into the right terms.

BTW, I think David Crosby played bass on that one(possible false memory..).

Lazylion · #3 11-27-2006, 10:26 AM

Ah, the Byrds! One of my most favorite bands from back then. I'm a major fan of the original lineup and their first 4 albums. "Turn, Turn, Turn" was the title cut of their second album, and it was packed with great tunes. Their bass player was the most excellent Chris Hillman, who had just switched from bluegrass mandolin player to rock bassist. He and Crosby supplied the bulk of their incredible harmonies. One thing you learn in bluegrass is how to sing harmonies!
After leaving the Byrds, Chris played on the Manassas album with Steven Stills, and went on to release 2 brilliant albums with the Souther Hillman Furay band (Richie Furay from Poco). In the 80s, he and Herb Pedersen formed the Desert Rose band, which charted a number of country hits. Last I knew of, Chris and Herb were touring as the Hillman/Pedersen band.

brianrost · #4 11-27-2006, 12:10 PM

Chrius Hillman was the original bassist for the Byrds. He's probably playing on "Turn Turn Turn", though on some early sides the producers used session guys rather than the band members...Chris is not playing (though he sings) on "Mr. Tambourine Man".

After Chris left the band ("Sweetheart of the Rodeo" was the last LP he was on) a guy named John York took over briefly then was replaced by Skip Battin who stayed until the band folded around 1973.

jerry · #5 11-28-2006, 03:18 AM

It's cool to see there has been a bit of a Byrds revival lately, I dug all the incarnations of the band and got to see the one with Skip Battin on bass. Hillman always seemed to have a nose for cool projects like the Burritos and Manassas*.

* Hillman didn't play bass in that group, the excellent Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels did.

GM60466 · #6 11-28-2006, 06:18 AM

The bass player for most of the tracks on their first recording was Larry Knectel.

GM

Lazylion · #7 11-28-2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

Hillman always seemed to have a nose for cool projects like the Burritos and Manassas*.
* Hillman didn't play bass in that group, the excellent Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels did.

Good point. I just looked up the Manassas album on Amazon. I guess Hillman was on guitar and vocals. He also played guitar w/ Desert Rose, Bill Bryson was their bass player.

Skel · #8 11-28-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GM60466

The bass player for most of the tracks on their first recording was Larry Knectel.

GM

I always wonder if one of these days I'm going to get a post that says "It was Larry Knectel, and I should know because that's me." Thanks for the clarification.

corinpills · #9 11-28-2006, 08:41 PM

The Byrds are such an underrated band- which I realize is saying something for a band with 12 hits and a couple of box sets, but I just don't think younger musicians really know much about them. There's so much deapth to their catalog. To me, they are as important as the Beatles and the Beach Boys when it comes to 60's pop. Such incredibly distinctive instrumentalists- I'm a big fan of Michale Clark's drumming and he really, truly got the gig because he had cool hair.

Another really cool bass counterpart is the intro to "Mr. Tamborine Man" where mcGuinn is doing the Bach thing on his Ric 12 string and the bass line slides upa 5th- what a great tone. I know that must be Larry Knetchel ona PBass, but in my herat i want to believe it's Chris Hillman on his Guild Starfire like in the Ed Sullivan clip of the song (where Crosby is wearing that cape).

Byrds' version of "My Back Pages" is in my top 5 of all time (which contains several dozen songs, I can assure you).

Sneckumhaw · #10 11-28-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GM60466

The bass player for most of the tracks on their first recording was Larry Knectel.

GM

I don't think so, pal. Only the song Mr. Tambourine Man.

Lazylion · #11 11-29-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corinpills

The Byrds are such an underrated band...
Byrds' version of "My Back Pages" is in my top 5 of all time (which contains several dozen songs, I can assure you).

+1

dogofgod · #12 04-30-2011, 06:58 AM

wobblybob · #13 04-30-2011, 07:30 AM

Chris Hillman is one of my all time favorite bassist and in my opinion one of the most underrated bassist in rock history. I especially enjoy his bass work on the "Younger Than Yesterday" album especially the driving bass on "So You Want To Be A Rock and Roll Star" and his soaring melodic bass lines on "Renaissance Fair". Great stuff!

TomB · #14 04-30-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sneckumhaw

I don't think so, pal. Only the song Mr. Tambourine Man.

I've seen Larry Knechtel given credit for Turn, Turn, Turn as well. I heard that he passed away recently. As for what's true, who knows?

JTE · #15 04-30-2011, 09:56 AM

Knetchel played on the first album. This was acknowledged by David Crosby and Roger McGuinn in separate Rolling Stone interviews before 1972. The only Byrd who played on the first album was McGuinn, playing 12-string electric. By the second album the band played their own tracks. Thus is supported by the track listing on the CD "The Byrds 20 Essential Tracks From The Boxed Set 1965-1990".

John