Bill Wyman gettin DOWN....

[slinginsix]

If you haven't heard the Stones live album from the mid 70's, "Love You Live" I am highly recommending for great samples of Bill's playing, particularly on "hot stuff" as well as other songs...very active, bouncy, swingin, and just great. not as easy as it seems...give it a listen guys.

[scottbass]

Previous threads here at TB have shown an overall lack of respect for Bill Wyman. I tend to agree with you, however. The live recordings of the Stones from the late 60's, 70's and early 80's prove (to me, anyway) that Bill was an extremely effective force in driving the Stones' overall sound. He and Charlie made up a very tight, effective rhythm section, IMHO. But, like I said, there are many Wyman bashers around here...maybe because there is a general lack of emphasis on the bass lines in the Stones' studio recordings?

[halloweenfiend]

Nice to see another person who digs his playing. I just got 'Got Live If You Want It' and it's a bit hard to hear his parts cuz his sound is so bassy but it's a good one none the less. I heard a lot about 'Love You Live' and 'Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out'... gotta check those out!

-Jon

[slinginsix]

Yes, Love you Live has alot of great bass playing on it. I definately like the Stones better with Bill than Darrel...I think the Bill Bashers have not explored the full Stones catalog...the base their opinions on "radio songs' and don't know what else is on record...Just my opinion...

[The Golden Boy]

I play in a Stones "tribute" type band.

Before I got the Stones gig thing, I wouldn't call myself a Stones "fan" or anything- I liked a bunch of their songs, I respected them for what they'd done- Just really didn't dig them or really look up to them. When I got asked to do it- the "Keith" guy told me he wanted me to do what I do, and take the cues from Wyman.

I grew up wanting to play like McCartney- very melodic, very "every note has it's place" and striking a balance in that rhythm/melody mix. So I figured I'd try to be more melodic in those Stones' songs, play them like *I* knew they should be played.

As I started learning these songs, it struck me how the songs are really put together incredibly well- everyone does what they need to do. The next thing was about the bass tone. I'd always strived for a ring-y "present" sound, and this was exactly the opposite- a thuddy, muddy sound. Everything about doing the Stones' sound was the opposite of most everything of what I'd come to accept as "truth" through 25 years of playing. I think the biggest thing that I really learned was the concept of "space." I'd always learned to fill space- bind everything together, allow room to breathe- but fill those uncomfortable empty spots. Wyman doesn't do that by design. If you try to fill those spaces, if you try to overdo what's there, if you try to overmelodicize what's there- you kill the song. It's a crazy phenomenon. I think one of the more recognizable things is something like just playing the root of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." If you try to double (triple) that riff- you end up killing that evil, dark sound that makes the song so appealing- it starts to sound like Frampton's version of it. Even something like the riff in "Brown Sugar," you have to let the guitar carry it- otherwise it just gets "clobby."

I don't think I'm ever going to be a Wyman fanboy or anything, but I think there's a whole lot more to learn from studying those Stones' songs than what meets the eye. It's easy to say "I understand the concept of space" and overlook how far that really goes. I've been doing this band for a few years now, and I still have to really *think* and fight natural urges and tendencies to overplay. I believe I actually have to put in more thought in playing songs that I know than I've ever had to do.

[etoncrow]

I remember reading years ago in an interview with Bill or Charlie that they would come into the studio and lay down basic tracks to something that did not really exist. Then, Jagger and Richards would come in and essentially write a song over the basic tracks; kind of like making it up as they went along. That could be one reason why there seems to be a lack of emphasis on Bill's bass lines. He never knew what the song was going to be until it was in the can. Can anyone verify this or is it time for my meds again?

[The Golden Boy]

I've heard something to that effect as well...

[Bassgrinder77]

Well, if he's so great, who ISN'T?
I remember Love You Live being a terrible sounding live album and being surprised they even put it out. Anyways, I remember thinking how badly the Stones had degraded as a live band since Get Yer Ya Ya's Out, which I loved.

Originally Posted by slinginsix

If you haven't heard the Stones live album from the mid 70's, "Love You Live" I am highly recommending for great samples of Bill's playing, particularly on "hot stuff" as well as other songs...very active, bouncy, swingin, and just great. not as easy as it seems...give it a listen guys.

[R D Maynard]

Bill played what he had to play to make the Stones the most successful Rock'n Roll band ever. He apparently enjoyed it, too. Supposedly his habit of holding the bass nearly vertical was to allow him to mask his checking out the "birds" in the audience. At any rate, Darryl what's-his-name is a mediocre substitute.

I wish I could have seen the Stones with Bill.

[Mr. Mig]

Bill Wyman is sooooo underappreciated. I so did admire him and still do.

[Ukiah Bass]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

I The next thing was about the bass tone. I'd always strived for a ring-y "present" sound, and this was exactly the opposite- a thuddy, muddy sound. Everything about doing the Stones' sound was the opposite of most everything of what I'd come to accept as "truth" through 25 years of playing.

I understand the bass Wyman used on many Stones hits was converted by him to fretless. This was how he got the rubbery, relaxed, behind-the-beat sound. Great stuff. I've learned a lot by studying his technique. Jones is an excellent bassist who I believe is centered more in the jazz world. Might be counter intuitive for a jazzer to play "sloppy" like Wyman. Many of us prefer him to Jones in the Stones' context, so sloppy can be good. All relative to what the song needs.

[sedan_dad]

I'm so glad to see this thread.
I've been a Wyman fan for a long time . His sense of what not to play and the way he swings with Charlie is so wonderful.
What a groove!
The band sounds so different without Bill. They lost that groove they had.

[Jim Carr]

O I still want a cherry hollow body 2-pickup Framus so bad...

[steamthief]

Bill Wyman is the man. The bassline for Miss You is smokin' groove!

[mav]

Bass line for Tumblin Dice has an awesome hook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sh-fMOecSE&feature=fvw

I also never appreciated the Stones until I play some of there songs live with a kick butt drummer.

[nysbob]

The mere fact that I'm hearing some present tense bassists stating that they "get" Bill is encouraging. He was a huge part of making a lot of great records work.

[4-string]

I was never really into the Stones, but I really, really dig what BW did with his Rhythm Kings, great stuff.

[Ric5]

The best bass player in the Stones was Keith Richards ... several Stones studio bass tracks were played by him or by hired gun studio bass players.

[Brent Hahn]

He does great stuff on the Willy and the Poor Boys record, and it's easier to hear than on a lot of Stones records.

[p-bass]

I like Bill Wyman. I believe Mick Taylor played Bass on Tumbling Dice though. Kieth Richards is resposible for alot of the great bass lines in so many Rolling Stones songs.