Bob Babbitt on American Idol???

bassplayerbob · #1 03-23-2011, 06:37 PM

Just passing through the channels and who do i see? Mr Babbitt on stage playing for the Motown edition of Idol!!!!! Sporting a GK Head and a Hartke Cab with his sunburst P Bass..

benjammin420 · #2 03-23-2011, 06:43 PM

wow, I might actually have to watch it tonight

JFN · #3 03-23-2011, 06:45 PM

He was just out there for the one cat's tune. Not like a few years ago with the Funk Brothers and Bob was positioned about 5 feet behind the singers. Still cool to see him though. Nice overall performance too.

bassplayerbob · #4 03-23-2011, 07:53 PM

He's baaack Living for the city...

mcm · #5 03-23-2011, 07:54 PM

please say he is not

bassplayerbob · #6 03-23-2011, 07:55 PM

i always thought that was a Nate Watts tune..

Renaissance · #7 03-23-2011, 08:01 PM

When they set up the song they intro'd Bob but also mentioned Jamerson. It has to be tough living in the shadows of James while living in the shadows of Motown!

John D · #8 03-23-2011, 08:04 PM

Just passin' through the channels, huh?

Go on and admit it, you were watchind AI just like I was.

BTW, Babbit played on more than one song.

harrybosch · #9 03-23-2011, 08:18 PM

Babbit was of course cool but the house player on a sweet looking and sounding Fodera 5 wasn't bad either.

JFN · #10 03-23-2011, 08:32 PM

Oh man, I only saw the one tune. Wife started flipping channels after that and I went online to get away from the Oprah channel or whatever. Oh well.

corinpills · #11 03-23-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harrybosch

Babbit was of course cool but the house player on a sweet looking and sounding Fodera 5 wasn't bad either.

I have a different opinion, I'm afraid. I thought he overplayed terribly, deviating from signature bass hooks in a very selfish fashion. Just an opinion, but I liked it a lot more when Bob Babbitt played the proper bass parts.

BassDaddy77 · #12 03-23-2011, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harrybosch

Babbit was of course cool but the house player on a sweet looking and sounding Fodera 5 wasn't bad either.

The house player is great, but a Fodera strung w/ rounds on Motown night? What is this world coming to?

OldDog52 · #13 03-23-2011, 08:35 PM

Oh crud, now I have to watch!*

*Maybe I would have watched anyway. Or maybe not. This is all hypothetical speculation.

benjammin420 · #14 03-23-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renaissance

It has to be tough living in the shadows of James while living in the shadows of Motown!

ain't that the truth

Jhengsman · #15 03-23-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renaissance

When they set up the song they intro'd Bob but also mentioned Jamerson. It has to be tough living in the shadows of James while living in the shadows of Motown!

I don't think so, he had his share of hits with Motown and being a bass line driven company he is the go to Funk Brother and part of living history

OldDog52 · #16 03-23-2011, 08:44 PM

Having just recently watch Shadows of Motown for the first time, I have no doubt Babbitt knows he has his own place in music history.

Stingray5 · #17 03-23-2011, 08:51 PM

Hey if nothing else, American Idol is 2 for 2 the last couple of weeks in showcasing the bass. Last week the wolfman contestant played bass during his performance, and this week they have Bob Babbit in the studio, and perform 2 tunes live with that awesome workhorse rig on full display. I can't complain.

BassDaddy77 · #18 03-23-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhengsman

I don't think so, he had his share of hits with Motown and being a bass line driven company he is the go to Funk Brother and part of living history

I agree. I don't think his ego was hurt any by this. He is often regarded as one of the only bassists that can cop Jamerson's tone, style, and feel note-for-note on these classics. And rightfully so, as he definitely has more than a slice of the Motown pie by his own merit.

Dr. Cheese · #19 03-23-2011, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

i always thought that was a Nate Watts tune..

Stevie Wonder's left hand did the deed!

funkyebk · #20 03-23-2011, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corinpills

I have a different opinion, I'm afraid. I thought he overplayed terribly, deviating from signature bass hooks in a very selfish fashion. Just an opinion, but I liked it a lot more when Bob Babbitt played the proper bass parts.

So much this.