Bootsy:"Sex Machine" bass question...are the octaves played by the bass ?

[Libersolis]

"Sex Machine" bass transcription question...are the octaves played by the bass?
Hey everyone..I am working on some old James Brown tunes and trying to learn the basslines note for note from his old records. I know there are many variations of the Sex Machine bass line, but I just have a question about the first recording.

I am using transcribe to slow down the recording and pick out the subtleties, but one part I am having difficulty hearing is whether or not the bass plays the Eb octaves that appear throughout the song. When listening to the track at normal speed it sounds like the bass is providing the octaves. However when slowing the track down and isolating these parts, it sounds as if it's only the guitar.

I've looked online and see the transcription written both ways so I am asking if anyone knows definitively whether or not Bootsy plays the octaves on the record...Thanks!!

[JimmyM]

Definitively? No. But it sounds like Bootsy playing them.

[Laklandfan]

I've been trying to learn this same song and was having the same problem. Live James Brown sometimes used two bass players at one time. Combinations of "Sweet” Charles Sherrell, Jimmy Mack, Bernard Odum, Tim Drummon, David Weston, and Fred Thomas. Bootsy was the bassist on Sex Machine and it is possible he overdubbed a second bass line, because that might have been what Mr. Dynamite wanted. Here is a live version with two bassists YouTube - ‪James Brown - Sex Machine (1976)‬‏

[TokyoJo]

Check this performance out:

Sexmachine James Brown 1971 - YouTube

You can clearly see Bootsy hitting the Eb octave at :17 and all throughout this video.

tJ

[Jamie_Funk]

Originally Posted by TokyoJo

Check this performance out:

Sexmachine James Brown 1971 - YouTube

You can clearly see Bootsy hitting the Eb octave at :17 and all throughout this video.

tJ

That ain't Bootsy

J

[77PBass]

Originally Posted by Jamie_Funk

That ain't Bootsy

J

That looks like James's old band before they quit and he hired the Pacemakers.

[Les Izmor]

I posted on a similar thread but wanted to weigh in here too. Those octaves sound like bass to me.

Check these vids out for two different bassist's approach to the killer groove of Sex Machine:

Bootsy:

JAMES BROWN Sex Machine 1971 - YouTube

Not Bootsy (Bassist's name?):

Sexmachine James Brown 1971 - YouTube


Love this stuff as much as anything. Bootsy Baby!!

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by 77PBass

That looks like James's old band before they quit and he hired the Pacemakers.

That's more likely the bassist he hired just after Bootsy and the Cincinnati crew left him.

[Les Izmor]

Also,

The recording of the Olympia 1971 show was released in the 90's. The album is called Love Power Peace.

Sex Machine sounds like it's in D on that record, which is a popular JB funk key. It allows for some great octave skips using the open D string.


Man, I love this period of JB!!!

[Brad Johnson]

JAMES BROWN GREATEST DANCE MOVES EVER-THERE WAS A TIME - YouTube