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04-10-2007, 01:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX | | | Bruce Thompson of the Attractions
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I think one of my favorite bass parts ever is from Elvis Costello's "Accidents Will Happen" from Armed Forces. Any other Costello/Thompson fans here?
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04-10-2007, 01:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Nottingham UK | | That's Bruce Thomas, NOT Bruce Thompson. 
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04-10-2007, 01:24 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sac Area | | | I like the old Attractions stuff. I'd say pretty much up to Punch the Clock. I liked Veronica, and a couple other things around then, but not much since. He kinda became a parody of himself. Much like I think Tom Petty did.
But back to Bruce, yeah, I like a lot of bass lines from him - Pump It Up is one of my favorites.
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04-10-2007, 01:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Italy | | He's my favourite basspalayer.
The line of Acccidents's is one of his best imho but every lines he played with Costello are wonderful
I would play like him in a rock'n'roll band. 
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04-10-2007, 01:53 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ | | | There is a good article about Bruce in the April issue of Bass Guitar Magazine. Ed Friedland does his usual excellent job of breaking down some classic lines.
Pete |
04-10-2007, 02:20 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bassicinstinct  That's Bruce Thomas, NOT Bruce Thompson. | Duh, big brain fart!
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"What's more romantic than dying in the moonlight?"
P-Bass Club #466, Hollowbody Bass Club #29, Electro-Harmonix Club #1, Texas Bassists Club #61.
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04-10-2007, 02:42 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: St. Louis // St. Charles, MO | |
Bruce is a great player! I particularly love his lines on these songs by Mr. MacManus; - Pump it Up!
- Oliver's Army
- (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
- (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
- Watching the Detectives
- Accidents Will Happen
- Alison (My Aim is True)
- I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
Bruce really has a sense for driving the beat, keeping it active and interesting but not getting in the way. Cool, punchy tone - He really provides the glue from one vocal phrase to the next with his bass lines. |
04-10-2007, 03:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oakland, CA | |
Bruce is one of my favorites, too!
He has the amazing ability to play these very active lines that drive the band and add hooks to the tune without ever losing the groove or getting in anyone else's way. That's a quality I aspire to, but I don't think anyone can do it like BT!
I have some EC bootlegs with the Attractions and this really comes across live. The stuff he does on "Lip Service" and "I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea" blow my mind.
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Last edited by Quinn : 04-10-2007 at 03:08 PM.
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04-11-2007, 10:49 AM
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Love Bruce.
Seen him with Elvis.
Samon Pink 60's P-bass.
THAT BASS BLEW MY MIND.
Never seen another like it again. |
04-11-2007, 11:35 AM
| | | | Bruce is yet another reason why I love bass guitar so much. The early Elvis Costello albums had the Attractions (and Elvis himself) at their aggressive best. The bassline in "Goon Squad" on the "Armed Forces" album is one of my favorites. All that P-bass glory really shines during the verse when it's just Bruce's bass, Pete's drums and Elvis' voice in the mix.
Paul Mac |
04-11-2007, 03:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: atlanta, georgia [satellites] | | | anyone ever read his book? |
04-11-2007, 03:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | | | If ever there was an underrated bass player, its Bruce. Too many favorites to list. I have a recording of when they were on SNL in the late 70s-the one where Elvis stops the band and they go into "Radio Radio"-they also play "Watching the Detectives" and Bruce is pretty much playing "lead bass" the whole way through. Great stuff.
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04-11-2007, 06:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oakland, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by davetakis anyone ever read his book? | Yep and I thought it was great. My Dad, who is an English prof, also loved it and he didn't even know who BT or EC were!
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04-12-2007, 02:27 AM
|  | big notes
Endorsing Artist: Lakland, D'Addario, Mesa | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville, TN | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Enchanter_Tim I like the old Attractions stuff. I'd say pretty much up to Punch the Clock. I liked Veronica, and a couple other things around then, but not much since. He kinda became a parody of himself. Much like I think Tom Petty did.
But back to Bruce, yeah, I like a lot of bass lines from him - Pump It Up is one of my favorites. | Veronica was Paul McCartney
I am a BIG Bruce Thomas fan--hugely underrated |
04-12-2007, 02:34 AM
| | Temp Banned (TOS Violation)
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | While we're discussing the great Bruce Thomas, I'd like to mention a bassist along those same lines...Graham Maby with Joe Jackson. The guy's done everything from reggae/dub, big band swing (on an electric, no less), disco, new age, and balls out punk rock. I loved Bruce Thomas, but I love Graham Maby more. |
04-12-2007, 08:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: atlanta, georgia [satellites] | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Quinn Yep and I thought it was great. My Dad, who is an English prof, also loved it and he didn't even know who BT or EC were! | what is the name of his book? i've always wanted to read it. |
04-12-2007, 08:42 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Nottingham UK | | |
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"Good people will do good things, and bad people will do bad things. But for good people to do bad things... that takes religion."-- Stephen Weinberg |
04-12-2007, 09:01 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bassicinstinct | That book apparently fed the feud between Thomas and Costello that still exists today. It's a shame. Thomas wasn't even permitted to perform with the Attractions when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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04-12-2007, 09:19 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: atlanta, georgia [satellites] | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bassicinstinct | thanks. i just ordered a copy. |
04-12-2007, 10:49 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Nottingham UK | | You're very welcome.
Enjoy!
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