Chuck Rainey

Bochafish · #1 08-20-2008, 03:10 PM

I really like this guys playing and sound, especially the Steely Dan stuff. What are your favorite Chuck Rainey recordings? (Song or record) Anyone know what kind of bass he used for the Aja record? That's my favorite right now.

TMacATK · #2 08-20-2008, 03:14 PM

When I think "funky Dan bassline," The Fez always comes to mind first. I don't know if Rainey tracked that album or not.

Twnty1inRF · #3 08-20-2008, 03:20 PM

I'm pretty sure Rainey used his old P bass on the Steely Dan tracks. Check out his groove on Kid Charlemagne...

JimK · #4 08-20-2008, 03:26 PM

There's a "Making Of Aja" DVD out there...you may interested in that.
Rainey did the bulk of his '70s work with a Fender P-bass...some photos will show a Jazz pickup in the bridge postion.

Anyway-
More Rainey stuff worth checking out-
The Royal Scam- Steely Dan ("Kid Charlemagne", "Green Earrings", "The Fez", "Don't Take Me Alive", etc)
Countdown To Ecstacy- Steely Dan ("Your Gold Teeth")
Katy Lied- Steely Dan ("Your Gold Teeth, II")

Young, Gifted & Black- Aretha Franklin ("Rock Steady")

Eye To Eye...their debut album ("Nice Girl", etc)

"Where Is The Love"?- Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack

...there's more cool stuff to follow, I'm sure.

pedro · #5 08-20-2008, 03:39 PM

I wasn't too crazy about his tone on the 'Making of Aja' DVD but I'm not very fond of slap. OTOH, 'Sanford and Son' is very funky.

Bochafish · #6 08-20-2008, 03:52 PM

I'll def. have to check out that Aja DVD. I've been a big fan of Steely Dan for a long time now, but haven't seen it.
And I should really specify on the tone. I'm not so much into the slap tone either, like on Peg, but the sound on Black Cow is amazing. I also love the bassline in Gas Lighting Abbie off of Two Against Nature.
Makes sense it's a p-bass with a tone that thick. I'm gonna need to get one of those eventually as I'm really getting into Jamerson too. >.<

pedro · #7 08-20-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bochafish

I'll def. have to check out that Aja DVD. I've been a big fan of Steely Dan for a long time now, but haven't seen it.
And I should really specify on the tone. I'm not so much into the slap tone either, like on Peg, but the sound on Black Cow is amazing. I also love the bassline in Gas Lighting Abbie off of Two Against Nature.
Makes sense it's a p-bass with a tone that thick. I'm gonna need to get one of those eventually as I'm really getting into Jamerson too. >.<

Youtube had a bunch of excerpts from the DVD if you're interested.

Harper · #8 08-20-2008, 08:55 PM

Peg, for the win.

StreamerDavid · #9 08-20-2008, 09:10 PM

Don't forget...flatwound strings. He played on a lot of stuff nobody really thinks of either, like a bunch of TV theme songs. He did that cool bass work in the Sanford and Son theme song. You can download that tune...it's called "The Streetbeater."

John Wentzien · #10 08-20-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StreamerDavid

Don't forget...flatwound strings. He played on a lot of stuff nobody really thinks of either, like a bunch of TV theme songs. He did that cool bass work in the Sanford and Son theme song. You can download that tune...it's called "The Streetbeater."

Qiuncy Jones production

brianh · #11 08-20-2008, 09:22 PM

I'm a big fan of the Roberta Flack stuff...especially "Reverend Lee."

pedro · #12 08-20-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StreamerDavid

Don't forget...flatwound strings. He played on a lot of stuff nobody really thinks of either, like a bunch of TV theme songs. He did that cool bass work in the Sanford and Son theme song. You can download that tune...it's called "The Streetbeater."

I mentioned it a couple of post ago. It was written by Quincy Jones and is a great tune.

Jason Long gives a nice performance of Rainey's bass work on 'Sanford & Son'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT_AgmY5_Qs

jerry · #13 08-20-2008, 09:59 PM

The second Ricki Lee Jones album 'Pirates' had some great Rainey "pop" moments. For some more recent stuff, I dug his work on Cornell Dupree's 'Bop N Blues' album.

donnyfied74 · #14 08-21-2008, 04:47 AM

chuck rainey is of the same greatness as james jamerson..Like Jamerson he used to have a typical RH-technique using only his index finger (up and down)...Check out recordings by Donald Byrd and Johnny Hammond produced by the Mizzell brothers...Classic 70's jazz-funk..

tonedeafmike · #15 08-21-2008, 09:46 AM

Kid Charlemagne and Peg are mind boggling to me. Personal favorites: Home at Last and Josie. Just learned Black Cow (minus a few "Rainey-isms" as my instructor calls them). Even his slow stuff grooves so nicely.

neptoon · #16 03-09-2009, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedro

I mentioned it a couple of post ago. It was written by Quincy Jones and is a great tune.

Jason Long gives a nice performance of Rainey's bass work on 'Sanford & Son'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT_AgmY5_Qs

i found this the other day and was going to post, but a search revealed its existence here...that guy nails that tune...my favorite intro to a show, one of my fave basslines, and my ring tone...heh

NickBass81 · #17 03-09-2009, 06:22 AM

My favorite Rainey recording has to be "Aja" probably, but I'm also a big fan of "The Rojal Scam" and I love the tracks "Babylon Sisters" (from "Gaucho") and Fagen's "Green flower street"...another great one is Joe Coker's "Luxury You Can Affrord"...I know CR used a P-bass until at least the mid-eighites before switching to other basses...