Colin Moulding anyone?

GazzBass · #1 05-28-2010, 07:02 AM

Just been having a bit of an XTC evening. I'd forgot how good Colin Moulding was. He's the Paul McCartney of post punk.

Fab! He doesn't get talked about much but there's some great playing on those XTC records. Any fans out there?

**Mulebagger** · #2 05-28-2010, 07:04 AM

Always loved his playing! He has such a great feel and a really nice full tone. I remember seeing him holding a Wal bass once. I wonder if he recorded with it much. He has some great bouncy lines on "Oranges and Lemons".

dalkowski · #3 05-28-2010, 07:19 AM

+1,000,000 on Moulding. O&L has some of his best playing, and "English Settlement" is great too. And "Black Sea," "Drums & Wires," "The Big Express..." They're ALL great!!! XTC put out some of the best music of the 80s.

CM should get more props on TB. So should Bruce Foxton of The Jam and Gary "Mani" Mounfield of Stone Roses.

Bassmickeyd · #4 05-28-2010, 07:42 AM

Colin is much better than Sir Paul. ..... Sorry to all you die hard Paul fans. .... His work on both Skylarking and Oranges & Lemons is bloody brilliant. ...... Mayor of Simpleton is pretty hard to top on either side of the ocean. ..... He's has a great American R&B mixed in with a British playing right on top of the one. ..... If you can find it pick up the book XTC Song Stories and all the recording and band termoil is discussed there. ..... Though I'm not sure if Colin is even playing music these days. ...... If it's true that would be a shame.

bigtexashonk · #5 05-28-2010, 07:54 AM

Outstanding bassist, vocalist and writer.

randyripoff · #6 05-28-2010, 11:21 AM

Yeah, Moulding is quite good. I always remember being tremendously frustrated trying to learn XTC bass lines back in the day.

Russell Bergum · #7 05-28-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmickeyd

Colin is much better than Sir Paul. ..... Sorry to all you die hard Paul fans. .... His work on both Skylarking and Oranges & Lemons is bloody brilliant. ...... Mayor of Simpleton is pretty hard to top on either side of the ocean. ..... He's has a great American R&B mixed in with a British playing right on top of the one. ..... If you can find it pick up the book XTC Song Stories and all the recording and band termoil is discussed there. ..... Though I'm not sure if Colin is even playing music these days. ...... If it's true that would be a shame.

I agree. Colin's bass playing had a huge impact on me. He comes up with great bass lines, and doesn't "overplay".

Boy do I miss XTC.

bassteban · #8 05-28-2010, 11:38 AM

I think I responded to one of these: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=3551751
Anyway, yup- a ripping basser.

lunarpollen · #9 05-28-2010, 11:40 AM

My fave Colin bass stuff is the Dukes of Stratosphear material

The Mouse · #10 05-28-2010, 07:55 PM

Colin still "does a bit". He has recently played on a track (Your Century) on an album by Duncan Maitland. I think Duncan played mellotron on one of the tracks on XTC's Apple Venus boxset. Duncan was having trouble coming up with a bassline for the tune and we were knocking some ideas around. I suggested he ask Colin. Why not? Great player/ nice guy. Duncan sent him the guide track we were working on and lets just say.. "he rocked it". He played a similar line to the one on the guide track. Only his take on it was something special. It surely is a thing of beauty..

Bassmickeyd · #11 05-28-2010, 08:13 PM

If you're a BIG XTC fan I'd suggest hunting down the book on the band. It's a real good read, with lot's of band humor from happier times. ..... The info on recording is very interesting from everyones perspective of the times. ...... I think Colin's got the closest to nailing that British POP sound. ..... Maybe Herbie Flowers comes in second. ..... It would be great to hear him playing on other POP records.

The Mouse · #12 05-28-2010, 08:26 PM

Skylarking is a gem of an album. Love it!

danomite64 · #13 05-28-2010, 08:48 PM

All the XTC stuff is great. Well, the first album was silly, but still, great. Sam Phillips used Colin on her cd "Martinis & Bikinis", and his work on it is, naturally, great.

lunarpollen · #14 05-30-2010, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danomite64

All the XTC stuff is great. Well, the first album was silly, but still, great. Sam Phillips used Colin on her cd "Martinis & Bikinis", and his work on it is, naturally, great.

Ah I love that Sam Phillips album. Jerry Scheff played on it too.

jaywa · #15 05-31-2010, 03:19 PM

"Mayor of Simpleton," nuff said. There's about three years worth of practical bass lessons in that song alone if you really dig into it.

corinpills · #16 05-31-2010, 05:01 PM

I'm a huge fan of his and mentioned that once in an interview. When my band played a gig in Swindon, there was a letter from Colin waiting for me at the bar, thanking me for the kind words and wishing us well with our UK tour. How classy is that?

Barkless Dog · #17 06-01-2010, 05:42 AM

Huge fan here as well.

I heard Generals & Majors at Taco Bell the other day

Bajo_63 · #18 06-11-2010, 10:11 PM

I too am a huge fan of this man. Everything he's ever done is top notch.
I can't even explain how he's impacted my playing , really my musicallity, so I'm not even gonna try. Let me just say that the connection I felt is the main reason I still play bass today.

GregC · #19 06-12-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corinpills

I'm a huge fan of his and mentioned that once in an interview. When my band played a gig in Swindon, there was a letter from Colin waiting for me at the bar, thanking me for the kind words and wishing us well with our UK tour. How classy is that?

That's cool as hell. I'm a big fan, too--I think I'd frame that.

"Skylarking" is one of the most beautifully constructed albums I've ever heard.

tk421 · #20 06-12-2010, 03:57 PM

my fave XTC track ... as far as Colin goes, would have to be Runaway ...