Disco Bassists - Let's hear 'em!

skidrawk · #1 03-08-2010, 09:24 PM

Our latest private show inquiries are asking if we play any disco. (think late 70's early 80's) We have some but looking for more. Furthermore does anyone know who played bass for the Four Seasons during their disco years? [December 63 - (Oh what a night), Grease] Google hasn't been my friend in this department. I've always dug disco basslines (even though the octaves are giving my weaker fingers a hella-workout) Give me some research material! I'll keep searching on my own but looking for some direction.

Chrisk-K · #2 03-09-2010, 12:02 AM

Don Ciccone played the bass on "Oh what a night."

I dig disco bass lines. Some of the most melodic bass lines are disco lines. I dig everything that Bernard Edwards played.

bass12 · #3 03-09-2010, 12:34 AM

Bernard Edwards was definitely my favourite bassist of the disco era. Ronnie Baker (house bassist with Philly International Records) is someone you also have to check out. Richard Finch had some great lines with K.C. And The Sunshine Band, so have a listen to him as well. Go through the Philly International, Salsoul and Prelude catalogues and you'll find tons of classics. Of course, there are also lots of lesser-known disco/post-disco cuts that feature killer bass lines (Gwen McCrae's "Keep The Fire Burning" and Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat are two that come to mind), but you might not get away with playing those for a mainstream crowd...

kevin_lindsay · #4 03-09-2010, 12:39 AM

Here's Guy Pratt talking about some of his favourite disco bass lines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3Jc54k1Es

Caca de Kick · #5 03-09-2010, 12:54 AM

Don Ciccone also sang those falsetto pre-chorus parts on Oh What a Night

skidrawk · #6 03-09-2010, 04:48 AM

Thanks guys good content. Loved the Guy Pratt video.

Here is the disco we already do:

You Spin Me Right Round
Keep Me Hanging on (Kim Wilde version)
December 63 (I do not do the falsetto)
Le Freak
Girls on Film
Relax

Actually we do a medley of the last four songs and it is amazingly fun.

Dr. Cheese · #7 03-09-2010, 05:26 AM

Guy Pratt was cool, even if he was playing Disco with that bridge pickup tone.

"I Should've Loved You" featured TM Stevens on bass. That whole album blew me away! I played along with it for hours on end back in the day.

DWBass · #8 03-09-2010, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

"I Should've Loved You" featured TM Stevens on bass. That whole album blew me away! I played along with it for hours on end back in the day.

Word! That bassline blew my mind when I first heard it! 'Tonight I'm Alright' was another cool bassline from that album!

ga_edwards · #9 03-09-2010, 05:42 AM

We have a few disco tunes in our function set - essential to get people on the dance floor

Disco Inferno - The Tramps
Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey (incredible considering the singer is also the bassist)
Everybody Dance - Chic (that'll give you a workout!)
Le Freak - Chic
Upside Down - Diana Ross
Let's Groove - Earth Wind & Fire (break out your synth pedals)
Love Train - The O'Jays
What You Waiting For - Gwen Stefani (modern, but a great disco groove)

We've also messed around with some Bee Gee's and Hot Stuff (you know, from the Full Monty).

Dr. Cheese · #10 03-09-2010, 05:50 AM

Another killer bassline from a Narada Michael Walden record was "Divine Emotions" played by Randy Jackson (American Idol.)

Lady Kayri · #11 03-09-2010, 06:35 AM

I love "She Works Hard For the Money" - Donna Summer version. We were planning on playing it at the end of the first set, with the front person saying something along the lines of "this will be the last song for our first set; we'll be taking a 15 minute break after it. Remember to tip your wait staff and bar keeps!" Unfortunately the band fell apart before we ever got a chance to play out...but still intend to suggest whatever band I may end up in later on follows through....

ric stave · #12 03-09-2010, 06:44 AM

We do a few Disco tunes in my band.....

(I'll let you click on the Disco Duck link rather than list all 40 or so...)

When the drummer and I started the band (about 11 years ago now), we had a hard time finding a guitarist, so I ALMOST switched to guitar, then I listened to the tunes again and said "What, am I nutz??" - These songs have some of the funnest basslines to play - I won't give that up!

PJSShearer · #13 03-09-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidrawk

Thanks guys good content. Loved the Guy Pratt video.

Here is the disco we already do:

You Spin Me Right Round
Keep Me Hanging on (Kim Wilde version)
December 63 (I do not do the falsetto)
Le Freak
Girls on Film
Relax

Actually we do a medley of the last four songs and it is amazingly fun.

Funnily enough. apart from Le Freak, I wouldn't classify any of those songs as "Disco".

BTW, the original "hook" to Le Freak wasn't "Freak Out" but "F**k Off" after Nile and Bernard couldn't get into Studio 54 one night.

"You Spin Me Right Round" and "Relax" are defnitely "HiNRG" (high energy).

December 63 - don't think so, wrong feel

Keep me Hanging on - see above

Girls on Film - electropop, New wave

Woodchuck · #14 03-09-2010, 07:33 AM

Didn't Will Lee play bass on Manilow's "Copa Cabana"?

James_E · #15 03-09-2010, 07:37 AM

Here's a few in that realm that'll get'em moving and are fun on the bass:

September (Earth Wind and Fire)
Dancing Queen (Abba)
Play That Funky Music White Boy (Wild Cherry)

PJSShearer · #16 03-09-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

Didn't Will Lee play bass on Manilow's "Copa Cabana"?

Hey a Gig's a Gig - if you're paying?, I'm playing!.

In read an article by Bob Ballard recently and he explained that the New York recording scene had (has?) a Clearing house system - you need a band for a session you call the clearing house with a list of 3 choices and if any of them are free on that date you got them. Now if you were booking a band for a recording session and Will Lee was free, wouldn't you book him?. Trouble was, as Bob said in the article, you'd hear people saying "I wonder where Will Lee is today?".

4lPh4n0m3g4 · #17 03-09-2010, 08:07 AM

Richard Finch from KC and the Sunshine Band.

Most well known songs:

"That's the Way (I Like It)"
"(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty"
"I'm Your Boogie Man"
"Keep It Comin' Love"
"Get Down Tonight"
"Give It Up"
"Please Don't Go"

Besides those already mentioned; for popular late 70's Disco, there's

Donna Summer
Amanda Lear
The Bee Gees
The Jacksons

By the early 80's the term Disco was out of fashion and was re-labeled as dance music or pop dance music. But by then, for the most part, it was dead in the U.S. thus ending my exposure to the genre. It's next "incarnation" would prolly be what is called "House".

skidrawk · #18 03-09-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

Funnily enough. apart from Le Freak, I wouldn't classify any of those songs as "Disco".

BTW, the original "hook" to Le Freak wasn't "Freak Out" but "F**k Off" after Nile and Bernard couldn't get into Studio 54 one night.

"You Spin Me Right Round" and "Relax" are defnitely "HiNRG" (high energy).

December 63 - don't think so, wrong feel

Keep me Hanging on - see above

Girls on Film - electropop, New wave

so you're one of those people. O.K. next.

Joe Gress · #19 03-09-2010, 08:11 AM

Here I thought you said Disco Biscuits at first. They are new, and not quite in the "disco" genre from the era you describe, but Mark does lay down some tasty tasty bass lines. Might check em out anyways.

corinpills · #20 03-09-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidrawk

Thanks guys good content. Loved the Guy Pratt video.

Here is the disco we already do:

You Spin Me Right Round
Keep Me Hanging on (Kim Wilde version)
December 63 (I do not do the falsetto)
Le Freak
Girls on Film
Relax

Actually we do a medley of the last four songs and it is amazingly fun.

You're off by about 6 or 7 years on most of these, but don't worry, most clients don't know what they're talking about either. I always get "We love Motown. You know, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind And Fire, Build me Up Buttercup, Brown Eyed Girl, all the classic Motown.