Leland Sklar: any recommendations?

NickInMesa · #1 01-25-2010, 01:15 PM

I would like to listen to some good tasty stuff with Sklar on bass.

What would you recommend?

Thanks!!!

JTE · #2 01-25-2010, 01:44 PM

Wow, where to start... OK, for me one of his finest moments is on Jackson Browne's first album ("Saturate Before Using). ESPECIALLY on "Doctor, My Eyes" where he just locks down with Kunkle and plays a simple little line- except for those fast little descending fills he does that are perfectly timed and move the song without ever drawing attention to them.

Then there's Lyle Lovett's Large Band where he covers a wide range of styles and feels, all with his characteristic non-chalance yet intensity.

If you can find a copy of The Section's album (commonly called "the pie album") you'll be highly rewarded. It's Sklar, Kunkle, Kortchmar, and Doerge playing instrumental songs. Some or instrumental versions of popular songs (like what the original Letterman band did when it was just the four of them) and some were more decidedly fusion oriented blazing. I still love "Doin' The Meatball" and "Holy Frijoles" as well as "Dock of The Bay" off that album.

John

pasta4lnch · #3 01-25-2010, 01:48 PM

Go to a record store and throw a dart! You'll probably hit at least three cd's he's played on!

Oh wait - there aren't anymore music stores.

and cd's are pretty much gone

never mind!

John Wentzien · #4 01-25-2010, 01:50 PM

"spectrum" by Billy Cobham!

KJung · #5 01-25-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Wow, where to start... OK, for me one of his finest moments is on Jackson Browne's first album ("Saturate Before Using). ESPECIALLY on "Doctor, My Eyes" where he just locks down with Kunkle and plays a simple little line- except for those fast little descending fills he does that are perfectly timed and move the song without ever drawing attention to them.

+1 The early Jackson Browne and James Taylor stuff is the place to start. Amazing tone and amazing, creative playing (edit: His playing on 'Your Smiling Face' on the James Taylor 'JT' album is one of the finest pop bass performances of all time IMO).

Also, Billy Cobham's 'Spectrum' fusion CD is listed by Leland as the performance he is most proud of. A bit different than most of his catalogue, but amazing... a CLASSIC of the mid fusion era.

John Wentzien · #6 01-25-2010, 02:03 PM

OOps! "Spectrum"

(fixed it)

pasta4lnch · #7 01-25-2010, 02:04 PM

I just tried to find it, but there was a youtube vid of James Taylor doing Country Road that was amazing. Lee was on his frankenstein bass (which appeared to not have too many sigs yet. . . ). When I discovered it it was on the 1st page. now I went like 10 pages deep and couldnt find it so maybe it was pulled. killer vid!

NickInMesa · #8 01-25-2010, 02:25 PM

His wiki has a selected discography, it seems to be another good place as well.

The tone, the tone...

groovenut57 · #9 01-25-2010, 02:25 PM

Here are a few of my favorite DVD's with Lee Sklar on the bass:

James Taylor, Live in Boston (1988)
Phil Collins, Serious Hits... Live!
Phil Collins, Finally... The First Farewell Concert

bassman1987 · #10 01-25-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

His playing on 'Your Smiling Face' on the James Taylor 'JT' album is one of the finest pop bass performances of all time IMO.

+ 1,254,634,709

Absolutely amazing bass line with killer tone that serves the song perfectly. IMHO, his performance on this tune should rank right up there with Jamerson's on "What's Goin On".

And somebody alreadly mentioned The Section, definitely check them out if you can find them. They actually released three albums, I've been lucky enough to track down two of them on vinyl. I guess fusion is the best way to describe it, but some of the cuts on the "Fork It Over" album serve up healthy portions of funk too.

Sklar also throws down a solo bass track on the "Forward Motion" album

Jim Nazium · #11 01-25-2010, 02:44 PM

"How Sweet It Is to be Loved by You" is another James Taylor tune with a great Lee Sklar bass line.

retardedpossum · #12 01-25-2010, 02:53 PM

I remember being a freshman in highschool back in 79 and he played on a song called children of the sun by billy thorpe. He does a small solo section and used three notes I think. What a great overdriven sound that was! then he also played on a night on the town with rod stewert. That album also has duck dunn, bob glaub, and david hood!

BigOldHarry · #13 01-25-2010, 02:54 PM

Jackson Brown "The pretender" - music that cuold be *really* dull if it weren't for such great band...

retardedpossum · #14 01-25-2010, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Jackson Brown "The pretender" - music that cuold be *really* dull if it weren't for such great band...

love love loved that bass line!

John Wentzien · #15 01-25-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retardedpossum

I remember being a freshman in highschool back in 79 and he played on a song called children of the sun by billy thorpe. He does a small solo section and used three notes I think. What a great overdriven sound that was! then he also played on a night on the town with rod stewert. That album also has duck dunn, bob glaub, and david hood!

Oh Yeahhhhh!
Got to go listen again!

NickInMesa · #16 01-25-2010, 02:58 PM

He has a really good international career as well.

I found out he played with Veronique Sanson a lot. For instance "Le Paradis Blanc". Great tone. Great French pop song by the way.

She is after all Stephen Stills' ex-wife.

John Wentzien · #17 01-25-2010, 03:00 PM

No more Graviteeee.......

jaywa · #18 01-25-2010, 03:01 PM

Lisa Loeb, the album is called Firecracker and the song is "I Do". It's the leadoff track and Mr. Sklar's playing and tone are straight from heaven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM4uwLTiDPU

groovenut57 · #19 01-25-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Jackson Brown "The pretender" - music that cuold be *really* dull if it weren't for such great band...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know, The Pretender by Jackson Browne was with Bob Glaub on the bass, wasn't it?

dmrogers · #20 01-25-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Wow, where to start...
ESPECIALLY on "Doctor, My Eyes" where he just locks down with Kunkle and plays a simple little line- except for those fast little descending fills he does that are perfectly timed and move the song without ever drawing attention to them.

Doctor My Eyes is magic! Mr. Sklar is a fantastic bassist. You might want to check out some Barefoot Servants
I have their first album, pretty good stuff.

People like Leland Sklar and Michael Rhodes have my total respect.