Motown Recommendations

gonzorob · #1 07-31-2008, 08:13 AM

I have been getting into the motown scene lately. Someone already suggested a couple Donny Hathaway songs to me and I am having a blast with the bass parts.

Can you guys recommend me a handful of good motown albums that will help me grasp the style?

Thanks in advance!

Yvon · #2 07-31-2008, 08:18 AM

buy the standing in the shadows of motown book if you like motown bass lines.
I bought it 20 years ago and I am still working on it.

VroomVroom · #3 07-31-2008, 08:33 AM

Great recommendation above. That said - any and all Stevie Wonder albums. Any and all Temptations albums. Any and all Marvin Gaye albums. These will enrich your soul as well as make you a better musician.

Yvon · #4 07-31-2008, 08:37 AM

I bought the hitsville usa compilation after I bought the SITSOM book.
Very good greatest hits!

http://www.amazon.com/Hitsville-USA-.../dp/B000006NUW

Yvon · #5 07-31-2008, 08:38 AM

and the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Shado.../dp/0881888826

Buy those 2 and will be a much better bassist soon.

gonzorob · #6 07-31-2008, 08:45 AM

Thanks a million. I will definitely pick this up.

thycrusader · #7 07-31-2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvon

buy the standing in the shadows of motown book if you like motown bass lines.
I bought it 20 years ago and I am still working on it.

+1,000,000

Fantastic book. Its a book with some of Jamerson's best and most memorable bass lines. But that book comes with two CDs in which you can play along with. But whats cool about them is, if you switch the volume to your left speaker you will hear only the bass, to help you work on some of those tricky rhythms. But on the right is just the rest of the band so you can play along and try and see if it sounds right. I love it.

It also has a very extensive history of Jamerson's Motown career. In there you will find song lists that you can download from iTunes. And not only that but you have the correct bass lines right in front of you.

Enjoy.

lowEstring · #8 07-31-2008, 09:21 AM

Slightly off-topic, but there's a Standing in the Shadows of Motown DVD, too.

It doesn't have lessons or anything, but it gives a pretty good history of the studio cats who brought that music to life. I've seen it on Amazon for around $6/7.

gonzorob · #9 07-31-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowEstring

Slightly off-topic, but there's a Standing in the Shadows of Motown DVD, too.

It doesn't have lessons or anything, but it gives a pretty good history of the studio cats who brought that music to life. I've seen it on Amazon for around $6/7.

I actually caught this on the Ovation channel a while back and filed it away in memory until I could get to a place where I could check out the music thoroughly.

It will probably get added to my dvd collection soon.

JTE · #10 07-31-2008, 09:41 AM

I think if you get the book/CD and the video of "Standing In The Shadows of Motown", and the Motown boxed set you'll be set. Some of the best bass work is on the Stevie Wonder tracks, 4 Tops, Temptations, and Smokey Robinson/Miracles, and Gladys Knight/Pips.

For later California Motown the Jackson5 stuff is great, especially "I Want You Back".

jte