Who played bass on Kenny Loggins' "Footloose"?

[Wheat Williams]

I hope this is an acceptable question here and is not off-topic. Please tell me if I should take this question elsewhere.

I just watched a cover band play this song (reasonably well) and it occurred to me what a challenging bass chart it presents over a pretty simple chord progression. I can't find any resource naming the musicians who played on that session. Anybody know?

[bikeplate]

Hi

Nathan East, I believe

Rob

[funkytoe]

George Hawkins Jr. was Kenny's bassist and musical director for most of the late-70's to early 80's. Don't know if he was still around by the Footloose album. But you can hear George on the Kenny Loggins Alive DVD. Great underrated player.

[Kmonk]

According to Nathaneast.com/discography, Nathan was the bassist. The list is sorted by year. Scroll down to 1984

http://nathaneast.com/discography/

[bigswifty1]

The answer seems like it is -always- Nathan. Wonderful wonderful player.

[jaywa]

It's a great bass line and 90% of the cover band bassists I've seen don't even come close to nailing it.

The interesting thing about the recorded version is the bass line is doubled an octave higher. Not sure if it's an effect or an electric guitar but it's definitely there.

[scottfeldstein]

Terrific playing, but I always hated that sound he was getting. It's like it was EQd to sound exactly like a racquetball. There's a bump in some mid frequency there that gets right under my skin.

[Bassin']

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Terrific playing, but I always hated that sound he was getting. It's like it was EQd to sound exactly like a racquetball. There's a bump in some mid frequency there that gets right under my skin.

Yeah, I agree.

[bassplayerbob]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

According to Nathaneast.com/discography, Nathan was the bassist. The list is sorted by year. Scroll down to 1984

http://nathaneast.com/discography/

I believe that list is album credits, not song credits. He is listed among many other bassplayers on the soundtrack listing, so Footloose is in his listing.

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

I believe that list is album credits, not song credits. He is listed among many other bassplayers on the soundtrack listing, so Footloose is in his listing.

I remember Nathan writing about the line in a column in Guitar Player in the 80s, so he claims it.

[tonybassman]

I was driving home from Thanksgiving with the family today when this came on and I noticed how busy the bass line was. After all these years.

This is good, not sure how accurate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eiKWMoRXo8

[MichalBros]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

I remember Nathan writing about the line in a column in Guitar Player in the 80s, so he claims it.

Do you remember what was he writing about Footloose bassline in this magazine??

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by MichalBros

Do you remember what was he writing about Footloose bassline in this magazine??

He was taking some of the basslines he recorded, writing them out and explaining why he played what he did. It was a monthly column in Guitar Player.

[bass12]

That's funny, I was listening to that song at a gig I was playing the other night and it suddenly occurred to me how good the bass playing is on it. I was wondering who the bassist was and now it seems I have the answer!

[JimK]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

I remember Nathan writing about the line in a column in Guitar Player in the 80s, so he claims it.

I do, too...I think I still have this issue.

Originally Posted by MichalBros

Do you remember what was he writing about Footloose bassline in this magazine??

East was specifically talking about the tune, "Footllose" (w/ a bit of it transcribed).
Other columns had "Easy Lover" & "Forever Man".

[JimK]

Originally Posted by funkytoe

George Hawkins Jr. was Kenny's bassist and musical director for most of the late-70's to early 80's. Don't know if he was still around by the Footloose album. But you can hear George on the Kenny Loggins Alive DVD. Great underrated player.

Hawkins is a great & underrated player...what kills me-
He can be playing a funky figure while singing harmony. Keep The Fire is a nice album/example of his tasteful playing.

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by tonybassman

I was driving home from Thanksgiving with the family today when this came on and I noticed how busy the bass line was. After all these years.

This is good, not sure how accurate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eiKWMoRXo8

What??!!?? Just let this guy teach ya.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBCGx...feature=relmfu

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

According to Nathaneast.com/discography, Nathan was the bassist. The list is sorted by year. Scroll down to 1984

http://nathaneast.com/discography/

That link only shows in 1984, kenny rogers, not kenny loggins.........That'd be 1985

[obimark]

Tonybassman your version is definetely way closer, teacher guy has left out a majority of the cool things about the line, like the double stops.
Anybody have a good Transcription or Tab of this gem?
Note- I'm alright by KL is also another great bassline, is that Nathan East as well.

[JimK]

"I'm Alright" is George Hawkins, IIRC.