Ben E King "Stand by me"

dnburgess · #1 10-24-2006, 07:39 PM

Can anywone tell me who played bass on the original recording of "Stand By Me" by Ben E King?

musicman5string · #2 10-25-2006, 12:38 PM

Was it a Motown release? Then it was probably Jamerson. If not, then it might've been Jamerson. If it was someone else, it wasn't Jamerson.

**Damon Rondeau** · #3 10-25-2006, 01:19 PM

Not Motown -- produced by Jerry Wexler for Atlantic, recorded in NYC in 1960, using what was then Atlantic's brand-new studio. I can't remember who they were using for players -- they weren't bringing up the guys from down South, I don't think...

Mr.Phil · #4 10-25-2006, 01:40 PM

Hmmm... That is a tough one. I thought that perhaps someone could I.D. him visually, so I searched for a Ben E. King music video. I found this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew_A-40QHOY
Oddly, they don't show any muscians' faces...

You've got me pretty interested now too.

-Phil

**Damon Rondeau** · #5 10-25-2006, 01:58 PM

I'll bet the answer is in Wexler's auto-bio. Can't remember the name (library copy) but it's a great read. If I remember correctly he talks a fair bit about sessions and people...

musicman5string · #6 10-25-2006, 08:27 PM

All I know is that when I want to show a student how the bass line can be "the tune"; i.e. the main hook in the song, I always show them that. No one has ever disagreed yet.

Keyser Soze · #7 10-30-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnburgess

Can anywone tell me who played bass on the original recording of "Stand By Me" by Ben E King?

I'm not sure if he was on that particular cut, but I think Al McKibbon did a lot of those Atlantic r&b sessions.

dnburgess · #8 10-30-2006, 02:40 PM

Thanks. Its a shame that the player of such a great and influential bass line isn't better known.