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Bass lines by Sir Paul.

#21
Originally posted by Jacob Bartfield
everyone should really listen closely to the bass playing on "Something" (Abbey Road), to know what I mean. It's so melodically intersting, and he builds it so briliantly.
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"Something" is my favorite bass line of his. The song doesn't focus around it, like the bassline from "Come Together" for instance, yet I've had people recognize the song from just playing the bass part. It manages to follow the melody while still keeping the groove. It is the perfect bassline for the song, and I don't think there is anyone who could come up with one that fits the song better.
 
#22
Originally posted by demolition
its nice to see people all all ages into and respectful of his work,i am only 31 myself so I missed out on ALL of my favorites(zep,sabbath,who,ETC)and have to live off of CD's and other forms of audio.
The song I enjoy the most is "HEY BULLDOG"its as complex yet melodic at the same time.
Though there are many bass players out here now that I am sure are great,but the music they play turns me away before i can see what they are about,I am not saying they play lousy music,Its just not my kind of sound.
PEACE:bassist:
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I'm 28 and missed it all too, I like seeing the younger bass players out there, 18,19,20's getting into this stuff. This is my favorite kind of music, because it's not gimmicky or cleche. The music is timeless, and was written that way. Every musician (almost)in that era was awesome, well taught and schooled in music. There are a few now days that are great musicians but back then all those guys could rip. It's good to see the younger players out there realize this and are striving to bring rock back into it's former glory. I don't want to catagorize all the new music out there, but the older stuff like Beetles, Zepplin, ETC. is much more technical, rich harmonys and melodies muscially and vocally.
 
#23
As far I'm concerned, Sir Paul's playing on "Rain", "Paperback Rider", "Lucy in the Sky", and "She Said" are what ring in me head as true rock bass. And, only one of those songs listed is his! His compositions in the late 60's, I feel, are his best. I really liked his solo period just before forming Wings. But, I liked that period, too. EVERY bass player, even the jazz ones today, cite Macca as a major influence. If John Lennon was the idea, and word man, Paul definitely was the musical counter-weight of the group, hands down! I love Georgie, and he wrote some great songs, but the lead guitarist could have been anybody, really. As for Ringo, we all love him to death, don't we? He did his part for the group and was an adequate skinsman, but it could have been in his seat, too.
 
#24
I was born a few years before the Beatles recorded "Love me do". I was 11 when Paul left the band. I was 8 when I got my first Beatles single ("Penny Lane").

Sir Paul is not the one who decided me to play bass (it's Chris Squire), but he is a big influence of mine, though.

There are 2 Maccabasslines I love pretty much, both are from his post-Beatles career : "Mrs Vandebilt" and "Letting go".
 
#25
I think that there are definitely younger listeners out there who simply can't relate to the Beatles. I think that, to some people, their songs are so relentlessly melodic that they just strike them as too chirpy. Even today's pop artists utilize darker melodic material and, of course, most modern production is based on either the heavineess of the guitars or based aaround the drum track.

I just love them because as I get older I keep discovering new things in their music. I never stop maarveling at Paul's taste as a bassist. I'll tell you, getting their albums in mono over the last few years has brought out all sorts of nuances that I misseed the first million times I head these songs. There's something about the mono mixes that makes the guitars sound a little twangier and the bass a little bommier. Beetween the Beatles & The Kinks, I'm really starting to come aroound to the appeal of mono drums. Just mic the kick, snare and one over head and "one two three four". 'Course you need the old Reslo ribbon mics and the Fairchild compressores...and Ringo.
 
#26
Originally posted by Ninestring
...and a friend of mine,Rick parotta asked George Harrison how he did the guitar line on 'And your bird can sing " and George told him "you'd have to ask Paul,he played that".
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Are you sure?

At any rate, the solo was double tracked, not played in thirds. I don't know if George played one and Paul played the other or what.

There is a story about some guitarist or other (I forget who) learning to play that solo in 3rds, and then finally speaking to George about it, and George saying "I couldn't play that, we double tracked it!"
 
#27
Originally posted by moley
Are you sure?

At any rate, the solo was double tracked, not played in thirds. I don't know if George played one and Paul played the other or what.

There is a story about some guitarist or other (I forget who) learning to play that solo in 3rds, and then finally speaking to George about it, and George saying "I couldn't play that, we double tracked it!"
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I'm sure...George played the solo on "And Your Bird Can Sing". And for the last time, it's Paul playing bass on "Taxman".
;)

From my past Guitar Player readings-
Joe Walsh was the guitarist that asked George how he did the solo; Walsh spent weeks(?) learning the part & then George tells him..."It was double tracked". Walsh was pissed.
And George used to get compliments for the solo on "Taxman".
;)
 
#30
Originally posted by corinpills
I think that, to some people, their songs are so relentlessly melodic that they just strike them as too chirpy.
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I never thought melody would be a bad thing. at any rate, "I am the Walrus" is very unmelodic. "Tomorrow never knows" also.

I love "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite" for melodicism.

Sgt Pepper is interesting allso in that "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song in 3/4 with a chorus in 4/4, while "Mr Kite" is in 4/4 with a musical interlude in 3/4...
 
#33
Da_Niet wrote: " He did his part for the group and was an adequate skinsman, but it could have been in his seat, too."

I beg to differ. Ringo was and is an absolutely incredible drummer, I know of no one that could have filled his shoes, period. Very few people appreciate how great of a musician he is, but you can get some inkling of it from the fact that everything he ever played with those guys sounds great yet not exactly the same as any other song, his playing always drives the song while providing an intoxicating swing and structural definition and counterpoint that reveal a heavy sense of composition and sensitivity on his part. His sound, the way he set up his kit, and many aspects of his playing revolutionized rock/pop drums forever. He could be heavy as hell or light as a feather, nearly invisible as a separate entity and mesmerizingly articulate at the same time. When those guys played they became one big instrument, that is most certainly not something you hear every day.
 
#35
Originally posted by Coypu
Although surpassed by many he was still good for his time but the greatness of beatles is relative. Compared to say Road Games by Allan Holdsworth they do look rather unimpressive. But compared to the bands of their time they certainly where among the best.
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Aah, yes! "Road Games", one of the greatest pop albums ever! :p

Seriously, Coypu, it seems a bit irrelevant to compare Allan Holdsworth with the Beatles, don´t you think?
 
#37
Originally posted by Coypu
...I just hope that they realise that alot of time has passed since them and music has progressed.
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A lot of time has passed since Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Ellington, Bird, Diz, Tatum, Monk, Powell, Miles, Mingus, Hendrix, Joplin, Stevie, Marvin Gaye, Zappa, etc.
The innovators of any era will always sound 'fresh'...not so sure if today's progress is all that.
So, IMO, The Beatles sound even 'better' today when compared to what passes as Pop-Rock.

I'm a big Holdsworth/Johnson/Wackerman fan...Holdsworth is good but he's no Coltrane.
;)
 
#38
Originally posted by Coypu
Well, the point was that beatles where mediocre and comparing them to Holdsworth proves the point. But if people like that's fine, I just hope that they realise that alot of time has passed since them and music has progressed.
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Hmmm...

I recall having this discussion with you before, Coypu.
I will just assume that your view on the subject has not changed since then, and respect that fact.

But please don't try to "prove" that your opinion and taste is better than mine or any others', OK?

Peace.
 
#40
Originally posted by Kid Charlemagne
Aah, yes! "Road Games", one of the greatest pop albums ever! :p

Seriously, Coypu, it seems a bit irrelevant to compare Allan Holdsworth with the Beatles, don´t you think?
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>>> One must understand the difference between
"technicians" and "tunesmiths". I love
Holdsworth, and in fact, saw the IOU
tour with Berlin & Wackerman, but I
was in a grocery store today and heard
Beatles Muzak as I was squeezing melons..
 

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