Bassist for Michael Jackson?

[Ronny49]

Hey... does anyone know who the bassist was for Michael Jackson when he did Billie Jean?

Also, I think he played a 5 string bass and used an octave at the beginning and a double stop in the middle of his riff.

Anyone know the real deal?

 

[FerK]

It was Louis Johnson. I think he played a Yamaha 4-string, and what you hear everytime he hits the root note of the riff is a synth bass doubling up.

 

[Ronny49]

It was Louis Johnson. I think he played a Yamaha 4-string, and what you hear every time he hits the root note of the riff is a synth bass doubling up.

If he used a synth, how could he play an octave only at the start and something that sounds like a double stop in the middle? All the other notes sound clear.

 

[Revolver]

As mentioned by Ferk, it was Louis Johnson, and it was on a Yamaha 4-string.

 

[iandmcelroy]

Just the low F# is doubled with a synth -- more than likely it was added after by someone else.

 

[rude_basstard]

If he used a synth

No, he used a bass. The synth player used a synth.

 

[jerry]

I also remember that Louis came up with that bassline that is one of the major hooks in the song, but he did not receive any credit.

 

[Hapa]

Louis came up with the lick and I believe taught MJ how to play it, but it was MJ himself that played the synth part and the bass. AKAIK.

 

[Octaves]

I also remember that Louis came up with that bassline that is one of the major hooks in the song, but he did not receive any credit.

That sounds typical of Michael Jackson. Although a talented guy, he used many great moso's and artists in his career, eg, Quincy Jones, before deciding to sell out and go power-pop with the Black or White album (and possibly Bad). He imitated the dance moves of Fred Astaire... Anyway, interesting point you make about BJ, gonna listen to it through headphones tonight.

 

[The Bass Clef]

It seems there are different stories about the bass line floating around the net. Apparently, John Hall's "I Can't Go For That" inspired MJ to write the bassline to Billy Jean and MJ even confessed it to Hall during the recording of "We are the World". You have to admit, it is very similar.

Louis Johnson may have played it on the album (which I'm also finding contradicting stories that MJ played it, but on Louis' Yamaha bass). After reading this, I don't think Louis made it up though..??

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[odin70]

I have heard the isolated bass part. And the bass i clearly dubbed by a synth (the first two notes)

 

[rarbass]

I have heard the isolated bass part. And the bass i clearly dubbed by a synth (the first two notes)

link?

 

[odin70]

link?

Sorry. Cant remember where i found it.

 

[Red Four]

I don't think I ever heard it was a Yamaha bass he played. Anyone know what model?

 

[JimK]

...coulda been a Yamaha prototype.
In that time frame, LJ also used a Fender P-bass, MM StingRay (& a Sabre?), + an Alembic.
What I always liked about those early Bro J album covers-
LJ was always seen with a bass in-hand.

 

[Tupac]

I highly doubt MJ could play that tight.

My theory is that MJ wrote and Louis played. No evidence though, but MJ usually sang things from his head for other people to learn and reproduce.

 

[jerry]

In the album credits it says Louis played the bass, at a clinic I went to Louis said he played the bass and wrote the bassline, so I'm pretty sure it was Louis on bass.

 

[Roy Vogt]

In the album credits it says Louis played the bass, at a clinic I went to Louis said he played the bass and wrote the bassline, so I'm pretty sure it was Louis on bass.

I concur. There was a Bass Player Magazine about 3 years (Feb 2010) back that had an article called "The Bassists of Michael Jackson" that went into the credits for a lot of MJ and Jackson 5 tracks. It also had an interview with Alex Al and went through his stage rig for the abortive This Is It shows.
BTW, I saw Alex and the majority of MJ's touring band (minus Orianthe) at Bass Player Live 2010 and they were scary good!

 

[The Bass Clef]

In the album credits it says Louis played the bass, at a clinic I went to Louis said he played the bass and wrote the bassline, so I'm pretty sure it was Louis on bass.

Well there ya go! Wouldn't be the first time the internet was wrong! I wonder if Louis was inspired by the Hall & Oates song though, because the bass is pretty close, it's just not very prominent in "I Can't Go for That", compared to Billie Jean.

 

[nutdog]

Well there ya go! Wouldn't be the first time the internet was wrong! I wonder if Louis was inspired by the Hall & Oates song though, because the bass is pretty close, it's just not very prominent in "I Can't Go for That", compared to Billie Jean.

I don't know, they don't sound very alike to me. The Can't Go bass line sounds like the chorus melody of Funky Town.