Brian Cole, bassist for The Association

[Pearly Gator]

I was feeling nostalgic yesterday and was checking out YouTube videos of The Association. What a fun band with catchy tunes! Six guys that all sang and had several big hits with some songs that became classics. "Windy", "Along Comes Mary" and of course, "Cherish". My older siblings brought home these albums on vinyl when I was 13 or 14. The Association is described as an "American sunshine pop band from California".

The first song I checked out was "Windy" that starts with a fun bass riff that sets up the mood of the song perfectly. The bassist, Brian Cole played a Gibson EB2. I think the short scale Gibson really shines on Brian's bass parts.

Sadly, Brian passed at age 29 in 1972. Today, his son Jordan plays with The Association.

Brian on his EB2.




He is featured here in a 1967 broadcast of the Smothers Brother's show.

 

[JimK]

...love The Association!
Joe Osborn & The Wrecking Crew played on the recordings.
The guys in The Association were capable of playing live, though. Their live album is pretty good.

 

[Pearly Gator]

Yes, the wrecking crew did much of their recordings. But great recordings they were.

 

[JimK]

This was entertaining & informative...

 

[Lazylion]

I'm fixin' to play "Never, My Love" as a solo acoustic guitar guy next month. Hopefully the greatness of the song will make up for it being done w/only one vocal.

 

[consectaneus]

That's much too young. I didn't know that. I love The Association though. I've watched those myself many times. They were so fun and interesting vocally. I learned Joe Osborn's line to Never My Love just because it's so perfect

 

[Michedelic]

That's much too young.

Junk will do that if you’re not careful.

 

[SonOfBrank]

Brian used to play the upright bass, and early recordings show with precision. One night after a gig he left it in his car overnight in Hollywood, and the next day it was stolen.

That’s when he got the Gibson.