Brian Wilson/Carol Kaye

You mean orchestral? Yes. Some orch pieces have split lines or bass 1/2.

I do this (in perfect-ish intervals) as a second bassist at a local bluegrass jams because the other bass player wouldn't spit on me if i were on fire. She doesn't even nod to say hi anymore, just glares menacingly.

 

For Wrecking Crew sessions that was fairly common

 

More than likely they were playing the same part, just one on upright and one on EB. To my knowledge, mid 20th century recording did this a lot, specifically in country. You end up with a great deep acoustic tone from the upright, with a nice attack on the lead edge of the note from the EB.

Specifically here, they may have been playing harmonized notes, maybe a west coast or surf aficionado can jump in here.

 

What's a progression? That sounds fancy. We don't like us nonea that fancy stuff.</bluegrass>

 

I read on her website that they sometimes even added a 3rd line on the Danelectro bass. For a high clicky type of sound.
I can only imagine the look on our poor guitar player's faces if I brought in 2 additional bass players!

 

I think do WACKA do WACKA
might cover it

 

Well, fancy stuff, obviously. Octaves, passing tones, a silly little fill, the melody, anything I can think of to get a glare from the old-timers.

 

They used two basses in "Billie Jean" by MJ. Just so you know it can be done.

 

Excellent film...I was fortunate to attend a screening also attended by Brian and Melinda and the films producers who stayed for a Q&A following the showing. As to the part you mention when Carol mentions to Brian that her bass and the upright part were written in two different keys was intended to show that Brian wasn't constrained by conventional rules as he stated something like..."but that's whats in my head"...I don't recall if that exchange was directed at a specific tune, but rather a reflection of Brians creative process in his productions...

 

For another example Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" has two bass parts. Herbie Flowers played both electric and double bass on that track. Not at the same time though, I'm ASSuming.

 

Motown experimented with two basses on some tracks...Some with Jamerson and Bob Babbitt, and a few with Jamerson and Tony Newton. Babbitt had stated that they really didn't come off well and sounded quite muddy...I suppose it could have something to do with Motowns recording equiptment and engineers just used to doing things a certain way, not conducive to certain types of recording innovation...or perhaps the parts were not written to emphasize the separation necessary for achieve good sonic quality???

 

Yes...please refer to my above post regarding Motowns experiments...The Wrecking Crew often used two basses...an electric with Kaye or Osborn, and Lyle Ritz, Ray Pohlman or Chuck Berghofer often adding an upright part...I don't recall any of the specific tunes, but they did many like that.

I also found the cello story on Good Vibrations quite interesting...

 

I would love a movie about her life a woman of her status in today's music is still a rarity I always found her fascinating.

 

Isn't that basically tic-tac bass?

Tic Tac Bass - (the style)