Bruce Thomas Master, Madman, or Hack?

[bobyoung53]

The term "genius" is thrown around way too much, Beethoven was and Brian Wilson is a genius, so I'll just say he is a great bassist, always loved the sound and what he did in these tunes, in fact I love his playing and sound on this whole album, this album was always my favorite.

Green Shirt




Party Girl

 

[mindwell]

Monster voice on the electric bass guitar? Yes. Builder of propulsive melodic lines? Yes. Exploiter of the Precision Bass' sonic possibilities? Yes. Genius? No. For our instrument, the only person who deserves that title is Jaco Pastorius.

 

[mindwell]

The term "genius" is thrown around way too much, Beethoven was and Brian Wilson is a genius, so I'll just say he is a great bassist, always loved the sound and what he did in these tunes, in fact I love his playing and sound on this whole album, this album was always my favorite.

Green Shirt




Party Girl

Agreed on all counts. "Party Girl" is my jam.

 

[spufman]

Without doubt, GENIUS!

 

[bobyoung53]

Agreed on all counts. "Party Girl" is my jam.

I'm listening to the album right now on youtube and it brings back great memories, I was 26-27 when it came out and playing full time, the music of that time was great, Rockpile were another favorite of mine.

 

[MustangWally]

Genius:


PS: I want the keyboard guy's jacket!

 

[Danny O Danny]

I think the "genius" designation is overused, but Thomas is certainly a master at his craft. One of my favorite Bruce Thomas bass parts (among many) is for the song "Party Girl" from Elvis Costello's Armed Forces album, in which he demonstrates a mastery of the entire fretboard.

 

[pbass2]

Genius. He's up there with Macca in my book, as far as bass parts that don't just support the song, but define the song. Technique-wise, he was an expert fingerstyle player who took classic RnB stylings into the new wave. I don't see how anybody could arrive at "hack". That's absolutely ludicrous even if you don't like his playing.

 

[consectaneus]

Hack.

j/k

He's always been one of my favorites. As mentioned above, Armed Forces is my favorite EC album and Bruce's work throughout is outstanding.

 

[Vooter]

He's great, and Armed Forces is a great album, from beginning to end...

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

As already mentioned, Bruce Thomas and also Graham Maby get my vote for not just genius, but frankly demigod status.

 

[Todd Hamby]

He along with Mars Cowling are two the biggest unsung bass hero’s.

 

[TNCreature]

Full on Sensei.
Imperial Bedroom has some of my favorite work by him. Who on earth would call him a hack?

 

[Killing Floor]

Put me in the master camp. Most of us are hacks until we find our groove, at least for the first few years. Genius is pretty strong. Prince was a genius. I think he has always been exactly right. He’s a master. He is fully aware of his position in space relative to everyone else. That is a master. I would not call him a show off. He is completely in control of what he can control.

 

[Killing Floor]

Full on Sensei.
Imperial Bedroom has some of my favorite work by him. Who on earth would call him a hack?

Love that album.

 

[Vitrius Humor]

All I have been challenged by a friend of mine to say whether Bruce Thomas of Elvis Costello fame Genius, madman or a hack. What are y’all think?

He is/was a stable genius. The title of this post shocks this Bruce Thomas fanatic!!

 

[4SG]

"Is Bruce Thomas, a master, madman or hack?" THE Bruce Thomas from the Attractions? Is this a joke?

 

[Vitrius Humor]

Elvis Costello's original backing band The Attractions were all top notch players. Check out this live version of "Watching the Detectives", it is Genius.

Elvis KNEW the greatness of Bruce and what it meant to his music, even though in the end they had a falling out. Hence the reason he named the new backing band the Imposters.

 

[Peteyboy]

All I have been challenged by a friend of mine to say whether Bruce Thomas of Elvis Costello fame Genius, madman or a hack. What are y’all think?

He's a masterful & melodic monster of the bass. I question your friend's motives for even asking such a question.

 

[Vitrius Humor]

Monster voice on the electric bass guitar? Yes. Builder of propulsive melodic lines? Yes. Exploiter of the Precision Bass' sonic possibilities? Yes. Genius? No. For our instrument, the only person who deserves that title is Jaco Pastorius.

I will still say Bruce was a genius. EVERYONE KNOWS JACO WAS A GOD!