Elton John's earlier stuff is my favorite too. Good musicianship doesn't get in the way of a song.
I had no idea that Dee Murray passed away, that is sad.
I had no idea that Dee Murray passed away, that is sad.
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Dee Murray
- Thread starter AstralTraveler
- Start date
- Jul 20, 2003
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- Proprietor: Bass People, Green Square Music
AstralTraveler said:
In February 2003 Dee's wife auctioned his Alembic Series 1 on eBay and in the listing stated that it was the instrument used on most of the studio recordings in the 70s and 80s.
His bass lines on the old Elton John songs were phenomenal - nice, classic tone and really melodic.
Plus a gazillion to all that's been said- one of my all-time greatest influences. I know the gear question has been largely answered, but I'll say every picture I've seen of the man had a sweet 70's Jazz nearby. Makes me want one bad...
In headphones today while practicing at lunch, it sounds like the bass has more than one player(i.e. the Geddy trick of adding bass). There are some parts with the Ric/Jazz bass/Alembic(?)-sounding click with the bottom of an Alembic(IMO) and some parts where a second bass-only bass "seems" to be heard. Glad the bass here and Line 6 BODXTLive = chameleon bass.
One of the reasons that Elton John was able to succeed in a trio format was because his rhythm section was simply stellar. Dee Murray is one of those players that don't get acknowledged enough. You can also throw his name into the "Best Tone" thread.
Touché----always had a great tone, just right for the song.
I grew up in the 70's on prog and trying to play really fast and fancy with an over-the top tone as a really young player, but it was Dee (and John Deacon too) who inspired me to get down to business and become a player somebody would actually hire
. And no matter what tune you listen to he would always add some extra thing that would become an integral hook in the song, all the while not stepping on anybody.
Dee was the guy who epitomized the phrase "playing for the song". He was one of the most under rated players of his day. Maybe he didn't have the chops of a Marcus Miller (or maybe he did but never needed them), but he was a true artist. His bass lines were "songs within the song", which were so supportive of Elton John's music and Bernie Taupin's lyrics. A classic example is "Someone Saved My Life Tonight". What an incredible bass "composition".
God bless Dee Murray. As Billy Joel said "Only The Good Die Young".
God bless Dee Murray. As Billy Joel said "Only The Good Die Young".
Listen to his tone on 11-17-70, and then listen to Jaco.
I wonder if he was an influence at all.
It was heartwarming to find this thread.
Growing up in Tennessee, I lot of the music I heard as a child was country, as favored by the locals. Aside from some of my Mother's old Beatle 45s and hearing WLS coming in at night from Chicago, my first exposure to Pop/Rock was when I heard Elton John's "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" album at a friend's house in 1973. This record changed my musical life.
What followed was the purchase of many EJ records over the years, taking up piano followed by bass and then guitar and discovery of many other great players, writers and artists.
Among the most musical of all bass players I have ever heard, Dee Murray remains a huge influence over my playing today. Elton's music spans a wide range of textures. I can't think of a single song on which Dee played where the bass line isn't just perfect for the song. I have never listened to a Dee Murray bass part and come away feeling that it could have been done any better OR that the song would have been better served by a different bassist.
Whenever I visit Corner Music here in Nashville, I always give a nod to the G&L bass(mentioned earlier) that belonged to Dee. It hangs on the wall high over the bass department. If I am there with a friend, I will make mention of Dee's bass. It's a small gesture of thanks to an incredible musician.
Shortly after Dee passed away, Elton played two sold-out shows at the Grand Ole Opry House and donated the proceeds to Dee's family. I was fortunate to see one of the shows. It was a somber, emotional and touching affair, with a solo Elton performing without the flash and glitter that are part of his usual performance. A very classy gesture and most genuine from EJ.
I think I'll go listen to some of my Elton CDs now. Thanks Dee! Every time I pick up one of my L-2500s I'm reminded of the debt. Here's hoping that my playing will do you some fraction of the justice you deserve.
Growing up in Tennessee, I lot of the music I heard as a child was country, as favored by the locals. Aside from some of my Mother's old Beatle 45s and hearing WLS coming in at night from Chicago, my first exposure to Pop/Rock was when I heard Elton John's "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" album at a friend's house in 1973. This record changed my musical life.
What followed was the purchase of many EJ records over the years, taking up piano followed by bass and then guitar and discovery of many other great players, writers and artists.
Among the most musical of all bass players I have ever heard, Dee Murray remains a huge influence over my playing today. Elton's music spans a wide range of textures. I can't think of a single song on which Dee played where the bass line isn't just perfect for the song. I have never listened to a Dee Murray bass part and come away feeling that it could have been done any better OR that the song would have been better served by a different bassist.
Whenever I visit Corner Music here in Nashville, I always give a nod to the G&L bass(mentioned earlier) that belonged to Dee. It hangs on the wall high over the bass department. If I am there with a friend, I will make mention of Dee's bass. It's a small gesture of thanks to an incredible musician.
Shortly after Dee passed away, Elton played two sold-out shows at the Grand Ole Opry House and donated the proceeds to Dee's family. I was fortunate to see one of the shows. It was a somber, emotional and touching affair, with a solo Elton performing without the flash and glitter that are part of his usual performance. A very classy gesture and most genuine from EJ.
I think I'll go listen to some of my Elton CDs now. Thanks Dee! Every time I pick up one of my L-2500s I'm reminded of the debt. Here's hoping that my playing will do you some fraction of the justice you deserve.
- Feb 24, 2004
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- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
Resurrecting this 3-month-old thread for a sec.... I was just listening to an album of compiled singles and demos by a band called the Mirage, and because I was really digging the bass playing (among other things) I did some reading and learned that Dee Murray was in the band. The bass part for "The Wedding Of Ramona Blair" even has a lovely tremolo effect...
On the Elton John version of the classic albums video series I believe they said He played Jazzes Live and P basses in the Studio.
Aj
Aj
I recall reading an interview with the engineer on the YBR sessions in which he said Dee asked him to replicate a Chris Squire sound on "Love Lies Bleeding."(or maybe it was "Grey Seal"). The engineer said he couldn't understand why any bass player would want to sound like that, but did it anyway. I don't think he went into details on how they got the sound, but it wasn't with a Ric.
Ronn "Iamthe bassman" of The Eggmen is a Dee Murray expert and should know a good deal about him.
- Jul 20, 2003
- 161
- 1
- 65
- Disclosures
- Proprietor: Bass People, Green Square Music
A few years back Dee's wife auctioned an Alembic bass on eBay. I seem to recollect her saying that Dee used it on some of the classic Elton recordings. Does anyone know anything about this?
