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Favourite Jamerson songs
- Thread starter Mattrill
- Start date
How certain can you be when it comes to Motown? were you there? are you the ghost of Bob Babbitt?
I can state QUITE for certain... I am the last official spokesperson for The Funk Brothers, authorized by every surviving Funk Brother as of 8 years ago. Bob Babbitt was a friend as is James Jamerson Jr...Stevie Wonder brought Babbitt to Motown and Signed Sealed Delivered was one of Babbitt's early sessions there.If you know Jamersons style and Babbitts, you'd also realize that Jamerson would have played that line much differently with more syncopation...
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My Cheri A'More I am not sure if that's Jamerson but the note selection and timing, it's so good. Not too mention a beautiful, romantic, lonely boy type love song. Haunting but hopeful. I would love to know: How'd that style come about? Why that feel? Why those notes?
Cloud 9 Because the 1st verse is so 'on'. Again the feel, note selection, timing. Yeeow!
Cloud 9 Because the 1st verse is so 'on'. Again the feel, note selection, timing. Yeeow!
My Cheri Amour was attributed to Jamerson, I read that once but can't recall where. That one and What's Going On are my favorites for sure.
I listened to this for the first time the other day. Upon listening I recognised the melody/ lyrics to only think of a house/dance song floating around in the UK. Never realised it was a sample of Cheri A'more.
Off the top of my head (not in any order):
- Standing in the Shadows of Love
- I Was Made to Love Her
- Bernadette
- Ain't No Mountain High Enough
The last 50 seconds of Save The Children where the meter changes from 6/8 to 4/4 and JJ just rips open the funkiest can of electric bass playing that ever was, with the tube-driven overdrive farting out like crazy, until the song segues into God Is Love. Happens around 3:13 in this video. That's one of my favorite passages of music ever.
Also really like What's Happening Brother, from the same album. Runners up would be:
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing-Marvin and Tammi
Running Back and Forth-Edwin Starr
Ain't No Mountain High Enough-Diana Ross
Mutiny-Jr. Walker
Also really like What's Happening Brother, from the same album. Runners up would be:
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing-Marvin and Tammi
Running Back and Forth-Edwin Starr
Ain't No Mountain High Enough-Diana Ross
Mutiny-Jr. Walker
I know Danny Morris at Berklee attributes it to Babbitt in his R&B class, and it does have more of a Babbitt feel to it than Jamerson, whom we also covered in comparative playing styles.
To the OP, I love, love, love "I Was Made to Love Her" by Stevie with Jamerson on bass. I go back and forth between that and What's Goin' On? As my favorite bass lines from Jamerson.
That would be it for me too.... In fact that's one of my all time favorite albums.. arguably one of the greatest recordings ever laid to wax in terms of musicianship, harmonies, lyrics and social relevance at the time..
devnulljp
Supporting Member
my favorite album of his is marvin gaye's let's get it on. the song "just to keep you satisfied" has no drums so it's all jamerson driving the tune and the rhythm and it's a masterpiece. the whole record is really other classics are distant lover, what a bass line on that mother.
There are too many Jamerson basslines for me to pick a favourite.
Everyone talks about his bass playing in more well-known songs released as singles. I always see songs like Reach Out (I'll be there), Bernadette, I Was Made to Love Her and What's Going On get mentioned all the time as his best bass work. While I do like all these songs, I still come across more hidden gems from him every so often in lesser known tracks.
These are some of my favourite Jamerson basslines:
My Guy - Mary Wells: Upright bass song.
My Guy - The Supremes: Cover of the same song but with electric bass, the bass is really upfront in the mix.
Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Elgins: a very simple but effective obscure Jamerson line.
I'll Turn to Stone - Four Tops: A great syncopated Jamerson line.
This Old Heart of Mine - Isley Brothers
You're My Everything - The Temptations
I Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder + album tracks
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder + album tracks
Too Busy Thinking about my Baby - Marvin Gaye
You're the Loser Now - Martha Reeves
Darling Dear - J5
(of course) What's Going On + album
I have a soft spot for almost all Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell duets. Jamerson's bass playing is very strong in those songs. My own comments on some individual songs:
When Love Comes Knocking at My Heart: a very fast unusual repetitive line.
Give In, You Just Can't Win: Sounds like a 70s disco octave bassline, but well before the disco era
Memory Chest: simple bassline, but the whole song is basically a drum solo (likely Benny Benjamin, the drumming sounds older and different to the other duets)
There's probably more I can't think of right now.
Everyone talks about his bass playing in more well-known songs released as singles. I always see songs like Reach Out (I'll be there), Bernadette, I Was Made to Love Her and What's Going On get mentioned all the time as his best bass work. While I do like all these songs, I still come across more hidden gems from him every so often in lesser known tracks.
These are some of my favourite Jamerson basslines:
My Guy - Mary Wells: Upright bass song.
My Guy - The Supremes: Cover of the same song but with electric bass, the bass is really upfront in the mix.
Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Elgins: a very simple but effective obscure Jamerson line.
I'll Turn to Stone - Four Tops: A great syncopated Jamerson line.
This Old Heart of Mine - Isley Brothers
You're My Everything - The Temptations
I Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder + album tracks
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder + album tracks
Too Busy Thinking about my Baby - Marvin Gaye
You're the Loser Now - Martha Reeves
Darling Dear - J5
(of course) What's Going On + album
I have a soft spot for almost all Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell duets. Jamerson's bass playing is very strong in those songs. My own comments on some individual songs:
When Love Comes Knocking at My Heart: a very fast unusual repetitive line.
Give In, You Just Can't Win: Sounds like a 70s disco octave bassline, but well before the disco era
Memory Chest: simple bassline, but the whole song is basically a drum solo (likely Benny Benjamin, the drumming sounds older and different to the other duets)
There's probably more I can't think of right now.
just to keep you satisfied by marvin gaye is a lesson on jamerson. probably his most over looked tune which is crazy. there's no drums, so the bass is extremely prominent. he is the driving force behind the ballad, a singular rhythm section.
my favorite jamerson song.
my favorite jamerson song.
Felder was a great player. He also played on most of Barry White's recordings in the 70s as well.
