Footloose

[MtManiac]

Right beside you both on this one.

But now, as I’m playing a bunch of this type of music from the 80s I have a new appreciation for many songs I was not crazy about then and find many of them a lot of fun to play. They’re not boring bass lines, as I’ve learned.

Exactly.

 

[Barticus]

Exactly.

another example, never really listened to Pat Benatar growing up but we have an amazing pro female vocalist and we're doing a couple Benatar tunes... Heartbreaker has this fun little breakdown in the middle with guitar/drums/bass totally synchronized... guitarist and I just cackle every time we play it because it's such a tight little riff, sounds so cool and is really fun to play. Neal Geraldo wrote some good guitar riffs. and You Oughta Know is pretty fun for a bassist as well

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I’m wondering the same thing - but maybe he’s hitting the open A while sliding on the E string.

Edit: open D, oops

There is a live performance with Nathan.
Yes, he does some sliding but without the supporting constant eighths notes.
Around 1:48.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

This morning, I had a few minutes to spare.
Your provided isolated bass line is NOT(!) from the official Kenny Loggins recording.
I can't tell you who played that isolated bass-line, but it's not(!) from the official Kenny Loggins Footloose.
As "show me, please" I believe it has a second layer of the bass recorded.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Use your open strings as much as possible, especially to pedal off.
I gathered Nathan was pretty over this time by the time they cut it. They used to rehearse it on the road a lot.
He cleverly did the guitar double too, earning some extra $ no doubt.
Stupid song that crowds always love.

 

[bass12]

To echo the above post, use the open A and D strings in the chorus (assuming you are playing the song in A). This will make the line much easier to play.

 

[MtManiac]

This morning, I had a few minutes to spare.
Your provided isolated bass line is NOT(!) from the official Kenny Loggins recording.
I can't tell you who played that isolated bass-line, but it's not(!) from the official Kenny Loggins Footloose.
As "show me, please" I believe it has a second layer of the bass recorded.

That’s a relief, truly. Can you support it with anything referenceable? I’d really love to believe it’s true. I can’t hear most of what’s in this isolated track in the original recording.

 

[Barticus]

This morning, I had a few minutes to spare.
Your provided isolated bass line is NOT(!) from the official Kenny Loggins recording.
I can't tell you who played that isolated bass-line, but it's not(!) from the official Kenny Loggins Footloose.
As "show me, please" I believe it has a second layer of the bass recorded.

Hmmm… based on what reference are you making this absolute statement… how can you be so certain? Sounds like the same bass tone-wise.

When I listen to Nathan tell his story here


It sounds pretty similar to this 1:45


I’m hearing the open string droning with the melody line being played over it (thumb/fingers) but I’m not hearing the overdubbing that’s being referenced

 

[Whousedtoplay]

That’s a relief, truly. Can you support it with anything referenceable? I’d really love to believe it’s true. I can’t hear most of what’s in this isolated track in the original recording.

Let's start with the following:
The original track is 2:55:78, but the Isolated bass track is 3:31:51.
I don't care too much about the timing issues, but...
I need to try to match the bass notes in the recording, but...

We can start with the just a short bass riff in Intro from both - "isolated" and original bass lines.

Both examples are provided at a much slower tempo!

Here is the bass riff pattern from the "isolated track."

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...6/?temp_hash=87a668e2580aca27b1d878078ec054c9

And, here is the bass riff pattern from the Official recording:

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...7/?temp_hash=87a668e2580aca27b1d878078ec054c9

Please listen carefully and tell me that the original bass pattern has the CONSTANT Eighth note "drumming."

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Hmmm… based on what reference are you making this absolute statement… how can you be so certain? Sounds like the same bass tone-wise.

When I listen to Nathan tell his story here


It sounds pretty similar to this 1:45


I’m hearing the open string droning with the melody line being played over it (thumb/fingers) but I’m not hearing the overdubbing that’s being referenced

Let's listen to both tracks where Verse 1 starts.

Here is the official bass pattern.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...7/?temp_hash=7732c65e1ae21e4e154786eae7a72e2b

And here is the "isolated bass pattern at the start of Verse 1.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...8/?temp_hash=7732c65e1ae21e4e154786eae7a72e2b

Try to describe the bass patern and the accents.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

That’s a relief, truly. Can you support it with anything referenceable? I’d really love to believe it’s true. I can’t hear most of what’s in this isolated track in the original recording.

I'm sorry, it's getting too late for me - long hours at work.

Here is that "real" bass line played by Nathan on that track - Isolated.
It's a computer software" isolated" bass track, not from some "studio;" therefore, it's not 100% clear, but it's helpful.
Regards,

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...3/?temp_hash=4bce03d0f5f9fbc828034fccaf3d7c21


Just in case, for a better sound quality, I've raised that bassline by one Octave and made it slower - it gives more clarity.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...2/?temp_hash=043d58ed7294a05770368ba95fd11815

 

[SteveC]

So the band decided to add this song, as it’s on our new singer’s solo set list. We all said sure, sounds good.

Now I’m at home actively listening to the bass line for the first time in my entire life and my head is exploding.

Apparently it’s Nathan East!!

Anyone have any tips on how to best dumb this song down or alternatively to quickly master it?

Yeah, I can slow it down and gradually speed it up, but I’m looking for hacks, easy fixes, shortcuts, etc. You know, the stuff you’re not supposed to do.

Our band does this song. It’s a challenge. I play through it every week to keep it “under my fingers” so to speak. There’s a nice video on it on YouTube.

 

[Les Fret]

Ok cool bass lines. That verse parts are double tracked for sure, at least the second verse is. And those repeated notes in the verses sound like they have been run through a studio gate effect, cutting off the end of the notes. Doesn’t sound like normal palm muting and/or pick playing.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Ok cool bass lines. That verse parts are double tracked for sure, at least the second verse is. And those repeated notes in the verses sound like they have been run through a studio gate effect, cutting off the end of the notes. Doesn’t sound like normal palm muting and/or pick playing.

In my post#50, I have provided two soundclips.
One - the bass-line from the original recording with Nathan when Verse 1 starts.
The RHYTHMIC pattern for the bass is very different from the second example of, so called, "isolated" bass track of the same recording.

 

[Les Fret]

In my post#50, I have provided two soundclips.
One - the bass-line from the original recording with Nathan when Verse 1 starts.
The RHYTHMIC pattern for the bass is very different from the second example of, so called, "isolated" bass track of the same recording.

Yes I saw that. I can hear the repeated eighth notes from the isolated bass track version also on the original track though.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Yes I saw that. I can hear the repeated eighth notes from the isolated bass track version also on the original track though.

Need to run, but...
Here are two examples of the first bass-line "tail" in Verse 1.
The ORIGINAL recording has the last highest bass note of (slightly bent) D# and back to A.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...2/?temp_hash=6806ba6284051733dfc4798ffbce5519

The "isolated bass" plays the last note as D before A.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...3/?temp_hash=6806ba6284051733dfc4798ffbce5519

 

[Les Fret]

Need to run, but...
Here are two examples of the first bass-line "tail" in Verse 1.
The ORIGINAL recording has the last highest bass note of (slightly bent) D# and back to A.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...2/?temp_hash=6806ba6284051733dfc4798ffbce5519

The "isolated bass" plays the last note as D before A.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...3/?temp_hash=6806ba6284051733dfc4798ffbce5519

haha...not sure what that is exactly, but I am just checking that isolated video against the original song and that seems be the same to me.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

haha...not sure what that is exactly, but I am just checking that isolated video against the original song and that seems be the same to me.

LOL!
Welcome to the Footloose Fan Club.

I promise - it's my last comment about those TWO DIFFERENT tracks.
I don't know who played that "ISOLATED BASS LINE" propagated on the Internet.
Nathan East?
I don't know.
My deal is to prove that the, so called, "isolated bass track" advertised on the Internet is NOT(!) the original bass line from the OFFICIAL track provided by the artist.
I can take EACH bar and show to EVERYONE that it's not the same track.
(Who played it? I don't know.)

Here is the "isolated bass track (played by... unknown to WUTP). It's before the harmony moves to D first time in Verse 1.
From UNKNOWN isolated track, between 0:21 - 0:27.
Those who strive for perfection, please try to transcribe the RHYTHMIC part of the bass
and
the bass notes/pitches before the chord changes to D.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...9/?temp_hash=47008017665ba9346af9ed88b5a0ebd3

And, now, let's carefully listen to Nathan East's original bass line of the same spot.
From the original track - it's between 0:36 and 0:42.

Here is the computer-based isolated Nathan bass line:
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...0/?temp_hash=47008017665ba9346af9ed88b5a0ebd3

Do you hear that E in the bass in that bass pattern "tail"?
It stays on A!

Here is an EQ-ed bass line from the ORIGINAL track of the same place/spot.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...1/?temp_hash=47008017665ba9346af9ed88b5a0ebd3

All tracks have been detuned by -(minus) 27 cents.

I'm so tired of the second constant add-on bass line of "computerized" eighth notes.

And that concludes WUTP's participation in this thread.

And I'm not(!) a fan of that song - NO!
And I'm just OK with the bass line of that song.

 

[SLO Surfer]

LOL!
Welcome to the Footloose Fan Club.

I promise - it's my last comment about those TWO DIFFERENT tracks.
I don't know who played that "ISOLATED BASS LINE" propagated on the Internet.
Nathan East?
I don't know.
My deal is to prove that the, so called, "isolated bass track" advertised on the Internet is NOT(!) the original bass line from the OFFICIAL track provided by the artist.
I can take EACH bar and show to EVERYONE that it's not the same track.
(Who played it? I don't know.)

Here is the "isolated bass track (played by... unknown to WUTP). It's before the harmony moves to D first time in Verse 1.
From UNKNOWN isolated track, between 0:21 - 0:27.
Those who strive for perfection, please try to transcribe the RHYTHMIC part of the bass
and
the bass notes/pitches before the chord changes to D.
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...9/?temp_hash=47008017665ba9346af9ed88b5a0ebd3

And, now, let's carefully listen to Nathan East's original bass line of the same spot.
From the original track - it's between 0:36 and 0:42.

Here is the computer-based isolated Nathan bass line:
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...0/?temp_hash=47008017665ba9346af9ed88b5a0ebd3

Do you hear that E in the bass in that bass pattern "tail"?
It stays on A!

Here is an EQ-ed bass line from the ORIGINAL track of the same place/spot.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...1/?temp_hash=47008017665ba9346af9ed88b5a0ebd3

All tracks have been detuned by -(minus) 27 cents.

I'm so tired of the second constant add-on bass line of "computerized" eighth notes.

And that concludes WUTP's participation in this thread.

And I'm not(!) a fan of that song - NO!
And I'm just OK with the bass line of that song.

FYI; every single audio file attachment you’ve shared so far hasn’t worked for me, I keep getting “error” when I click on them. ALL of them. From EVERY post you’ve attached them to.

So without hearing the files you provided, I’m left wondering why we need audio files from you to figure this out, and why we can’t use the normal recording off of YouTube/Spotify/CD/vinyl/etc to compare.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

FYI; every single audio file attachment you’ve shared so far hasn’t worked for me, I keep getting “error” when I click on them. ALL of them. From EVERY post you’ve attached them to.

Congratulations.
I'm just kidding.
And here is why.
I don't have any issues listening to my provided soundclips - in MP3 format - with any Computer based browsers - Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Brave, etc., but...
I get that ERROR if I want to listen to the same soundclips with my iPhone.
I can't listen to my own soundclips on my iPhone.
Let me guess - you want to listen to those soundclips on your iPhone?