• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Histoire de Melody Nelson

#2
That album sets such an awesome mood. Herbie Flowers on bass... I heard he played a Jazz with flats and a pick to get that awesome tone, but I could wrong.

I never thought I'd be into an album about a girl getting hit by a car and well... you know how the rest goes... all spoken in French with a sleazy sounding voice. :D
 
#4
Yes, of course it "rings a bell"! LOL! Any attempt to say "HEY JMJ, GOTCHA!!" when they hear Paper Tiger vs. Melody is a little late to the party. :) This has been covered extensively in the press and all over the internet in all the years since Sea Change was released.

It was an homage, with no attempts to hide its very direct relationship to the original.

And yes, the bass God known as Herbie Flowers does indeed just own that one bass. HOWEVER: it has also been spoken of on many occasions that on sessions he sometimes borrowed a Burns Bison, and that the bass tone you hear on that song is likely to be that bass, with tapewound flats.

Best,
JMJ
 
#5
Never heard of it before but I just listened to some clips of that off Amazon, and man, that Herbie Flowers really nails it, both with tone and note choice. Never knew he used a Bison occasionally. I have to get deeper into him. Always loved the stuff he played like "Jump Into The Fire" and "Rebel Rebel," but I'm not near as deep as you are.
 
#9
Justin, you didn't play on "New Pollution," did you? Other than the bassline being kind of similar, I really don't hear it as plagiarism. The rest of the song is too different. Besides, the Beatles stole from everyone, so even if the bassline was "borrowed," it's nothing they didn't do.
 
#12
love histoire de melody nelson -- not sure herbie flowers played bass on it ... brian odgers is credited in the sleeve ...style/sound is Flowers-esque, though ... would love to get the facts if anyone knows them. regardless -- Herbie Flowers is a great player, Brian Odgers is (seemingly) a great player, and what a hip album.
 
#14
morehorn said:
love histoire de melody nelson -- not sure herbie flowers played bass on it ... brian odgers is credited in the sleeve ...style/sound is Flowers-esque, though ... would love to get the facts if anyone knows them. regardless -- Herbie Flowers is a great player, Brian Odgers is (seemingly) a great player, and what a hip album.
Click to expand...
If that's him, he's definitely great, no question.
 
#17
Although brian odgers is credited on the sleeve on some CD reissues, on the original vinyl there is no credits except Gainsbourg (lyrics and vocals) and Vannier (music).
I firmly believe that it is Herbie Flowers playing, and so says Vannier himself:



(sorry it is in french, but hey, that's a french record ;) )
 
#18
It is Herbie playing on histoire de melody nelson although the sleeve notes state otherwise.. Herbie also played the bassline on Lou Reeds Walk On The Wild Side.. pretty amazing.. although he told me he never recieved any money from the plays and sales of that record, he was only ever paid the session fee of £6!!! how much income has that record generated.. for lou reed, tribe called quest, nike...
 
#20
Herb's playing on Space Oddity is down that melodic line, played with pick sound, it is Herb, recently I had the fortune to have my vinyl copy of Melody Nelson signed by Jim Sullivan, Herbie Flowers and Vic Flick they all played on it and were recalling the sessions.. they kept talking about.. what did this beatiful young girl Melody see in Serge Gainsbourg.. I think he was a bit of an old Pedo.. I mean it’s a concept album about one man’s obsession with a 15-year-old girl
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back