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James Browns bassists basses.
- Thread starter vin*tone
- Start date
I grew up in the same area as Tim. Being 13 years younger, I didn't have the pleasure of meeting him. However, I became friends with one of his buddies, and played with some of the guys that Tim had played with years before. According to the mutual friend, Jim, Tim purchased his P bass from the local music store. I saw some pictures that Jim had of Tim playing various gigs in the area, and he always had the same bass. I saw Dylan in 1979 and Tim was the bassist. He was playing what looked to be a 60's Precision. I wonder if it was the same one. Forgive the long winded reply. Tim Drummond's story is an interesting one, and I think he's very underrated.
After doing a little research into JB's band members, Benard Odum is most likely the only bass player I saw with JB, except for the one time I mentioned earlier, when he had two bass players. I never saw another JB concert after 1970, when Maceo left and took most of the band with him to form Maceo and All the Kings Men.
Odum may have played Vox during that time, but I don't remember ever seeing him with one. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Odum's bass: "Bernard Odum played a 1956 Fender Precision Bass, strung with flatwound strings, throughout most of his career. He also played a Vox "teardrop" bass as well as a 120 watt Westminster 1x18 bass combo amp when Brown and his band gained an endorsement from Vox towards the end of 1965.[1]"
Trivia tidbit: Maceo and Robert grew up about 25 miles form my hometown. Maceo still sits in with a local band when he is in town.
Odum may have played Vox during that time, but I don't remember ever seeing him with one. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Odum's bass: "Bernard Odum played a 1956 Fender Precision Bass, strung with flatwound strings, throughout most of his career. He also played a Vox "teardrop" bass as well as a 120 watt Westminster 1x18 bass combo amp when Brown and his band gained an endorsement from Vox towards the end of 1965.[1]"
Trivia tidbit: Maceo and Robert grew up about 25 miles form my hometown. Maceo still sits in with a local band when he is in town.
Thanks guys. Edting the OP.
To you guys who were around at the time... Do you think the Fender Jazz became the more 'fashoinable' bass in the early 70's?
To you guys who were around at the time... Do you think the Fender Jazz became the more 'fashoinable' bass in the early 70's?
I do think the Jazz became very popular in the 70s, even though I was too young back then to notice. It still is more popular than the P-bass as far as consumerism goes. The Precision has been on more recordings though.
Great thread. It would be great to get some sort of track listing showing which instruments were used. It's so fun trying to cop that tone and style at home.
As I have said earlier, I saw JB several times in the 60s, and he always toured with a large band. The bass player was normally at the back of the stage near the drummer, with his equipment mostly hidden behind the other players. Of all the bands I saw during that period, I can only vividly remember seeing one amp. It was either an Ampeg B-15 or B-18. However, I think most of the "bigger" R&B/Soul groups were using Fender Showman amps during that period.
I actually got to see James Brown at the Atlanta airport a long time ago. He's a short dude. He was getting the VIP treatment and getting transported on the back of this golf-cart through the terminal. He stopped near me to talk to some stewardesses. So, I guess I was about 50 feet away.
Imagine James, Buddy Rich and Albert King in one band...All notoriously hard on their players.
I remember wathcing Don Kirshner's rock concert on TV back in the layte 60's early 70's. I bought a new P in 73 as the Pbass was used much more often by whatever bands they had on the show. Not even a close second for the J or Ric's.
Hmmm. Now I'm not so sure. A long time ago, my drummer made me a home-made CD of various songs that we used to cover. At the end there were two "instructional" type tracks. A narrator said, "Bootsy Collins' bass line for 'Get Up (I Feel Like) A Sex Machine' ". Then you could hear the bass line soloed.
The next track, the narrator said, "David 'Hook' Williams bass line for 'I Want You (I Feel Good)' ". So I always thought it was Williams.
But after your post, I Googled "Who Played the bassline for James Brown's I Want You (I Feel Good)?" Some of the references say it was David "Hook" Williams, and others say Bernard Odum, so now I'm just not sure. Anybody? Buehler?!
Hmmm. Now I'm not so sure. A long time ago, my drummer made me a home-made CD of various songs that we used to cover. At the end there were two "instructional" type tracks. A narrator said, "Bootsy Collins' bass line for 'Get Up (I Feel Like) A Sex Machine' ". Then you could hear the bass line soloed.
The next track, the narrator said, "David 'Hook' Williams bass line for 'I Want You (I Feel Good)' ". So I always thought it was Williams.
But after your post, I Googled "Who Played the bassline for James Brown's I Want You (I Feel Good)?" Some of the references say it was David "Hook" Williams, and others say Bernard Odum, so now I'm just not sure. Anybody? Buehler?!
This is the instructional track you heard:
http://www.amazon.com/Funkmasters--Great-James-Rhythm-Sections/dp/1576234436
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
Hmmm. Now I'm not so sure. A long time ago, my drummer made me a home-made CD of various songs that we used to cover. At the end there were two "instructional" type tracks. A narrator said, "Bootsy Collins' bass line for 'Get Up (I Feel Like) A Sex Machine' ". Then you could hear the bass line soloed.
The next track, the narrator said, "David 'Hook' Williams bass line for 'I Want You (I Feel Good)' ". So I always thought it was Williams.
But after your post, I Googled "Who Played the bassline for James Brown's I Want You (I Feel Good)?" Some of the references say it was David "Hook" Williams, and others say Bernard Odum, so now I'm just not sure. Anybody? Buehler?!
Definitely played by Hook.
