James Jamerson and Duck Dunn

[ding_man]

I want to learn and accept some influence from James Jamerson and Duck Dunn.

What are some of your favorite albums they play on that I should buy, listen to, and transcribe..

Obviously a lot of you will just say all of them, and yeah thats a good bet but I just wanna know some of your favorite Motown and Stax records that these two shined on.

 

[ciudadmarron]

Seriously, it's difficult to go wrong buying a Motown comp and a Booker T & the MG's comp.

Use this site to double-check which of the Motown one's were Jamersons.

http://www.bassland.net/jamersonhits.htm

Dunn played on all of the MG's recordings except Green Onions i seem to recall.

But at any rate - a couple of comphrehensive compiliations will give you a few hours worth of cracking lines to play around with.

 

[JTE]

Neither label was really focused on albums, so the best bet is to get compilations or "best-of" recordings. Also the book/CD "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" is indispensible.

John

 

[5StringBlues]

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^ This is a great record for checking out Duck's style.

 

[RedsFan75]

For Duck, get the book "What Duck Done" Version 1 if you can read, version 2 has tab added

Good stuff there.

 

[mmmmm_funky!]

I think that some of Jamerson's best work was with the 4 tops. You might like to pick up their greatest hits.

 

[Richland123]

You should add Bob Babbitt to your list too. He is another great session bass player along with the two you mentioned.

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[kesslari]

Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album is essential listening. Both Jamerson and Babbit doing some of their finest work.

 

[markbigtree]

Booker T & The MG's "Melting Pot"

This is their most original album, very dynamic, and showcases the MG's (Cropper included) versatility, and lock tight grip on rhythm.

The Motown/Stax legacies....something to be said about the "house band" era, no doubt.

"Melting Pot" seems to bridge these two vastly different regions with a lot of east and west coast stylings as well......Hmm maybe that's how the term "melting pot" was being used? I think so.

 

[RedsFan75]

Oh and if you want to 'watch' Duck, put on The Blues Brothers.

 

[aanth357]

If you subscribe to NetFlix check out "Stax Revue in Norway 1967" It features The MG's and you can see Duck Dunn in action back in the day!

 

[jerry]

If you subscribe to NetFlix check out "Stax Revue in Norway 1967" It features The MG's and you can see Duck Dunn in action back in the day!

+1, also a great way to check out why Al Jackson was one of the most important drummers ever!

 

[JimK]

If you subscribe to NetFlix check out "Stax Revue in Norway 1967" It features The MG's and you can see Duck Dunn in action back in the day!

...another good one is the Otis Redding DVD from the Monterey Pop set.

 

[So Low Bass]

.... and also add Carol Kaye and Joe Osborn. All of these players were amazing when you picture them walking into a room, sitting down with sometimes strangers, and knocking off tune after tunes that they never heard before. Sometimes these "guys" didn't even know who the "artist" was going to be added at the top.

Those days are long gone, but thankfully well captured.

 

[EBodious]

albert king's born under a bad sign has excellent duck dunn all over it.

 

[SH69]

For Duck, get the book "What Duck Done" Version 1 if you can read, version 2 has tab added

Good stuff there.

+1 This is also a great book to learn to read. The bass lines are really straightforward. It helped me a lot

 

[Colin_D]

If you want to really get into the R&B/Motown sound the bass players you should check out are (IMO)

Jamerson
Dunn
Tommy Cogbill
Jerry Jemmott
Bob Babbitt

those guys are like the Elder Gods of groove, I've learned so much about what playing both melody and rhythm can sound like by listening to their stuff.

for Books both Standing in the Shadows of Motown, and What Duck Done are great,

Also, this site is a huge gift, Link Removed

My personal fave Duck Line

 

[Tom Howland]

Most of the Otis Redding stuff is Duck Dunn.
Killer groove.
James Jamerson is to me, the most important electric bassist up to
1970.
He influenced everyone.
Paul McCartney.
Jack Bruce.
John Entwhistle.
John Paul Jones.
Just to name a few.

 

[DanRJBrasil]

Neither label was really focused on albums, so the best bet is to get compilations or "best-of" recordings. Also the book/CD "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" is indispensible.

John

that's it

 

[Pet Sounds]

All of the above are great suggestions. But don't forget some of the outstanding work Jamerson did for Motown's girl groups, such as the inconceivably funky "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" for Gladys Knight and the Pips and the bouncing, dancing bass line on the Supremes' "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone."