• 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.

James Jamerson and the sung melody

#63
LordRyan said:
I heard an XM radio interview with Brian and Eddie Holland from a little over a year ago. When asked about the Bass sound on Motown recordings they said there were often two Bassists on a session. One was usually Jamerson but they were unable to remember who the other was. The second Bassist would hold down a simple rhythm pattern while Jamerson would fill in around it. As great as Jamerson is we can now never be sure if he was solely responsible for the Bass on any given classic Motown songs.
Click to expand...

I watched the "standing in the shadows of motown" and that was never mentioned. It was never mentioned that another bassist was on team. There is really no need to have two bass players. The fact that they don't know the name of one of the other bassist and no other bass player mentioned in the documentary. All the basslines he played can be played by one person.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Clark Dark, bassista6, IamGroot and 1 other person
#65
LeFunk Machine said:
I watched the "standing in the shadows of motown" and that was never mentioned. It was never mentioned that another bassist was on team. There is really no need to have two bass players. The fact that they don't know the name of one of the other bassist and no other bass player mentioned in the documentary. All the basslines he played can be played by one person.
Click to expand...
Yep. Adding to this, if you have two players in the bass range, the parts need to be carefully executed or you get mush. Brian Wilson knew this.

Given the cramped and hot conditions of the Hitsville studio, I dont think they would be too keen on having a unnecessary player in there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EatS1stBassist
#66
GalleyCat said:
Skin color has no bearing on musical talent.
Click to expand...
Yes, but I just spent the last two weeks, 8 hrs a day, mostly on Motown, Hip Hop, Funk, Gospel,and Reggae.Plus Lamar William's "Southbound" with the Allman Brothers. That song chugs along with syncopated 16th at 126 Bpm.

I will make a note to get some Bob Bobbit or Duck Dunn done tomorrow to ensure diversity. Or maybe "Oogie Boogie". The female bass player, Jenny Marie Johnson, was Native American. Tough song to play and sing with.

Also a little love for Bernard Edward's from Chic who crafted very tight bass lines.

I just started keeping a list of my Covid practice songs.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: EatS1stBassist, Clark Dark and Basta-bass
#67
IamGroot said:
Yep. Adding to this, if you have two players in the bass range, the parts need to be carefully executed or you get mush. Brian Wilson knew this.

Given the cramped and hot conditions of the Hitsville studio, I dont think they would be too keen on having a unnecessary player in there.
Click to expand...

Jamerson is all they needed. It was even said that recording was put on hold if he wasn't in the studio. I found some clip of Jamerson playing in the studio. Its really short though, like 10 secs all together. You might have a backup bass player but two bass player at the same time is unheard of especially in the 60s and 70s.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: EatS1stBassist
#69
GalleyCat said:
Skin color has no bearing on musical talent.
Click to expand...

Sure...
Why should it?
Nonetheless, if you make count...
In popular north American music, black people is no more a minority...
From gospel to blues to jazz to rythm and blues to rock'n'roll to hip-hop they're uncontested leaders!
Us whites have sonatas and minuets...
It's not bad... just different...
;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: EatS1stBassist, jannodude, Doug4321 and 1 other person
#71
IamGroot said:
Yes, but I just spent the last two weeks, 8 hrs a day, mostly on Motown, Hip Hop, Funk, Gospel,and Reggae.Plus Lamar William's "Southbound" with the Allman Brothers. That song chugs along with syncopated 16th at 126 Bpm.

I will make a note to get some Bob Bobbit or Duck Dunn done tomorrow to ensure diversity. Or maybe "Oogie Boogie". The female bass player, Jenny Marie Johnson, was Native American. Tough song to play and sing with.

Also a little love for Bernard Edward's from Chic who crafted very tight bass lines.

I just started keeping a list of my Covid practice songs.
Click to expand...
Boogie Oogie Oogie ... by a Taste of Honey . Bass player and vocalist Janice Marie Johnson. Don’t know what ethnicity has to do with it . But she is African American and Native American .
 
  • Like
Reactions: EatS1stBassist and Clark Dark
#72
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
Boogie Oogie Oogie ... by a Taste of Honey . Bass player and vocalist Janice Marie Johnson. Don’t know what ethnicity has to do with it . But she is African American and Native American .
Click to expand...
Yep. What info I got from a quick search, said native American tribe. Digging in deeper, found reference to person of African descent several pages back in google.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doug4321, EatS1stBassist and Clark Dark

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back