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James Jamerson

#21
Hi JimK

Actually I believe that Inner City Blues is 2 bass players (not confirmed but I will check on it). It sounds like the first phrase holds it's last note while the second phrase starts. During that time frame it would have been Jamerson & Babbitt. Jamerson seems to recreate it on the live recording very well (WGO Deluxe Edition). There were some earlier recordings with H-D-H producing and writing that had 2 bassist (Jamerson & Tony Newton). Anybody else have any thoughts on that record?
 
#22
Originally posted by JimK
Welcome, Tom.
...hmmmm; I wonderin' if your MP3 is a track from an album cut by The Funk Brothers. I seem to recall reading they released an album way back when.
Needless to say, I would love to have a copy...anyone? :)


BassLandBob-
Killer transcription(I printed it out @work & was groovin' to it in-between chores). Some classic Jamerson-isms abound in that one, huh?!
Needless to say(Part Dos), I agree with your above soliloquy. ;)


BTW, that is Bob Babbitt doin' "Inner City Blues", right? :)
Click to expand...

No Jim, it is with the funk brothers but it's a James Jamerson solo peice.
If you rememer in his biography standing...
They said he cut a solo album that was never released.
That song was released on a motown greatest hits that one of my friend have. A cool song.
 
#23
I have been thinking and listening to Inner City Blues and I have further observations on the Deluxe Edition of WGO. There are 3 versions of "Inner City..." on the recording and one of them we know is (at it is stated to be) Jamerson (the live version). On the live version "Inner City" sounds more like the studio version (albeit slower) than other songs that we know for sure feature Jamerson on bass on both versions (ie The live versions of "What's Going On" and "What's Happening Brother" do not sound like the Studio versions) and plays the same lines as on the recorded version includoing the parts that made me think there were 2 bassist. I would have to defer to Bob Babbit's being the player on the studio cut (as credited on the jacket).

But credits does say:

"Bass- James Jamerson All Tracks except Bob Babbit ( Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues)"

which could be construed as saying he played on all track with the addition of Babbit on MMM & ICB, since it does not list the bassist separately is in:

Bass - James Jamerson -this song, that song etc
Bass - Bob Babbit - another song, still another song

Two things bother me about that observation. Rarely if ever have I heard Jamerson quote someone else verbatum (as in the live version of Iner City Blues) and it still sounds like there are two bassist (even on the live version).

The possible scenarios could be:

1- there an overdub of each bassist (Babbit's studio recording AND Jamerson's live version) done as post production. (IOW both bassist are playing two parts)

2- There are two bassists on both the live and studio recordings. (They flew Jamerson & Babbit to DC)

3- Babbitt's part in the studio was recreated almost verbatum, by Jamerson live. (Jamerson usually put a little "something" in his version that differs from what someon eelse did. Respect covered by Stevie Wonder is an example).

4- I am hearing things and it is Babbit playing soley on the studio version and Jamerson playing soley on the live cut. They just happen to play it pretty much the same way.

BassMonkeee,

You have the Deluxe Edition. If you would, please listen to all three (Detroit mix, Los Angeles mix, & the Live DC concert) cuts of Iner City Blues and give us your observations.

BTW, I am not trying to say that Bob Babbit is not the bassist on ICB I am just not sure he is the only bassist.

Gentleman (and Ladies) Put On Your Detective Hats!
 
#24
BLBob-
...thanks for the headache! ;)

I would be shocked if there were TWO bassists on the LIVE version; I mean, who would carry two bassists on the road, especially when one of 'em is Jamerson?! Would JJ's ego even allow that!? ;)
And, agreed, it's weird that JJ would play any part verbatim...UNLESS he didn't play on "ICB" at all & was merely playing "the part" 'cause it was a major ingredient of that tune.
Maybe JJ wasn't all that familiar with "ICB" & this was him winging it(ie, playing it like the record)early in Gaye's tour?
Clearly, I'm grasping for straws...
BTW, didn't Grover Washington, Jr. cover "Inner City Blues"? If so, who played bass(Gary King?) & did the part also sound like TWO basses?

On the other hand-
...does Bob Babbitt have a website/e-mail address? ;)
 
#25
hey, BassLand,
i'm so glad you called attention to that particular track. imho, it's one of jamerson's very finest moments. i like it even better than his performance on what's going on. i thought i was rather alone in appreciating it, so i'm glad you gave it its right due. why do i like it? geez, it's like the quintessential jamerson bass line: it sings a duet with the singer, locks with the drummer, scatters little conversations with everyone else, anticipates, delays and tickles the ebb and flow of the groove, and is just plain melodic as hell-- all at the same time. plus, you just *know* he did it off the cuff... damn!!!

it's my desert island bass line.
 
#26
Whoa there bassland, dont get the wrong idea that I like either one more then the other. I just admire both. I dont know for sure who is telling the truth about who recorded what for mo-town, her site saying its from union logs, to ascap, which I havent verifed yet. Its your oppion that she didnt record any mo-town songs, fine. I dont care. I like them both. Dont let it ruffle your feathers.
 
#27
LowFreqB,


Where did you get the idea that 1- my feathers were ruffled and 2- I said that Carol "didnt record any mo-town songs"? Please explain.

BTW the logs I think you are referring to being mentioned on her website are HER diary/personal logs, not union logs and What role does ascap play in this discussion as I believe she is neither writer nor publisher to any of the disputed Motown songs?

Just setting the record straight...

PS Disclaimer: The above are posed as friendly and possibly even sarcastic questions. Life is too short.
 
#28
Originally posted by BassLand
LowFreqB,


Where did you get the idea that 1- my feathers were ruffled and 2- I said that Carol "didnt record any mo-town songs"? Please explain.

PS Disclaimer: The above are posed as friendly and possibly even sarcastic questions. Life is too short.
Click to expand...

1. It seemed like you jump on me becaues I "mentioned Kay and Jamerson in the same sentece".

2. I got the idea from your posts as to who REALLY recored mo-town songs.

anyway, I think shes great and she couldve done a great job on the tribute C.D. However shes not on it, and thats fine with me too.
 
#29
Hi LowFreqB,

In regards to #1 When we are talking about the original release recordings of the songs Bernadette (4 TOPS), I Was Made To Love Her (STEVIE WONDER), Reach Out (I'll Be There), Standing In The Shadows Of Love, I Can't Help Myself (all 4 TOPS), You Can't Hurry Love (SUPREMES), among other songs which were originally recorded and released on the Motown (not Mo-Town) record lable(s) in Detroit, Michigan featuring among others, James Jamerson on bass (yet claimed by Kaye), My initial statement is true IMO.

I did not, however, say that Ms. Kaye NEVER RECORDED ANY MOTOWN SONGS (capitalization for emphasis only). I am told by researchers that she most certainly did work for the company in that capacity when they recorded some material here in Los Angeles. She never recorded in Detroit. Why would I be a part of research into this matter? I had to do so to legally protect my self for statements to that effect that appear on my website dedicated to James Jamerson. You know, lawsuits and the like...

In regards to #2, Let's use "I Was Made To Love Her" as an example. Did Ms Kaye record a version of that song? Most certainly she did (possibly more than once). There is a released version of IWMTLH by the Beach Boys (however there is no mistaking it not being for Motown). There were probabaly many instances where the particular song was re-recorded by Motown for various reasons including (but not limited to) publishing demos, album cuts for other artists, Motown and non Motown, and TV shows which might have been done by Ms. Kaye (I WAS NOT THERE) however, I personally spoke to Henry Cosby who co-wrote and produced the original recording. He left no doubt that it was Jamerson on the originally released record. Does that give her the right to infere if not actually claim that she recorded the originally released version by Stevie Wonder? Of course, she can say anything she wants to (Free Speech and all...) but that does not make it right in my opinion. Remember, free speech is a two-way street. I was personally involved in this situation so I hold no reservation about stating the facts as I see them. May I ask what your connection to this controversy is? It may be time for you and I to take this conversation off the forum or discontinue this discourse all together (it's up to you, I have nothing to hide). In any case I am not your enemy.

Still in the spirit of good clean debate...

In Closing,

If you were as familiar with this situation as I am you would have thought it ludicrous to suggest that Ms. Kaye would be on the CD in question from the book SITSOM. It is also a fair guess to say that you have not read the book SITSOM or heard the accompanying CD's. Not a problem (just an observation).

I did use your statement as an example of the dissinformation (IMO) that is out there that gets way more "press" than I do. If you took that as a personal attack (which it was not), I am sorry that is your perception.

Have a great day!



:)
 
#30
...check out the version of "I Was Made To Love Her" from the Jimi Hendrix Experience BBC Sessions(2-cd set). The trio is Hendrix, Redding, & Stevie on cans!
Poor ol' Noel...he needed a clue. ;)
 
#32
Bassland I see your point. Ms Kaye didnt record the song in question but did/might have recorded it later for other purposes. I still think shes great on the bass and could, not should, play on a tribute record. I'll say again, not that I need to, but I like James Jamerson. He is my biggist influence. Carol is just someone I admire. Why? cuz she is 80? and still plays the bass without carple tunnle (sp?) I hope I can do that too.
 

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