JIM FIELDER - KNOW YOUR BASS PLAYER

[Tom Semioli]

“Jim Fielder is one of the pioneers of the Fender Bass. His lines were as important and recognizable to listeners as the melodies and words.” – Ron McClure Blood Sweat & Tears founding member Jim Fielder’s bass passages captivated millions on hits and album tracks which were a groundbreaking meld of rock, jazz, r&b, and pop. The towering Texan also waxed landmark slabs with Frank Zappa, Buffalo Springfield, George Benson, Tim Buckley, and Gene Clark, among others. Profoundly inspired by Jamerson, Jim served as Neil Sedaka’s musical director/bassist in later years. To my ears, Fielder’s primo performances include “Something’s Goin’ On,” “Smiling Phases,” “Blues Pt. 2” https://bit.ly/2GKHWnF “Lucretia MacEvil,” “John the Baptist (Holy John),” and “Down in the Flood.” Invalid Link Removed

 

[JimK]

...love Fielder with BS&T.

 

[StudioStuntz]

Saw him play live once backing a cabaret-type singer way back when.

He was sitting down moving his hands all over the neck, yet his body was as calm as if he were meditating.

I think he also plays upright.

 

[jerry]

Saw him play live once backing a cabaret-type singer way back when.

He was sitting down moving his hands all over the neck, yet his body was as calm as if he were meditating.

I think he also plays upright.

If you watch some old BS&Ts videos, you can see Jim almost has the neck of his bass vertical to his body almost like a upright. I think he has been with Neil Sedaka for a long time. I love his BS&Ts tenure!

 

[markjazzbassist]

great player love the BS&T stuff

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I talk to him a few times a year as he attends a mutual friends potluck jams 3-4 times a year. Super nice guy, no ego bs, very approachable. I grew up learning bass from him, via wearing out BST Vinyl Albums in the day. He always brings and plays his Clevenger EUB.

 

[IamGroot]

 

[Tom Semioli]

Saw him play live once backing a cabaret-type singer way back when.

He was sitting down moving his hands all over the neck, yet his body was as calm as if he were meditating.

I think he also plays upright.

I'll have to ask him!!!

 

[Tom Semioli]

Fantastic!!

 

[Thuddy Waters]

Those wounds are flat!

 

[IMMusicRulz]

I own Blood Sweat and Tears second album, as well as Blood Sweat and Tears 3, Blood Sweat and Tears 4, Blood Sweat and Tears Greatest Hits, and New Blood, as well as a Blood Sweat and Tears compilation album, and I really love Jim Fielders bass playing. He played a Fender Jazz Bass and a Fender Precision Bass, if I remember correctly. Not sure what amps he used, but probably an Ampeg Amp and some Fender Bassman Amps.

 

[Michedelic]

I own Blood Sweat and Tears second album, as well as Blood Sweat and Tears 3, Blood Sweat and Tears 4, Blood Sweat and Tears Greatest Hits, and New Blood, as well as a Blood Sweat and Tears compilation album, and I really love Jim Fielders bass playing. He played a Fender Jazz Bass and a Fender Precision Bass, if I remember correctly. Not sure what amps he used, but probably an Ampeg Amp and some Fender Bassman Amps.

Nope, he endorsed and was seen using(by all reports in the BST era)Guild bass amps...

Guild Quantum Bass ... The King of Thunderbass Hill
I never got around to playing through one, but it looks like it was in the same class as the Fender Bassman/Showman, Sunn 200s, or Ampeg B-25(I’d be skeptical of the 200 watt rating in the ad, ‘peak’ power probably). I always liked his work on this...

 

[bobyoung53]

My two favorite tunes by them from their first album with Al Cooper on vocals, I first heard them on underground FM WBCN 104.1 FM Boston:



This was the first song that got airplay, that I remember anyway:

 

[jeffbrown]

I listened to 'BCN back in the day, and it's very possible that I first heard BS&T then. I was a budding trumpet player at the time, so of course I was initially drawn in by Brecker, et. al., but WOW - Fielder's lines! I still listen to that first album for inspiration, and of course their later work as well.
He's certainly one of MY faves....

And for the record, I preferred Kooper.

 

[BaltoNealio]

I own Blood Sweat and Tears second album, as well as Blood Sweat and Tears 3, Blood Sweat and Tears 4, Blood Sweat and Tears Greatest Hits, and New Blood, as well as a Blood Sweat and Tears compilation album, and I really love Jim Fielders bass playing. He played a Fender Jazz Bass and a Fender Precision Bass, if I remember correctly. Not sure what amps he used, but probably an Ampeg Amp and some Fender Bassman Amps.

Jim Fielder is the main reason I forsake trumpet and french horn to borrow a friend's fiesta red jazz bass. I was so captivated by his sound, technique and musicianship I began practicing electric bass. During my exploratory years--which I describe as finally nailing 12-bar blues progressions--I read up on Mr. Fielder.

I saw a pic of him playing live with an Altec-Lansing rig. I knew he played a Fender P bass live, but I assumed he was using the A-L amp along with it. He's still among my five favorite bassists evah.

 

[JTE]

The only interview with him I have ever seen was BST days in Guitar Player Mag. Talked about a Rick where the neck moved a quarter inch in each direction, the Guild amp, having had a Hofner, and finally getting a maple-neck Precision, using LaBella flats at Larry Taylor's (Canned Heat) suggestion, and three fingers of his right (plucking) hand.

I saw him once, with Peter Yarrow. It was about a year before I started playing bass so didn't notice the gear he used.

He got a name check by Jaco several time. I always liked his idea of bass playing. He's on a really under-rated album, Chris Hillman's "Slipping Away " which I highly recommend. It's got Leland Sklar, Duck Dunn, Fielder, and Hillman on bass with great songs, excellent performances, and very good production.

 

[TomB]

My two favorite tunes by them from their first album with Al Cooper on vocals, I first heard them on underground FM WBCN 104.1 FM Boston:



This was the first song that got airplay, that I remember anyway:

BS&T we’re definitely on “underground” FM in Chicago as well. But I think I recall that several tunes (def Spinning Wheel) made the pop charts as well. Am I right?
In any case, Fielder was a big influence in the day.

 

[DWBass]

Way off my radar growing up. Heck of a bass player.

 

[jeffb28451]

First bassist I ever saw live. Great player and very accessible guy.

 

[lfmn16]

“His lines were as important and recognizable to listeners as the melodies and words.”

Um, no. Go hum BST bass lines to people (not just bass players) and ask them to identify the song. I'm not trying to disrespect him, but my God, the hyperbole!