Rick James and the bass

[rubber_ritchie]

Did Rick James play bass on his recordings? He's pictured a lot with the bass and poses with it in a few promo vids but in all the live footage of him he doesn't play bass. Also, do you know what basses were used in his recordings? I'm particularly curious about the bass on this track of his and the Mary Jane Girls. Sounds wonderful!

 

[DWBass]

He may have worn a bass and may even have been an adequate bassist but that is definitely NOT Rick James playing on that track. I'm almost positive he had a ghost player on all his music.

 

[markjazzbassist]

really? i always thought he was playing on all his stuff. i was under the impression he was a more than competent bassist.

 

[your idol]

AFAIK that white Ric was his baby for everything. and why do you doubt rick james. he is a multi instrumentalist and i believe he had played on several other songs as a producer/studio musician.

 

[Op_of_Faith]

You'd be surprized! Rick James was a PHENOMENAL bass play, though Oscar Allston played bass on most of the records...

from Oscar's interview in 'Bass Player Magazine's Legends of Funk:

"Rick would come around and play all of our instruments and suggest parts. His style on bass was aggressive and raw, because he didn't play enough to have a refined technique. He'd us a lot of up-and-down slides and just jump head-first into a line. That was his main influence on my playing-the attitude, abandon, and presence he had on any instrument. It would pump you up and make you go, Wow, I wanna play along with that!"

You might want to check out the Rick James DVD "Super Freak Live 1982" and the Wax Poetics Issue 23-here is a link to some of that issue:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

J

 

[drpepper]

That made me curious. The crossed paths make for a pretty interesting Wikipedia read...I had no idea. He fronted a band that Neil Young was in. There's Steppenwolf and Buffalo Springfield tie-ins through bass players. His bass playing is noted nowhere in his bio, and there are bass players named at every point that he formed this or joined that. Looks like the bass was a favorite photo prop (regardless of his actual ability to play).

 

[your idol]

You'd be surprized! Rick James was a PHENOMENAL bass play, though Oscar Allston played bass on most of the records...

from Oscar's interview in 'Bass Player Magazine's Legends of Funk:

"Rick would come around and play all of our instruments and suggest parts. His style on bass was aggressive and raw, because he didn't play enough to have a refined technique. He'd us a lot of up-and-down slides and just jump head-first into a line. That was his main influence on my playing-the attitude, abandon, and presence he had on any instrument. It would pump you up and make you go, Wow, I wanna play along with that!"

You might want to check out the Rick James DVD "Super Freak Live 1982" and the Wax Poetics Issue 23-here is a link to some of that issue:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

J

BTW OT note. if you have an interest an funk and soul Wax Poetics mag is probably the most in depth enthralling read you could ever pick up. highly suggested for the real behind the scenes in the studio info from cats that were in the room. seriously check it out.

 

[slowburnaz]

OP: That definitely sounds like a slapped Rick to me.

Compare with:

(minus the slight delay or reverb he's got going on there)

 

[Tommygunn]

It's like a lot of bands. The recording band is way different than the touring band. Or he could be like Prince, play live but doesn't play in the studio

 

[jaywa]

A slapped Rickenbacker?

As the farmers around here say, "there's something you don't see everyday."

 

[Marley's Ghost]

A slapped Rickenbacker?

As the farmers around here say, "there's something you don't see everyday."

Not that uncommon. See DK Marlowe's videos for some wicked Ric slapping.

 

[your idol]

Or he could be like Prince, play live but doesn't play in the studio

re read this tommy.. Prince records most of the instruments HIMSELF for his albums. he can only play one live.he only reallys uses a band to tour.

 

[bass12]

re read this tommy.. Prince records most of the instruments HIMSELF for his albums. he can only play one live.he only reallys uses a band to tour.

Yep.

 

[Op_of_Faith]

More goodness from "Bass Player Magazine's Legends of Funk"-According to P-Funk bassist Cordell Mosson, Rick James gravitated toward using a Rickenbacker after seeing him do it. Apparently, the P-Funk cats thought it was too nasal, but Cordell liked it anyway and it became part of his signature sound...

So yes, he did us a Rickenbacker. You guys might also want to check out "Memiors of a Super Freak"-The Rick James Autobiography-not much in the way of specific music stuff but GREAT stories on what was happening and why...!

http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-R...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262285192&sr=8-1

 

[Op_of_Faith]

One more thing-Rick James toured and presented himself as "Rick James and the Stone City Band". He didn't have people ghost play things-he pretty much wrote the music and had the Stone City Band play it...

 

[T-MOST]

I don't know about phenominal but he could play bass. he did not play on his recordings. I saw a Behind the Music episode and this is according to the guy who "did play bass" on most of Ricks tracks. However, he was a talented writer and producer for sure. Slick... Rick... Baby!

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

He was a Super Freak, Super Freak, he's Super Freaking, Yow!! He had da Funk!!

 

[Op_of_Faith]

@T-Most-that was Oscar Allston of the Stone City Band-please see above post...

 

[Op_of_Faith]

...and I meant he was phenomenal in terms of style and writing-I agree, as the post state, his tech was not that good-but he had FLAVA!!!

 

[DWBass]

Hmmm......dunno about his 'live' playing either! I have a old VHS video of him in concert and there were quite a lot of moments when his hands stopped moving but bass was still heard. Kinda the same deal with Verdine White in his later years of performing. Somebody was playing bass offstage somewhere. He may have been 'phenominal' with his bass playing but have we ever really heard 'him' play??