Space Oddity - isolated Bass and drums

[normalized]

Been checking out Bowie's basslines for a potential new cover project. Found the isolated drum and bass tracks for this as part of the 40th anniversary EP.

Hearing the bassline in full on clarity is a revelation, Herbie Flower's use of space and melody here is a mini-lesson in putting your stamp on a part that was mixed pretty low in the original recording. Now if I can just find that bass player magazine transcription!

I would make this an essential download for a pretty classic bass part.

 

[Alkali Ike]

Even just that sample sounds great. I love this stuff.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Man, Bowie is doing EVERYTHING to make a buck.

I like this :

YouTube - Running with the Devil (vocals only)

If this doesn't make you laugh, you aren't paying attention

 

[RCCollins]

Listen before you buy.

Definitely an ear-opening recording every talkbasser should check out. Herbie Flowers is one of the true unsung heroes of our instrument.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Listen before you buy.

Definitely an ear-opening recording every talkbasser should check out. Herbie Flowers is one of the true unsung heroes of our instrument.

Very interesting...

Makes it much more clear that he was playing a fretless when you hear it alone...

 

[mccartneyman]

And people don't like flats ...

 

[RichardFeynman]

YouTube - Running with the Devil (vocals only)

If this doesn't make you laugh, you aren't paying attention

I did not expect to laugh that hard.
Thank you Harry!

 

[LarryR]

I play Herbie's EPOCH line in a Bowie trib thing in LA, called Space Oddity. Never worked so hard on a line. Only issue is getting me to sit in the mix just right. Too loud and the audience can't believe why I'm soloing for 5 minutes, through this lovely song. Next gig I'm gonna re-EQ myself way dark. Maybe use a volume pedal. One of my all-time favorite basslines. Cheers Herbie!

 

[Skitch it!]

Herbie Flowers came up with some great lines, I think Trevor Bolder is well underrated, he played some excellent lines during his time with Bowie.

 

[21niko21]

Man, Bowie is doing EVERYTHING to make a buck.

I like this :

YouTube - Running with the Devil (vocals only)

If this doesn't make you laugh, you aren't paying attention

It took awhile...but, now I can't eat my cereal. Lol.

 

[chetorch]

I did not expect to laugh that hard.
Thank you Harry!

+1 !!

 

[uglycustard]

That is the bassline which made me want to play bass.Herbie has a style all of his own,nobody sounds like him.

 

[lunarpollen]

What a great track.... This reminds me, speaking of Herbie Flowers, does anyone know if he played on this tune?

YouTube - Gilbert O' Sullivan Nothing Rhymed 1971

It was recorded around the same time, and it sounds VERY much like a Herbie Flowers bassline.

 

[Hifiguy]

Herbie Flowers is an incredible player. He turns up frequently on the early Elton John albums, and was also responsible for the memorable bass parts on Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" and Nilsson's "Jump Into the Fire" IIRC. Killer musicianship on every level.

He was a first call London session player forever. Sort of the English Joe Osborn.

 

[terribilino]

... and was also responsible for the memorable bass parts on Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side"....

Here's the man himself explaining how that classic evolved:

YouTube - Walk On The Wild Side - The story behind the classic bass intro featuring Herbie Flowers.

 

[onestring]

Listen before you buy.

Definitely an ear-opening recording every talkbasser should check out. Herbie Flowers is one of the true unsung heroes of our instrument.

Wow, great to hear the bass isolated. Pretty much sums up my ideal tone/style.

It sounds really natural but thoughtful too. Anybody know if it was scored or if Herbie wrote his own part?

 

[uglycustard]

Wow, great to hear the bass isolated. Pretty much sums up my ideal tone/style.

I think Herbie would have wrote that himself after been given a chord chart,sounds classic herbie style[/QUOTE

 

[kent1113]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Barkless Dog]

Herbie Flowers is an incredible player. He turns up frequently on the early Elton John albums, and was also responsible for the memorable bass parts on Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" and Nilsson's "Jump Into the Fire" IIRC. Killer musicianship on every level.

He was a first call London session player forever. Sort of the English Joe Osborn.

Wow I never knew that, probably three of the most influential bass songs of my childhood, along with Sugar Loaf Green Eyed Lady.

 

[markorbit]

Reviving an oldie...

Very interesting...
Makes it much more clear that he was playing a fretless when you hear it alone...

That's his fretted Jazz with Tapewounds I think. He has a slinky style but it's fretted.

Anybody know if it was scored or if Herbie wrote his own part?

It sounds to me like he made it up on the spot from chord charts only. It's very freeform to the point that I bet many modern producers would tear their hair out.

A great lesson in bass though and such a great sound. Everytime I hear this I always end up buying a Jazz bass and throwing on a set of Trubass 88s.... and I never quite arrive at the great Herbie sound.