stewblack

OK

Why?

I only picked songs that were in the charts in 1980, regardless of when first released.

You could have chosen some covers from that list too.

Yep. That's kind of the thrust of my post I guess. Easy to write off a whole decade because of dross that came to prominence in the second half of those years. But only one year looked at and theres almost two sets worth of great tunes already.

Just bunged this up on FB and thought, what am I doing, I post on Basschat not Facebook, so here you go: I was thinking what a thankless task it would be to put a setlist together for an 80s covers band. Without question a decade responsible for some of the very worst in popular music. From dreadful production values to a universal celebration of the utterly bland it has, rightly, gone down as a cultural desert. Nonetheless, with the only rule that it must have charted, (helps if an audience actually knows the songs a covers band plays for them) I dabbled with the idea. And my God, was I in for a surprise. This list is from 1980 alone. Unbelievable, I'd love to turn up to an 80s night and see a band storm through this little lot! 1981 to follow..... BRASS IN POCKET - THE PRETENDERS I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU - TOURISTS TEARS OF A CLOWN - THE BEAT PLEASE DON'T GO - KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND RAPPER'S DELIGHT - THE SUGARHILL GANG WALKING ON THE MOON - THE POLICE MY GIRL - MADNESS LONDON CALLING - THE CLASH GREEN ONIONS - BOOKER T & THE MG'S ONE STEP BEYOND... - MADNESS A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY - SPECIALS FEATURING RICO THE ETON RIFLES - THE JAM IT'S DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS - JOE JACKSON BABY I LOVE YOU - THE RAMONES THREE MINUTE HERO - SELECTER SKINHEAD MOONSTOMP - SYMARIP MAYBE TOMORROW - CHORDS TURNING JAPANESE - THE VAPORS AT THE EDGE - STIFF LITTLE FINGERS I CAN'T STAND UP FOR FALLING DOWN - ELVIS COSTELLO ATOMIC - BLONDIE HANDS OFF - SHE'S MINE THE BEAT NE-NE NA-NA NA-NA NU-NU - BAD MANNERS ANOTHER NAIL IN MY HEART - SQUEEZE ECHO BEACH - MARTHA AND THE MUFFINS POISON IVY - LAMBRETTAS SO LONELY - THE POLICE MY WORLD - SECRET AFFAIR HAPPY HOUSE - SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES GOING UNDERGROUND - THE JAM GENO - DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS LIQUIDATOR/LONG SHOT KICK DE BUCKET - HARRY J ALL-STARS AND THE PIONEERS NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO - MADNESS MY PERFECT COUSIN - THE UNDERTONES CALL ME - BLONDIE STARING AT THE RUDE BOYS - RUTS KING/FOOD FOR THOUGHT - UB40 MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM - THE BEAT POLICE AND THIEVES - JUNIOR MURVIN PULLING MUSSELS (FROM THE SHELL) - SQUEEZE RAT RACE/RUDE BOYS OUTA JAIL - THE SPECIALS NOBODY'S HERO/TIN SOLDIERS - STIFF LITTLE FINGERS LIP UP FATTY - BAD MANNERS COULD YOU BE LOVED - BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS Oh, and if any pedants want to tell me that 1980 isn't the 80s but the last year of the 70s, you're welcome to. Welcome to look at around the world and worry about something else, that is.

Sounds like a wise move. Surprised Andertons think they can afford to alienate a customer like this. I have happily bought B Stock basses from Thomann on numerous occasions and never once seen (nor would I expect to) damage like this - nor even close.

Headstock wear

Thoroughly enjoying this, can't contribute directly as I have never deliberately relic'd. However I have owned a bass since 1983. I thought it might be of interest to see some of the effects of time, you never know - could inspire someone. First up the gaffa tape residue. Now a part of the bass! Never seen anyone try to create this.

Each to their own of course, but the Harley is the cream of that particular crop for me.

El Fidget, famously apprehensive flamenco player

Might be able to try it soon. talk of a local jam session starting up again.

Oh that's great, they disappeared entirely (along with a lot of their basses) Might sell an effect pedal and buy one.

Me too... space, interval, focus, shape, touch, tilt ????

They seemed to discontinue that Harley just as I was about to buy it. Did you get it 2nd hand?

Yep, if you're going to have damage then out of sight round the back is about the best place. Can't see it and doesn't affect the playability in any way. Nice one!

Ah, OK thanks. Just trying to justify wanting a bass which is probably nearly identical to one I already have.

Ah, just misreading my post. Ah well, one say we'll find something we do agree on.

precisely the point I made. Nice when we agree occasionally Chris

Anyone know what the difference (if any) is between the Detroit and the Power basses?

Some GAS inducing reviews of The Little Bass Thing online. I know at least one BC member who has one. I wonder how long before they start to appear in the second hand market. Anyone got any experience of them they'd like to share?

I couldn't really get a handle on the idea of a bass being boring. Then it came to me. When I received an offer for my Yamaha BB , I took it. Without hesitation. Why? The instrument looks really cool, feels lovely, sounds fantastic (only bridge pick up I ever really liked) and yet, and yet.... what? Could it be it just didn't excite me? That maybe I found it a little, dare I say it, boring? If it's the one in the rack that never gets picked, if there is nothing actually wrong with it, but it gets left at home all the time, then I wonder if that's all that's left. It's really odd.

Presumably the drummer will have to set up in a van, or a car like the Pope's. I can use my BF Midget and Elf from my Picanto, but really the whole thing does seem a little impractical.

I do now. I didn't for years because I thought it killed the dynamics in my playing. Loosely translated to bad compressor, badly used. The more sensitive you are to the nuances of how you play, the more you notice the effect of a compressor. The more you care about the way you sit in the mix of all the other instruments, the more you notice the effect of a compressor.

Yes - great metaphor. Uncompressed sound being where you don't mix the cornflour and end up with some water thin parts and some great blobs of thick stuff.