SteveK

You've clearly Googled me "middle aged"?? You're too kind!

These bands will spend months doing photo shoots for a tour, working on and approving stage sets for the tour, finding musicians, rehearsing lighting cues, rehearsing costume changes etc... You know what's coming, don't you?

OK, I'll make an allowance for those in bands that play 2 day sets. Don't think that applies to Elton John, ELO and The Stones though

The only time a music stand on stage is acceptable is if you're part of an orchestra or called to dep at the last minute. There really is no excuse for the likes of The Stones, ELO, Elton John etc. - Just LEARN THE F*****' SONG!!

Used to like this line when it first came out, and briefly incorporated it into my practice regime. I always assumed that an open D was used (must have seen it on TOTP). However, I made it my duty to learn it with a fretted D (A string), enabling me to play that riff, and any similar riffs in any key.

There are some very good FOH engineers out there that can work miracles in the most challenging of venues. I would never do a show with the assumption that the audience can't hear the subtleties of my playing (not that I have a reputation for subtlety, you understand ) I assume that every miss-plucked and miss-fretted note will be spoken about by every audience member who will immediately call their friends and family, laughing about it as they leave the venue. Most likely, if I thought that the song required it.

Probably not advisable as your everyday technique, but it can subtley change the tone. More importantly, It can change your approach/attitude to what you're playing.

I think you have to move that bit of info from your "my opinion" folder, to the "MOST DEFINITELY, FACT" folder. 't'as always been so!

Curious to know which of Lennon's songs you consider "shocking". EDIT: Actually, forget that! I've reread your post and realise that it's not worth bothering with.

There is negligible difference in tone between open or fingered note. The reason to avoid open strings is when it comes to transposing: Far easier to transpose a riff/lick/line etc if all notes are fingered.

One of the UK's top drummers, dear friend and band-mate (sadly passed away earlier this year) couldn't drive! When you've made a name for yourself it's easier: Producers, bands, fellow musicians etc are far more accommodating. They will hire a kit, or arrange transport for yourself and kit. I often wondered how he managed before he had made his name. He did lose one or two gigs through lack of transport.

Give me an average band attempting to be a little different and original over a regular covers band, any day of the week! If you're happy forever doing birthdays, weddings and bar mitzvahs, and aspire to nothing else, then playing covers in the time honoured tradition is fine! But personally, I wouldn't pay good money to see/hear it.

"Less is More", It's a nice sounding phrase, and can be a handy phrase to roll out when creatively stumped! Less is More... of what? Notes per verse/chorus? Assuming that most of us are mere mortal musicians and not genii bass players that can create killer bass lines on the fly, then, I would suggest that "More" time/imagination/experience/talent etc applied might actually be... "More"(?)

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1499192908' post='3329887'] I was thinking about this earlier while listening to Radio 1. With a lot of chart music these days there's a rapper performing a few bars where previously the solo would have gone. There also seems to be a lot more classical style orchestration in pop music in recent years (even if it's all done on a syth or computer) and quite often you the strings or the horns swelling to a sort of crescendo rather than an actual instrumental solo. [/quote] You may be on to something there! It's certainly another device with which to break-up and add interest to a song. [quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1499317535' post='3330657'] For a straight up memorable pop solo that you can sing along to, this has to get a mention [media]http://youtu.be/aQUlA8Hcv4s[/media] [/quote] I'm sat at Heathrow without earphones so can't listen to ELO's MBS at the moment, but I'm struggling to remember a solo in the track. I can recall a vocoder section and a pseudo classical choir section, but not a solo as such! Great track though Actually, there are a couple of tracks posted in this thread that don't really have, what I would call, a solo!

Some blinding contributions! Although, I'm sure there are one or two that weren't hits... or even singles Sadly though, this thread has so far confirmed my suspicions, that solos are passe, and have been for many years Such a shame - a good solo can add so much to a track! BRING BACK THE SOLO! BRING BACK THE SOLO! BRING BACK THE SOLO!

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1499114451' post='3329347'] I've always loved Wesley Magoogan's lovely sax solo on Hazel O'Connor's "Will You?". [/quote] Great solo - Wes has been a good friend of mine for 40 years or more. In fact, Wes suggested me for Hazel's band in 1980. I was in Hazel's band when Will You was a hit (didn't play on the record)

Some great solos so far - I think Roland Rock sneaks in to the lead of [i]"the most recent solo on a hit record"[/i] part of this thread - I want to Break Free - 1984

Over the weekend I was discussing solos on hit records with my band-mates! Worryingly, the most recent solo that we could think of was Yes' "Owner of a Lonely Heart" 1983. In our defence, we are a bunch of old geezers and our collective memories are clearly failing us - there obviously has to be a solo on a more recent hit - any advance on 1983? While we're here, I'm curious to know any BCers favourite solo on a hit record of all time. For the purposes of this discussion, I would say a solo should be 4 or more bars long and give the [i]impression[/i] of being improvised, à la Free's All Right Now. If posters could add a little info, or a link, that would be great! To get the ball rolling - I've always had a soft spot for the wonderful sax solo at the end of Lou Reed's 1972 record "Walk on the Wild Side". [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w[/media]

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1499036226' post='3328787'] WARNING! Controversial opinion coming up... Nile Rodgers is a brilliant funk rhythm guitarist and a cool guy. But.....he's a bit of a one-trick pony, isn't he? [/quote] That's a bit like saying, "Stephen Hawking is a brilliant cosmologist, but... he's a bit of a one trick pony, isn't he?"

[quote name='skychaserhigh' timestamp='1498664498' post='3326212'] I'm not sure what you mean , but I'll keep this simple for you...It's easy to be a 'keyboard warrior' and say nasty things from the safety of an internet forum , but it's another thing to say those things directly in person. I think many people wouldn't say these things to Liam in real life. [/quote] To be fair, there are probably some that don't think Anthony Joshua is much of a fighter... don't think they'd say it to his face, though! It's not much of a criteria in which to gauge your comments! Edit: Actually, having thought about it - Anthony Joshua seems quite a nice chap, so you'd probably be quite safe.

To all the posters saying, "Jerry Barnes overplayed" - IT'S A LIVE SHOW! Of course, as bass players we focus on the bass, but, take a listen the rest of the band - with the possible exception of the horns, they are all "overplaying" Drummer putting in fills that I don't remember on the record. As for the Singers... wailing all over the place! But, as I say, "It's a live show", and as ALL live music broadcasts - it doesn't withstand close "armchair" scrutiny. it's intended for those stood in front of the stage. If you don't take it up at least a notch or two when on stage, then you ain't doing it right! My foot was a tapping, 'n' my body a movin' n a groovin'!

[quote name='Steve Browning' timestamp='1497616864' post='3319531'] I say this only to show how diverse people tastes (or lack of) are but I simply cannot stand to hear his playing. I appreciate my bank manager will take a different view. [/quote] And what, exactly, is it that you "cannot stand" to hear about his playing?

Looking back makes me realise how boring and stuffy the 2010s look is... whatever that is!

Only heard the track on my tablet speakers - not exactly hi-fi quality! But, my guess: he's using a jazz bass or similar, with mostly bridge pickup. Nothing unusual there! Without wanting to sound boring and predictable: Most of what I hear, and probably what you're enjoying, is coming from the fingers. Edit: Just noticed that you know the bass (can't view post I'm replying to when typing )

Shonky Generator - What a great name for a band!