SteveK

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1389264593' post='2331989'] I get that the 'idea' is the important part but, actually, is it the [i]only[/i] important part? [/quote] It's not the [i]only[/i] important part, but it is (usually) the [i]most[/i] important part. Without the song there's nothing for anybody to work on. Fact is, as in any industry, if a producer, arranger, musician etc is considered to be important to a record's success, then that producer, arranger, musician etc is in a very strong position to name his price. [quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1389265109' post='2331997'] An interesting view. I know a few people who have been involved in major selling bands and ultimately ended up with very little beyond wages... Stings a bit. [/quote] Tell me about it! Although, I think record companies, managers and the like stitching up their artists is a whole different subject.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1389231067' post='2331789'] And yet nobody has heard of him. [b]Which exemplifies how the music industry works.[/b] [/quote] And why is that wrong? Max Martin is [b]far[/b] from unusual. If you look into many of the high profile big selling artists, I'm sure that you'll see some of the same names cropping up, and if you ask them, I'm also sure that a lot one them will say that they're quite happy to be in the background, working in the studio and waiting for the cheques to roll in. As I said, Dave says that "Max Martin doesn't give interviews", so I conclude from that that he [b]chooses[/b] to remain anonymous. EDIT: And no, I hadn't heard of him.

I don't know who this 'Boy in a Band' Dave is... but it would seem that he's been living under a rock, and only just found out that *shock horror* singers and bands don't always write their own material . As Dave says, "He doesn't give many interviews"! So, I guess Max Martin prefers anonymity. Not sure how this is "The biggest secret in the music industry". There are many more such songwriters.

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1389099772' post='2329838'] It's trickier than it sounds! Awesome tone. I love early WA, [b]the Martin Turner version doing the rounds are damn good too[/b]. [/quote] Indeed they are, and with Tim the new drummer they sound invigorated. Played with MT's Wishbone so many times that they've become "on the road" buddies. They are the funniest guys to have a post gig drink with. Inevitably during the course of the early hours Ray and Danny will produce their ukes and kazoos and a jolly good if not 'surreal' singsong will ensue. Oh, and Argus... great album! Think it won an NME or Melody Maker poll for best produced album of 197?

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1388926141' post='2327625'] allmusic.com only has derek forbes listed on bass for new gold dream 81 82 83 84 [b][url="http://www.allmusic.com/album/new-gold-dream-81-82-83-84-mw0000191850/credits"]http://www.allmusic....0191850/credits[/url][/b] [/quote] Don't bet your house on it... allmusic.com has Steve Kinch listed on bass for Jim Capaldi's 'Poor Boy Blue'... I've never even heard it, let alone played on it.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1388611489' post='2324088'] True, but athletes at 52 generally don't attempt to do what they did when they were 22. [/quote] [quote name='steantval' timestamp='1388611689' post='2324096'] I personally found it embarrassing watching Ray Davies, he was totally out of it, off time and key. I know he's getting on a bit, but if older vocalists cannot hack it, they should either bring the pitch down to a level for which they can comfortably sing or possibly give up performing live. , two that come to mind are Paul Rodgers and Tom Jones - they still seem to belt them out. [/quote] I personally don't hold with the view that artists should quit once past their prime (who decides that, anyway?) The beauty of shows such as Jools Holland's is that the potential paying punter can see these artists as they are now and make an informed decision as to whether they are actually worth going to see. Paul Rodgers and Tom Jones are two singers (particularly Tom Jones) that are famed for their strong voices. My guess is that even TJ would tell you that he can't hit the notes of yesteryear. Ray Davies, on the other hand, has never been known for his strong voice - more known for its character.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1388585011' post='2323646'] I only caught Ray Davies and thought his voice was very poor. He was definitely struggling with some of the higher notes. I'd like to think it was monitor issues but I'm wondering if age is catching up with him. Shame to see a legend in decline. [/quote] I don't recall Ray Davies ever being known for his perfect pitch, but having said that... I'm surprised that anyone is surprised when older singers struggle vocally. We get get the same comments regarding Paul McCartney. Yet, we're not surprised when an athlete starts to slow down when they reach their 30s. The sad fact is, the voice is controlled by muscles and as with any muscles, they deteriorate with age. FWIW I thought the show was ok. Seemed to be a reasonable cross-section. I can never really understand how Jools Holland has managed to front a show for all these years - guess we're kinda used to him!

Sounds like the ramblings of a man whose phone doesn't ring as often as it used to.

If I wasn't a bass player and needed bass for my recordings I'd possibly invest in trilian. I'm no great shakes as a guitarist, consequently I use this for my acoustics: [url="http://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=6"]http://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=6[/url] I'm no drummer, so use this: [url="http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp?item=56"]http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp?item=56[/url] Samples and vst plugins have come a long way in recent years. With a little judicious programming they can sound quite authentic.

Volume knob..? To adjust volume..? in my world, it's either fully on or fully off! In fact, on a couple of basses I have considered, in the past, replacing the vol knob with a simple on/off switch. EDIT: Doesn't really answer your question, does it? I guess the only real answer is... try it!

Can't decide on my favourite, but I'll nominate Trapeze - 'You are the Music... We're just the Band'. Featuring, of course, the wonderful vocal and bass talents of Glenn Hughes. IMO Deserved of far more recognition than it receives/received (as the lack of mention in this thread would testify).

I don't generally do deps, but on the rare occasions that I've done them, I've found that the hardest part is figuring out what is [i]actually[/i] being played! 20 years or so ago I was asked to dep for Bucks Fizz (regular guy was off doing Cliff). Even though it wasn't my kind of thing, I thought, "That'll be a doddle". Most of it wasn't a problem - until I came to this one... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePFLHPs4zLA[/media] I had one week to learn the set from CDs, spent most of my time on this one track. Never imagined a Bucks Fizz song could be so tricky to nail.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1385310935' post='2286706'] Since we're on the subject of [b]Abbey Road,[/b] I only realised this week how crap the bassline is on [b]Long and Winding Road.[/b] [/quote] ?? ?? Good to read so much positivity re PM. Like it or not (I know ther are many in denial), we bass players have a lot to thank Paul McCartney for.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1384951684' post='2282651'] Is this as bad...etc? Yes it is. It's a shame that music is so polarised in the US these days. [b]KW is a mega star in Hip Hop and his intended audience is Black America, so it's no surprise that we wouldn't like it[/b]. [/quote] You're basically saying that we're just not [i]getting it[/i]. You're probably right! However, I find merit in, do [i]get[/i], and in many cases [i]like[/i], a lot of music that wasn't intended for a white, English, heterosexual, male. Maybe music in the US is polarised, I don't know, I haven't given it much thought... or, just maybe this track falls neatly into that hugely popular genre of Country RAP... or, as I affectionately call it... C-RAP!

Just had this brought to my attention. Now, I usually look for the good in all music, always trying to be positive, but this just has me scratching my head. [media]http://www.ellentv.com/2013/11/19/kanye-wests-new-video-bound-2/[/media] I know very little of Kanye West...! Is he considered 'up there' in his genre?

There are some writers out there that virtually hear the completed song in their head, and if what they are actually hearing doesn't sound like that, then, to them it sounds wrong. Don't know if that is the case with SD, but it's their baby, they call the shots. If I've heard about SD's reputation, you can be sure all the US session guys know about it. In which case, if you don't like it, don't take the gig. IAC Their reputation, and how a record was made, really shouldn't make any difference to anyon'e enjoyment of the end product.

I absolutely agree with his point that tone starts at the bone. And I don't wish to pick fault with this video, but... I do think that this vid may confuse beginners. I find it odd that he's ignoring the effect that his fretting fingers have on the sound of the notes. Even in this video you can see that when demonstrating the "round sound" his left fingers fret the notes for a much longer duration than when he is demonstrating the Staccatto and "R&B type thing", he is lifting his finger from the fretted note much sooner. For all you beginners, try playing a simple, slow 4 or 5 note phrase, firstly letting the notes ring by keeping the note fretted. Then play the same phrase, but this time lift the fretting finger almost immediately after plucking - hear the difference? Maybe this vid is only part 1 and Scott D is planning a part 2

And another depressing BC thread! If musicians won't stick up for musicians, then there is no hope. ... Or, have those advocating free access to music come to the realisation that they don't stand a hope in hell anyway, so couldn't give a toss?

Bit late to the thread, but anyway... Whe methods mentioned above have their merit - what about the majority of time when you don't have an instrument to hand? The beauty of relating intervals to two notes of a known tune is that it can be used anwhere, while walking the dog, sunning yourself on the beach, driving, on the train, pushing your trolley around Tesco's etc. Using this method [b][u]in additon[/u][/b] to those above and you will be recognising intervals in no time.

There I was, happily perusing this delightful thread, when suddenly I'm confronted with this nonsense... [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1378459025' post='2200496'] Hmmmm. I can't help feeling that there might be a smidgeon of racial superiority in some of the comparisons made between Mex, US and Jap Fenders. Maybe some people have a rather stereotypical image of Mexicans in mind when judging an MIM bass? Not only is this view insulting and racist in some cases, but it is ignorant as how many of us actually know the make-up of the staff in Fenders US factories? How many of the staff might be Hispanic or Mexican? Controversial maybe - but possibly a small part of the truth? [/quote] I mean, really! BTW my MIM Strat looks, feels and sounds (EMG pickups added later) as good as any other Strat, regardless of origin.

My mate's a mechanic - he gets loads of different cars that need fixing - he says the percentage of Skodas he gets is very small. Reckon that proves beyond doubt that Skoda is the most reliable car.

Not a famous bass player - a fairly famous artist (in her day) - most definitely a famous show. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07sL2kjJqc4[/media]

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1375803000' post='2165878'] About to head out. Can anyone recommend an album quickly. [/quote] Seconds Out (live album) Dance on a Volcano is sublime

It was Two Tribes that left me in no doubt that you really can 'polish a turd'. Awful song... great record!

You're talking about two different things here. "A couple of hours at volume" is guaranteed to play havoc with your ears and brain, it can be quite exhausting and is something that everyone will suffer from in various degrees. Your second problem is also common - Hearing the subtlest discrepancy in tuning, adjusting intonation accurately can be quite tricky, even for those with years of experience. EDIT: BTW there's nowt wrong with using a tuner.