SteveK

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1360343082' post='1969064'] Why on earth would anyone be embarrassed to say they like a band? What a strange old [s]world[/s] [b]country[/b] we live in. [/quote] Corrected - It seems to be an attitude fairly unique to this country. It's as if bands here have a 'Use by' date. [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1360343767' post='1969076'] I think it all depends on how you are actually going to cause embarrassment to yourself. If you are embarrassed by just by sitting in your bedroom listening to [b]The Rubettes[/b] then that's a problem but probably not as much as causing embarrassment to yourself by walking into your local pub and shouting out that you love The Nolans. [/quote]Not sure what you mean, but you should try being in the band. Absolutely not embarrassed to admit that I love The Carpenters, and Karen's voice in particular. Would you believe that I consider myself a bit of a rocker(?)

Was in Vienna a few years ago with a day off, Bon Jovi happened to be in town - got taken along to the show. Unfortunately for Jon Bon Jovi the guests on that bill were a Swiss rock band called 'Gotthard', who happen to have a very strong singer - JBJ sounded like a weak choir-boy in comparison. Had a great time... but hated Bon Jovi.

Worked with Reg many times over the years - he always told a good story. I shall 'ave a nice cuppa tea in his memory.

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1359748407' post='1959927'] Always thought it was a good place to watch a band. [b]What was the name of your group?[/b] I may have seen you there. [/quote] The pop/rock band played the Greyhound from about '73 to '77 and was called 'Factory', then about '78 we changed drummer, changed musical direction and changed name to 'Head On'. Factory were a 'nearly' band, we always seemed to be 'nearly' signing the big record deal, 'nearly' doing the big tour. Of course, it never quite happened. Great bunch of guys and great musicians. We were gigging 2 or 3 nights a week all over the UK and Europe. It invariably cost us more to do the gigs than we were paid, so always skint!.. but, I wouldn't change a thing. As I said, 'Good times'

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1359744956' post='1959853'] Absolutely. When they came down to London they played the [b]Greyhound, Fulham Palace Road[/b] (before they had a record deal) regularly and were so tight as a band. They were just so good i think we all knew we weren't going to see them in pubs for long. Fabulous band!!! [/quote]Ah... the Greyhound! Played there many times through the 70s, Mostly playing pop/rock... although, IIRC the last time I played there (about '78) we had changed direction and changed the band name - playing a kind of fusion, but probably better described as Prog. Good times.

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1359577415' post='1957010'] I agree that most is going to come from the U.S. but there certainly were a few British Fusion classics of that era. Anything by Ian Carr's Nucleus, a couple of Gary Boyle LPs for example and there was plenty of musicians playing that kind of stuff around this period. I think that it just all got lumped into the jazz scene in the U.K. whereas the U.S. had it's own Fusion scene. There may not be many LPs that could be classed as British classics but there is a lot still out there that maybe should have been classics. [/quote] There was indeed a plethora of bands playing fusion. Maybe I took your post too literally. Some of those suggested for listening here I assumed would be a little too '[i]rocky or too tricksy/prog[/i]' for you. If not, then maybe check out some of the bands/artists that were around the Canterbury scene in the 70s (2 of which I mention in my earlier post).

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1359553678' post='1956490'] If you want to listen to some great jazzy/funky bass then have a listen to This Way Upp by UPP. This album weas produced by Jeff Beck who also plays on it. The bass player - the late Stephen Amazing - chose him name well. [/quote]I think I know the drummer that used to be with UPP... Oh yeah, he's in my band He did an album that featured Jeff Beck a couple of years ago. You can find a taster [url="http://jimmycopley.com/"]here[/url]. Won't be of any interest to the OP though... unless he digs the blues.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1359548337' post='1956338'] Following on from a 1970/71 James Brown phase, I've been having a 70s jazz/fusion/funk phase for the last few months. I've picked up lots of LPs, mostly vinyl. Some of this stuff is really amazing. I particularly enjoy the stuff that keeps an element of the funk rhythm section about it, and if it has mini moogs (etc) on then its a bonus point Not really liking later 70s fusion that gets too rocky or too tricksy/prog, also when it gets too funk/disco I don't find it so interesting, and the same for stuff that goes too free and loses the rhythm. Would be interested to find out if there are any British jazz classics from this era? So here are some of my current top favourites. I'm still searching around in this jazz world so please post any recommendations or top tips: Nathan Davis - If George Duke - Faces In Reflection / Feel Miles Davis - Bitches Brew / Live Evil Eddie Henderson - Realization / Inside Out Herbie Hancock - Headhunters / Thrust / Sextant / Mwandishi / Crossings Norman Connors - Dance of Magic / Dark of Light / Slewfoot Larry Young's Fuel Lonnie Liston Smith - Visions Of A New World Johnny Hammond - Gambler's Life Harvey Mason - Marching In The Street [/quote]I'm not sure that what you're after actually exists. There were British artists such as Caravan and Soft Machine, but may well be a little too Proggy for your taste. Later in the 70s you had Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Brand X etc but they may be a little too rocky for you. Seems what you're after comes mainly from the States, as your list of artists would suggest. Not sure there are any British Jazz Classics, of the kind you want, from that era.

It's a little known fact that Jermaine is the secret love-child of 60s [i]polo-neck sweater wearer/continental organ basher/beatnik[/i] [url="http://www.computerbox.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ManfredMann1960.jpg"]Manfred Mann[/url] (second left)

I know nothing of Tim Lefebvre other than this clip - his playing technique looks like someone who's been playing for about 2 weeks: Gripping the neck like a cricket bat, thumb over the top... but hey, he's playing with Donald Fagen, and I'm not... he must be doing something right Y'know, I love Donald Fagen and Steely Dan, even with songs that I may not like as much as others, there is always something in them to admire and appreciate... for one thing, they invariably groove!

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1359113218' post='1950011'] Must admit that got me thinking as well. Funny thing is i always used to say to my guitarist "is the chord played right?". 10 years on, i still say it, and not just for that song lol. [/quote] The opening chord of A Hard days Night will never sound right with one guitar. I'm sure a link was posted on BC several months ago explaining how the chord was in fact a 12 string, a 6 string, bass guitar and piano all at once. IIRC: George's 12 string: Fadd9/G John's 6 string: Dsus4 Paul's bass: D George Martin's Piano: ???

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1359023585' post='1948511'] I'm not one of those people. I carry my gear down two flights of stairs from my flat, and back up again at the end. I load it in to the car (except the cab, because the guitarist would rather he do that). And I help carry his gear in to the venue. Definitely don't "sit with my feet up"! I always offer a cut of my gig takings, and I always offer to pay for his share of rehearsal, and I offer fuel money, and he always declines. I buy him a drink each time because that's all he'll accept. He's a great guy. Oh, and I buy him a Christmas present to say thanks at the end of the year [/quote]My post was mostly tongue-in-cheek... Although, I often wonder how the drummer in my band, who's played with the likes of Jeff Beck, Go West, Tears for Fears, Pretenders, Paul Rodgers, Paul Jackson, Magnum amongst others, got by without ever driving... guess he must be quite good

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1359015996' post='1948408'] I'm on the other end. I can't currently afford to run a car, so my guitarist picks me and my gear up for practice and gigs. I always buy him a Red Bull (his favourite) as he won't accept petrol money. I'm extremely grateful to him, as I wouldn't be able to be in a band if it weren't for him. [b]Always two sides to every story [/b] [/quote] You're absolutely correct: On one side, you have someone that saves a fortune on the cost of buying a car, the cost of running it, can sit sit with his feet up 'till his chauffeur arrives, always has another pair of hands available, can relax in the car until he arrives at his destination. On the other side, you have someone that spends a fortune on buying a car, running it, always has to leave home earlier to allow for his detour, will invariably load and unload the gear for fear of damage to his motor. I know a few musicians that have been in the business for many years that don't drive. One, being a drummer who lives in the west country, has played with many of the biggest names and is currently working in Abbey Road studios. I can't imagine the hassle that he, and others, must have had getting himself and his kit around.

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1358957169' post='1947623'] Due to various things going on I haven't touched my basses in about 2 months. Plugged one in today...and I can't play. Not a thing. No rhythm, no nothing. And what's more, I don't want to play. I've no interest in bass or bands. It's all completely gone. [/quote]There's no law that says because you have a bass and related gear that you have to play it till your dying day. Maybe playing bass is not for you. I'd give it another couple of months - if no change - flog your stuff, and look at something else to fill your spare time.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1358945580' post='1947393'] Most importantly , what does the T shirt mean ? Song Of Norway ? This man is deep! [/quote] In its original form the song had different lyrics. Mr Bowie thought it would be a bit of a wheeze to enter it, under an alias, for Norway's Eurovision. He got his people in Norway onto it. Unfortunately it fell at the first hurdle. Apparently, those that rejected it were quite scathing about the song, along the lines of [i]Norway has high standards when it comes to Eurovision, and this offering falls woefully short[/i]. Think the T-shirt is a kind of 'thumbing of the nose' to those in Norway that rejected it.

TheRev, Thanks for the Talk Talk link - I do actually have the Spirit of Eden album. I was a bit of a fan... until this album. Loved the previous two. Guess this would now be known as Pre-Post-Rock

Right! Have acquired a pair of earphones for my laptop, and from the suggestions posted, had a good listen to some of this 'ere 'Post-Rock'. I enjoyed some of it, particularly Sigur Ros. It did occur to me that I have been listening to [i]very[/i] similar stuff to Post-Rock for many years. Some of it is not too dissimilar to a few tracks from Peter Gabriel's OVO album, particularly [url="http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+tower+that+ate+people&view=detail&mid=95114154B414E204812295114154B414E2048122&first=0"]The Tower that Ate People, [/url] and maybe [url="http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=peter+gabriel+low+light&view=detail&mid=E21C46A41BCA50D80D90E21C46A41BCA50D80D90&first=0"]Low Light[/url] A lot of his Passion album would also (IMO) fit the bill. From what I've heard of Post-Rock so far, there's a certain movie soundtrack quality to much of it. Thanks for the heads up. [quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1358842790' post='1945784'] Sounds like Red-era King Crimson [/quote]Y'know, early Crimson was my first thought.

Thanks for the names and links - I'm on my laptop at the moment, with its crappy speakers - I'll check out these 'post rockers' when I get to my desktop. Cheers.

Ok, I've got to ask... what is 'Post Rock'? [i]'Slow melodic themes', 'Seemingly ambiguous chords'[/i], you've got me interested. I'm an old geezer who doesn't get out much - humour me... any youtube links?

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1358780641' post='1944838'] I've been listening to Yes 'Time & A Word' album in the car. That's a bass cutting through the mix that is... [/quote]Absolutely! Those early Yes albums were a masterclass in arrangement and production.

It's not really possible to give a definitive answer without hearing those that have the problem actually in their working environment, ie. on stage. Traditionally the bass is not meant to 'cut through the mix', at least, not in the way that I understand 'cutting through' to mean. I think many bass players forget what the role of the bass actually is. I can't imagine anything worse than the bass 'cutting through' for an entire gig. If however, there are [i]sections[/i] of a song, or maybe the [i]occasional whole[/i] song where bass needs to take a more up front role, then backing off the low end and bringing up the higher frequencies a tad would probably help. But, more importantly, the bass should be considered when arranging this type of the song. It's not going to work if the drummer is playing hell for leather, the guitarist is blasting his power chords and keys player has got some symphonic string sounds happening... in that scenario the bass player stands no chance of 'cutting through'. [b]It's all in the arranging![/b] Things may need to be backed off, instruments may need to drop out entirely, parts may need to be changed. Basically, everyone in the band needs to understand what is trying be achieved for each part of the song, and [i]knowing[/i] how to achieve this will differ from song to song. Some get it right, and unfortunately, some get it totally wrong.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1358689077' post='1943340'] But the thrill is soooooo good. It's definitely a buzz that I'm slightly addicted to. [/quote] So, my suggestion: [i]'Why not spend the money that you [i]would[/i] spend on gear on decent lessons. You may find that the problem isn't your gear afterall.'[/i] wasn't really what you wanted to hear. Okay, so you're more interested in spending money than furthering yourself as a bass player. I must admit that there is something in your posts that doesn't sit very well with me.

Don't try to pull the wool over our eyes. What you fail to mention is, to get 'your sound' you must have bought (and sold?) 15 different rigs, at least 20 basses, and tried every fx combination possible. Please don't tell me that you actually practised, or (heaven forbid)...had lessons!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1358673374' post='1942963'] I seem to go through a constant cycle of[b] feeling[/b] that something isn't quite right with my rig or gear... [/quote] So, you have gear suitable for your needs, but have the 'feeling that something isn't quite right'. My advice? don't change anything until you are [b]certain[/b] what's wrong... unless the thrill of the purchase is all that counts. Why not spend the money that you [i]would[/i] spend on gear on decent lessons. You may find that the problem isn't your gear afterall.

Up to the 70s, If your band had a Hammond organ, then that is what you tuned to - The Hammond had no tuning facility... and depending on the power supply, they could run sharper or flatter. And, as has been said, tracks were often sped up, to tighten the sound and give them a bit more 'zing'.