Old Man Riva

This is going to sound ridiculous (because it is a ridiculous thing to say!) but, for me, that LOOKS like it’s going to sound great! Those white DiMarzio p/ups were quite the thing back in the day…

No, this is not the latest hip and groovy release by Ghost Funk Orchestra or some such, but Affinity from 1970 and features Mo Foster on bass and brass composed by JPJ. Get down with these very British groovy cats… P.S. I also found a lovely early 70s clip taken from an Annie Nightingale show featuring the band on the road. “And you try and tell the young people of today…”

Lovely, that. I had a 1970 Precision that had a lovely shallow neck (a B width nut, but slimmer front to back). One of the few basses I properly regret moving on…

Crikey, yeah, forgot about Wolfie Van Halen. His playing was ridiculous!

There’s one in The Gallery at the moment… (just in case!)

Ah, okay! Wished I’d managed to stay up and watch it now! It’s only since his departure that I’ve come to realise/appreciate what a phenomenal player and musician he was. He also seemed to live and breathe music, across many genres. What a bloody shame…

There was a 6hr version available on YouTube last night that looked like it included the whole event feed including stage changeovers (I got about half-way through before having to turn in at about 2am!) which, when I tried to view this morning said was ‘private’? Although not really a FF fan the overall event was something I was definitely interested in checking out, and from what I saw there was plenty to be blown away by - loved Shane Hawkins drumming and Violet Grohl doing the Jeff Buckley tracks and Valerie. And I also thought The Pretenders we’re just superb (and Supergrass, and Stewart Copeland!). Looked like a fitting tribute to a wonderful person and musician…

That’s been my experience too. Bowie’s Young Americans album is nearly flawless for me, but I’ve never been able to fully embrace his version of Across The Universe so can’t genuinely say it’s one that I can listen to in its entirety…

… thought of another (plus three!) The Pretenders’ debut album Massive Attack - Blue Lines Prince - Sign O’ The Times Ian Dury - New Boots And Panties!!

Talking Heads - Remain in Light Aladdin Sane - Bowie

Bluesman Vintage Deville (with ebony board and Lollar Thunderbird p/ups)...

Digging this at the minute…

The late Paul Ryder on bass. A very groovy fella…

Feels like a ZZ Top day. Feels like a Tres Hombres day. Two songs where, for me, you can’t have one without the other (and where, to this day, Dusty’s bass always sounds out of tune at the beginning of Waiting For The Bus - it’s not, but over the years I’ve convinced myself it is?!)…

Not a problem, glad to be of help, sir!

According to very helpful TfL staff at Loughton ticket office the central line is running tomorrow…

Don’t think the tubes are tomorrow, but I’ve got to nip down to the station in a bit so will ask…

We live in Loughton which is circa 20mins on the central line to Stratford station. The road we’re on (approx 5-10 mins walk to the station) is permit only but if you message me your reg I can sort a virtual permit for the day, if that helps?

On a vintage theme, I watched this the other day and thought that some of the Basschat gang might like it so thought I’d share. Tom Bukovac is a hugely talented Nashville-based session guitarist who also hosts one of my favourite YouTube channels, Homeskoolin’ (another consequence channel/project of the pandemic/lockdown). Here he’s on the other side of the camera at George Gruhn’s place. Not a lot (well, nothing, really!) on basses, but plenty of conversation around the world of vintage…

Inspired by Barking Spiders above I’ve been re-listening to Dare-era Human League. This was originally the B-side to Love Action. It used to get played in clubs at the time and sounded great up loud - meaty, beaty, big and bouncy!

This is worth a watch. Even if you’re not a fan of the particular tracks the insight from the musicians is really interesting (at least I thought it was!)…

Like many Basschatters I’m a big fan of Rick Beato, and like many Basschatters, I’m sure, a big fan of Bernard Purdie. This is a wonderful watch. They both appear to get a massive kick out of the whole experience, and Rick is grinning like a big kid when Bernard is grooving away. It’s a lengthy watch (and some of the things have been covered elsewhere before, like in the Aja documentary) but it’s fascinating to hear more on Bernard Purdie’s history and also (if you’re that way inclined) discussion around some of the more technical areas - technique and recording etc. Enjoy!

Great track, isn’t it!? I’ve become a bit of a fan in recent years - other than his vocal on Willie the Pimp I’d not really had much exposure to him previously.

Down in The Tube Station… “smiling beguiling” or “smiling big Eileen”?!

Thanks for posting. Hadn’t heard these. Really like the first track. It reminds me of this… (which is a good thing!)