boney m basslines, who pplayed them

[iconic]

Been noodling some boney m today, some good lines, anyone know whom did the original playing?

Edited November 13, 2011 by iconic

[iconic]

there ya go told ya so! Ahh disco! Gotta love that low B at the end too

[youtube][media]http://youtu.be/w53MrSGdTzI[/media][youtube]

Edited November 14, 2011 by iconic

[duncbassgit]

I know it's sad at age 49, but I still like Boney M! Rasputin & Painterman just so damnned catchy! Wern't they all from Germany?

Edited November 14, 2011 by duncbassgit

[lowdown]

[quote name='iconic' timestamp='1321215480' post='1436648']
anyone know whom did the original playing?
[/quote]

There was a bunch of top studio players in Germany in the 70's called 'Munich Machine'
Frank Farian used these quite a lot i think - there was two or three Bassists,
and one of those Bassists, who was extremely busy studio wise at the time was 'Dieter Petereit'
But what tracks he played on, who know's - more than likely most of them.


Garry

[iconic]

Cheers for the info

[Protium]

Carol Kaye

[51m0n]

I admit to loving the best of the BoneyM stuff, the basslines were superb, but then again so was all the rest of it.

Its definitely a guilty pleasure though!

[hooham482]

Gary Unwin and Les Hurdle, mostly.

[KingPrawn]

I used to regularly play Painterman in a Disco band I was in. Stonking bass line

[Reggaebass]

Zombie thread 🧟, I’ve played a couple, great Basslines and not the easiest I’d say 

[lowdown]

I found all this stuff below ...

It looks like the Bass parts were played by English (Sheffield) Bassist Gary Unwin.

(I believe Gary Unwin was also involved in quite a few Disco projects out in Germany during the 1970's).

 

1. Take the Heat Off Me (1976)

Vocalists:

Liz Mitchell – lead & backing vocals

Marcia Barrett – backing vocals

Frank Farian – male lead vocals in studio

Instrumentalists:

Gary Unwin – bass guitar

Keith Forsey – drums

Nick Woodland – guitar

Thor Baldursson – keyboards, arrangements

Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements

Johann Daansen – arrangements

Notes: This was Boney M’s debut; the official band members (Bobby Farrell, Maizie Williams) rarely played in the studio.

 

2. Love for Sale (1977)

Vocalists:

Liz Mitchell – lead & backing

Marcia Barrett – backing

Frank Farian – male vocals

Instrumentalists / Arrangers:

Gary Unwin – bass

Keith Forsey – drums

Nick Woodland – guitar

Thor Baldursson – keyboards

Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements

Christian Kolonovits – arrangements

Notes: More orchestral elements were introduced; tracks like “Belfast” show layered studio instrumentation.

 

3. Nightflight to Venus (1978)

Vocalists:

Liz Mitchell – lead & backing

Marcia Barrett – backing

Frank Farian – male vocals

Instrumentalists:

Gary Unwin – bass

Keith Forsey – drums

Nick Woodland – guitar

Thor Baldursson – keyboards

Michael Cretu – keyboards (session on some tracks)

Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements

Christian Kolonovits – arrangements

Additional session brass & strings – European session musicians

Notes: Major hits include “Rivers of Babylon,” “Rasputin,” “Painter Man.” Studio arrangements were heavily layered.

 

4. Oceans of Fantasy (1979)

Vocalists:

Liz Mitchell – lead & backing

Marcia Barrett – backing

Frank Farian – male vocals

Instrumentalists:

Gary Unwin – bass

Keith Forsey – drums

Nick Woodland – guitar

Mats Björklund – guitar

Michael Cretu – keyboards

Thor Baldursson – keyboards

Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements

Christian Kolonovits – arrangements

Johann Daansen – arrangements

Additional session brass & woodwinds (American/European session players)

Notes: “Hooray! Hooray! It’s a Holi-Holiday,” “Gotta Go Home” — highly produced, mix of European and international session players.

5. Boonoonoonoos (1981)

Vocalists:

Liz Mitchell – lead & backing

Marcia Barrett – backing

Frank Farian – male vocals

Instrumentalists / Arrangers:

Similar lineup as previous albums, but expanded session musicians for percussion, horns, and synthesizers.

Michael Cretu – keyboards

Thor Baldursson – keyboards, arrangements

Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements

Christian Kolonovits – arrangements

Notes: More experimental disco and Caribbean influences.

6. Ten Thousand Lightyears (1984)

Vocalists:

Liz Mitchell – lead & backing

Marcia Barrett – backing

Frank Farian – male vocals

Instrumentalists / Arrangers:

Keyboard-heavy arrangements: Michael Cretu, Thor Baldursson

Bass / drums: mostly session musicians (some overlap with earlier albums)

Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements

Christian Kolonovits – arrangements

Notes: Released after Boney M’s peak; heavily synthesized disco style.

Summary Notes:

Frank Farian: Producer and male voice on almost all studio recordings.

Liz Mitchell & Marcia Barrett: Core female studio vocalists.

Bobby Farrell & Maizie Williams: Mostly live performers, limited studio participation.

Core British session musicians: Gary Unwin (bass), Keith Forsey (drums), Nick Woodland (guitar).

Keyboard/arrangements: Thor Baldursson, Michael Cretu, Stefan Klinkhammer, Christian Kolonovits, Johann Daansen.

Brass/strings/orchestral: A mix of European and some visiting American session players.