Eight Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 (edited) I spend a lot of time improvising to Motown tracks - great, fun songs with nicely paced chord progressions. But I feel like I'm missing some quality knowledge. I've played the basslines my way, now I should look at how the master did them. So can anyone recommend any dvds or books (notation or tab, I don't care) covering how Jamerson played his lines on these classics? Some I could maybe transcribe but I'd spend longer hunting for quality recordings where I can hear the bass properly than actually playing. Edited November 19, 2009 by Eight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 You could check out "Standing in the Shadows of Motown, the life and music of legendary bassist James Jamerson" by Dr Licks. Got mine from Amazon Wil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supabock Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Great book, if you can pick up an old one, i have the cd version if you need a copy..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 [quote name='supabock' post='659656' date='Nov 19 2009, 09:17 PM']Great book, if you can pick up an old one, i have the cd version if you need a copy.....[/quote] I'll try and buy it - I know James himself isn't going to get any of the money but I'd feel bad stealing this one without at least trying to be honest first. But I might give you a shout if I draw a blank, if that's ok? Thank you very much mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supabock Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 It was more a case of if you can get the book sometimes the audio which originally was cassette and was invariably lost or not particularly useable, you could have a copy of the audio from me. Dont feel bad about it, this is the second one i bought with cd as a student of mine lost my original copy..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 It was listed as in stock on Amazon.co.uk so I've put my order in. Looks to be belting; can't wait for it to arrive. Cheers guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdgrsr400 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Yes, an indispensable book and warmly recommended. There's also a DVD "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" which is a feature film by the same author about JJ and co, also very good. There isn't a lot of live footage of JJ, but the way the other musicians talk about him brings him very much to life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99ster Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 This is the only video I know of Jamerson - here [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s"]playing live with Marvin Gaye[/url]. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarcher Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Hair standing up syndrome. Thanks for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bikenbass Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Just ordered a copy of 'Standing In The Shadows Of Motown' from Play.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgie Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 [quote name='MSL' post='659999' date='Nov 20 2009, 11:38 AM']Just ordered a copy of 'Standing In The Shadows Of Motown' from Play.com[/quote] You won't regret it. Fantastic book, and the DVD is wicked too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonic_Groove Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 It is a great book. I am one of those who have lost the cassettes over the years. So I will probably get the new version when the misses isn't looking Brendan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdgrsr400 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 (edited) You could also get this: which is available at [url="http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/034945/details.html"]http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/034945/details.html[/url] Those transcriptions seem a little more detailed (and possibly more accurate) than those in SITSOL. Unfortunately, there is some duplication between the books but who cares. There's no CD with this book, but presumably you've got a Motown compilation with all the hits. Edited November 22, 2009 by sdgrsr400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS73 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 [quote name='99ster' post='659732' date='Nov 19 2009, 10:41 PM']This is the only video I know of Jamerson - here [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s"]playing live with Marvin Gaye[/url]. Enjoy! [/quote] OMG think i've been listening to the wrong music all these years...... Is James using the side of his thumb to dampen the strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgie Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 [quote name='sdgrsr400' post='661507' date='Nov 22 2009, 01:21 AM']You could also get this: which is available at [url="http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/034945/details.html"]http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/034945/details.html[/url] Those transcriptions seem a little more detailed (and possibly more accurate) than those in SITSOL. Unfortunately, there is some duplication between the books but who cares. There's no CD with this book, but presumably you've got a Motown compilation with all the hits.[/quote] I love how it's a Jazz on the front cover when Jamerson was using his P Bass for all of those tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 [quote name='SS73' post='661605' date='Nov 22 2009, 10:37 AM']Is James using the side of his thumb to dampen the strings?[/quote] Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 [quote name='Higgie' post='661610' date='Nov 22 2009, 10:41 AM']I love how it's a Jazz on the front cover when Jamerson was using his P Bass for all of those tracks. [/quote] Lol. You don't miss a thing. Cheers Sdgrsr, I'll check that one out as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS73 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='661733' date='Nov 22 2009, 12:58 PM']Yep.[/quote] That is amazing, I've just tried it ....and I can't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Zoidberg Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 There's some isolated Jamerson Basslines on this site for those that are interested [url="http://www.ricksuchow.com/press-group-250.html#image01"]http://www.ricksuchow.com/press-group-250.html#image01[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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