Standing In The Shadows of Motown

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:27 am

I'm sure people here have seen this documentary from a few years ago. I just saw it recently. It's amazing that the Funk Brothers played on all of those Motown classics without much recognition. James Jamerson was in immense influence on the direction the bass player was going to take in modern music. I can honestly say that after watching that documentary, I have such a new appreciation for what he did for bass players. What he started, McCartney continued on to Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, and so on to where we are today.

Hats off to the Funk Brothers for laying down some of the most famous and inspiring music and grooves to mold and push future players boundaries.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:51 am

Scott, much more interesting is the book set upon which the documentary was based! It was written (I believe) with the cooperation of the Jamerson family, is loaded with photos, and contains transcriptions of some of James' better-known bass lines. My first edition came with a "learn it yourself" cassette tape. I think current versions have a CD.

The bass line from Stevie Wonder's "I was Made to Love Her" (1968) goes down in history as one of the most amazing displays of single-fingered playing I've ever heard. James' "claw" is in its best form on this one.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:57 am

Scott and Paul: Just a great documentary and now I will need to get the book after hearing Paul's comments.

I have always been interested in knowing who played what, when and where, especially when it comes to the "goings on" inside the studio. There is so much more to the recording business than most will ever know. It is too bad we have to wait for decades before we find this out.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:33 am

This film is outstanding. I thought I might share a couple of shots taken by a friend from our recent visit downtown. One from the front of the building. The other taken from the "Snake Pit" into the control room. Such a small building/musem, so much history. If you ever happen by this way this is a must do for your visit.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:11 am

To me James Jamerson was the epitome of what a bass player should be. He started on upright and I believe that is the reason he usually used one finger. That makes it all the more amazing to listen to the stuff he did. It is extremely difficult to play like him on electric because of his unorthodox style. I can play his stuff pretty well but there are a lot of subtleties I can't do correct like the way he would change from one string to another. He was a master and I would rather listen to him than listen to any of the famous bass soloists. The more I listen to him even now the more I appreciate just how good he really was.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:43 am

His style is a natural on standup, but to transfer it to a horizontal neck is quite the task, I agree. An amazing player and a nightmare to transcribe!

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:26 am

Apparantely he played sessions on an upright then double tracked them on his '61 P-bass.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 8:07 pm

His early stuff was mostly just upright, I mean 61, 62, and you can hear doubletracked bass very easily, I've never really heard anything obviously doubletracked by him, but I've never really listened for it either. Where did you read or hear that Mike?
His upright playing is not any easier than his electric playing either it's actually probably harder, he was just a monster.
Check out My Guy, Mary Wells for some funky Jamerson upright playing, especially the ending. My Cheri Amor, Stevie Wonder.

ratso · Post by **ratso** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:40 pm

BUY THE BOOK! It is the coolest book any bass player could own! Every bass player should spend the $20 on this just for the 2 CD's enclosed. It has a myriad of celebrity guests playing the Jamerson bass lines including Entwistle, McCartney, Patitucci, Lee, Bruce, Chen and many many more. The coolest part is that the bass parts are dedicated to one side of the stereo channel so you can isolate the bass!! It is the most unbelievable CD a bass player could ever own! Believe Me, you won't regret it!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:26 am

I'd rather hear Jamerson himself playing the lines, no offense intended.

sinisterick · Post by **sinisterick** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:59 pm

"It's amazing that the Funk Brothers played on all of those Motown classics without much recognition."--It's just as amazing that Carol Kaye gets NO credit at all-she played bass on many of the Motown hits--check it out on the web-sorry don't have a link at this time."The bass line from Stevie Wonder's "I was Made to Love Her" (1968) goes down in history as one of the most amazing displays of single-fingered playing I've ever heard. James' "claw" is in its best form on this one." I love that bassline too but---actually this was Carol if I recall correctly and if you go to her web site there is a recording of that very bass line (along with a few other Motown lines she layed down. . I wonder what she thought about the book and the movie?

sinisterick · Post by **sinisterick** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:02 pm

O.K. it was obvious http://www.carolkaye.com

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:41 am

That weren't no white girl playin' that.

I'm a big CK fan, but that doesn't stop me from wondering about her memory and some of the claims on her website. Many of her sessions are on film, so we can assume those claims to be truthful.

But there are some that come into question, and IWMTLH is one. Motown historians credit JJ with this one, and I'd have to agree. I note that every verse and chorus is played slightly differently, and the dotted notes sprinkled throughout in place of straight tempos are typical of JJ. He was both studied and spontaneous, and IMO this bassline shows both characteristics to great advantage.

To my ears, it is THE Motown bassline.

OK, now somebody is gonna come up with the video showing Carol playing it--from 1968...

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:00 am

The documentary is truly amazing. A must-see for everyone.

I also am a big fan of Jamerson. But let’s not forget Bob Babbitt, he no slouch.

There is a “deluxe” two-cd set that not only includes the songs from the movie, but also includes many instrumental-only “backing tracks:”

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00021LPLA/qid=1138373670/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-3586587-4879822?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

Some phenomenal stuff.

Also, Joan Osborne does a KILLER version of What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted.
And Bootsy Collins singing Cool Jerk is a treat.

sinisterick · Post by **sinisterick** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:37 am

O.K Paul that's what I get for believing everything I read. Is this still somewhat up to debate or is Carol the only one who believes she played IWMTLH? How about "Bernadette"-not too shabby a line either-was it JJ too? By the way, I was the original bass player on "I want you back". Oh, sorry! I'm not old enough yet to make such claims yet, having a failing memory. Maybe in a few years.