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Nik Kershaw, which bass?


leftyhook
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Throwing back to the 80's Nick Kershaw's brilliant debut album saw him playing most of ther instruments on it.
I saw him back in 1984 when he had Dennis Smith on bass who was playing a Wal.

It was NK who played bass on the album, but I am convinced the bass he used must have been a Wal by the sound of it.

Anyone know the answer to this riddle (geddit? maybe showing my age!)
[url="http://youtu.be/CVn3qg83qTw"]http://youtu.be/CVn3qg83qTw[/url]

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I must say that i became a big Nick Kershaw fan after hearing the first album.
I also seen him live with Dennis Smith playing bass.
If i remember rightly Dennis Smith was playing a Wal & a Jaydee bass live.

His songs are always very inventive & great to play from a bass players point of view.

After listening to alot of his records, i've found him to be a very clever songwriter.

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You're right. I tried jamming along to The Riddle once and boy, lots of unexpected twists and key changes. Even though some of it hasn't aged well he was an excellent songwriter, arranger and all round musician. I remember Paul Westwood guested on a track or two, and didn't Mark King play on something?

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[quote name='XB26354' timestamp='1361775907' post='1990535']
didn't Mark King play on something?
[/quote]

Yup. MK played bass on the track "Easy" from the Riddle album.

A slight change of direction maybe, but Nik sang guest vocals on this track too... (Bass played by our very own JD1) :)

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T64YKHUY1dA[/media]

Edited by Conan
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[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1361786547' post='1990632']
He'd never get a deal these days, the music is far too intelligent. It's a sad endictment of how the music industry is more about industry than music.
[/quote]Very true sadly.

He does have a very distinctive vocal style. I was listening to Genesis Revisited 2 recently on which he does some vox, not having realised when I started, but I knew straightaway. Similar to recognising Steve Morse on guitar.

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[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1361797202' post='1990916']
Oooh good, another NK album to buy! Cheers :)

To Be Frank is one of my favourite albums, period.
[/quote]8 Takes a little more time to grow for me, but I think it'll be on this afternoons playlist :)

  • Like 1
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[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1361786547' post='1990632']
He'd never get a deal these days, the music is far too intelligent. It's a sad endictment of how the music industry is more about industry than music.
[/quote]

It's amazing to think that Nik was a teen idol back in the 80s after this first record . I remember learning the bass part to Wide Boy to impress the girls at school , who were very keen on Nick at the time . Compared to teen market popstars nowadays Nik Kershaw is like Steely Dan or Weather Report - his writing skills and musical ability are in a different dimension .

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[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1361801297' post='1991046']
Nice to see so many of us agreeing on something for once.
In fact, thus far the praise has been unanimous :o
[/quote]

It won't last

There where some fantastic backing bands in the 80s behind pop acts, sadly now it's all about the singer, for pop at least.

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  • 3 years later...

Fred bump.
Just seen this on Facebook.

Looks like the 80's and Dennis Smith is using a JD. It sounds lovely.
(looks like he is a mastering engineer these days, also has him down for 'The Riddle'. Not sure how accurate this page is though.
[url="https://www.discogs.com/artist/379616-Dennis-Smith-2"]https://www.discogs....-Dennis-Smith-2[/url]
A rearranged classic.
[media]http://youtu.be/Xz5HovyJb-U[/media]

Edited by lowdown
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This is great...

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqR3gcfCG6U[/media]

And I always loved the bass part to this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbxyH8WjWw0

Edited by Conan
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[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1460453429' post='3025766']
Fred bump.
Just seen this on Facebook.

Looks like the 80's and Dennis Smith is using a JD. It sounds lovely.
(looks like he is a mastering engineer these days, also has him down for 'The Riddle'. Not sure how accurate this page is though.
[url="https://www.discogs.com/artist/379616-Dennis-Smith-2"]https://www.discogs....-Dennis-Smith-2[/url]
A rearranged classic.

[/quote]

Got to love the way they go right the way through the first bass break without one shot of him! Loads of my old school band mate Gary Wallis on percussion though!

Edited by Mykesbass
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[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1460453429' post='3025766']
Fred bump.
Just seen this on Facebook.

Looks like the 80's and Dennis Smith is using a JD. It sounds lovely.
(looks like he is a mastering engineer these days, also has him down for 'The Riddle'. Not sure how accurate this page is though.
[url="https://www.discogs.com/artist/379616-Dennis-Smith-2"]https://www.discogs....-Dennis-Smith-2[/url]
A rearranged classic.
[media]http://youtu.be/Xz5HovyJb-U[/media]
[/quote]

5:42 Drummer has a bit of a hiccup, timed perfectly with mr kershaws "come on, you can do better than that".... Priceless.

Edited by Wonky2
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