casapete

Exactly this. My duo play a couple of times a year at the home my dad spent his last years in, and the requests are nearly always from the 50’s and 60’s. They like an old time singalong as well, but rock and pop wins the day.

I have transport, some PA, and sing backing vocals! This seems to be a rarity with bass players around here, and I think sometimes gets me dep gigs over better players than myself. Always hard to find a dep good enough to do the job but just not too well isn’t it?!! We had some unbelievably good deps over the years, and the band always seemed to raise their collective game accordingly.

The band never let me forget it of course so just made it worse. Got my own back when the trumpet player was on holiday though. He used a dep who was really good, so I told him a lot of his parts had sounded so much better when played an octave higher. 😅

‘You can call me Al’ by Paul Simon. Played this for years and never did it justice, especially the bass break. Worst bit was, I had to play guitar with the band on one gig when our usual guitarist was ill, and the (superb) bass dep absolutely nailed it. ( I had him try and show me how afterwards, but never got it down properly). 🥴

Agreed - Los Lobos were featured in the 1987 film 'La Bamba' which was a biopic based on Ritchie Valence.

Love this version of La Bamba. Los Lobos are a great band from east LA, and they apparently got a bit fed up of everyone thinking this song defined them. Formed in 1973 and still with the same 4 original members, they've made some great albums in both Spanish and English. I've seen them twice, and they did a great acoustic section of traditional Mexican material ( like La Bamba is of course).

I always like the drum break on this classic - just as it fades around 4m16s the drums bring it back in with a vengeance!

Cliff Burton, apparently with some band called Metallica ? Also Roberta Flack.

Don't know how I forgot Trevor Bolder, a local lad who everyone round here was so proud of (along with Mick Ronson too of course).

Pretty much the same here really. Add Willie Dixon, McCartney, Andy Fraser and that's probably it for me.

They could really socket to them too....

Nothing against The Kemps, but that recent 'swing' album was pretty grim. Their version of 'The way you look tonight' was one of the low points, with both singers choosing to completely ignore the melody (am guessing they couldn't manage it with their range?) and make up their own. They're not alone in doing this, but I honestly don't see why - just do something you CAN do justice too. Here's Frank doing it properly -

Sending positive thoughts Blue, and hope you return stronger than ever. All the very best mate, Pete.

I feel your pain. When I had mine I only had to wheel it from my van across a gravelled area which was nigh on impossible, but it’s amazing what you can manage when you need to. I haven’t sadly used one for a while now. We did a gig at Butlins in Bognor Regis a couple of years ago, and only after we’d done a lengthy soundcheck ( using my regular GK rig) did one of the crew tell me that I could have used the SVT rig lurking behind a curtain at the back of the large stage. To say I was gutted was an understatement, but no doubt using it would have started me wanting one yet again, which at 63 ain’t gonna happen!

Absolutely Stew. Have always regretted selling mine, never had anything else that did what it could do. If you can get it to gigs then it’s a keeper.

Well the open air gig has been put back to early August. Despite being outside (but under cover), social distancing has meant it isn’t viable unless we have a near sell out crowd. Ticket sales had slowed as people understandably don’t have confidence with how it’s going to unfold yet. Given the way things seem to be going right now I really don’t want to predict what will happen. We’ve lost all of our theatre gigs that were going to be starting mid/late July, although some are going to be re-arranged (again!). As to my pub gig on June 29th, it’s not looking great either. Will probably be moved on to late July , if allowed.

Hey, that’s a classic! One of the tunes that prevented ‘Vienna’ from getting to number one by Ultravox. 😆

“It’s got a good weight to it”. I reckon they usually mean it weighs the same as a small planet, but to me it actually means entirely the opposite.

I'm not sure about 'sing' to be honest - here's him and his better half crucifying a classic.......

Hope it goes well for you Nik. Am so jealous you’re near one of my favourite shops in the UK, Coda Music in Stevenage old town. Nice shops and restaurants around there too, enjoy.

Deep Purple stuff on Sky Arts tonight - at 8pm Classic Albums features ‘Machine Head’ Then straight after at 9pm there is ‘Come Hell or High Water’, filmed on tour in1993.

Crazy. However, lot of younger people will know the song from it’s re-release. Following it’s use in the film of the same name, it then reached number 2 in the UK charts in 1992. I just wish I had a fiver for every time I’ve played it! Often at weddings it’s the song for father of the bride to dance to with his daughter. One of those songs that actually I never tire of hearing or playing, the genius of writer Smokey Robinson at his best.

Don't think anyone has mentioned this one yet - a great song and bassline (with plenty of space! )

Wish I’d had it off you then Pete! I’ve had a couple of them and played a few more and have always been surprised that despite the smaller body dimensions compared to a Ray, they’ve never seemed much or any lighter. Would happily settle for a Ray or a Sterling if I could find one 8lbs ish. My search continues....

You maybe know this already Dave, but the MM Sterling (US model) has a slimmer neck than the Stingray, and are a great bass. If I could only find a featherweight one it would be my go to instrument.