Motown - Recommended Listening?

[risingson]

[quote name='chris_b' post='1150061' date='Mar 4 2011, 10:31 PM']I'm playing this one tomorrow night for the first time! It's a great bass line, Nate Watts doesn't let up for a moment!

[/quote]

I absolutely love that bass line, it's one of my all time favourites.

[Beedster]

Soundtrack to Four Brothers. I've gpt all the Motown compilations and several of the key albums, but of all of them, this is the best put together

1. Dancing Machine
2. "T" Plays It Cool
3. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
4. Papa Was a Rollingstones
5. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
6. I Wish It Would Rain
7. Smiling Faces Sometimes
8. Cloud Nine
9. Cleo's Apartment
10. Take a Look Around
11. Knucklehead
12. Do It Easy
13. Trouble Man

Inner City Blues is my all time fave Motown Bass part, simple but perfect!

Some on ebay e.g., [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ORIGINAL-SOUNDTRACK-FOUR-BROTHERS-ORIGINAL-NEW-CD-/250774140020?pt=UK_CDsDVDs_CDs_CDs_GL&hash=item3a634db474#ht_2210wt_991"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ORIGINAL-SOUNDTRACK-...4#ht_2210wt_991[/url]

C

[chaypup]

Motown - recommended listening?

Yes.

[Lo.]

Here's a list of albums Jamerson played on during the golden era of Motown (to 73):

I'd recommend listening to them all.

1961
Hi We're The Miracles The Miracles
The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye
Please Mr. Postman The Marvellettes
Twistin' the World Around Twistin' Kings
Bye, Bye Baby/I Don't Want to Take a Chance Mary Wells
Cookin with The Miracles The Miracles

1962
Burnin John Lee Hooker
The Best Of John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker
Motown Special Various
Eddie Holland Eddie Holland
Tamla Special #1 Various
The Marvelettes Smash Hits of 1962 [aka The Marveletts Sing] The Marvelettes
I'll Try Something New The Miracles
Playboy The Marvelettes
The Jazz Soul Of Little Stevie Little Stevie Wonder
The One Who Really Loves You Mary Wells
Meet The Supremes The Supremes
Do You Love Me? The Contours
Tribute To Uncle Ray Little Stevie Wonder

1963
The Big Soul Of John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker
Workout Stevie Workout (unreleased) Stevie Wonder
The Supremes Sing Ballads & Blues (unreleased) The Supremes
Two Lovers and Other Great Hits Mary Wells
That Stubborn Kinda' Fella Marvin Gaye
The Marvelous Marvelettes The Marvelettes
Motor Town Revue, Volume 1 Various
The Fabulous Miracles The Miracles
Come and Get These Memories Martha & The Vandellas
Recorded Live On Stage Mary Wells
Heatwave Martha & The Vandellas
Doin' Mickey's Monkey The Miracles
A Package of 16 Big Hits Various
Christmas with the Miracles The Miracles

1964
Meet The Tempations The Temptations
Together Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits Marvin Gaye
Mary Wells Sings My Guy Mary Wells
Every Little Bit Hurts Brenda Holloway
A Collection of 16 Big Hits, Volume 2 Various Motown Artists
Where Did Our Love Go? The Supremes
(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet The Reflections

1965
Four Tops The Four Tops
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You Marvin Gaye
The Temptations Sing Smokey The Temptations
Hits of the Sixties Choker Campbell and His Orchestra
The Marvelettes' Greatest Hits The Marvelettes
Dance Party Martha & The Vandellas
We Remember Sam Cooke The Supremes
Shot Gun Jr Walker & All Stars
That Motown Sound Earl van Dyke & The Soul Brothers
More Hits By The Supremes The Supremes
The Temptin' Temptations The Temptations
Second Album The Four Tops
The Prime of My Life Billy Eckstine
Going To A Go-Go Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Nowhere To Run Martha & The Vandellas

1966
Greatest Hits The Marvelettes
I Hear a Symphony The Supremes
The Miracles' Greatest Hits from the Beginning Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Soul Session Jr Walker & All Stars
Moods Of Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye
Uptight Stevie Wonder
Greatest Hits Martha & The Vandellas
The Original Spinners The Spinners
Greatest Hits The Temptations
Gettin' Ready The Temptations
This Old Heart Of Mine The Isley Brothers
The Supremes A Go-Go The Supremes
On Top The Four Tops
Road Runner Jr Walker & All Stars
Take Two Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Darling Baby The Elgins
Down To Earth Stevie Wonder
Away We A Go-Go Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Vintage Stock Mary Wells
Here I Am Barbara McNair
Watchout! Martha & The Vandellas
I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose Marv Johnson
Get My Hands On Some Lovin' Artistics
Take Me In Your Arms (unreleased) Kim Weston
Whispers Jackie Wilson

1967
The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland The Supremes
Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten Jimmy Ruffin
The Marvellettes The Marvelettes
Reach Out The Four Tops
With A Lot O' Soul The Temptations
United Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrill
Soul Sounds Chris Clark
Hungry for Love The San Remo Golden Strings
Make It Happen Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Marvin Gaye
I Was Made to Love Her Stevie Wonder
Everybody Needs Love Gladys Knight & Pips
Soul On The Rocks The Isley Brothers
In a Mellow Mood The Temptations
Someday at Christmas Stevie Wonder
Higher & Higher Jackie Wilson
The Detroit Spinners The Detroit Spinners
(unreleased) The Contours Sing It's So Hard Being A Loser The Contours
Hurtin' And Cryin' (unreleased) Brenda Holloway

1968
Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Chuck Jackson Arrives! Chuck Jackson
Greatest Hits Stevie Wonder
Reflections The Supremes
Wish It Would Rain The Temptations
Ridin' High Martha & The Vandellas
Feelin' Bluesy Gladys Knight & Pips
Swing The San Remo Golden Strings
Your All I Need To Get By Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell
Here Comes The Judge Shorty Long
In The Groove Marvin Gaye
Sophisticated Soul The Marvelettes
Yesterdays Dreams The Four Tops
Soul Master Edwin Starr
Special Occasion Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
In Loving Memory Various artists
Diana Ross/Supremes Join The Tempations DR & S / Temptations
Eivets Rednow...Alfie Stevie Wonder
Love Child Diana Ross & Supremes
Greetings! We're The Monitors The Monitors
For Once in My Life Stevie Wonder
Silk N' Soul Gladys Knight & Pips
Soul Goes On Jerry Butler
I Get the Sweetest Feeling Jackie Wilson
The Articulate Artistics Artistics

1969
Home Cookin' Jr Walker & All Stars
Irresistible Tammi Terrell
Cloud Nine The Temptations
Ruff 'N Ready Jimmy Ruffin
Along Came Jonah Jonah Jones
The Best of the Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four
25 Miles Edwin Starr
Doin' Their Thing The Isley Brothers
M.P.G. Marvin Gaye
The Real Barbara McNair Barbara McNair
My Whole World Ended David Ruffin
Let The Sunshine In Diana Ross & The Supremes
Marvin Gaye & His Girls Marvin Gaye
Going Back To Chuck Jackson Chuck Jackson
Four Tops Now! The Four Tops
Taylor Made Soul Johnny Taylor
Time Out Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Green Grow The Lilacs The Originals
Puzzle People The Temptations
Easy Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
My Cherie Amour Stevie Wonder
Nitty Gritty Gladys Knight & Pips
Sugar N' Spice Martha & The Vandellas
Just We Two Edwin Starr & Blinky
In Full Bloom The Marvelettes
That's The Way Love Is Marvin Gaye
Together The Supremes & The Temptations
The Prime of Shorty Long Shorty Long
Feelin' Good David Ruffin
Gotta Hold on to This Feeling Jr Walker & All Stars
Four In Blue Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Soul Spin The Four Tops
Cream of the Crop Diana Ross & The Supremes
Switched On Blues Various
Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 Jackson 5
Movin' On Joe Harnell
C. C. Rides Again Chris Clark
I Heard That! Quincy Jones
Behind the Painted Smile The Isley Brothers
What Happened? Artistics
Rita Wright (unreleased) Rita Wright
Coming Again So Soon Beverly Glenn

1970
Still Waters Run Deep The Four Tops
Gladys Knight & the Pips' Greatest Hits Gladys Knight & Pips
Psychedelic Shack The Temptations
A Little Dis, A Little Dat Jonah Jones
Right On The Supremes
What Love Has….Joined Together Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Greatest Hits Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Diana Ross Diana Ross
Portrait of the Originals The Originals
Great Expectations Kiki Dee
War & Peace Edwin Starr
Signed, Sealed & Delivered Stevie Wonder
Changing Times The Four Tops
Third Album Jackson 5
The Magnificent Seven The Supremes and The Four Tops
Natural Resources Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Everything is Everything Diana Ross
A Gassssssssss Jr. Walker & The All-Stars
Teardrops Keep Falling on My Heart Chuck Jackson
Super Hits Marvin Gaye
A Pocket Full of Miracles Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
The Earl of Funk Earl Van Dyke
The Return of the Marvelettes The Marvelettes
Second Time Round The Spinners
New Ways But Love Stays The Supremes
Strung Out Gordon Staples and the String Thing
I Am My Brother's Keeper Jimmy & David Ruffin
Naturally Together The Originals
Stop The World … We Wanna Get On Hearts Of Stone
Christmas Card The Temptations
Groove Governor Jimmy Ruffin
Forever Jimmy Ruffin
ABC Jackson 5
Express Yourself Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Indiana Wants Me R. Dean Taylor

1971
Where I'm Coming From Stevie Wonder
Sky's the Limit The Temptations
All By Myself Eddie Kendricks
Exposed Valerie Simpson
What's Going On Marvin Gaye
Touch The Supremes
The Return of the Magnificent Seven The Supremes and The Four Tops
If I Were You're Woman Gladys Knight & Pips
Involved Edwin Starr
The Undisputed Truth The Undisputed Truth
Rainbow Funk Jr. Walker & The All-Stars
One Dozen Roses Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Stevie Wonder
Dynamite Supremes & Four Tops
Moody Jr. Jr. Walker & The All-Stars
Standing Ovation Gladys Knight & Pips
Rock Gospel, The Key To The Kingdom Various
Heart of the Matter King Floyd

1972
Nature Planned It The Four Tops
Face To Face With The Truth Undisputed Truth
All Directions The Temptations
Together: The Eastbound Jazz Years Various Artists
Floy Joy The Supremes
Def-I-Ni-Tions The Originals
Black Magic Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Tamla Motown Presents The Isley Brothers
Thelma Houston Thelma Houston
D&B Together Delaney & Bonnie and Friends
Beautiful Day Jackie Wilson
Spice of Life Jerry Butler
Flying High Together Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Trouble Man Marvin Gaye
Solid Rock The Temptations
Jesus Christ Greatest Hits The God Squad

1973
Last Time I Saw Him Diana Ross
All I Need Is Time Gladys Knight & The Pips
You've Got It Bad, Girl Quincy Jones
Let's Get It On Marvin Gaye
Eddie Kendricks Eddie Kendricks
Neither One Of Us Gladys Knight & Pips
The Power Of Love Jerry Butler
Renaissance The Miracles
Diana and Marvin Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye
1990 The Temptations
The Real Thing Houston Person
Boogie Down Eddie Kendricks
Look Out Artistics
The Best of The Spinners The Spinners
David Ruffin David Ruffin

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='chris_b' post='1150163' date='Mar 5 2011, 12:24 AM']Ed Friedland says the Jamerson had the bass up full and the treble up half way?

On a Precision??[/quote]
More likely on an Ampeg B-15 or, IIRC, on the valve preamp that was used in the studio.

[scalpy]

During their collaboration with Phil Collins on his recent album, the Funk Brothers involved mentioned that the Motown engineers used to take a feed from the headphone amp, which they'd typically crank to get the required level. This would obviously affect the sound, although how much this affected (effected?) James I don't know.

On the Stax recordings of the same era, they got the whole job done with 8 channels. 7 mics and one reverb. I think this goes a long way to explaining the immediacy of those recordings and why you had to have soul to be involved!

[skankdelvar]

IMO, to [i]really [/i]get the Motown sound, one should think happy thoughts while playing. The technique is one thing - the attitude and bounce is another.

Edited March 5, 2011 by skankdelvar

[The Bass Doc]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1150581' date='Mar 5 2011, 02:10 PM']IMO, to [i]really [/i]get the Motown sound, one should think happy thoughts while playing. The technique is one thing - the attitude and bounce is another.[/quote]

I try to get close to the Motown sound so, in the light of the above, I shall think about the birth of my son , my present attitude towards him , and take along a trampoline .

I am Morethan Semen...thank you for listening.

[skankdelvar]

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='1150610' date='Mar 5 2011, 03:04 PM']I try to get close to the Motown sound so, in the light of the above, I shall think about the birth of my son , my present attitude towards him , and take along a trampoline . I am Morethan Semen...thank you for listening.[/quote]

[Eight]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1150581' date='Mar 5 2011, 02:10 PM']IMO, to [i]really [/i]get the Motown sound, one should think happy thoughts while playing. The technique is one thing - the attitude and bounce is another.[/quote]
Damn. That's some Peter Pan sh*t right there - no wonder my Motown lines sound crap, I have no happy thoughts or pixie dust to help me fly.

Bah.

[bassbluestew]

The Standing in the Shadows of Motown DVD is also well worth a look.......watching Babbit play is a treat and watching him cry as his fellow Funk Brothers say they would have taken a bullet for him during the riots in Detroit is extremely moving.

s

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='bassbluestew' post='1151860' date='Mar 6 2011, 08:44 PM']The Standing in the Shadows of Motown DVD is also well worth a look.......watching Babbit play is a treat and watching him cry as his fellow Funk Brothers say they would have taken a bullet for him during the riots in Detroit is extremely moving.

s[/quote]

+ 1. Love this DVD.

Michael, If you dont have it yet drop me a PM and you can borrow my copy. Well worth seeing.