Bass_In_Yer_Face Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 I know a lot of you guys are big Motown fans out there and I've never really got into Motown I have to admit. To save me trawling through thousands of tracks, which songs are worth checking out for the bass line so I can downalod some! Quote
bassfan Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 So many tracks to choose from. But I like these ones: Stevie Wonder - For once in My Life Marvin Gaye - I Heard it Through the Grapevine (or Gladys Knight and the pips!) Rare Earth - Get Ready The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch I am sure this will be a very popular thread!! Have fun. Quote
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 James Jamerson's bass on Bernadette by the four tops Quote
jhsteel Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 Darling Dear - Jackson 5, What's Going On - Marvin Gaye, Inner City Blues - Marvin Gaye, Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight and The Pips. This could go on forever. Get the Tamla Motown Gold 3 CD set. I've seen it quite cheap a few times recently. Well worth it. Quote
acidbass Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There), another great Jamerson line Quote
chris_b Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) My favourites are: How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You - Jr Walker and the All Stars Ball Of Confusion - The Temptations War - Edwin Starr Edited March 11, 2008 by chris_b Quote
Happy Jack Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 +1 on the Motown Chartbusters series. You can find them as three box sets on Amazon, or in bargain bins as well. Get 1-3 and 4-6 but don't bother with 7-12. If you haven't bought a copy of [i]Standing in the Shadows of Motown[/i] then do it ... no really, just do it. [i]Heard It Through The Grapevine[/i] by Marvin Gaye may be better known, but the bassline on the Gladys Knight version is absolutely THE one to play. Quote
bass_in_ya_face Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 Just dowloaded the Rare Earth one and it goes on for 21 minutes!....it's one of those "Ahh i know this track" moments Quote
alexclaber Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='155318' date='Mar 11 2008, 02:35 PM'][i]Heard It Through The Grapevine[/i] by Marvin Gaye may be better known, but the bassline on the Gladys Knight version is absolutely THE one to play.[/quote] I disagree, although the Gladys Knight version is very groovy I don't think the bassline fits the song like on the Marvin Gaye version. The vibe of the bass, groove and lyrics is so much more in sync on the latter version (which was recorded first but released second). Alex Quote
jay249 Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 My favourites to date.. Tears of a clown The Night Bernadette It's a Shame Love Hangover Can't Hurry Love Baby Love What's Going On? Grapevine (MG one) Want you Back ABC (Your Love is Like a) Heatwave My Guy Quote
rbatts2000 Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 There are just too many cool Motown bass lines to come up with my absolute favourite, but the one rattling around my head after reading the suggestions above is 'For Once In My Life' by Stevie Wonder. Quote
SJA Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 Four tops- the same old song quite a good practice exercise for 1 finger per fret, as you can play the entire line between the 2nd and 5th frets across the strings. Quote
silverfoxnik Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 My personal favourites are ABC - Jackson 5 Signed, Sealed Delivered, I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder Let's Get It On & What's Going On - Marvin Gaye But as the lists above show, there are so many fabulous basslines (and great songs) on the Motown label... Quote
Snakey Lane Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 +1 on the Jamerson recommendations. And I know it's corny, but I love Jackson 5's I Want You Back. Quote
Rumblebass Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 Roadrunner , Signed, Sealed, Delivered, River Deep, Mountain High were 3 that I always looked forward to playing live, but all of them are great! Jamerson & Babbitt rule! Quote
Thunderthumbs Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 +1 for Darling Dear by the Jackson 5. As stated in the "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" book, apart from the first few opening bars, none of the bars in the rest of the song are the same. A melody all of its own. Well worth learning just for that alone. Quote
bass_ferret Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 [quote name='neilb' post='155309' date='Mar 11 2008, 02:24 PM']Rescue Me - Fontella Bass[/quote] Was on Chess - not Motown But it was intended to sound Motown. Just get What's Going On - one of the best albums ever and still relevant today. Apart from that get Standing In The Shadows (book and DVD) as everyone says. Apart from apart from that: Stevie Wonder - I Was Made To Love Her and Do Yourself a Favour Four Tops - Bernadette and Reach Out Smokey Robinson - You Really Got a Hold On Me and Who's Loving You Temptations - My Girl and Papa Was a Rolling Stone (full version if you can find it) Quote
NickThomas Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) I was made to love her Ha , bass ferret beat me to it by 3 minutes lol Papa was a rolling stone Edited March 11, 2008 by NickThomas Quote
bassninja Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 I was made to love her, How sweet it is, Signed sealed delivered and The 'What's going on' album are my personal faves, but I could name dozens more... Makes me smile just thinking about it Quote
tonybassplayer Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 Pleased to see plenty songs mentioned here that are on our set list !! Quote
richy316 Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 Anything by The Temptations, Ike and Tina Turner, Smokey Robinson. Quote
spike Posted March 11, 2008 Posted March 11, 2008 My personal favourites- Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Temptations I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide - Martha & The Vandellas and the intro to Roadrunner - Junior Walker Quote
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