theplumber Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) [attachment=126407:martingordoninte_i000011.jpg]Recently I have been listening to Sparks,Kimono My House. It was one of the first albums I bought and really has some perfect bass playing,by Martin Gordon...This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us was the hit single,but every song is a stand out! It seems that the producer,Muff Winwood managed to capture the sound of the Rickenbacker perfectly! In fact I would go as far as to say,that album got me in to playing bass! I also followed Martin's other bands,Jet and Radio Stars! It seems since then he has been very busy with a series of solo albums,featuring some very catchy clever pop tunes and also producing other acts. Have a look at his website! He is currently releasing another solo album,using crowdfunding,which seems to be the way forward these days as the old style record company way of selling music falls away....worth checking out! Any other fans of Martins music and bass playing on the Sparks album out there..... Edited January 31, 2013 by theplumber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pst62 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I saw The Radio Stars at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, back in the day. Martin was playing a Natural finish Precision, he also had a Black Ric which he never used. Good pop band, Though they, like many other bands jumped on the punk bandwagon. I still have Songs For Swinging Lovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplumber Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Radio Stars were a really great live act....I say them back in the day at the Glasgow Apollo. Martin did seem to have a stand out bass playing style,check out the Kimono My House album by Sparks. Just recently got in to his solo stuff and its pretty bloody good! Have a look for his web page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybassplayer Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 That's a blast from the past. I used to love sparks and saw them once in the seventies. Got a couple of albums in the loft too. Kimono my house and what's the other with r and r tied up in a speedboat ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplumber Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Propaganda!....also a very good album!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybassplayer Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Yes that's the one. Just remembered that I caught the bassists plectrum when he threw it at the end of the gig and half of Russell Mael's white silk scarf lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gordon Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I wish I DID have a black Rick, but no - only a red one and a blonde one. Next life, perhaps. And I certainly did not throw plectrums around willy nilly, given the wages at the time... Since we are on the topic: [url="http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/includemeout"]http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/includemeout[/url] And now I'm off to be obscure again. [url="http://www.martingordon.de"]Martin Gordon[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Wouldn't worry about the obscure thing too much Martin, we discussed this on a thread recently and reckoned that 99% of the general public would probably only recognise McCartney, Lemmy and Sting from the bass playing community Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I had the pleasure of supporting Jet at the start of their first tour '74 or '75 IIRC. Good band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pst62 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 [quote name='Martin Gordon' timestamp='1359721832' post='1959308'] I wish I DID have a black Rick, but no - only a red one and a blonde one. Next life, perhaps. And I certainly did not throw plectrums around willy nilly, given the wages at the time... Since we are on the topic: [url="http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/includemeout"]http://www.pledgemus...ts/includemeout[/url] And now I'm off to be obscure again. [url="http://www.martingordon.de"]Martin Gordon[/url] [/quote] Red? It look Black to me! Oh well can't argue with the bloke who owned it, and that's me colourblindess definitely confirmed then lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gordon Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 [quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1359726754' post='1959443'] I had the pleasure of supporting Jet at the start of their first tour '74 or '75 IIRC. Good band. [/quote] Really? So the whole thing wasn't a figment of my imagination? 1975, I think - but where? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybassplayer Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Pretty sure it was the sparks bassists plectrum but could have been the bassist in cockney rebel lol it was a long time ago ( in a galaxy far far away....well Leeds actually ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Martin Gordon' timestamp='1359736667' post='1959652'] Really? So the whole thing wasn't a figment of my imagination? 1975, I think - but where? [/quote] Queen's Hall Dunoon, West of Scotland. You played there, we supported, my band was called Hands Off,Your next gig was at Glasgow Uni and my you got my band in for free. Cheers for that. Edited February 2, 2013 by Bassman Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplumber Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 Good to see a blast from the past,well my musical one at least,Martin Gordon on here. As I said before,when I was starting out playing,I heard Sparks and Kimono My House. The bass player stood out a mile (maybe my record player was faulty!) Anyway,I found out when Radio Stars came on the scene,it was the same guy on the bass!! Recently I have bought some of Martins solo stuff off the net and was surprised at how well crafted and catchy a lot of the stuff was...(showing my age..does anyone use the phrase catchy anymore!!) Have a listen or have a look in at his web page....he must have learned something from those old Mael sisters...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gordon Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 [quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1359763130' post='1960188'] Queen's Hall Dunoon, West of Scotland. You played there, we supported, my band was called Hands Off,Your next gig was at Glasgow Uni and my you got my band in for free. Cheers for that. [/quote] Hah, I remember Dunoon - it was part of our Hunter-Ronson warm-up tour. According to popular legend, the Glasgow Uni had an audience of two, so don't let the truth slip out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybassplayer Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Saw the hunter ronson gig at Leeds so guess I must have seen you in Jet as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Love sparks. Kimono/ Propaganda , 2 of the best albums ever. I remember seeing sparks a few times in the 2000's at the Astoria. A bass player was with them part of the set. Could it have been him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviedee Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Great band, great bass player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplumber Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 I believe Martin did one tour with them,not too sure....He was out of the band after the first album,which was a shame,but I still remember playing that album over and over as a kid on my wee record player..plus my dad's reaction to Ron Mael!! What the ffffff!!!!!! It's bloody Hitler on piano!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gordon Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 [quote name='theplumber' timestamp='1359842700' post='1961172'] I believe Martin did one tour with them,not too sure....He was out of the band after the first album,which was a shame,but I still remember playing that album over and over as a kid on my wee record player..plus my dad's reaction to Ron Mael!! What the ffffff!!!!!! It's bloody Hitler on piano!! [/quote] Nope, not even one tour. So anyone gaily flinging picks around was my replacement. Saved myself a fortune, probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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