Why covers bands play Mustang Sally...

[Gasman]

I stumbled across this short oh-so-true sock-puppet video that explains the above - well worth a look!

 

 

[MacDaddy]

... because if you are short of material, you can easily make it last 20 minutes with a sing-a-long.

[Downunderwonder]

Mustang can be played with any guitar strum. Handy as most singtardists can't be bothered copping the famous versions. Leaves bass having to improvise a a new riff also. Quite fun if you are into that sort of thing.

[bassbiscuits]

And because drunk people sing and dance to it. 

[Count Bassy]

Because it's a good song that the audiences love. It is still popular after 50 yesrs so can't be all bad.

 

Proof that being a perennial favourite does not mean that a song is bad (Contrary to what some here would have you believe)

[drTStingray]

  On 07/10/2024 at 11:12, bassbiscuits said:

And because drunk people sing and dance to it. 

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This - all night long!! A crowd pleaser.

 

Slight query following one of the earlier posts - this is a soul song with specific bass part - the guitar part gets nowhere near the bass part……. or at least it shouldn’t if the guitarist has bothered to learn the song properly….. 

[chris_b]

  On 07/10/2024 at 11:12, bassbiscuits said:

And because drunk people sing and dance to it. 

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This. . . . no one ever got fired for playing MS, even the 20 min version, but because they think it's a throw-away number most bands don't bother to play it properly. It's usually played too fast and I've never heard a guitarist play the guitar line. Which is a shame because it's a great soul number.

[Downunderwonder]

  On 07/10/2024 at 23:23, drTStingray said:

the guitar part gets nowhere near the bass part……. or at least it shouldn’t if the

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Yes. But when they play it any old how it runs into the traditional bass part not in a good way. The challenge is to play a bass riff that invokes the original with almost no notes in their original positions.

[Supernaut]

...because people on the hooch gave up their musical tastes a LONG time ago. 

[Maude]

In thirty years of gigging I have never played Mustang Sally. I may not be rich and famous but this has to be an achievement. 

[Count Bassy]

  On 08/10/2024 at 17:15, Maude said:

In thirty years of gigging I have never played Mustang Sally. I may not be rich and famous but this has to be an achievement. 

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One could say "Don't knock it till you've tried it".

Of course I wouldn't say it, because I am far too nice.

Edited October 8, 2024 by Count Bassy

[diskwave]

  On 08/10/2024 at 17:15, Maude said:

In thirty years of gigging I have never played Mustang Sally. I may not be rich and famous but this has to be an achievement. 

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Here too. Im pretty sure in 45 years Ive never played it either. Maybe I did but I cant rmember how it goes yet I can play any number of soul, funk, and jazz numbers without a thght. 

[ezbass]

Bands play Mustang Sally because it was in The Commitments. They play Sweet Home Alabama because that was in a film too. Alright Now was in a chewing gum ad. Films and TV have been responsible for many cover band staples. I think the reason these covers mostly suck is down to a, “That’ll do,” attitude.

[jonnybass]

I've played Mustang Sally many times, in many bands, when its played IME people in the crowd dance sing and enjoy it.  Cant recall playing it and having an empty dancefloor.   

 

 

Jonny

 

[Lozz196]

  On 09/10/2024 at 10:20, ezbass said:

Bands play Mustang Sally because it was in The Commitments. 

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That was the first time I heard it, thought it was a great song (had the soundtrack on cassette back in the 90s).

[chris_b]

It was a regular in band sets from the 60's onwards. We played it all the time in my school band.

 

Audiences loved it from the day Wilson Pickett's single was released.

Edited October 9, 2024 by chris_b

[knirirr]

  On 08/10/2024 at 17:15, Maude said:

In thirty years of gigging I have never played Mustang Sally. I may not be rich and famous but this has to be an achievement. 

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I have only played it once, at a jazz jam. I didn't recognise it at first and realisation dawned when the chap sitting in on keys started singing "ride, Sally, ride".

[Dan Dare]

  On 09/10/2024 at 10:36, jonnybass said:

I've played Mustang Sally many times, in many bands, when its played IME people in the crowd dance sing and enjoy it.  Cant recall playing it and having an empty dancefloor.   

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Same. If it makes people happy and gets us booked back, it's only 5 minutes out of my life. I've got little time for those who turn up their noses at popular numbers. Aren't we supposed to be entertainers?

[Gasman]

It's a good job I like the number and enjoy playing a slightly funky bass line to it - my band is named... Mustang Sally!

 

We kick off every gig with "Hi folks, great to be back here in the [insert name] Club, we're Mustang Sally, let's start the party with our theme tune!" 

 

Cheesy, yes, but we're guaranteed some dance floor action right from the get-go.

Edited October 9, 2024 by Gasman
Further elucidation

[Leonard Smalls]

  On 09/10/2024 at 19:54, Dan Dare said:

Aren't we supposed to be entertainers?

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See the Charles Berthoud thread!

Though all that shows is that one person's supreme entertainment is another's hell on earth....

[SH73]

I can't remember ever hearing the song , unless it was in a movie?

[bertbass]

But, how many who have played it, played it correctly?

 

 

[TimR]

Judging by the replies so far, I think I'm the only person to watch the video.

 

I think I've been in that band.

 

Several times. 🤣🙈

 

In Bb...

Edited October 10, 2024 by TimR

[MacDaddy]

  On 09/10/2024 at 19:54, Dan Dare said:

 

Same. If it makes people happy and gets us booked back, it's only 5 minutes out of my life. I've got little time for those who turn up their noses at popular numbers. Aren't we supposed to be entertainers?

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5 minutes‽ Whenever I've played it, it's never lasted less than 10 minutes! 😆

[super al]

  On 10/10/2024 at 22:59, TimR said:

Judging by the replies so far, I think I'm the only person to watch the video.

 

I think I've been in that band.

 

Several times. 🤣🙈

 

In Bb...

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Video was too long, I admire your attention span 😂

 

I got as far as Cheap Sunglasses 😁

 

Did MS in a soul band as an encore...we never seemed to rehearse it 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

I think I went between several different versions of the bassline, sometimes mid song 😂

Loved it/hated it but if the crowd wanted more MS delivered it