James Jamerson - The King of Motown Bass
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2020
- This time we're covering the Motown great James Jamerson. His incredible and inventive playing left an imprint on bass playing for decades to come.
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What's your favorite Jamerson bassline? Too many to cover in one video!
Hey man I love your videos, always feel like I learn something new to add to my own playing. My favorite Jamerson bassline is probably "what's happening brother?" from Marving gaye's whats going on album. Its so funky and its challenging, but probably not as tough as 'I was made to love her" or "for once in my life". The whole album has amazing bass parts
"For Once in My Life" - they talk about walking bass lines, that's a dancing bass line! Every note and space is important.
@@Stevieboy130664 for once in my life is awsome. I've tried to learn it and gave up multiple times
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
It's a shame - Spinners
Leo Fender invented the electric bass, but James Jameson taught the world how to play it!
Actually, Paul Tutmark invented the electric bass.
Leo Fender didn't 'invent' the electric bass
Been playing bass 30 years and never played a Tutmark! So, I’ll stay ignorant, FENDER invented the electric bass that I play!
@@balamont1150 Yes, it would be a nice story but hey, don't get me wrong..Leo is the man no doubt..(I play a Fender Jazz) but to say he invented the electric bass is wrong as you have rightly pointed out Tutmarc is the dude.
To say Leo invented it is kind of like saying Ford invented the motor car.
Karl Benz invented the motor car (like Tutmarc) but Ford made it become as what we know today with hte Model T..(affordable mainly!! :-) )...like what Leo did with the 1st Precision Bass.
If it wasn't for Leo, the electric bass would probably be confined to some museum.
Just sayin'..... :-)
Yes indeed!!!
Marvin Gaye called James Jamerson the "secret weapon" of Motown. He went on to say that the Jamerson "busy bass" sound was a key ingredient to the success of Motown. If that don't make you one of the baddest cats walking the earth I don't know what does.
It is true . THE key ingredient .
Absolutely true
THE BADDEST!
@@roberttaylor6694 Fun fact: Transistor radios were wildly popular in the 60's and the 70's. Label owner Berry Gordy made sure that Motown records were mixed to sound good on these radios.
@@Breakbeats92.5 had a 2 transistor couldn't tell me nuttin!
Mr Jameson needs to have a biopic made about him.
@jackrkilby He did... Standing In The Shadows of Motown
@@richieprimoretro that was a documentary, not a biopic.
I think there should be another documentary about him, so we can learn more about HIM and not just watch somebody impersonate him.
@@monilaninetynine3811 I hate to be that guy, but if we do make another documentary about the man let's be sure and spell his name right: James Jamerson.
@@richieprimoretro The book focused solely on Jamerson where the biopic focused on the Funk Brothers.
Jamerson found himself in the end (he felt) forgotten at a Huge Hollywood Reunion he was able to score a 2nd level Balcony Seat and attend by himself as he watched from afar the Stars of who'd forgotten him he wasn't invited to the Event. Musicians never forgot his genius. May he RIP . Bless him.
Peace
I seen the documentary....
@@ericfrazier9612 Can you tell me the title of that documentary? Thank you in advance.
Lets not lose sight of the fact , James Jamerson should have got credit for every song and should have got royalties for every damn song he helped turn into..... masterpieces , Gordy .
No he shouldn't have. Not a penny.
@@brandonmalone1893 I guess you have a reason for that ridiculous statement swimming around in your head. If another little goldfish hasn't swallowed it, maybe you'd like to share it with us ear-having people.
I was joking
He was in an era of studio musicians who were paid per session and sent on their way. Hardly any were ever credited. This was the case for Motown as well as the LA “Wrecking Crew.” It’s just the way things were for everyone.
Although BG was a visionary and talented himself as a composer, the fact remains: Jamerson and the other Funk Brothers created millions of dollars worth of music yet were paid scale. I suspect the same thing went on with the Wrecking Crew, Chess Records, Muscle Shoals, Sun Studio and many others. The Funk Brothers incorporated jazz elements into the music. These were not ordinary pop songs. All this smacks of exploitation which is the music industry's dirty, not so little, "secret."
The bassline from "I was made to love her" by James Jamerson is simply amazing and you nailed it!! Congrats!
My 2 favorite Jamerson bass lines are on "You're All I Need" and "I Was Made to Love Her". I was lucky enough that Motown's peak were my teen and high school years. Every 2 weeks they released a mega hit. God bless Berry Gordy and his unmatched productivity in the music industry. James Jamerson has achieved immortality !!! 😀👍
Mine is " Bernadette"!!!!
James Jamerson is the father of Modern day bass players!! Before him the records had 3rd, root and 5th patterns on record. Jamerson brought in 8th, 16th and 32nd note patterns on record. Incredible bassist, genuis for what he did on bass.
I heard somewhere that the “What’s Goin’ On” bassline was recorded in 1 take, but I can’t confirm that. Still, for as drunk as he was rumored to be, lying on his back playing with 1 finger, that is simply an untouchable bassline. Every bassist that came after him owes him a huge debt. He was truly was a game changer.
he was not drunk in the studio EVER, he WAS however high, he smoked weed, watch Tim Pierce's interview with Ray Parker Jr. and you will find out about Jamerson.
I don't know about that. Have you listened to the live version of what's going on? That dude was crazy; it seems like he was bored of playing the same thing. He is always creating new variations of what he is playing. Amazing!
I was inspired to play bass after What's Going On. And I actually met him about '75 at a session I was doing in Hollywood. James' sound was the reason he didn't do well after moving to LA. More available tracks isolated his sound, which was slightly out of tune, and the dead strings did not do well on 16 track machines.
As stated below, they were recording and someone said "we need Jamerson" so they went out and found him in bar, drunk, took him back to the studio. He lied on his back coz he was too drunk , put it down in 1 take....and the rest as they say, is history.
Weed or no weed, he drank......a lot.
Every morning he would buy a bottle of Metaxa Greek brandy (my favourite to!!!! :-) ) on the way to the studio.
Yes, he should have been credited with so much more.
The writers/label managers used to go down to the snake pit where the FunkBrothers were hangin', throw them a very basic chart..usually just lyrics and some chords...sometimes just lyrics!!!
And say "we need it completed by tomorrow morning"...there would be silence and then everyone would look at Jamerson and say "what are we going to do?" then he would take it over and deliver...and boy did he deliver!!!
Imagine if he did that nowadays......he and the rest of his entire, extended family would be millionaires just on the royalties alone.
@@toemanification actually you are wrong there was a funeral home next door to the studio. It was a place where Jamerson, Benny Benjamin and a other guys would go and drink in between sessions. Jamerson drank a lot when he was working amongst other substances....didn’t seem to affect his playing until he moved to LA then it started to become a problem
The Jackson 5 Darling dear is one of his best bass lines. That’s pure talent to come up with all those hit tones on the bass.. RIP James Jameson .
I'm from middle England - UK that is - born 1955. I heard all of the Motown hits of the 60's - yes we did even over here!. I didn't realise at the time how incredibly important the bass were lines in these songs. As an at best average bass player myself, I'm pretty sure that back in the day, these songs subconsciously steered me towards the instrument. It's a crying shame that Jameson wasn't able to fully capitalise on his immense contribution to contemporary bass playing. A huge artistic influence with accolades from his peers, but probably not the financial rewards he should have received for himself and his family. Life is sometimes very unfair!
Jamerson was #1, but don't forget Bob Babbitt who traded off with Jamerson and played on many Motown hits also.
Inner city by Marvin Gaye
Is my best bass line of Babbitt
@@dedasalmeida9047 Before now, I had never "really listened" to that tune. You are correct for certain!
Amen to that. I was fortunate to meet Bob years ago. (I’m 71). What a humble guy. RIP you inspired me greatly. Still think of him when I play my fender precision.
Trye but Jamerson was built different, Totally different
I picked up the bass because I heard Jamerson play. 40 years later and I'm still playing motown tunes. Thanks for the inspiration James.
Man..That Jackson 5 "Darling Dear" Baseline he played is unreal as he plays his fill ins. Man Today he would have gotten his credits as producer arranger...He deserved So much more...He was writing some of this music to no credits..
Again.."Darling Dear" by J5 is so Awesome!!! Guy was a genius...
Bruh, that’s THE Bassline as far as I’m concerned! Leo Fender May have invented the electric bass, but James Jameson taught the world how to play it.
Randy, he is getting credit now, thanks to you tube
@dhouse yep, these days that's a likely true travesty for sure..Watering down a power player.
@@balamont1150 Leo Fender didn't invent the electric bass guitar
Just listen to that bass in "What's going on" and then to know that the dude played it on his back drunk.....
With one finger.
KING OF BASS.
What amazes me is that Mr. Jamerson was doing this stuff 55 YEARS AGO. Now here we are, after seeing popular music evolve through blues, country, rock and roll and jazz, to progressive rock, orchestral rock, every alloy of metal, soul, funk, with bassists who can play 30 notes a second, slapping and popping, with multi-scale basses, fretless basses, 35" scale basses, 6-string basses, etc., and still the feel of this guy's playing commands respect and IS STILL BEING ANALYSED because it actually means something. The parts can be analysed technically, and apparently he was an excellent sight-reader, but it seems he would take a written bass part and, presumably having grasped the essence of a song, adjust it to be better! Tragedy is that he's not here to tell us more about it... what a talent!
Your tone on I was made to love her is outstanding! I was a fan of Jamerson long before I had a clue who he was. His playing absolutely made Mowtown.
The song that made bass players first take notice of Jamerson was Gladys Knight and the pips “Grapevine”.
This was like a new kind of mathematics, and for a second nobody understood it.
“This is the bass he can’t do that”.
It was the first of many songs that the rest of the band were just ambient background noise and Jamerson provided the melody, the rhythmic pattern and everything on the low end of the song.
Still today a breathing masterpiece.
Jamerson fooled other bass players. They could stand in front of the speaker and still not understand what he just said.
I call it the Jamerson mind trick!
It’s a real freaky phenomenon.
(Caught you a couple times on the first song lol).
Don’t feel bad. He did it to everybody.
You are a very good bass player with strong fundamentals!
Timing / Note duration.
That’s what the whole thing is about bass.
Jamerson defined the true function of the low end.
He was the last of the first group of bass kings (jazz era).
He was way too funky for jazz but lucky for him, funk was heavy on the menu.
Because he worked with jazz musicians he was up on all the current jazz bass innovations.
Theory was a must you had to know you’re stuff! Definitely couldn’t wing it.
A bad bass player would audition and in five seconds the guys would ignore you and go to lunch. Call you trash to your face. “Who let this guy in here?”
Brutal!
BTW James was severely brutal.
That’s the environment he came up in.
He played With one finger because he could it’s just that simple.
He knew where all the notes were and the best way to get to them.
He thought in whole passages and complete phrases.
Breezed through complex arrangements like a knife through butter.
Absolutely no degree of difficulty.
He’d spend a whole entire record challenging himself.
Like “made to love her”…
He wants to play every pass differently then create a hard anchor over the “yeah yeah yeahs”.
Jazz bassist mastered the stage.
Jamerson mastered the ever popular world of records.
Which Motown was all about.
(Road bassist complained that they didn’t like how they sounded in concert because they couldn’t make Motown songs sound like James).
Jamerson stopped touring very early. Too many groups and too many records to make.
In short (Long) , it still hasn’t been fully understood what he gave to music.
All bass players play Jamerson (old saying).
From 1961 on he created the prototype that all bass players use in a bass performance.
He wrote the code for bass.
The absolute greatest bass player of all time.
No bass player ever thought for a second that they were better than James.
“Darling Dear” retired many an ax man.
Had them taking up the violin 😂.
“There! I bet Jamerson can’t do that😆!
Something Jamerson is responsible for that people use today is the “lead in”
The lick that cues the listener into knowing the big change is coming.
I listened to pre Jamerson music to see if that occurred and although some songs from jazz/bebop/big band/ classical did something like it it wasn’t a “thing”.
With James it was an everyday day tool.
Useful in just about any song.
He cared about how humans reacted to music.
He was from another planet.
As an imaginative country child he would put a stick in the ground with a rubber band tied to it, get real low to the ground, pull it, and watch the low end sine wave vibrate the ants.
He called it “making the ants dance”.
This guy was something else!
Destined to be what he became.
Besides maybe slapping and popping (he hated that! Sorry slappers. He’d go to lunch on Larry Graham. He was a purest . Just tone no effects please thank you!), just about every significant thing that could be done on a bass had been done by him.
He became the master while the instrument was very young.
Excellent tribute to James Jameson and the Motown Funk Brothers Sound Machine. Players like Jamerson, and Motown musicians added their own artistic embellishments to the songs that features the vocalists and their performances. That is why one can listen to a Motown song ( A or B side) and discover nuances of musicality that leaves one mesmerized even to this day , even 55 years later. Now you know why we in the soul music community say “Motown Forever!”
I have always loved Jamerson's basslines. It made any song he played on way better. One of my favs. I would love to incorporate more of his playing sound and style into my playing.
The funk Bros were special. Mostly Jazz players from around Det. because they were the best players. White and black. We can do some incredible things together.
Man...you nailed it! Great job! Jamerson was definitely a genius on the bass guitar. Never be another one like him.
Darling dear? For once in My Life? What's Going On? It's A Shame? Just king of Motown? He is the KING OF BASS!
DARLING DEAR🔥🔥🔥🔥
It’s a shame was played by Stevie wonder, not jamerson
It’s a shame, the bass was played by Stevie wonder, not jamerson
@@zorro1955 Unlikely. Stevie co-wrote the song, but that bass tone is unmistakingly Jamerson. Whenever Stevie would play bass, it would be on a keyboard, but the bassline is played on a bass guitar.
I Like so many other Bass Players are Extremely Grateful and pay Homage to the Late Great Legend James Jamerson for his Genius Bass Playing. A major Sign of His Genius was his Choice to not accept a Scholarship to Wayne State University and instead hone his craft with the True Masters and Geniuses of the Detroit Jazz seen. Who taught him far more than he could have ever learned in a classroom taught by instructors whom had lessor talent than himself and the other working musicians in the Detroit area.
I know nothing about music and instruments but lately been listening to Motown stuff and go 'wow, they got great bassline here and there'. Good to know one of the main talents behind Motown. Reading the comments here, I wish he got more praise and respect during his lifetime. I will always remember his name from now on. Rest in peace, Legendary Genius 🙏🏾
I grew up during the motown era and love the music even more. James jamerson was the essential ingredient in the motown sound. Jamerson's bass like a railroad junction brought it all together. Thanks for the awesome video. 🎥
No negative. Thank goodness for Motown. Love from England 🇬🇧
He's the king, period. It's the ideas and the tone. Sure, there are a lot of notes sometimes, but that's not the point. The ideas that he plays are like Charlie Parker, or McCartney. He's on my very short list of the greatest players ever, on any instrument. Long live the king.
Paul McCartney: great songwriter, bassist? meh
@@brownin329 That simple little 'meh' about McCartneys' prowess as a bassist takes away any credibility you might have had. Go listen to his records again... and pay attention this time.
@@richieprimoretro My thoughts exactly
Like Carol Kaye, and some would say more so, every bass player owes this guy. Thanks for the details.
Jamerson influenced just about every bass player. And so fun to play.
My favorite James Jamerson bass groove is Gladys Knight & The Pips version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine. KILLER GROOVE!
My fave too, killer groove indeed! ❤️🎶
this is an old video but... Think about this. The Fender Bass was made in 1951. That means Jamerson, in many ways was both discovering and mastering a new instrument never seen before. Everyone who plays bass is following in his footsteps. (for what it's worth he played his electric bass like a standing bass, with one finger. That is just wild)
Some guitar company should made a bass and name it The Jamerson. This magnificent talent must be risen from the era ashes and honored for all to see
👍👍I FULLY AGREE. A BRILLIANT SUGGESTIONS 👍❤️
Yesss
Wow, this was an awesome video, thank you! By the time you got to Stevie, I had chills up my spine, my bass face was in full force and I couldn't even open my eyes I was so in tune with that bass. And I don't even play bass. I just LOVE it! Thank you!!
I grew up on Motown and this baselines are iconic. Thank you sharing the history.
I listened to Bernadette and I Was Made To Love Her back to back for over an hour in 1991 while driving on a dicey mountain road with no guardrail, screaming along. Killer, killer stuff.
OMG, that last song, serious business. What a musician. Long live James Jamerson..🎉
My fav bassist, pure bass style in rhythmic and melodies with epic tone. #1 Darling dear
King of Bass. Not just Motown where of course he was King there as well
These videos are brilliant - you are an outstanding player. Thank you so much!
You did great on those! In the 70s my band Masquerade, from Ann Arbor, did a Motown medley that people LOVED! I Wish It Would Rain, Can’t Help Myself, Reflections, I Was Made To Love Her, Heatwave, and Tears of a Clown. I was SO glad you covered I Was Made To Love Her. I too was mainly a rock player and really worked hard to execute as close as possible to what Jameson laid down in those great songs. Thanks for that amazing tribute.
Absolutely amazing, there really is no one quite like James Jamerson. the ultimate combination of feel and technique. Great video about the bass master!
The 60’s were really incredible when it came to awesome pop melodies and vocal harmonies.
Awesome - wonderful tribute with your superb examples. Thanks. Always good to learn more about James Jamerson.
Well done and great choice of musician player to hi-light. James Jamerson did (in fact) reinvent the style and playability of the instrument. You picked a genius to showcase and played it well. I believe he would be proud of your replication of his incredible bass lines. My first time on your channel. Keep up the good work and showcase efforts. Much appreciated.
Great video!! Awesome job. I appreciate the time, effort and energy you put into this. Thank you!!! This stuff is timeless
Thank You so much. I loved the segments on McCartney. This piece on James Jameson was awesome. Again thank you for sharing your talents and knowledge.
Thank You so very much for bringing this Musical Ledgend , back into The Forefront . He will always be " The Bass - Lord of Motown . "
This was my introduction to this channel and I have to confess I was impatient to get to the demos. When they did arrive I really enjoyed your playing but something more happened, I realised that the intro was vital and time well spent. A big thank you. You have won another subscriber.
Excellent ! Thanks a lot for this rich documentation about a true bass legend that influence music .
Great post!! My first time here!! (SUBSCRIBED!!) Those bass lines were absolutely stellar!!! He was also a pianist as well as an upright bassist!! He incorporated that wealth of knowledge into his Fender Precision bass, and blew the world away!!
Thank you so much for that episode. You did an awesome job covering this bass genius. You are very talented yourself! Thanks again.
You did such a good job with this. Bravo. JJ is a national treasure.
As a bass player myself the tamla bass playing style has always knocked me out and often beat my head trying to emulate that funky style ,my favourite is uptight it took me a while to get on it,but when you do its pure magic how the band sounds !
The Stevie bassline made me smile, it's beautiful. Well played. No idea how he used just one finger, i get fatigued.
maybe because he used to play the double bass?
I Was Made to Love Her is the best bass line ever.
Amazing! Love those phenomenal bass melodies and rhythms. Thanks 'cause Jamerson was the epitome of giftedness, creativity and humility!
What a great piece of work you did on this video, your playing really did justice to Jamerson creative style of playing, excellent mix. Also, the way you were able to transcribe the chosen notes and articulation gave me a good insight to really listen to him over and over again on so many of the songs he contributed to....just an over all great video....thank you for bring and sharing so many things that James meant to the bass, is achievement and overall foundation for the bass players throughout the entire world.
Hey John, great video!! I really want to thank you for the effort you put into each one of these...
It's always worth while when I find people dig the video. Thanks for watching!
Nailed them all, well done!
thanks for your explanations and demonstrations, really enjoyed them
Thanks a lot. I do appreciate your presentation and your playing. Very good job.
truly enjoyed this video! thank you
Thank you so much! Feeling so much joy remembering Jamerson. Just awesome!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just love bass and jamerson is one of my motown heroes. Thanks for taking the time to share
Ps i want you back by Jackson 5
Badass. Really enjoyed an homage to a bass legend.
Thanks for the post Brotherman Legend of Base. Appreciate the love, respect and press your given to JJ. James Jamerson a was a virtuoso. The most musical bass player to ever do it. No debate.
I love playing along to James' basslines. One of my favorites is Save The Children.
Jameson was and remains a legend- thanks for this.
Thank You Sir, for returning with another good video !
This is my feel good bass channel, and i truly appreciate all your effort on presenting these songs and playing them so well .
I hope that more people will find this channel . ♥
Thanks a lot!
Woohoo new video! And it's Jamerson! Can't wait to watch when I'm somewhere with speakers........!
The foam block that he stuck near the bridge pickup to mute the strings also contributed to his unique sound.
Man I started this video thinking “alright I hope this guy doesn’t do a lot of talking and gets straight to the bass lines” but I actually really enjoyed the background info you gave! Especially the what’s going on story. Thanks man!
You know… some would tend to claim James over-played on bass, but he was so creative and he somehow never stepped on any of the other musicians parts. What he played complimented everyone’s parts. Amazing musician!!!
I grew up with the days of James Jamerson. In my opinion James was one of the creative, profession, musical arranger, funkiest add living bass player ever. he is in the same musical position with Jimi Hendrixs. Directly on that musical level. Now him & Jimi is playing & jamming together in Heaven.
MAD RESPECT FOR YEARS!!!
Just found this today and it's great. Some of my favorite JJ basslines. Brings back so many good memories. Gonna have fun learning them. You nailed'em. Thanks!
I was 13 in 1966, white and suburban, I and everyone i knew was into Motown and a lot of other black music. Atlantic and Stax just two more. Even just on AM radio it was those base lines that made the songs. Hearing them here picked out properly is fantastic and brings back so many memories.
Great work. Amazing sound !!
Awesome job my friend, thanks to introduction the bass player masters to everyone’s music lovers, and you have your particular feeling to play this songs. You are a great bass player. God Bless you and continue your journey. I am musician too and I love what I do. Thank you.
This is a wonderful video about a wonderful bass player! I don't have the sophistication to know what everything is, but I can get the gist and your selections to show us are awesome. Thank you!
Well done on that last one! I first learned the sax line (King Curtis covered this track, so brilliantly), but the bass line, as I realised when trying to play it, is an absolute masterpiece. A very nice vibe to the whole video: humble, yet talented.
Sir your programme is awesome....thank you!!!!!
Very well done. Thank you for your teaching.
Very informative and cool video. Jamerson was really the man. Glad to see you're back at it man! Excited for the new 21 Kings Album.
Thanks Zack! Glad you enjoyed the vid. Should be dropping another single in a few weeks
Born in 56, I grew up listening to a lot of songs with James Jamerson playing. My parents always had the radio on, or we watched music programs like Ed Sullavan and others. Do play a few of his songs, And he is SO easy to listen to. Thanks for the video.
The bass line with that conga, always amazing Motown funk brothers, wow!
Very good info and memorable bass lines !
Great video, James Jamerson would be proud!
THANKS FOR SHARING.
You are a very fine bass player and your sense of feel and timing is dead-on. You have a new subscriber for sure! Excellent work!
Very interesting information from my favorite muscians, from back in my day, the 60s and early 70s. Thanks.
Great post, LB. Being raised sailing on the Chesapeake, WYRE out of Annapolis, all of the great Motown tunes ingrained in my soul.
Great video!!! Man you nailed those variations!!! He was fantastic!!!
Jamerson used the Ampeg for live sets, but in studio he recorded direct into the Acme DI that was custom built for the Hitsville studio, tone and volume cranked on his P-Bass, flatwounds, sponge muting at the bridge, and only using his index finger nicknamed "the Hook".
The man, the myth, the legend. Long live James Jameson and the Funk Brothers.
Great to see you back
I enjoyed this. I just love James Jamerson basslines. My favorite are What’s Going On and Ain't No Mountain High Enough the Diane Ross version.
Great video, you did a nice job. Thanks for sharing this
Dude great freaking job I came in the hopes of seeing someone cover i was made to love her and you totally knocked it out!