The Most Famous Bass Solo in Pop Music
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ม.ค. 2025
- #bass #history #analysis #stax #muscleshoals #staplessingsers #paulthompson
In this video, I talk about what's probably the most famous bass solo to happen on a #1 hit record, the song it happens on ("I'll Take You There"), and the iconic bassist that played it (David Hood), along with how he came up with it in that session 50 years ago.
Website: www.paulthompso...
Instagram @pdbass74
Thanks for mentioning "The Liquidator" as the genesis of this monster hit. I grew up in Trinidad 🇹🇹, and in 1968, this was a #1 Caribbean hit and I've mentioned this to lots of people who hadn't the faintest clue. Respect.
I saw them "Live" at the Queens Park Savannah, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies!!!
I can't speak to popularity, but Graham Gouldman's solo on 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" has always been one of my favorites. It doesn't hurt that it's on such a gorgeous tune. Thanks for the content!
Your obvious enthusiasm coupled with such a insightful analysis of these apparently 'simple' lines never fails to educate and inspire.
Thank you!
I live in the Shoals, and have been lucky to meet David....he's a class act and a very nice man!
Great vid!! 👍 👍👍
The first song with a famous bass solo that popped into my head was "All Right Now".
For me it was the bass riff from "We Gotta Get Out of This Place"!
Yes, Mr.Big goes all the way!
Me too
John Entwistle's solo on "My Generation" (The Who) still stands as one of the very few greatest in Pop music.
Well, yes; there are entire listcicles on this subject.
Not solo, but listen to his isolated bass on Won't Get Fooled Again.
I agree with that totally!
Iconic!
@@NJtoTX th-cam.com/video/80dsyo2Ox-0/w-d-xo.html
This was the song that made me want to play bass. I was 14 when it came out in 1972, and because of Mr. Hood's bassline, a lifelong love affair with music began. He had no idea he was influencing a kid from 1970's Newark, NJ to pick up a bass.
That’s awesome. I think he played on Percy Sledge’s When a Man Loves a Woman as well.
Another great post. Thanks for the history lesson on this particular song and bass line.
I would have thought John McVie playing bass on The Chain would have been the the most famous bass solo in popular music.
Top 5, FOR SURE!!!
I remember when this record hit the top 40 airwaves. The bass groove was the hook. And the thing that strikes me about how the sound and feel is executed is the up-down walk isn't slurred. It's finger plucked; each note articulated with microseconds of silence between them. This is not what I'd describe as heavily staccato funk feel. It may be approaching that, but not really. It's more what I'd describe as clean articulation. The best bass players have this, while so many others slur their playing. I play drums, not bass, but I know this quality in a bassist when I hear it.
I totally agree. Iconic song and David Hood grooves the song.The funny thing is that when I hit this clip and your excellent analysis , I thought you would be talking about John Entwistle and My Generation.
That or Smooth Operator by Sade or the intro solo to Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses.
3340steve - “My Generation” is Pop?
@@cirenosnor5768 Sure it is. The single has HANDCLAPS on it, for Pete's sake. And the guitar sound is surprisingly clean, not full-on distortion.
xtenk farpl - Handclaps added to non pop song in attemp to try getting a hit single out of it? 🤷🏽♂️
@@cirenosnor5768 Well, it worked, didn't it? Some of Pete's later stuff is for sure Real Hard Rock: "Won't get fooled again" or "5:15". But MG, when you listen to it today with ears of retrospect, is just a bit "Pop", don't you think? No worries, it's all a matter of opinion. Peace...
Thank you for sharing do continue the great work you are doing 👏
My God dude! My wife and I were just talking about this song the other day and especially the David Hood solo which I said to her 'this guys bass part is BRILLIANT so simple but perfect!
"I'll Take You There" is definitely an earworm--once heard, it's tough to dislodge it from the mind (liked & subscribed ).
Just found this channel and love it. I'm moving to bass from guitar and these are some of my all time favorite jams. Keep it up.
I still play this song from time to time in a couple of bands I play in as a bass player... it always gets people up on the dance floor. Never fails..
The best basslines are like the best table manners--they are faultless, but they rarely call attention to themselves. Here is a rare exception! Fun vid, thanks for posting.
In the UK, it's the coda from "the Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. It was used as the theme tune for the same sports programme on TV for 30 years.
Awesome solo!
Love your analytics Man, please keep up the good work!
Black Sabbath's N.I.B intro solo, is probably one of my favorites, and one of the most iconic bass solos in all of metal music
you betcha. showing my age here, but watch the beginning of the old show barny miller. not too shabby.
Geezer is my favorite bass player. He’s just brilliant. And yes “basically” is Fn amazing .
However, “my generation” is the most iconic rock bass solo. Without question.
Hell yeah. My favorite too.
The intro to "N.I.B." Is actually called "Bass-ically"!
🤘🏻
I may be a minority of one here, but my FAVE bass solo (I'll Take You There was brilliante, agreed) was the one by Herbie Flowers on 'Jump Into The Fire' by Harry Nillson from Nillson Schmillson. He went down the scales and back up, and made a great Rock Song greater still! John Entwhistel and Billy Sheehan are Bass Guitar Avatars. And Jaco Pastorius is in an alternate Universe of his own!
Awesome bass in that song.good choice.
I’m a Jamaican Bassplayer and for years always thought, these two songs were very similar , Liquidator and I’ll take you there, Thanks for your knowledge and information 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Did you know The Liquidator was played by Familyman on bass and Carly on drums ? before they start playing for Bob Marley
@@lenkybasscustombassguitars9381 ...did not know that!
@@lenkybasscustombassguitars9381 Incredible fact!! I'm amazed really 😳😳
I read somewhere about Al Bell being in Jamaica when The Liquidator was being recorded.He brought back a copy of the record with him and the rest is history.Anyone interested in music history should watch the documentary Muscle Shoals.👍🎶🌴
There's been so much back/forth between the USA & Jamaica. So many Jamaican covers of USA tunes that I'd just assumed "Liquidator" was another--nice to find out it was the opposite!
Thanks for giving us the back story of this song. So many of them out there, so many to appreciate the talent that goes into them. Here is one of my favorite bass solos: Galveston by Glen Campbell.
Ummm...I believe that is a baritone solo, not a bass solo.
@@mcdainty4202 A Fender 6 is tuned like a guitar an octave down, not technically a baritone though it sounds more like it than a bass
I’m from Florence AL where it all started for Rick Hall and his studio FAME that spawned the breakaway studio Muscle Shoals Sound. My family knows a bunch of the musicians. Great guys.
I am so glad this video got made. I have been loving this bass line and bass solo - and everything about this song since I was 12 years old, in 1972. "I'll take you there" was getting massive airplay on WABC musicradio in New York and I never got sick of hearing it. I got so much homework done while bopping my head to this song - thank you Staple Singers.
great to know about this album from you! thanks for sharing your knowledge!
My favorite video of the week. Great job. AND,,,,it's funny because I just listened to this song on Saturday. And now this great analysis. Loved it. Thanks Man!!
A vast majority of the time when a title like this comes up in my feed and I click I'm disappointed. This is top shelf content.
The best bass performance ever has got to be on " Papa was a rolling stone " by the Temptations , with " The Chain " close behind .
Yes, but did James Jamerson or Bob Babbitt play that famous line? The latter seems to be the case, but we may never know for certain.
Anything with Jaco Pastorious -
Great minds think alike has to be many thanks love and respect God bless 🙏 from the UK 👍👍👍👍👍👍🌟😀😀 amazing 👍
@@jukeboxdave6026 love the name brah
That was a bassline not a solo.
Thank You For Sharing Nice Interpretation 🏄♀️🎹🎤🎶😊
Thank you so much! I just bought their album from iTunes! I grew up in the 70's and this is the vibe I remember.
Learned things I didn't know about one of my all-time favorite songs! Thanks!
For me learning to play bass in the 1970's Cream's Sunshine of Your Love was the iconic Bass line of the time and still is.
Definitely iconic
I was thinking Jack Bruce as well, but always love his solo on Crossroads.
One of my favorites
Love this bassline, one of the first I learned after picking up a bass
A lot of us did
@@babayaga1767
It was a target rich era for us high school musicians to hone our ear training and aural skills, to the pulsing rhythms of AM radio blasting the sounds of soul in America.
I played a lot of his iconic parts in a cover band for over 20 years. I could *always* feel the way they just clicked right in with people. They *connect*. The simple truth. You couldn't be more right. Make it sing!
I too thought that this piece would be about the bass solo in My Generation.It’s what prompted me to buy my first fender jazz bass in 1966. Great topic nonetheless.
For more on David Hood and the swampers I suggest the documentary Muscle Shoals on Prime Video.
Oh… and before I forget… kudos for paraphrasing prolific country songwriter Harlan Howard’s description of his songs as “ three chords and the truth”.
Tres clever!
Excellent always thank you!
This is the first bass line every beginning R&B bass player learns. David Hood keeps it simple and iconic at the same time. One of my favorite bass players of all time. I can't believe how many people have never heard this song before. 🙄
Great video! I love the Muscle Shoals team! So much of what "they" did is still unknown. Now, the Staples Singers! OMG!! MAVIS! But really "Pops" created it all! I'll Take You There....Wattstax 1973.....crazy how so many people don't know about this music festival! Not only AMAZING GROUPS and music but celebs in the audience! Among them was AND WHO could forget the gorgeous girl in the red polka dot mini dress layin down some killer dance moves!
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Special thanks for providing the notation.
Awesome! I had to learn that for a lesson. Thanks for posting!
I want to say, thank you for your content, I enjoy then a great deal. Keep them coming, please?
When you know the tune from the title of the video! Awesome research and analysis, as always...thank you!
I started playing bass in 1970. In 1968 I saw Jimi Hendrix at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio which made me want to switch from violin to bass. In 1967 at Expo 67 in Montreal I heard the song "A Girl Like You" by The Rascals that lit the fire of wanting to seriously think about switching. I was able to learn the solo from "I'll Take You There" in 1972 and I felt like I was on cloud nine...I knew I was a bass player. Thanks for the video, it took me back to the mountain I learned to climb, and the fun that I had doing it.
Nice!! I started playing bass in '71, partly because most of my friends were playing guitar, and the bass spoke to me more than guitar. ....Do you still have your first bass? I do. It's a Dakota Red '64 Precision that I bought from a guy coming back from his Viet Nam military tour. He decided to keep his '66 Mustang and sell the bass. I paid $125 for it. That thing has the best neck, and it's been around the States and Europe with me many, many times.
@@petset77 Damn man, a 1964 Dakota Red Precision Bass...
...I'm a Black man and I jokingly hold my arm up and say...you may not be able to tell, but I'm green with envy. That's a joke son, you get it...a joke boy, as Foghorn Leghorn would say. I don't have my first bass, but I do have a 2006 US Lakland Joe Osborne signature 5 string in Lake Placid Blue(passive)...ummm, a 64 Dakota Red...ummmm!
@@godfreymccammon4531, it's been my favorite bass throughout the years. Great neck. I also have a '72 I got some years later which sounds better but the neck isn't as special, a '68 Fender Telecaster bass, a (not vintage) '89 Gibson Thunderbird, a '65 Gibson EB-0, a late 80s Ovation Magnum, a '76 Jazz, a 90s Kramer/Ferrington hollow acoustic/electric for acoustic shows, and have had a couple of Rickenbacker 2001s, a heavy ass Travis Bean TB2000, an Alembic series 1 or 100 or whatever, and a bunch of 6 string guitars, from my favorite '54 Gibson ES125, to misc cheaper old archtops, to better electrics ('73 Les Paul and a couple of Teles and Strats, and an Ovation Breadwinner), acoustics from Taylor to whatever... mandolins, banjos.... etc. Yeah, I used to play, and had the bug..... I'm retired now for years, but sometimes still noodle around the house. I sold or gave away the recording stuff, keyboards and drums. It was a journey indeed. Good luck to you.
@@petset77 Holy moly Steve. That's intensity in ten cities. Have mercy Miss Percy. That rocks the Casbah...how many stupid things can I say to show my astonishment in what you have. Ok, one more from the TV show Martin...damn Gina!
I had a 1970 clean as a whistle Blond Telecaster Bass but I was a complete asshole to trade it for another bass. I now have a 1995 Vintage Reissue Rickenbacker 4001 natural, a 2005 Pedulla MVP 8 string Fretless Bass in AAA Flame maple in see thru charcoal grey, a 2005 top of the line Thunderbolt 5 sting in AAAA Flame in peakcock blue. It's a one off because I was working at a music store that sold Pedulla's and when they called to see how I liked the MVP, I said to them Pedulla, the cure for bitter bass face(from the beer commercial), they liked it, got clearance in court for a company slogan and gave me free upgrades on the just ordered Thunderbolt...the only Thunderbolt in AAAA, they only offered AAA or AAAAA, not four. You still make me jealous as hell with what you have...spank those planks dude!
@@godfreymccammon4531, you have a pretty nice collection yourself!! Keep on playing!!!
At first I was like "I bet this is about My Generation", then I was like "eh?? never heard of I'll Take You There", finally I was like "oooh yeah I remember this song...". Great vid.
The Reggae plays on the 1&3…I hear exactly what your saying and so happy you brought up the the original bass line. Convoluted enough by The Muscle players to be their own!💚💚🎶. Thanks for the info and heart put into this!
Great analysis. I remember that song. You would hear it everywhere back then.
Pure Soul. What a great tune. JLG
Beautiful soul music John . Earth , Wind & Fire also .
@@jackwezesa1081 I was a prep cook back in 72 or so. And i worked with Miss Ruthie. I watcher her sway and sing along that with that song. I remember the bass and the rim shots so
Precise. JLG.
@@jlgitto That’s so cool John . I was a bus boy in the last great Italian restaraunt from our area in 72. Good memories , $1.05 an hour plus 10% of the waitresses’ tips! Spent most of my money on records!
@@jackwezesa1081 and what restaurant was that? I worked at Rich and Charlie’s on Clayton and Oakland.
@@jlgitto The Bella Vista in Mass. It was run by the Mafia! It’s been gone 40+ years ! People traveled to go there . Wednesday night it was packed! Good memories!
Bravo. You're an incredibly skilled musician and videographer.
Cool story and great musicians!
Tony Levin on Big Time and the quick solo on You Can Call Me Al are pretty recognizable too.
Where Ever I Lay My Hat, is another one I would have thrown in there or even Don’t Give Up
It's a great bass solo, but it's hard to imagine this being more famous than the bass solo in The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.
UK poster here: I've played guitar since the 1970s, been in bands etc., yet I don't think I've ever heard "I'll Take You There", so maybe it's not had much airplay over here. I assumed it would be The Chain, too.
I was expecting Bob Babbit's solo in Scorpio.
wait, there's a bass solo in The Chain!?
@@dunkelheit6341 Really just a four bar phrase on the bass but an instantly memorable one, giving John McVie a rare opportunity to stand out!
@@dunkelheit6341 ha, ha, your right. Freakin' solo...silly.
It's one of my favorite songs and my absolute fave Bass line . . . great history on the songs origins ! Cheers !
Like others - Entwhistle in My Generation, also love slapping bass in Sly& family stone “If you want me to stay” I do love your exposition of the pentatonic build of this bass run, thanks!
I loved Sly, had that album and played it plenty!
Great presentation. Man you can play a bass so smooth. I'm just starting to learn the bass..so I always enjoy watching pros like your technique :o)
This song is awesome, I've loved it for decades. Great video, full of interesting info, breakdown and memories. Thanks from Colorado.
Derek Smalls bass in “Big Bottom” rules-everything else drools.
......And that includes his cucumber.
or so I have been told.
Very interesting; that solo brings back an entire era. The Staples are so underrated, even with their number one hit. The Canadian-American group The Band said that they were such fans of The Staples that they owned obscure recordings of them that even The Staples didn't own!
I have not seen all of your videos, but what about Verdine White
This was a huge hit. I loved Stax and still have my old 45's.
Now this is the kind of content the TH-cam algorithm needs to show me more of. I had no idea of the history of any of this music and I am a huge fan of ‘70s funk/soul-pop. I’m sure I probably heard it and saw people dancing to it on Soul Train when I was a kid. And now it’s in my ‘70s Soul/Funk playlist sandwiched between “That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2” by the Isley Brothers and “Maybe Your Baby” by Stevie Wonder. Felt like it needed some funky clavinet to follow it up. Thanks for the education. New sub :)
I'm not really a fan of this kind of music, but I really like the expressions your face makes when you are talking about the bassist, the writers, and etc. And I am starting to like this type of music because of your enthusiasm even though I dont understand the terminologies that you use about music, I still watch your videos and I dont know why
Just a superb song. I was 9 years old groovin' to this song in 1971. They literally don't make 'em like this anymore.
Great breakdown of a great bass line!!!
That was a great presentation for people whose favorite instrument is the metronome.
Cool stuff. Great channel. Well done
How about Henry Davis’ solos on Diana Ross’s Love Hangover and Thelma Houston’s I will Survive!
👍 I love stuff about 60’s and early 70’s music. Best music ever!
He's also one of the nicest, most laid back people you'll ever meet. Muscle Shoals bands/musicians have no ego. Not sure if he still does it but as of a few years ago, he and his band The Decoys (some members of the Swampers) played every Thursday night at a local bar just for the sheer fun of it. Gotta love it!
When I read the title I immediately thought of John Entwistle's breaks on The Who's "My Generation".
I agree, and it happened so many years before this lovely groove. I take nothing away from the Staple Singers and what they’ve accomplished. And Mavis is still going to this day!
Love your stuff.. bassists forever🤘🖤
I still like the bass to Dr. My Eyes as played by Lee Sklar as the all-time best. 😁
An excellent choice!!!
Amen brother, this iconic bass solo is a great work. The Liquidator is just one of Caribbean grooves ' borrowed by the States lol
Really love your channel keep up the good work
Merci for taking us down there...where bassists go.
I turned up the volume on that bass solo back when I heard that song.
You are so right about that solo. Props to the Smooth Operator bass solo as well.
Beautiful record , 85 ?
Love that bass line in I'll Take You There"; took me hours to master that break!
SO GOOD🎸
Berry Oakley - intro for "Whipping Post"
AMEN, Bro'!!
It was Elvis in concert when I first heard of Jerry Obern Scheff. Elvis's bass guitarist. When I was 12 years old. He worked for Elvis from 1969 to 1977. Member of the TCB band as well, La Woman for Jim Morrison The Doors. I can not remember what concert that Jerry was asked by Elvis to play some blues. I blew or Blue my mind. As well, He asked James Burton King of the Fender Telecaster, to play Johnny Be Good in the back of his head. He is my favorite guitarist. Then Ronnie Tutt. Drum solo. He was not just a drummer, he was a performer.
I Became a songwriter first when I was 12. At 13 played rhythm guitar, 14 years old learning Drums. In my early 30s I did a demo using all of Elvis's Band members as well, strings, horns, piano all for his members from Elvis in Concert. A good friend at the time gave me over 20 sheets of papers of lyrics. Finely I one. Titled. Keeper Of My heart. We lived together for several months. It was after dinner when He gave me those paper. By 6am I complete the music arrangements. First time anyone gave me lyrics without music. That evening we went to the studio to lay some tracks. The owner of the studio teaches piano and keyboards.
Bingo. I owe my life to keyboards. All of Elvis's band in a keyboard and lot more. Some say it sounds a bit of Pink Floyd or Nazareth a beat like love hurts. My Buddy sounds a lot like Neil Young with a light rock band and all the perks from Elvis's Band. It was completed that week in less than 14 hours. Thank God the Guy who owns the studio teaches vocals. He told me sing back up. I do not sing well. I go off key. He build my confidence. Hey man it is only a demo my friend said. Ok. Thanks to all of Elvis's band members your horns blue me away 😁😁.
I heard countless songs in the 70s (when I was a little kid) that got me hooked onto drums and bass!
As for the fruits, music or anything else in life, different strokes for different folks!
Let's not forget Bob Babbitt's killer bass solo on "Scorpio", by "Dennis Coffey And The Detroit Guitar Band".
If you don't know this solo, educate yourself.
You will be pleased.
Thanks for mentioning. Not many know that Bob's solo was unrehearsed. It was created during the recording! Dennis told Bob and Eddie "Bongo" Brown at the session that he wanted them to play solos. They both tore it up and created a legend!
Excellent!
interesting insights, well prepared: hence my subscription.
I’m just going to throw in Mr Big by Free. The solo bit transitions from Paul Kossoff on guitar climbing high while Andy Fraser holds down the bottom end to Andy moving up the fretboard and showing off while Paul calms down a bit. Wonderful.
I am proud to know David. One of the nicest people I have ever met.
David Hood is now one of the few surviving Swampers with the death of the incredible (and too often forgotten) Roger Hawkins. I can keep watching the two of them again and again on the footage of Traffic playing live in 1972. We are so lucky to have that footage. David Hood always played the right parts for Traffic's songs and worked so well with both Roger Hawkins and the slightly over the top percussionist.
Saw Mavis a few years back opening for Dylan. Muscle Shoals backing band were the masters and creators of such a unique saound. Although they backed so many greats, I would imagine the prospect of backing Pops Staples was daunting. Pops is one of most unapreciated guitar players. His style and sound were incredible. So Muscle Shoals with David Hood, Pops and Mavis, how could it be anything but a hit! And yes the solo is as iconic as they come. thank you for pointing this out and I have added myself as a subscriber. I have a Soul Radio Show in San Francisco and I only play 45rpm records. I have dropped the needle on this track many times on air.
The guy playing bass in Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al was pretty impressive.
Agreed 😃That’s one Bakithi Khumalo from South Africa !
The wonderment of that bass solo by the foremention in the comment section is that it was recorded to play back in reverse...something the Beatles did in some of there songs.Excellent.
@@michaelvaladez6570 …wow in reverse 😊an example you can refer please
@@normanndaba8823 I had read that The Beatles Nowhere Man guitar solo,I'm only sleeping and one other is one off The Revolver album.
Was it actually a traditional bass?
Another great dissection of a familiar song we THOUGHT we knew.
NICE COMMENTARY!!!
The first one I thought of was All Right Now by Free
Great video. As I'm sure you're aware, Rufus' set at WattStax is bass heaven. That bassist needs to be recognized. I looked and looked and couldn't come up with a name. Maybe you can.
Okay….this took some digging.
Apparently, a very young Con-Funk-Shun backed up the Soul Children and Rufus Thomas at Wattstax. The bassist was Cedrick Martin. LOVE that movie. Thanks for watching 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@@pdbass WELL done young man, well done.
"Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band.
I remember it very well and is still one of my favorites today...
Great song which was new to me! There should be more bass solos in pop music! One minor observation: The solo contains the note f which is not part of the c pentatonic scale - and makes the solo even more interesting IMHO.
You are correct! Technically, it’s following the changes and using notes from C AND F pentatonic, but I tried not to over explain it.
Thanks for the validation. I've often maintained that the bassline of both songs were so similar, and because I distinctly remember hearing 'the liquidator before hearing " I'll take your there" as a teen growing up in Jamaica, it had to come from that. ( I never figured it out until much later though) When I taught high school band, I use to bring up the similarities with my students.
You have great insight and knowledge,,,,you’ve gotta play the featured music in the first 30 seconds!
Cool video,have you ever checked out Bob Babbit’s bass solo on Dennis Coffey’s “Scorpio”?
WOW!🎸
Hi I had the record when it came out and I still have it somewhere 45 that’s a long time ago yes very powerful record as you probably know it was a gospel song but it was sort of in disguise. And several people had done that at the time which was pretty cool I remember telling people this song is talking about following the Lord going to heaven and they would say no it’s not and they would be very angry but it most certainly was it was well done and highly enjoyable. It was a huge hit I had a nice feel to it I’m glad that it like other songs was able to cross into other areas of music! And I am blessed to see that you enjoy it.
Some of the best bass composition s ever at this time I was just discussing this with a friend of mine after listening to Earth wind & fire
E W & F ! The most beautiful soul music!