I was in a cover band, a good one, as a kid, and we carefully listened to everything we tried to copy. To get the bass line, we would play the 45 at 78 to make the notes stand out. When Bernadette came out, we just could not believe it. Nothing like that bass line had ever been heard before. We didn't know who Jamerson was then but we knew genius when we heard it. I met him backstage at a Detroit club in about 1971 when I was playing with Junior Walker and he stopped by. By then, I knew who he was.
As a bass player (from that era) all I can say is.........holy fucken' shit.....that is just to bad ass! Jamerson was crazy but he was a fricken' genius. Credit to the guy who broke this down a let us hear the parts and how they play together.
No matter what songwriter, style, tempo or orchestration, The Funk Brothers got it DONE! It amazes me how smoothly they adapted to each writer's style (Barrett/Strong, Smokey, HDH, et al) and made it work...geniuses all. And these instrumentals aren't just entertaining...they're a public service!
After listening to quite a bit of James Jamerson recently I'm convinced he's the Best Ever Bass Guitarist....There were others on the top of my list, but not anymore.....They're still good, but they don't compare to his sound and playing......Brilliant.
ADRIAN Jameson played bass as though it were a lead guitar. Easiest job in the world was being the Funk Brothers' drummer. Because Jameson played as he did, the drummers had to stay in the pocket and play 4 in the bar.
This really is fun to hear - the Funk Brothers featured and getting the recognition they deserve for all the great music they made. I was just at the Motown Studios museum a few weeks ago and highly recommend it to anyone that might be interested even in the slightest - it was a great tour and truly fun to see where the motown sound was made ;)
Thank you for posting this. The music in the 50's was a real slave trade bizness! black or white. These guys were the real kings of end 60's beginning 70's
+jesse Christmyer Fellow Funk Brother "Bob Babbitt" bassist was just as brilliant. One of his best works was on "Midnight Train to Georgia" where his play brought out the soul in the song.
bob babbitt is good, but you cant take away jamersons style its comparing hendrix to stivie ray vaughn, they both were amazing musicans, but they played with their own style.
There were others before... and after... but here? Here? Sweetness, heartache and sheer funk power. All Hail the Holy Trinity, James Jamerson, Benny Benjamin and the mighty, mighty Earl Van Dyke.
Aw what a brilliant introduction all the layers man starting with mr jamerson onwards and UPWARDS ,heh heh , there arent enough superlatives to describe how this music makes me feel. Thank you to the funk brothers ,and thank you for posting this sir
I am proud to say I live in SOUTHWEST DETROIT the home of The Funk Brothers, the late great unsung Belita Woods of Brainstorm / Parliament Funkadelic, & yours truly the King of the underground for 26 PSYKE SCONI.
Doin' something today on FB: Backup Bands; The Bar-Kays, The E Street Band, (Prince) The Revolution, New Power Generation, 3rdEye Blind, The Meters and of course The Funk Brothers! Motown Monsters! Thanks for the upload, Michele Massaro. Blessings
lol then why is it that no funk brother has any recollection of Ms. Kaye recording on any records? (I've read standing in the shadows of motown from cover to cover, carol isn't ever mentioned recording its all James btw)
Hal Blaine the famous studio drummer who played on hundreds of sessions with Carol has called her out on her lies about this. Some try to justify her lies by saying she is confused because she played cover versions of these songs for Motown after they went to LA for some TV gig. But those that know her like Hal Blaine say that she has always been a bullshit artist. She even wrote to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when Jamerson was inducted to try and take credit for his work and have him removed. She is as low as you can get, lying to take credit for the work of someone who's dead. Any fool can tell the difference between Jamerson and her, there is no comparison. He was a genius and innovator, she was just a decent session player.
Obviously, you didn't do do enough homework to see it is her playing on the song. Goggle her name, then go to her site and you will actually see her talking about doing it, as well as pictures of the actual session. it's not good to post inaccurate info. you rob the the actual person of their historical credits.thats not cool!!
donell1953 it's not Carol Kaye. She used a pick.. you would hear it ! I'd say it's not the final take that you hear on the recoding, probably an outtake
Have you ever heard of a felt pick? they are virtually the same as a finger. You can not tell the difference. i saw the actual film clip with her playing during the actual session.
I'm sorry but I also have looked into it and there is no doubt that Carol was an incredible bass player and has a massive CV. This is definitely JJ playing on this track. If you have a good ear. you can tell hands down.
I was in a cover band, a good one, as a kid, and we carefully listened to everything we tried to copy. To get the bass line, we would play the 45 at 78 to make the notes stand out. When Bernadette came out, we just could not believe it. Nothing like that bass line had ever been heard before. We didn't know who Jamerson was then but we knew genius when we heard it. I met him backstage at a Detroit club in about 1971 when I was playing with Junior Walker and he stopped by. By then, I knew who he was.
James Jamerson was a living, breathing, miracle. Period
As a bass player (from that era) all I can say is.........holy fucken' shit.....that is just to bad ass! Jamerson was crazy but he was a fricken' genius. Credit to the guy who broke this down a let us hear the parts and how they play together.
No matter what songwriter, style, tempo or orchestration, The Funk Brothers got it DONE! It amazes me how smoothly they adapted to each writer's style (Barrett/Strong, Smokey, HDH, et al) and made it work...geniuses all. And these instrumentals aren't just entertaining...they're a public service!
I could listen to him play bass all day long!!!
After listening to quite a bit of James Jamerson recently I'm convinced he's the Best Ever Bass Guitarist....There were others on the top of my list, but not anymore.....They're still good, but they don't compare to his sound and playing......Brilliant.
ADRIAN Jameson played bass as though it were a lead guitar. Easiest job in the world was being the Funk Brothers' drummer. Because Jameson played as he did, the drummers had to stay in the pocket and play 4 in the bar.
@@johnclark4593or have a renowned drums that pioneered having two drummers on the same track, and shred
It's like human voice talking
Also has the effect of sometimes sounding nearly like a tuba
The Funk Brothers were the water that ran over the pebbles of Hitsville USA.
one of the best bands of all time , this is Motown
Funk Brothers were the foundation of Motown's success....
Wow, they were incredible! Many of us are hearing the instrumentals for the first time
I knew and did many many sessions with Jamerson Jr. He was a very close friend up until the day he died.
remember James well...........R.I.P.
Then you were very privileged!
Mr Jamerson is one of the reasons I play bass today. I'd like to hear some stories of him and his playing.
He was the reason I started playing bass, I'm 17 and started when I was 10, im very jealous of you😂
Right , they were the foundation and a strong one too!!!!
Foundation of Motown music 🎶
This really is fun to hear - the Funk Brothers featured and getting the recognition they deserve for all the great music they made. I was just at the Motown Studios museum a few weeks ago and highly recommend it to anyone that might be interested even in the slightest - it was a great tour and truly fun to see where the motown sound was made ;)
THESE GUYS LIVED VERY HARD LIVES ON THE ROAD ALL YEAR AND BEFORE THEY WERE IN MOTOWN THEY WERE ALL ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIANS
Thank you for posting this. The music in the 50's was a real slave trade bizness! black or white. These guys were the real kings of end 60's beginning 70's
used to laugh at my mum and dads music but now at 47 my son is asking whats that dad i love it
Same here 🤦🏾♂️
Strong vocals, dude had a unique sound ,funk bros amazing flow ,all live no studio tricks
Stupefying! Never to be duplicated! Thanks for the post!!!!!
best bass player who ever lived!!! hands down
+jesse Christmyer Fellow Funk Brother "Bob Babbitt" bassist was just as brilliant. One of his best works was on "Midnight Train to Georgia" where his play brought out the soul in the song.
bob babbitt is good, but you cant take away jamersons style its comparing hendrix to stivie ray vaughn, they both were amazing musicans, but they played with their own style.
+jesse Christmyer except Hendrix wasn't as good as people went on to believe he was. He himself was the first to admit it.
There were others before... and after... but here? Here? Sweetness, heartache and sheer funk power. All Hail the Holy Trinity, James Jamerson, Benny Benjamin and the mighty, mighty Earl Van Dyke.
weren't these recorded on 3 track machines?
oh - and you are A HERO for posting these - THANK YOU!!!!!
The amazing James Jameson facts
Simply sublime!
Aw what a brilliant introduction all the layers man starting with mr jamerson onwards and UPWARDS ,heh heh , there arent enough superlatives to describe how this music makes me feel. Thank you to the funk brothers ,and thank you for posting this sir
Dam, makes me proud to be a Bass Player (and Guitar) :)
I am proud to say I live in SOUTHWEST DETROIT the home of The Funk Brothers, the late great unsung Belita Woods of Brainstorm / Parliament Funkadelic, & yours truly the King of the underground for 26 PSYKE SCONI.
Thank you James Jamerson!
😑
amen to that!
impresionante, genios.
Brilliant
Doin' something today on FB: Backup Bands; The Bar-Kays, The E Street Band, (Prince) The Revolution, New Power Generation, 3rdEye Blind, The Meters and of course The Funk Brothers! Motown Monsters! Thanks for the upload, Michele Massaro. Blessings
One OF The Master Piece, this is it , The Funk Brothers ..
You're listening to DJ Timmy T and WBLS 107.5 in stereo in NYC A WBLS tribute to the Funk Brothers
Nice,I saw a documentary on this group and they didn't get credit they deserved...
Fuck Berry Gordy! What a Bassline!
Released February 1967 on the Motown Records Label
But it took great songs for James to play inspired and amazing bass lines...
Who are the great writers today?
Music like this just isnt produced at all. Today's music is crap. no comparison what so ever.
Oh my god so good. Doesn't need the singing.
James...one finger only
That finger time travels.
Dope
Omg the det bass
Makes me PROUD
James!!!! classic.
Awesome
Damn. Shit. Fuck. Pure funk
Here's one for my friend Deb.
please someone, is it James Jamerson playing in this recording ?
u cant tell
Yup you know it! The one and only James Jamerson
E. Nesstor . No it wasn't Jameson. It was a white girl name Carol Kaye. She was one of the top session Bass and Guitar players of the time.
lol then why is it that no funk brother has any recollection of Ms. Kaye recording on any records? (I've read standing in the shadows of motown from cover to cover, carol isn't ever mentioned recording its all James btw)
Hal Blaine the famous studio drummer who played on hundreds of sessions with Carol has called her out on her lies about this. Some try to justify her lies by saying she is confused because she played cover versions of these songs for Motown after they went to LA for some TV gig. But those that know her like Hal Blaine say that she has always been a bullshit artist. She even wrote to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when Jamerson was inducted to try and take credit for his work and have him removed. She is as low as you can get, lying to take credit for the work of someone who's dead. Any fool can tell the difference between Jamerson and her, there is no comparison. He was a genius and innovator, she was just a decent session player.
Why are the drums almost completely out of the mix??
It's stereo. Put the 2 headphones on your ears ;)
0:40 they fade up
Obviously, you didn't do do enough homework to see it is her playing on the song. Goggle her name, then go to her site and you will actually see her talking about doing it, as well as pictures of the actual session. it's not good to post inaccurate info. you rob the the actual person of their historical credits.thats not cool!!
donell1953 it's not Carol Kaye. She used a pick.. you would hear it ! I'd say it's not the final take that you hear on the recoding, probably an outtake
Have you ever heard of a felt pick? they are virtually the same as a finger. You can not tell the difference. i saw the actual film clip with her playing during the actual session.
Kay was part of the wrecking crew not Motown, a great musician but was not the bass player on this song
I'm sorry but I also have looked into it and there is no doubt that Carol was an incredible bass player and has a massive CV. This is definitely JJ playing on this track. If you have a good ear. you can tell hands down.
James played on this, huge difference in their style, he had more funk in his little finger than.........