The #1 Bass Line of 1975
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- #bass #pop #history #transcription #analysis #paulthompson
Breaking down Billboard's 1975 #1 song and Grammy winner for Record Of the Year in 1976: "Love Will Keep Us Together"--composed by Neil Sedaka and performed by Captain and Tennille. I'll break down exactly what draws our ear to this 50-year-old bass part as well as break down the song's key elements (and explain how Neil Sedaka came up with it). I'll also break down the surprising bass performance on the recording by none other than the Captain himself on Fender P-Bass!
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We take these "evergreen" hits for granted, but there is so much intelligence and craft behind them, it's just humbling.
Thank you! I'm dying of cancer and some days are clouded with bummer nostalgia-Today is not that! I remember my 7 year old self bopping to the Captain&Tennille! Made me smile! Thank you I needed that! Cheers!!!
Cheers!
May peace be with you 🙏
Have a good day, bruv!
I love ❤️ your channel!!! You are like the Rick Beato of Bass!!!! 😂🎉🎉😂😂❤❤ I played Bass guitar in a couple of Hard Rock bands!!! It's awesome to see Bass being appreciated like it should!!! 😊
No, Rick is like the guitar version of this supreme channel.
Amazing! I knew he was a genius. Thank you for this gem of a post. I am grateful for you channel.
Rick Beato started as a bass player lol
That’s a compliment?! 😂
@@johnklekotka1028 Hey, if the intent is there 🤷🏼♂️
I was fortunate enough to tour with them (playing bass) back in the 90's. They had multiple hits including "Do That To Me One More Time" and "Muskrat Love". I had no idea Daryl played bass!
I remember getting hooked on that tune. 1975 was a good year for pop music.
When you dig into Daryl Dragon's history you come up with a lot. The band "The Dragons" was a legendary surf band that graced a few Hap Jepson films - If you can find the record "A Sea For Yourself" check it out. Also, the Dragon family was heavily involved with music. Daryl Dragon's father was Carmen Dragon, a renowned Hollywood symphony conductor, composer, and arranger.
He was born into a family of musicians, with his mother being a soprano singer named Eloise Dragon. Serious talent.
I almost spit my tea when I saw you in that hat that was awesome. This song was everywhere when I was at the summer camp on the east end of the Long Island. Every radio station played it
Never heard all the parts before. I was into a different vibe back then. Thank you, Sir, for PICKING it apart.
I'll feel old! I had the 45 and even watched their TV show. Thank you again PDBASS for continuing to educate us and the new generations of bass players!
I remember this song from junior high school. It was on the radio all the time. I had no idea he played bass on it. This is why I love your channel!
Who else remembers the Captain and Tennille tv show?
I just shared a clip from that show: "You're All I Need" C&T singing with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Delight!
I do. It was great.
@auldthymer I remember seeing that. Thanks.
I wished I met you 40 years ago when I started playing bass. You’re a real cool brother and very knowledgeable
I loved this song when I was 5 years old in 1976!!!! 😂😂😂😂 Very catchy tune!!! Wow!!! I thought that bass line was keyboard/piano!!! 😮 Im 53 years old now!!! And I still love this song!!!!
I confess I got kind of tired of this song back in the day, but your analysis of all the layers gave me some new appreciation. Thanks!
3:12 I think I have the same novelty captain's hat… for exactly the same reason.
We actually played this song our our wedding in 1993! I had to learn the bassline in order to teach the guy who was playing it at the wedding (I was my own drummer) because he couldn't figure it out. It worked pretty good.
Thanks again, man. I grew up with Captain and Tennille thanks to my parents' love of all kinds of "easy-listening" radio and 8-track music. And, seeing the thumbnail for this one, I hesitated for a second fearing that I was gonna get a deep dive into the weird "Muskrat Love" which still haunts my dreams. You knocked it out, though. Thanks again, and hope you're doing well.
Ahhh....my Senior year of high school. Good positive music. Thankee for this video. I had the honor of meeting and hanging out with Toni Tennille on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship I was performing on in 1989-90. She came on as a guest star and was so down to earth and polite on and off stage. Seemed to be no ego about her. She would would turn the conversation toward you. So this video made my day.
Really love how you’ve analyzed this song, and the fact that you have. Now at last I feel free to speak of the genius bass on their song “Lonely Night (Angel Face).” If nothing else, check it out. Now I understand the why of it: Daryl Dragon was a bassist too!
This guy loves music, and his wife. In 5-6 minutes he introduces, presents, analyzes, demonstrates, appreciates, evangelizes a topic, concept, player, performance, recording-- and then he's off! These are the tastiest compact soul fortifying meals on Music TH-cam. Genius!
Another great lesson, professor
It is both cheesy and brilliant, this song. I remember learning to play it on guitar some years ago and it opened my eyes on the use of augmented chords. Thanks for the break down of the bass line.
Captain and Tennille is more amazing than I’ve ever realized. This was a good appreciation video. I learned something today.
When I saw the Captain's photo, I originally thought this was going to be about "The Way I Want to Touch You." Another killer bass track by Daryl!
I was hoping the same! That's an underrated track in every aspect.
Big Captain & Tennille fan here. This was a pleasant surprise. I did NOT know my man Neil Sedaka wrote this. No wonder it is so good. Mr. Sedaka has some of the smoothest pipes in the business. Thank brother and sending my best to you and Mrs.
They even give the songwriter a shout-out during the outro; listen in the middle of the "da-da-da-das" when they sing "Sedaka is back!"
Great vid about a great song. It would be interesting to note that the Neil Sedaka original (another obsession of mine) was backed by members of 10cc, with a great line from their bassist, Graham Gouldman.
I was 4 when this song came out but I remember seeing them perform it on various tv shows of the day. Always loved the song and now I know why… The bass line! I guess that’s why I grew up to be a bass player! 😁
Appropriate song for the positive vibe of your videos. Great break down and video.
I was in 4th grade in 1975 and I remember that song being everywhere all the time.
I remember it too, but I had no idea it was this big. That arrangement got my attention back then. It grabs you.
Wonderful tribute to a lot of the people involved in this recording..
I'm a bassist and never knew Daryl played bass on this, just assumed he played a bunch of different keyboard /synth parts including the left hand bass and that Joe Osborn was there along w Hal.... Appreciate this post!
I LOVED C+T as a child. This makes me soooo happy. Thank you
Such a great track! The instrumentation really makes it swing
Your channel is so inspiring , the contents are so valuable ... each time I learn somethng...thank you
I was 15 in 1975 and this song was everywhere! I played guitar in a band with kids on my street and we did this song at every backyard barbecue we were invited to ! Great memories 😊
Nice. My parents were both Neil Sedaka and Captain & Tennille fans-- this tune was part of the tapestry of my childhood.
Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille were the Les Paul and Mary Ford of the 70's and 80's. If nothing else, this song was just the kick start Neil Sedaka needed in this phase of his career.
From the picture you showed, your wife is a lovely lady. You are certainly a blessed man. Thanks for great content, Paul!
That is so awesome, thank you!
Wow, this one's out of nowhere. Unexpected, and very cool. Thanks!
You are so right. It is a treat to listen to this song on headphones.
When I was in elementary school in the early 1960s, we would be treated in the classroom to the ceiling P.A. speakers introducing us to classical music via a syndicated radio program called “The Standard School Broadcast.” Presented by Standard Oil of California (now called Chevron), our host for this radio program was none other than Carmen Dragon, who was a composer, conductor and music arranger in Hollywood from the early 1940s through the late 1970s. He passed away in 1984.
It was when I first listened to the Captain and Tennille in the early 1970s, that I learned that the “captain,” Daryl Dragon, was the son of Carmen Dragon, the very voice coming out of the ceiling speakers at school, who had introduced me to classical music.
Daryl Dragon passed away in 2019 due to kidney failure at the age of 76, with his by then ex-wife Toni Tennille, by his side. I always enjoyed their music. Thank you, PDBass, for bringing back some memories for me.
One of my favorite songs of all time! Didn’t know that Sedaka wrote this.
Love your channel bro. Subscribed a few years ago. I appreciate your thorough presentation.
Wished you would do a deeper dive on Ohio based funk bands of the late 70’s - early 80’s, Mark Adams, Slave does not get enough attention for the work he did with Slave, Deja, and Aurra, some of the best funk bass playing ever
One of the best bass lines ever. It is amazingly fun to play on electric bass. The Captain was a bass badass.
Thank you for this. My main memory of this song is it being played repeatedly out of tiny factory car speakers. I have a new appreciation for it!❤
BRAVO. Thank you for bringing back these memories of almost forgotten times. And the joy that a good bass line has obviously always been the salt in the soup.
Aye aye Captain PD!
I love your channel. This is one of the songs I grew up listening to back in the day. They were indeed huge. I had no idea that Darryl was this level of a musician. The bass line does make this song. And then Tony kills the vocal track. This duo took a lot of flack for their style of music, but they were brilliant. As a bass player myself, I love seeing these bss lines broken down. The hat was the icing on the cake. Great episode. I'm going to have to plug in and learn this one.
Those crazy high pitched female background vocals are what get me every time. They’re bizarre and totally unexpected but unmistakably hooky. Genius.
Ok, I was there (70'S) music was segregated with soul music and pop music charts being separate. That song helped kick down those antiquated barriers as everyone loved it regardless of color. It helped bring us together as music lovers.
Charts were separated based on genre. Top 40 radio was a whole different story
I was 7 years old in 1975 and I remember how wildly popular this song was. And The Captain and Tennille had a popular TV show that helped them break their new music.
I didn't know Daryl Dragon played bass also. His father was an orchestra conductor so he probably grew up in a music filled home. RIP Daryl Dragon 🕊️.
New and original content? You are the man!
Had no idea this was the Number 1 song the year of my birth 😂 I've never appreciated this song at all, but your video changed that. Great job as always!
Great music was crafted by a few that made timeless hits. . These two had it all.
Talent. Vocals. Piano. Good looks. Rhythm.
Bass. I still enjoy it 50 yrs later.
Was just thinking I was going mad for not recognising this… checked and it only reached 32 in the UK. Passed us by!
At 8 years old I OD’d on syrup from that song. It was everywhere, couldn’t get away from it.
Loved this song back then, at ten, love it more now!
Great info. I knew from the album credits back then ( I was 18 years old in 1975) that he played bass on that ( I think it was listed as "Fender Bass") and was obviously an experienced player but I did not know the rest of the story. Yes, it's a really cool bass line.
Give ❤ Receive ❤
Daryl's famous father was the great musician, composer and orchestra leader Carmen Dragon. He recorded some good material for Capital Records as well as other labels during the 1940's 1950's and 1960's
Yes, glad someone mentioned that! Daryl also played with the Beach Boys for about 5 years, and his brother Dennis had a band called Surf Punks.
@audibletapehiss3764 What a musically talented family!
If you listen at 3:08 on the single, you can hear them incorporate the lyrics "Sedaka is back!". Took me 50+ years to hear it! What a great easter egg for a fantastic composer!
Thanks for reviewing a great, underrated pop gem - great bass line, wonderful chords and melody and vocal tracks
What a wonderful breakdown of a childhood classic!
❤️🙏❤️
I don’t recall this version - but I’ve always loved the Sedaka original - a great song!
I don’t think Love was able to keep the Captain and Tennille together! 😱😂
Bought that single in 1975 here in France, and still have it and enjoying it ! For the bass, but not only. 😉
I remember playing pinball at the arcade at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe with this out, playing on the PA. Me and a couple other middle school boys playing the tables and all of us were bopping to this song.
Another great video Paul! I especially loved your examples of the layered tracks for the vocals, etc. It's like looking at a masterpiece painting you've seen a 100 times and an art historian points out the details - we suddenly see the imagery in a whole new light!! (How do you get the isolated tracks from recordings for your videos?)
Played piccolo in the marching band and this song was my fave duet with the tubas!! 😍
Love your analysis...🙌 From 🇨🇵
My first concert was Captain and Tennille at the Arizona State Fair in 1975. I heard "Muskrat Love" before it was released.
you have great taste in music. this is one of my fav songs
Really like your channel sir awesome content and well put together, thanks for the entertainment
This was a really good and informative video. Keep up the good work 👍
Another good vid!!
Interesting for us bass players.
No hyperbole... Intelligent!
Keep up the good work... A lot of us enjoying your work!
Awesome analysis and tribute. I was in Jr High when this song crushed radio. C&T was a great group.
That song is seriously funky. Great pick.
And the song itself is just another example of how good a songwriter Sedaka was
Indeed Toni killed those vocals. Incredible song.
Right On! A killer lick.
Gracias hermano 🙏
Speaking of one of my favorites, Capt. Dragon, what a bass line on “The way I want to touch you”. That is my JAM! I always liked Toni when I was a kid, and wanted to play like Daryl.😢😊❤
LOVE THAT SONG❤
The captain’s hat was a great touch!
Daryl was an impressive musician. And yeah, that song was -everywhere- back then.
great video.
Ok, I LOLled at the hat and glasses.
I always loved this song and now I feel vindicated
love it
Great video! I'm not even calling this tune a "guilty pleasure" anymore; it was great music then, it's great music now.
Great video! Much love to you and your wife!
I remember this song quite well, I was a Teenager and it was everywhere then. He was an EXTREMELY Talented Man. I was digging Fusion, Early Hip Hop, growing up in the Bronx, Funkadelic etc, dug this bassline.
Nice Post. Ever think of Breaking Down a Mandrill Piece. I an crazy about Fencewalk, Mango Meat ,and Fat City Strut.
I've always loved this song as a guilty secret, it's cheesy as F***, but it's just so well done, Sedaka's version still soinds great, but The Captain, well, he's the boss! Tenille's vocals are just so spot on and the arrangement is a masterclass in how it's done. But, shhhh! Don't tell anyone I love it, it's our secret.
I love that record
I met Toni once and had a nice conversation with her after not actually realizing that she was her and I said "you look like Toni." She wasn't happy about that then I realized it was her. She was real cool!!!🎤🎵📻💯🤩💜👀😎🎼
Drum intro is excellent.
Graduated high school in’75. I was a couple-a years into my bass journey with my SG bass no name knock-off and my cobbled together junk amp. Cap’n & Tennille were pretty big back then. Cool bass line that.
1975: Love Will Keep Us Together
Enter 1980: Love Will Tear Us Apart...
Again.
Sincerely
Mike B. B. From Philly, P.A. U.S.A.
Love the hat!
On the Hal Blaine Facebook page, Hal talks about hearing the song going to #1 but he had no recollection of playing on it. When he did the drum part there were no vocals, so he did not recognise the the tune or melody line. He also had no idea who Captain & Tennille were. (Although he knew Daryl Dragon professionally)
pd❤her.
Toni Tennile was an honorary member of Beach Boys. She was a touring keyboard player with them.
This song was the kindling for the fire that Koko Goldstein kept for smooth music.