Battle of the Bassists

Thursday, 01 December 2011 20:51

I always used to think that the pecking order of a band was: lead singer, lead guitarist, second guitarist, bassist, drummer, roadie, and last and least Uncle Bert who drove the Transit. But then I heard Stanley Clarke and realised that just because the guitar had only four strings (and yes, some have five and six these days!) it didn’t mean it was an instrument for those who weren’t good enough to play “proper” guitar.

So pump up the lower frequencies, ignore the pansying around by the posing lead guitar throwing shapes to the front row Groupies, let’s have some growly grumbly action from the engine room of the band.

Seconds away, sound the de-tuned fog-horn, and let the bouts commence!

 

 

Bout 1. Jazz Fusion

Blue Corner: Stan Clarke (Return to Forever)

Red Corner: Joe Pastorius (Weather report)


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On both these tracks you can hear the virtuosity of these greats. In fact they were capable of so much more than just electric jazz rock fusion, Stanley plays a mean double-bass, while Joe’s playing is almost an ambient soundscape. Of course it’s a close-run thing, but on balance, Stan the Man gets it by a slapped de-tuned low E.

 

 

 

Bout 2. RockStock!

Blue Corner: Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)

Red Corner: John Entwistle (The Who)

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Enter the ring two giants from two mega-bands; the Fender Precision fingering bassist and lyricist for Black Sabbath (who we understand are about to get back together with their original line up), and for the Who, the late great iconic bassist, John Entwistle- the power behind the throne- the visual and actual anchor for the band. RIP Boris the Spider. John gets it solely because of that solo on My G-G-Generation. The first bass-solo ever on a single at that time (go on… try to prove me wrong)!

 

 

 

 

Bout 3. Happy Slappy Zappy (but not crappy) Thumble-Rumblers

 

Blue Corner: Mark King (Level 42)

 

Red Corner: Stu Hamm (plays with Joe Satriani)

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So here’s to two virtuoso bassists who slap, flick, pluck, snap, pick and thumb their instruments into submission. Both can keep the rhythm section alive and kicking, but when called for solo duty, can impress us with their moves. On balance, Mr Hamm gets the bout on points, because his solos contain such a lot of styles, and never descend into noodling self-indulgence.

 

 

Bout 4.  Dunk the Punk!

 
Blue Corner: Jean Jacques Burnel (Stranglers)

Red Corner: Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols)

 

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I guess this is really a no-contest- Sid admitted that he couldn’t really play, even when not zonked out on substances… whereas the tell-tale twang of JJ-Burnel’s Rickenbacker was a trademark sound of the Stranglers. Walking on the beaches looking at the peaches!

 

 

 

Bout 5. Goth v Glam Funk v New Romantics

A three-way triple-tag team Wrestling contest grapple-fans!

Blue Corner: Patricia Collins (Sisters of Mercy)

Red Corner: Bootsy Collins (Funkadelic)

Black and White corner: Mick Karn (Japan)

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Whoah! With so many genres, how do we unpick this one? Bootsy Collins, so dang Funky, and Mick Karn, RIP, so dang fluid with his fretless bass… ahh but the bassist for the Sisters’ Floodland album, looks a lot better than the other two put together… and has the best and simplest riff ever in Floodland- check it out below! Actually, I think that decision may be a fix- I’d better get out of the ring and head for the nearest taxi rank before I’m lynched by the baying crowd!

   

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10 Creepy-Crawlie Musical Connections

Thursday, 01 December 2011 20:14

They say that when man perishes, it will be the insects that take over the earth. Well maybe they have a really good system of Hive-ocrasy Government, and can reign supreme longer than Homo sapiens, but can they hold down a tune? Doubt it. So let’s have a look at musical connections to things creepy and crawly, and I don’t mean Jedward. 

 

1. Ugly Bug Ball- Burl Ives

A 1963 Musical called Summer Love (starring a very young Hayley Mills) had this song in it. At first, Walt Disney did not like the song." Songwriter Robert Sherman explained to Disney that to bugs, other bugs were not ugly, even if they looked ugly to us, beauty being in the eye of the beholder. Disney bought it and the song went on to become one of the popular songs of the year. It was sung by Burl Ives.

 

 

2.  Halo of Flies- Alice Cooper

The man who looks like a cross between a crazed Panda, and a bedraggled Burke and Hare sings about one of God’s least clever creations, flies. Wonder if Alice is troubled by them on the golf links? From his very popular album, Killer.





 3.  The Flies

They had a minor hit covering the 1966 Monkees hit “I’m not your (steppin’ stone) as their debut single. They slowed it down slightly but still kept the simple chord progression (if you must know, a repeating verse of E Major, G Major, A Major and C Major, and a repeating bridge in cut time of E major, G major, A major, and G major).  The song was also covered by various punk bands such as The Sex Pistols, Johnny Thunders, and The Farm. Unfortunately, the Flies must have run out of good manure to feed on, and quickly disappeared.





 4. Adam and the Ants

Formed 1977. Disbanded 1982. They were a semi-cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era via a dash of Glam-Rock.  Hits included Prince Charming, AntMusic, and this one here on the video- Stand and deliver. Three members of the first incarnation left to form Bow Wow Wow.





 5. Butterfly Ball- Roger Glover

Who would have thought that the purple Bassist was a Disney Musical wannabe? But this was a concept album that featured the late lamented Ronny James Dio (Dio, Rainbow, Heaven & Hell/Black Sabbath) on vocals.





 6. B. Bumble and the Stingers

Yes, yes, it’s a rather corny name, but don’t mock- their song "Nut Rocker" went to number 1 in the UK singles chart in May 1962. It was reissued in 1972 in the UK, and again made the charts (No. 20, week ending July 8 1972). It was also a live favourite when performed by prog-rockers Emerson, Lake & Palmer.




 7.  Flight of the Bumble Bee

A tune penned by Russian Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at the turn of the 20^th century, this frantic piece has been played by many musicians, but this video of Guitar Goddess Jennifer Batten finger-tappin’ the tune will certainly shake the Hive and have the drones Mexican-waving their feelers!

 

8.  The Scorpions

Creepy-crawlies don’t come much nastier than scorpions, and the German rockers that have taken that name have carved an impressive career over many decades. They are about to retire, so catch them while you still can! The video is of them performing one of their greats, “Rock You like a Hurricane” with an orchestra.




9. The Prodigy




The Prodigy have used the humble ant as their logo for a number of years, and it features on their videos and merchandise. Any excuse to show a Prodigy video is good for me- spot the ant symbols in it….

 

 


10. Links 2-3-4: Rammstein

Always innovative (and often controversial) in their videos, Rammstein excelled themselves with this great video- featuring football-playing and rock-loving ants. Links zwei drei vier; Ameisen werden die Welt regieren!

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10 Songs about Places

Thursday, 01 December 2011 17:26

People Stateside, in particular, seem to love singing songs about the places they live- but then they have names that sound so exotic- Phoenix, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Vermont...

Compare and contrast with some English places- Penge, Cockermouth, Shoeburyness, Wapping. Hardly conjuring up images of sweeping sun-soaked vistas where animals roam free... But here we go with some songs about cities and towns. Maybe your home is included here? But sorry if you live in Little Farting, the answer is no.

 

1. Fairytale of New York

"Fairytale of New York" is the song by the Irish rock group The Pogues, released in 1987 and featuring the British singer Kirsty MacColl. It got to No 1 in the UK charts. The song is about a drunken Irish immigrant's Christmas Eve reverie about holidays past while sleeping off a binge in a New York City. Do I really need to tell anyone that New York is in the USA??

2.  By the Time I Get to Phoenix (Glen Campbell)

Released in 1967, this song reached number 2 on the U.S. Country charts in 1968 and won two Grammy Awards—for Best Vocal Performance, Male; and Best Contemporary Male Solo Vocal Performance. By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising- By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working- By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'.  It’s said that no matter where the lady is that the singer is leaving, the geography of the lyrics is impossible, unless he was is a rocket! Phoenix is in Central Arizona.

 

 

3. Vienna (Ultravox)

 

A curiously catchy slow one from Midge Ure and the gang.  And what does it all mean? Well, it means nothing to me (Vienna). While some of the video was definitely shot in Vienna, about half of it was shot on locations in central London, mainly at Covent Garden, London and also in the old Kilburn Gaumont Theatre in North London, which became a Bingo hall and is now a church.

 

4.  London Calling (The Clash)

With one of the greatest sleeves ever, London Calling was the name of the double album and opening track from The Clash. This 1979 manic, apocalyptic, politically charged angry rant features the band's trademark combination of reggae bass lines, punk electric guitar and Grrr vocals. Why so angry boys?? Chill out! The song was written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The title refers to the BBC World Service's station identification: "This is London calling ...", that was delivered in a plummy posh accent and used at the start of during World War II broadcasts to other countries.

 

 

 
 

5. Rammstein

 

The German band started as they planned to go on- causing controversy, anger and outrage by calling themselves after United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. Not very controversial you say? Hang on though- Rammstein was the site of one of the worst air show disasters.  It took place in front of about 300,000 people on August 28 1988. Aircraft of the Italian Air Force display team collided during their display, crashing to the ground. Sixty-seven spectators and three pilots died.  In recent times Rammstein (the band and pyromancers) have denied that they names themselves after the air show crash site, but interestingly, their song called “Rammstein” has these lyrics (translated from German)-

A man is burning

Rammstein

The smell of flesh lies in the air

Rammstein

A child is dying

Rammstein

The sun is shining

Rammstein

A sea of flames

Rammstein

Blood is coagulating on the asphalt

I rest my case, gentlemen!

 
 

6. Hong Kong Garden (Siouxie and the Banshees)

 Hong Kong Garden was the debut single released by British band Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1978. It got to number seven in the UK singles chart. In fact it has nothing to do with Hong Kong…Siouxie Sioux herself explains:  "I'll never forget, there was a Chinese restaurant in Chislehurst called 'The Hong Kong Garden'. Me and my friend were really upset that we used to go there and like, occasionally when the skinheads would turn up it would really turn really ugly. These gits were just go in en masse and just terrorise these Chinese people who were working there. We’d try and say 'Leave them alone', you know. It was a kind of tribute."

 

 

7.  Goodbye Toulouse (Stranglers)





From the Stranglers’ first album, Rattus Norvegicus (1977) this was the first song that Jean-Jacques Burnel learnt the bass guitar part to after being recruited to the band in late 1976. The song describes the destruction of Toulouse, in France, as predicted by Nostradamus. Well as you can see from the photo- it’s still here! And here’s a rather shaky version of the song sung live by Hugh Cornwell, former front man of the Stranglers:

 8.  Papua New Guinea (Future Sound of London)

Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands. It is located in the south western Pacific Ocean, and has over 850 indigenous languages and at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of just under seven million! FSOL’s sublime track remains arguably their most recognizable and celebrated song, it has made several (British) "...best songs ever" polls and track specific accolades. Shortly after this song’s release in 1991, the duo (Brian Dougans and Garry Cobain) went very ambienty for their next album “Lifeforms”.

 

9.  Hollywood (Madonna)

From the album American Life, Hollywood was released as a single in 2003. It’s a sort of folk rock song that criticizes the life style of district Hollywood. Did well in the UK, but not in the States. Wonder why when all she was doing was attacking the phonyness of the American dream? Hollwood is in Los Angeles, California, famous for showbiz and the Movie industry.

10. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin)

 

From the double album Physical Graffiti, this superb song features a riff progression made in heaven, mystical lyrics and Moroccan/Arabic/Indian keyboard swathes.  Jimmy Page, Zepp’s guitarist had been working on the song on and off for three years before it was released in February 1975. Kashmir is a mountainous province in Northwest India.  Zeppelin’s song created a number of imitations/homages, including Rage Against The Machine’s “Wake up” (heard to great effect at the end of the first Matrix movie) and in a couple of parts in Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers”. Here are all three below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10 Christmas Connections

Thursday, 01 December 2011 16:33

Rather than the usual best-selling Christmas songs (cue Slade, Wizzard, Mud et al) here are some alternative musical Christmas connections. So deck the Halls, pin up the stockings, decorate the tree and light the fire in the hearth (no… don’t do that, you’ll singe santa’s red breeches!)

1 . Holly Johnson

   


Holly bushes, berries, and sprigs are synonymous with Yuletide.  From humble beginnings playing bass with punk bands in the 1970’s Holly found fame as lead singer with Frankie Goes to Hollwood in 1983 and 184. They had a string of hits including Relax, Two Tribes, and covers of songs like Ferry Cross the Mersey and The Power of Love (see video). His real name wasn’t Holly- it was William Johnson


 

2. Merry Punkmas- Christmas for Punks!

Probably not an album to take round your folks’ place to play alongside Andy Williams, Bing Crosby and 20 Christmas Carol Greats, but this was a collection of fine songs including Stiff Little Fingers’ rendition of White Christmas, and the Ramones with "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)!"



 

3. Rage Against The Cowell


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Using an internet and word-of-mouth campaign, those naughty semi-anarchists Rage Against The Machine decided to Hijack X-Factor’s 2009 Christmas Number 1 plans by co-ordinating the release of their own Christmas single, Killing in the Name Of.

It worked!

 

 

4.  Cringeworthy Christmas-1

 

I think the title of this country and western song says it all- “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”. She shouldn’t have been jaywalking dammit!

 

 

5. Cringeworthy Christmas-2

 

From this Christmas album comes the King of Cringe, John Denver, with the awful Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas). Pass the cheap Sherry!

 

 

6. Destiny’s Chore

 

Cash in-erama for Christmas. Destiny’s Child – “8 Days of Christmas.” The music video features Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle prancing around a toy store in three coordinated dodgy Santa Claus outfits. The trio sing a hip-hoppified version of “THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS” mixed with a repetitive bridge, which poses “Doesn’t it feel like Christmas?” No it doesn’t.  Synthy sleigh bells and sexy poses just make for a Yukky Yuletide, ladies. Excruciating- betcha can’t watch it to the end!

 

 

7.  Gothic Christmas

 

There’s tenuous link between the origins of Christmas, a pagan winter festival borrowed and adjusted by the Romans, and all things Goth. Here the link is cemented in “We’re Going to Have a Gothic Christmas” by Within Temptation. Great lyrics:

We're gonna have a Gothic Christmas: That is what we'll do. We're gonna have a Gothic Christmas: Hope you'll have one too. Santa's going to wear a black dress; Just for me and you. Santa's going to grunt in Latin; And slay a dragon or two. Rudolph, he will change his name, 'Cause "Rudolph" just sounds really lame— Now we'll call him Ragnagord, The evil reindeer overlord.

 

 

8.  Rudolph the Metal-Nosed reindeer

 

Another alternative Christmas Album, this time for Heavy Metallists. Just love that growly voice- imagine finding this dude coming down your chimney!

 

 

9. Hootenanny

 

 Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it-This is Jools Holland’s Hootenanny  the annual New Year's Eve music show presented by Jools Holland as an off-shoot of his Later... with Jools Holland series. It is generally broadcast between 11pm on 31 December and around 1am the following morning.  It’s had some great people on it, and is one of the most recorded programmes over the Christmas period (presumably because everyone is out celebrating Christmas, rather than stuck in front of the box with a candle, a cracker, a glass of cooking Sherry Cream and a twiglet.

 

10. Born on Christmas Day!

 

Finally, you can’t help feeling sorry for Annie Lennox, born in Aberdeen, Scotland on Christmas Day, 1954 . Imagine just getting one set of combined Christmas and Birthday presents!

 

 

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