| Author | Message | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 382 Registered: 1-2005 |
In high school, Stanley Clarke was one of my absolute favorite bass players. I had almost all of his solo albums (hadn't yet managed to penetrate Return to Forever yet) on vinyl. I practically wore out my copies of School Days and Modern Man. Not that I ever gave up on him, but I stopped listening to his solo stuff during college, though I finally got hip to Return to Forever! The only recent album of his that I have purchased is The Toys of Men which is good but I haven't really been able to get deeply into it. Anyway, I finally remembered that I could download the old solo stuff from the Apple Store so I went on a bit of a frenzy yesterday, downloading the songs that I remember liking from my old LPs (all gone now). The big thing I noticed is THE SOUND - having owned a couple of Alembics I feel like I can hear something in his sound(s) that I wasn't aware of or took for granted before. So what are your favorites? I'll give a couple: Rock 'n' Roll Jelly from Modern Man: guitar by Jeff Beck, drums by Carmine Appice, crazy solo by Stanley! Play the Bass 103 from Time Exposure: insane slap-fest with Louis Johnson, plus don't forget the piccolo parts My Life from Find Out!: kind of an '80s revisitation of "School Days" I've left some obvious ones out, but these to me are some of the gems buried in otherwise unremarkable albums - the beauty of the Apple Store! And to tell the truth, I ended up buying the entire Modern Man album because it was always one of my favorites - the interludes are beautiful, and some of the space themes are interesting. | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 950 Registered: 6-2002 |
"Lopsy Lu" "Desert Song" and "The Dancer" were a part of regular rotation in my tape deck during the early/mid 70s. Mike | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6945 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here's a nice little ditty: Medieval Overture | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 440 Registered: 7-2007 |
All of the above and below! "Basically Taps" - Stanley and Gregory Hines on "If This Bass Could Only Talk" has always been a favorite. "Life is Just a Game" is another. (Message edited by artswork99 on August 23, 2008) | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 383 Registered: 1-2005 |
I was looking for some older footage on YouTube - here's the Clarke/Duke Project doing "School Days" - looks like he's using a tenor bass, because notice where he plays the riff under the keyboard solo. And check out this version of "Hot Fun" from 1977 - it's great to see the people whose faces I've seen on the inside of the I Just Wanna Play For You album. And finally - this one I've never seen before, it's awesome - Stanley with Gregory Hines on the Arsenio Hall Show, doing stuff from If This Bass Could Only Talk Oh, and thanks for the link to "Medieval Overture" Dave - the video is hilarious, and yet fitting! (Message edited by hieronymous on August 22, 2008) (Message edited by hieronymous on August 22, 2008) | ||
| bassman68
Junior Username: bassman68 Post Number: 44 Registered: 10-2007 |
Great choices guys, love the links. Mine would be School days- Anthemic! Lopsy lu- Love the shuffle beat Stans version of 'Born in the USA'- a bit 'leftfield', but hats off to the guy! | ||
| pauldo
Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 65 Registered: 6-2006 |
Wow - how do you answer a question like that? Stan is "the Man" anything he touches is gold - I had the pleasure of meeting him in person at Shank Hall and he was the humblest, kindest, down to earth kind of guy you could ever wish to meet. Rocks, Pebbles and Sand Old Friends Quiet Afternoon and everything else that was already mentioned... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6948 Registered: 5-2002 |
Harry; the Hot Fun video was pretty cool! And the Clarke/Hines thing was terrific! | ||
| 3rd_ray
Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 78 Registered: 2-2008 |
Tough question. Harry, if you don't have Vertu' or The Rite of Strings, I would definitely recommend them. Some of my favorites are Renassaince and Anoche' from those CD's. Children of Forever has always been another favorite. Mike | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1234 Registered: 6-2002 |
I don't have rite of strings but do have the DVD of the concert with Al, Jean Luc Ponty and Stanley which is great. Vertu is a wicked album.. Right up there with the fusion. Highly recommended. the last track Toys is a monster. I want to do that one on a future gig. Jazzyvee | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6950 Registered: 5-2002 |
Vertu; beautiful! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1236 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm gutted I missed that gig Dave, that track is fantastic. Jazzyvee | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6952 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for reminding me of Vertu; I haven't listened to it in a while! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 568 Registered: 11-2004 |
'Old friends' along with the bass anthem 'School Days' 'Dayride' from 'Modern Man'(I think) 'Jamaican Boy' from 'I Wanna Play For You' Mind you I like the tongue in cheek funk of 'We Supply' from Rocks, Pebbles & Sand. I didn't like any of that 80's mellow soft disco stuff, maybe he was trying to cut into the commercial side of things during that period. Vertu itself is a vast combination of world music styles. 'Marakesh' is a great track from 'Vertu' along with the sonic onslaught of 'V-Wave'. Really there are just too many to list!!!! | ||
| bigbadbill
Senior Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 449 Registered: 10-2003 |
The entire Brown Album and Desert Song. The Brown Album is one of my favourite albums of all time, and it's the only solo bassist's album that comes anywhere near that sort of accolade (most solo bassist's albums I find completely snoresville). | ||
| bigbadbill
Senior Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 450 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oops, double post... (Message edited by bigbadbill on August 27, 2008) | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1875 Registered: 10-2002 |
'Brown album' shaun? If you mean the one with the brown bass on the cover it's called 'If this bass could only talk' and is indeed superb. Graeme | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1095 Registered: 2-2005 |
I think he was referring to Stanley's first album which has the brown cover. Keith | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1878 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ah, with vulcan princess and lopsy lu. Good choice. Back to the tap dancing, it's interesting how different the songs are played to how I percieved (and learnt) them. I've been playing ITBCOT above the 12th fret - Stanley was playing it much lower so I guess he's using his piccolo bass. Same with the main chords in schooldays - I was running down an 'A' chord shape from the 12th fret for years - sounded right at the time;-) Graeme | ||
| 3rd_ray
Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 82 Registered: 2-2008 |
Stanley's first solo album was Children of Forever. It's one of my favorites. The brown one was second. http://www.stanleyclarke.com/disc_pg.htm Mike | ||
| bigbadbill
Senior Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 451 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yep, the one with Lopsy Lu etc. Must admit I always thought it was his first. My dad bought it for me the same day I bought Jaco's first; ironically I much preferred Stanley's, unlike many. | ||
| fandange
Junior Username: fandange Post Number: 11 Registered: 9-2008 |
STANLEY CLARKE SAYS OF HIS VERY FIRST ALBUM (CHILDREN OF FOREVER) THAT HE DOESN'T LIKE HIS PLAYING AND THAT HIS FIRST ALBUM IS " STANLEY CLARKE" LOPSY LU IS A GOOD SONG BUT MY 3 FAVORITES ONES ARE IN THE ORDER HOT FUN, HOT FUN ENDING, AND SCHOOL DAYS. JACKO, I DON'T THINK STANLEY PLAYED HIS CARL THOMPSON PICCOLO ON SCHOOLDAYS. I WOULD SAY HIS TENOR ALEMBIC(ADGC). WHAT DO YOU THINK? BEST REGARDS TO ALL FANS AND BUILDERS!!!  | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 1081 Registered: 12-2004 |
Please don't take this wrong, but it is considered impolite to write in all caps (it is hard to read). | ||
| rockbassist
Intermediate Member Username: rockbassist Post Number: 155 Registered: 8-2005 |
I know that this is going to sound like blasphemy but I have never been a fan of Stanley Clarke and have only been a marginal fan of Jaco. I like Jaco's playing but do not care for his tone. I am more into the players who could walk and keep time as well. Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee, Craig MacGregor from Foghat, John Deacon from Queen, Mel Shacher from Grand Funk Railroad, Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith, Scott Ambush, Adam Clayton from U2. I love Marcus Miller's tone and saw him live a couple of years ago. I also am not a fan of instrumentals. I find them boring and self indulgent. Sorry if I offended anyone | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 402 Registered: 1-2005 |
No offense taken! There are so many different approaches to the bass, and to music general, and that's the way it should be! I love Donald "Duck" Dunn, "Mudcat" Ward, Keith Ferguson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), George Porter Jr. (Meters), but I also like the virtuosos like Stanley, Jaco, Jack Bruce, Billy Sheehan, Oteil Burbridge, as well as odd players like Les Claypool, Mike Gordon, Phil Lesh, Mick Karn, etc. There was a time when I was blown away by Stanley Clarke, then I stopped listening altogether. There was even a time more recently when I realized that he and Jaco were actually playing a lot of licks and it wasn't all spontaneous genius. But recently I've come back around and just get off on the energy, exuberance, and creativity of these virtuosic players. RE: instrumentals - I'm the opposite, I prefer instrumentals! Vocals are fine, but for some reason I don't really hear lyrics - I had the hardest time memorizing the words for songs that I would sing... | ||
| fandange
Junior Username: fandange Post Number: 14 Registered: 9-2008 |
ok I will write normally;I didn't know it was impolite; and for me it was more readable. Sorry. | ||
| mike1762
Intermediate Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 108 Registered: 1-2008 |
Kevin A lot of the "bass heroes" that are discussed on this forum don't appeal to me either. I can appreciate the technical ability it takes to play some of the stuff, but I can rarely listen to those type songs from beginning to end. I guess I have a "pop" sensibility in that it has always been about "the song" for me rather than virtuosity. I will often hear one of these guys and pick-up on some technique that I like and take that away from the encounter. An example is Victor Wooten's slap/pop... it had never occurred to me to use my thumb to pop a string after slapping it. That opened-up a new area to explore. CHRISTOPHE: DON"T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN OR WE WILL CONFISCATE YOUR CAP LOCK KEY!!! LOL!!! | ||
| ulf
Junior Username: ulf Post Number: 14 Registered: 5-2008 |
For me, Stanley ist the best bassplayer of the world . Jaco, if still alive, Jaco and Stanley would be the best bass players. Both have revolutionized the bass playing and bass sound. Stanleys harmonic virtuoses and incredible bass playing and the way he uses the bass as a solo instrument, is unique. one of my favorite songs is Wild Dog | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7041 Registered: 5-2002 |
Christophe; no problem. All caps can be difficult to read for a lot of people, myself included. One of our members who works in advertising confirmed that advertisers have found this to be the case. On the internet, the convention is to reserve all caps for when YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A POINT. The all caps in the last sentence really stand out, as if I were speaking louder. Thus on the internet, all caps has become synonymous with raising one's voice, i.e. shouting. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1910 Registered: 10-2002 |
Cristophe - I think you're probably right - Tenor it is. Don't know why I thought it was piccolo. Graeme | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 198 Registered: 5-2007 |
I love 'I Want to Play for Ya' and 'I Wanna Play for You' and 'East River Drive' | ||
| oujeebass
Intermediate Member Username: oujeebass Post Number: 130 Registered: 10-2002 |
Mike, you would like Animal Logic in which Stanley plays pop like songs. I really like both albums myself. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1252 Registered: 6-2002 |
I liked Animal Logic, but alas I found out about them by accident after it had all fizzled out. Some nice tracks on their albums though. | ||
| hankster
Intermediate Member Username: hankster Post Number: 180 Registered: 6-2004 |
Oops. Did I say John Carter? I meant John Clayton. Rick | ||
| blackcrayon
New Username: blackcrayon Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2008 |
@ Christophe & jacko: I'm pretty sure Stanley played his standard tuned brown bass on the school days song, so jacko your bassline riff was probably correct  Then later on he switched to using his tenor basses for that song exclusively. I think he played the carl thompson piccolo on Quiet Afternoon (and maybe a little riff in Life is Just a Game) but i dont think he even had the tenor bass yet when recording that album. I saw Return to Forever's last show of the tour, amazing, and I think Stanley was the star of the show. The only thing i actually didn't like was that he didn't go back to a standard EADG bass like he played back in the day- and he stuck with the tenor, which meant a lot of the bass parts i was used to had to be played an octave higher Other than that... incredible! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 431 Registered: 1-2005 |
+1 on a "regular" bass on the studio version of "School Days" - you can see him using the tenor (?) tuning in the video I posted above of the live clip by the Clarke/Duke Project. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7104 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Jay; welcome to the board! |
