The Most Famous Bass Solo in Pop Music
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- čas přidán 16. 03. 2022
- #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.paulthompson.us
Instagram @pdbass74 - Hudba
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!!!
Your obvious enthusiasm coupled with such a insightful analysis of these apparently 'simple' lines never fails to educate and inspire.
Thank you!
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.
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 czcams.com/video/80dsyo2Ox-0/video.html
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!!!
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
I live in the Shoals, and have been lucky to meet David....he's a class act and a very nice man!
Great vid!! 👍 👍👍
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.
Berry Oakley - intro for "Whipping Post"
AMEN, Bro'!!
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 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..
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 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.
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!
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"!
🤘🏻
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!
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.
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!
Another great post. Thanks for the history lesson on this particular song and bass line.
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. 🙄
Derek Smalls bass in “Big Bottom” rules-everything else drools.
......And that includes his cucumber.
or so I have been told.
Excellent always thank you!
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.
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.
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!
This solo has occupied a place in my heart and soul for as long as I can remember.
Thank you for celebrating it!
For what it's worth, Smashmouth pays homage to the solo by opening their cover of War's "Why Can't We Be Friends?" with it.
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'll Take You There" is definitely an earworm--once heard, it's tough to dislodge it from the mind (liked & subscribed ).
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...
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!
I've had a crush on Mavis Staples since around 1974, I can't be thr only one.
This was a huge hit. I loved Stax and still have my old 45's.
Thank You For Sharing Nice Interpretation 🏄♀️🎹🎤🎶😊
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!
Learned things I didn't know about one of my all-time favorite songs! Thanks!
Just a superb song. I was 9 years old groovin' to this song in 1971. They literally don't make 'em like this anymore.
Thank you for sharing do continue the great work you are doing 👏
One of my favorites
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.
great to know about this album from you! thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I still like the bass to Dr. My Eyes as played by Lee Sklar as the all-time best. 😁
An excellent choice!!!
Mavis during the solo..."Bass...little David, easy hea'h, help me now...c'mon little David, alright..." Sing it baby!
' hep me now ...' Cool , the middle name of every person in that room
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 72 years old. Was in college, a junior, in February 1972, the year this was released. I cannot imagine anyone my age not being familiar with this song, seeing as hit the number 1 slot on Billboard. Go figure.
It was very hard to imagine for me until I saw so many comments here. Makes me wonder what other music they ignored because song was ubiquitous back then.
I guess nothing should surprise me anymore.
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!
Excellent!
I turned up the volume on that bass solo back when I heard that song.
7 years old then and remember that song well!
Yeah , very infectious ! I was 16!
Awesome! I had to learn that for a lesson. Thanks for posting!
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!!
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.
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 😁😁.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Special thanks for providing the notation.
This song is awesome, I've loved it for decades. Great video, full of interesting info, breakdown and memories. Thanks from Colorado.
Love your analytics Man, please keep up the good work!
I remember it very well and is still one of my favorites today...
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.
Bravo. You're an incredibly skilled musician and videographer.
Love that bass line in I'll Take You There"; took me hours to master that break!
SO GOOD🎸
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!
Cool stuff. Great channel. Well done
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.
When you know the tune from the title of the video! Awesome research and analysis, as always...thank you!
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!
Great analysis. I remember that song. You would hear it everywhere back then.
I have a good one . Paul(Ramone) McCartney’ s bass intro to Steve Miller ‘s My Dark Hour🇺🇸🎸
I want to say, thank you for your content, I enjoy then a great deal. Keep them coming, please?
Good Ol Staples ... Loved their Music !
😮 what a bass line.
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!
Merci for taking us down there...where bassists go.
Love your stuff.. bassists forever🤘🖤
Great breakdown of a great bass line!!!
Lead bass intro by John Entwistle of The Who on " The Real Me" still gets my " Best Ever" vote.
"Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band.
Really love your channel keep up the good work
This brings back some old memories.. Gotta love those nerdy swampers..
I have this album and it has remained a favorite through all these years.
I concur! Thx
Great song! Great writing and performance!
Original bassline played by the great Jackie Jackson who was the bassist for Toots and the Maytals
That was a great presentation for people whose favorite instrument is the metronome.
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.
I know it's weird but this baseline always reminded me of a beautiful woman skipping through a field of wildflowers on a warm Spring day.
#T. May.
@@finnkdy May works.
One of my favorites of all time. Yeah
I'm quite partial to the bassline in Jethro Tull's Living in the Past. It was such a great and lively bit of playing by Glenn Cornick.
Bourée from Stand Up. It was the first I heard. I wouldn't argue with anyone over Living In The Past. Good there too. From Zeppelin the bass on Ramble On. Not a solo, still it's what I listen when hear the song.
@@johncook7281 You're right. Bouree is one of the few songs where the bass guitar is the foremost focus of the song. Later on it competes for it with the flute.
@@tullfan2560 Hello from John
❤️ given that “ska” as the predecessor to reggae was built around Motown and Stax vibe “version” music it’s totally acceptable at that time for the Jamaica vibe to flow back to the states 🇯🇲.
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!
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.
👍 I love stuff about 60’s and early 70’s music. Best music ever!
Gotta say your channel is both immensely educational and entertaining! Mil Gracias! I love when you do sleuthing and crate digging to uncover the (sometimes) esoteric players laying down the foundation for musical greatness! Its all about that BASS! Stumbled across a great Larry Coryell live performance in Oslo and was wondering if you knew anything about that funky cat on bass in 11th house!?!
Keep up the wonderful channel!
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.
Another great dissection of a familiar song we THOUGHT we knew.
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
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!
Thanks! I agree with everything!
Odd that nobody mentions the other Jack, as in Jack Cassidy from Jefferson Airplane. His work on "After Bathing At Baxter's (1967) is spectacular. Especially 'rejoice', 'Martha', 'The last Wall Of The Castle' and the jam, 'Spare Chaynge'.
No fan or player of the bass should be without this. Also, 'The Other Side Of This Life' from "Bless Its Pointed Little Head". It's just about as heavy as "Live At Leeds".
Casady is a beast. I had forgotten all about that as a favorite. ABAB is my favorite JA album. So much on there.
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)
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.