Bass Guitarists for the Win - According to Science

 

Bruce, Flea, James, JT, Paul and Sandy

Something I already knew long ago and now I got science to back it up! From Alan Cross’ A Journal of Musical Things:

[According to] an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the bassist is who holds a band together.

It was also a great excuse to post a sampling of some of the most amazing bassists.

Top Left to Right:

⭐️: Bruce Douglas (the Reaction, Snatch)

📸: Mark Jordan

📍: Friars Aylesbury, 1978

🔗: The Reaction - I Can't Resist/I'm A Case

 

⭐️: Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

📸: Frank Micelotta

📍: Woodstock, 1994

🔗: Flea - The Best Solo

 

⭐️: James Jamerson

📸: ?

📍: Blues Unlimited, 1964

🔗: Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Live 1972)

 

⭐️: John Taylor (Duran Duran, the Power Station, Neurotic Outsiders)

📸: Denis O’Regan

📍: Oakland Coliseum, 1984

🔗: Duran Duran - Rio (isolated bass)

 

⭐️: Paul Webb (Talk Talk, .O.Rang, Rustin Man)

📸: George C. Bekker

📍: Torhout Festival, 1986

🔗: Talk Talk - Today (Live at the Paris Studio, 1982)

 

 ⭐️: Sandy Horne (the Spoons)

📸: me 😁
📍: The Tattoo Parlour, 2010
🔗: the Spoons - Romantic Traffic

🔗 (Science article): https://www.pnas.org/content/111/28/10383
🔗 (A Journal of Musical Things): https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/science-says-that-the-most-important-member-of-a-band-is/

Alan Cross is the host of an amazing radio show/podcast "The Ongoing History of New Music" which is filled with bits of trivia and a sampling of some amazing alternative music. Like Pop-Up Video, but better music and facts without the bubble sound effects. He's been doing it for many years and I was happy to rediscover the show recently.

Stuff I'm LIstening To - Happy Birthday Roger Taylor

Artist: Duran Duran

Title: the Wild Boys

Favourite Lyrics: 
You got sirens for a welcome
There's bloodstain for your pain
And your telephone been ringing
While you're dancing in the rain
Wild boys wonder where is glory
Where is all you angels


Why?: If asked what my favourite single from Duran Duran is, this is quite possibly at the top of the list. It was that moment when Duran Duran went slightly edgier and darker and ... more science fictiony... for lack of a better word. But it was Roger who instantly made this song the instantly recognizable hit that it became. Thanks for this and happy birthday Roger Taylor!

Stuff I'm Listening To - Happy Birthday Andy Taylor

Artist: Andy Taylor

Title: Take It Easy

Lyrics: 
Always loved your coloured hair
Always loved the clothes you wear
I can say that you turn me on
Why not stay all night long

Why?: 
He was that little bit of harder sounding edge to Duran Duran's pop sound back in the day and helped make their sound pretty awesome. Lyrically, he was no Simon leBon, but jeez, can he play a great rockin' guitar. The last time I saw the boys live, during their 'Astronaut' tour, he was still rocking old school hard, bottle of Jack Daniels off to the side. I wouldn't have expected anything less. Happy birthday!

Stuff I'm Listening To #70 - A Week of Soundtracks - James Bond

Artist: John Barry, Bill Conti, Duran Duran, Rita Coolidge, a-Ha, Sheena Easton

Favourite Tracks: A View To A Kill, All Time High (from Octopussy), For Your Eyes Only, The Living Daylights

Why?:
In two words? Duran Duran! 

Remember? I am and forever will be a Duranie. They wrote a song for a Bond movie, so automatically, that track will be my favourite. (As an added bonus, having Grace Jones in a Bond film? Simply amazing. I fully admit, I have a crush on Grace. The 80s were a magical time and she's a phenomenal woman.)

I really like James Bond! (I really love the Aston Martin car too! Though I have a model of the Lotus Esprit from 'The Spy Who Loved Me' so I have a soft spot for that car too.) They cast a new Bond every three to five movies so he stays fresh! He's like the Doctor (Who) but for spy buffs. Everyone has a favourite Bond. I have a first Bond, and that's Roger Moore, and by default he was my favourite for a while. I've seen most of his Bond films and enjoyed them. But I was a bit too young the first time I saw Octopussy on TV with my dad and brother, but I remember the song. I liked the dreamy song. 

I was likely around five when I saw my first Bond flick with Roger, so he left quite the impression on me, and it was probably 'Moonraker' because I have a vivid recollection of the henchman named Jaws who I was able to relate to. I thought Roger was a lovely and friendly British man (I wasn't wrong - seriously, click on that link... worth it). My favourite Bond is currently Daniel Craig, I think, because they updated Bond really well with him. I really wanted Mr. Remington Steele, Pierce Brosnan, to be my favourite. But his scripts were pretty terrible. He had a good video game though with 'Golden Eye'. For the record, if ever the Ultrahouse 3000 becomes a real thing, I would totally pick the Pierce Brosnan setting and yes, yes, I'm digressing. 

I can't say much for Sean Connery. I tried watching his films a while ago, but they've become increasingly problematic in the sense that they're very dated for me. I'll give it another go, I promise. As for Timothy Dalton... Sorry! You suffered the same terrible script fate as my beloved Remington Steele. 

For this particular go, I'm sticking simply with the title track. The rest of the soundtracks are always good. John Barry (and Bill Conti for 'For Your Eyes Only') were pretty good composers (I mean Bill Conti composed music for 'Rocky'!) and their pieces fit every scene, between high action and the sexy fun times in the Bond flicks. 

I think what I love most about each Bond theme was they were as much a Duran Duran, a-Ha or Sheena Easton song as they were a Bond theme. Even Paul McCartney managed to pull of a theme that managed to strangely marry his McCartney and Wings style to it. (I didn't mention 'Live and Let Die' because this would have just started to become a crowded list of all Bond themes). 

Should watch any of Roger Moore's films? Sure. James Bond was always going to be a little on the ridiculous side during the 80s and those films were just that. A little more comedy than action. But it's a movie, and they're supposed to be entertaining right? Roger Moore as James Bond is absolutely entertaining and it's obvious they were having fun. If you wanted something a little more edgy, move onto Daniel Craig. Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton were victims of the script writing trying to write hammy Roger Moore stuff but trying to be too serious about it all at the same time. Plus trying to find a common enemy after the fall of the Berlin Wall made it hard for Bond to exist during those days. 

Forgive me, I have one final slight digression to make. I dunno about you guys, but have you heard Rustin Man's (Paul Webb's) album Drift Code? After hearing the track "Our Tomorrows" I think they should ask him to write a Bond theme. Just saying.

 





All Time High - Rita Coolidge - from Octopussy


For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton


The Living Daylighs - a-Ha

Stuff I'm Listening To #69 - A Week of Soundtracks - South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut

WARNING: 'South Park' ahead! Avert your eyes and ears children!


Artists: Various, Matt Stone and Trey Parker

Favourite Pieces: Uncle F*cka, What Would Brian Boitano Do?, and Blame Canada

Why?: 
South Park? That crass movie? Honestly? 

Yup. 

What a lot of people seem fail to see when it comes to South Park is it's very musical. The creators clearly had a love for the old Hollywood musicals. Yes, obviously, South Park is a crass, terrible cartoon that's not meant for little children, but then, neither was Bugs Bunny, the Flintstones and the Simpsons!

But if you did sit your kids in front of these shows what would they take from them? Bugs Bunny? We've already gone through that. Classical Music appreciation and that tying a giant rocket to your back with ACME written on it, with roller skates on is NOT the ideal way to capture a road runner. 

The Flintstones? Well, it's the tamer of the ones I've put up. It was a little bit 'The Honeymooners' but with dinosaurs! At the end of the day, you see just how dedicated Fred was to Wilma, Fred to Betty. Despite all the shenanigans and shortcomings, Fred (and Barney) were always dedicated husbands and fathers. The same goes for the Simpsons, where, at the end of the day, Homer did his best to help his family. 

If you're wondering, yes, I'm digressing... Let's move along. 

What does the movie South Park teach us? There were so many life lessons plunked into this movie. It was fun. But we didn't come for the morals, we came for a South Park cartoon that was long and terribly funny. 'Blame Canada was nominated for an Academy Award! If you're going to blame someone else for your problems, it's best to have a moving call-to-action song against a common enemy of flappy-headed Canadians. 

It was clear this movie was inspired by old Hollywood musicals and in general, musicals. The plot is loosely based around Les Miserables; look at the song 'La Resistance' if you weren't sure.  The opening song, 'Mountain Town' is an amazing introduction, soft and idylic. It was what your childhood was all about. 

And in classic South Park style, they dive head first into the crude. About ten minutes into the movie, we are introduced to the best piece of the movie. 'Uncle Fucker' is a typical dance routine with fanfare. The dueling farts sequence? Awesome. 

'What Would Brian Boitano Do?'is a catchy call to action tune as well. Filled with bardic type legends of how heroic Brian Boitano was. I ask myself this question for critical life decisions all the time. Except... I'm Canadian, so I freely admit I switch the lyrics up and it's Brian Orser, because, Canada. 

This movie has everything! For those wondering why I didn't not mention "Kyle's Mom Is A Bitch", well... I love the song. I really do. I won't tell you it reminds me of an ex's mother. But it wasn't originally written for the movie.

My teenage boy mentality tells me that if you're an aficionado for fart jokes and reasonably good story telling with a healthy dose of parody and satire, this is the movie for you.  

BONUS UPDATE: Special thanks to @viewfromnowhen on insta who pointed out there exists a video of Simon leBon from Duran Duran singing 'Uncle F*cka'. Woot!

What Would Brian Boitano Do? 

Uncle F*cker
 

Stuff I'm Listening To - #66 - Arcadia - Keep Me In the Dark

Nicky Peanut watches wearily as I photograph him with his favourite vinyl.

Artist: Arcadia

Title: Keep Me In The Dark

Favourite Lyrics: 
When without words you call me closer each time you turn away
Something inside you cries but is it something I'll never find

Why?: Happy birthday Simon LeBon!

This is the original 1985 vinyl release pictured above. My cat approved of the selection for today.

When I first started collecting music, it resided largely on cassettes. They were compact, reasonably priced and portable. Vinyl purchases were still necessary, as album artwork was always inferior on cassette inserts. When I started collecting Duran Duran, there was a convenience store nearby that had racks of old records from the 80s for sale from anywhere between $2 and $5. The covers were all damaged, with a hole poked through the bottom left corner. Half of my Duran Duran collection came from that store.

One of the records that emerged from that store was this album and I came to realise that I wasn't a Duranie so much as I was a huge fan of Arcadia. Everything about this off-shoot of Duran Duran was beautiful to me. A bit gothy, a bit moody, a bit pretentious, a bit artsy, and a budget that allowed Nick Rhodes and Simon LeBon to indulge their musical explorations at the time. Just as John Taylor and Andy Taylor embarked on their own side project, and amazing rock album as the Power Station with legendary vocalist Robert Palmer and drummer from Chic, Tony Thompson. 

But I wasn't so much into rock. This moody-synth pop that Arcadia was offering fit me best at the time, a bit gothy, a lot moody and a bit pretentious and (trying to be) artsy. I'm particularly in love with the hidden codes on the album cover. It's a simple code but added to the mystic of the whole Arcadia thing. The hidden code makes me giggle as it may have had something to do with their added entry into a book called "The Rock Report" by Fletcher A Brothers, which tried to detail all the places in pop and rock music during the 80s where the devil was showing up. It's hard to tell at times if this was satire or not. 

While I adore the entire album, the second track immediately struck a chord with me. Something about the way Simon sounds as he's singing those lines hits me right in the feels. The way he sounds when he's harmonizing with himself... Ahem... I'm going to a need a moment...

Stuff I'm Listening To - A Week of Covers - Day 1- Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)

Artist: Duran Duran

Original Artist: Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (linked below)

Title: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)

Lyrics: 
There ain't no more, you've taken everything

From my belief in Mother Earth
Can you ignore my faith in everything
'Cause I know what faith is and what it's worth

Why?: The first time I heard this song was when I was 13 years old, and just diving into Duran Duran's extensive back library in 1988. Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon in 1982 and released as a B-side to The Reflex 12" single I did not quite realise for about ten minutes that this was even a cover... and then I read the label on my newly acquired vinyl. 

I had no idea who Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel were at the time. Remember, this was pre-internet so it was quite some time before I found a used tape with the original song on it and I fully admit, I did not like the original version. I was still honing my musical chops and still sweet on 80s synth pop (and still am). So this was the furthest from what I was listening to at the time. It would be many years before I finally began to appreciate the original version, but Duran Duran's cover remains my favourite. I can't answer exactly why Duran Duran's version gave me (still gives me) goosebumps. I think something about how it sounded like a Duran Duran song (to me) but markedly different. It gave me this enormous feeling of nostalgia, even though, at 14, what the heck did I have in life experiences to make me feel that level of nostalgia? But that's what I felt. Simon leBon's voice gave me the kind of shivers and goosebumps when I was a teenager that Mark Hollis' voice does to me now. Having brought up Duran Duran's version of song after many years of not hearing it, I giggled and was awed by it once again. I'm still a Duranie at heart. That's never going to change.

Linked below, the original Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel version and BONUS: Erasure's version (which I also enjoyed) from their cover album Other People's Songs complete with their accompanying weirdly wonderful video.

Stuff I'm Listening To: Special Happy Birthday John Taylor edition

Artist: Duran Duran
Title: Lonely In Your Nightmare
Lyrics:
Must be lucky weather when you find the kind of wind that you need
C'mon show me all the light and shade that made your name
I know you've got it in your head, I've seen that look before
You've built your refuge turns you captive all the same

Why?: Well, it's John Taylor’s birthday. He is one of my favourite bassists. If you haven’t figured it out, I have a thing for hot bassists (Paul Webb, Paul McCartney, Sting, Sandy Horne). I think his work on this song is beautiful and I discovered that it’s a fretless bass that's giving this beautiful sound. I love his work on Last Chance on the Stairway too, but I’ve already posted it before (on FB anyway). 

Also, I need to show of my John Taylor swag. I had met him during the same autograph session that had Nick Rhodes remembering the photo of us was taken on (sic) my birthday (it was near my birthday) and pulled that out of the blue three years after the fact. John was far more interested in my friend's Cult T-shirt (thinking it was Guns and Roses) than me. I don't take it personally. There was a lot going on that day as the autograph session was poorly planned and by the time I'd made my way to the front (injured knee and all) we were being paraded past them as if they were zoo animals on display. 

So below is his book, In the Pleasure Groove and the audio CD signed (purchased from Amazon). 

I can't tell you it's a great book without sounding biased. But it was a good read. If you liked the 80s, grab it. If you like biographies, grab it. If you like Duran Duran, shame on you if you don't already own it. ;) 

Happy birthday John Taylor, hot bass guitarist. :) 

Stuff I'm Listening To - Special Birthday Edition - Happy Birthday Nick Rhodes

Artist: Arcadia
 
Title: Missing
 
Lyrics: 

And as I wander down to where you lay
The blood rushed up to meet the roses
In your hair
I thought I saw you smile
But now I don't see you anywhere
Whispering your love song in my ear
How can you touch me
When you're not really there?
 
Why?: If anyone out here thought I would neglect to mention my first rock star love, Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran birthday, you’re sadly mistaken. And if you all thought I wouldn’t take this opportunity to repost, yet again, our photo together… you clearly don’t know me that well. HAHAHA! Happy birthday Nick! 

Hey Look. I met this guy. <3

Stuff I'm Listening To #12 - Duran Duran

Artist: Duran Duran 

Title: Rio

Lyrics:
Hey now (wow) look at that did he nearly run you down

At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive
You make me feel alive, alive, alive!

TL:DR: I like Duran Duran because they sound good, make good videos and the members are eye candy. Happy birthday Simon leBon

Why?: Happy Birthday Simon leBon, lead singer of Duran Duran. 

I’d been meaning to add some kind of commentary to my choices on this list but feel that my wordy posts get lost on most people.

Today I say “Well f that! This is my Facebook and I’ll prattle on if I want to!”

Why this song today? Well... it’s the lead singer’s birthday. Anyone who knows me knows they were a huge part of my life. I always appreciated the pop dancey music, the not-100% sure what he’s talking about lyrics, and of course, super gorgeous men and spiffy videos. 

Musically, I felt these guys have always been underrated by critics, but music is supposed to be entertaining. Just because it’s not a deep, thoughtful depressing look into all that’s wrong with humanity, doesn’t mean it’s not a great pop tune.

Bonus: Listen to the isolated bass. Don’t tell me John Taylor isn’t a talented bass guitarist. This baseline, for me, could stand alone. *Give me a moment, will ya? *fans self*