Feb 16, 2010 04:28 pm I was wondering this a few weeks ago myself.
Bump.
Paul Simon bass sound
Posted on Feb 16, 2010 01:47 am
Killgallon
Member Since: Feb 15, 2010
Seriously what a great sound, anyone have any ideas on how it was achieved?
Recordings:
Parts of Graceland: You can call me Al and Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
The sound is on lots of his other recordings as well.
I think it's a fretless bass but it sounds really fat and round which leads me to think that even with a great player it's got to running through something besides an amp.
[ Back to Top ]
Feb 16, 2010 04:28 pm I was wondering this a few weeks ago myself.
Bump.
Feb 16, 2010 09:13 pm from Wikipedia:
"...Much of the responsibility of the success of the album was in the lead single, the upbeat "You Can Call Me Al", which lyrics describe a man experiencing an identity crisis. The track featured many memorable elements – a memorable synthesizer riff, an easy whistle solo, and an unusual bass run in which the second half was a reversed recording of the first half..."
Feb 16, 2010 10:28 pm Woah. That sounds interesting. I gotta go listen to this (yes forgive my ignorance on music created before i was conceived :P)
Feb 16, 2010 10:37 pm Hmm. Ya, i think wiki's right. When the song breaks for a second to just the bass riff it does sound like that. What an unusual technique haha. Definitely not something you hear in a bassline every day. I've never heard this song before. I gotta admit. I'm REALLY digging it. it makes me want more of this odd, upbeat, freaky 80's music lol. And the music video. So... i'm not even sure. I have a feeling i'm going to be youtubing 80's music all night now though. Thanks a lot Quincy :/
Feb 16, 2010 10:44 pm Look up LadySmith Black Mombasa.
They are the back up singers on Paul Simon's Graceland.
Feb 16, 2010 11:22 pm I like that Graceland album a lot. If you didn't hear the Amadou and Merriam song I posted a while back, "Mon Amor, Ma Cherie" you should check that out too. In fact, the Putomayo collection "Mali to Memphis" would be a great thing to get your hands on. Lots of cool African and delta blues music on it. The Amadou and Merriam song being one of them.
Feb 16, 2010 11:32 pm I always knew there was something odd about that little run. Sounded a bit off, but I never figured it out on my own.
Boy, this internet stuff sure is neat!
Feb 17, 2010 05:37 pm I realized after I posted that you aren't really getting any real answers to your query. Just us chatting about =).
I'll listen to them again and see what I can hear. I'm no expert, but maybe i'll get some marginally useful opinions.
Feb 18, 2010 12:10 am the recordings have been done in south africa in a small local studio. paul simon hired the sound engineer who had done all the simon and garfunkel sounds to go with him to africa.
this guy gave a detailled documentary on the graceland sound gathering in one of the last sound on sound magazines. although he owns several grammy's for best engineering sounds ever. the graceland album won highest applause for the bass ound and rhythm section worldwide.
they did the original recordings in south africa inthe wood planked rooms, the drum in the corner together with the bass in the same room. the bass player was - at that time - a no name, a beginner, now he is a world famous. also the guitarrist - i love the lick from graceland.
they did all the cutting and arranging later in new york, as well as the song composing and texting the lyrics.
aah i suggest you better read the article with all the details. let me search if i can find online somewhere.
yours
jp
Feb 18, 2010 12:32 am Just to let you know, Paul Simon used several different bass players on the Graceland album.
The one he used for Call me Al, was Bakithi Kumalo.
He used a fret less Washburn bass for that song.
He also lives here in Philly with his wife whom is a children's artist. And they are both great people........... But, he can drive me up the wall!!!!!
Stupid homemade Bass Preamp!!!!!
I tried to find his old website. But, I think he shut it down. He use to list all of the gear that he ever used on all of the albums that he played on.
I think if you dig around a little you should be able to find an old rider, or such on him.
Feb 18, 2010 12:55 pm Way back machine keeps old sites, and as i was curious as well, i tried www.paulsimon.com but the WBM server is having a hard time bringing me pages. Mostly data problems, or something.
meh. stupid internet =/
|
Related Forum Topics: |
If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.