Yolanda Charles M.B.E. (Paul Weller, Squeeze)

Courtesy of Yolanda Charles Facebook Com

 

By Thomas Semioli

 

First call UK session player/ side-woman, clinician, educator (Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester) Yolanda Charles’ genre traversing career spans such ensembles and artists including Urban Species, Paul Weller, Eric Clapton, BB King, Roger Daltrey, The Deep Mo, Dave Stewart, Van Morrison, Alison Moyet, Robbie Williams, Jimmy Somerville, Sinead O’Connor, and Squeeze to cite a very select few.

 

Starting out as a guitarist in her teens, Yolanda tended to pick out bass lines on her instrument. As such, instructor came up with a solution “you don’t want to be a guitar player, you want to be a bass player!” And the rest, as they say…is history!

 

Yolanda cites Marcus Miller’s work with Luther Vandross as an influence, along with Barry “Sunjohn” Johnson with Don Blackman’s Family Tradition.  Her first high profile gig was with Jimmy Somerville at the age of 18, which led to additional work – to which Charles credits her skills as a backing vocalist as well. 

 

For her services to music Ms. Charles was bestowed Member of the Order of the British Empire at the 2020 Birthday Honours, hence her MBE designation on Know Your Bass Player Com! 

 

Yolanda Charles Sound & Vision…

 

Project FUNK “We Live in Brooklyn” https://youtu.be/0uf7TxX0OEE

 

Paul Weller: “Shadow of the Sun” https://youtu.be/Jl8NzFQ7oM4

 

Squeeze: “Rough Ride” https://youtu.be/33lKPTFmD0E

 

Solo Yolanda: “The Game” https://youtu.be/pTvMoA1GyV4

 

The Deep Mo “These Times” https://youtu.be/wbNMl1xr9x4

 

 

Photo by Julien Fontenelli Courtesy of Yolanda Charles Facebook

Phil Spalding (Seal, The Who, Mike Oldfield, Toyah, Right Said Fred)

His website was modestly subtitled “Music & Mayhem” – and when you watch our interview with the late great Phil Spalding from Terminal Studios in Bermondsey, London – you’ll know why!

 

And if you’ve been listening to pop music on purpose or by accident, chances are you’ve heard Phil Spalding. A chameleonic player, composer, writer, and clinician, Mr. Spalding was that rare bassist who served a multitude of genres with authenticity and a sense of “joie de vivre.”

 

A groove and melodic master whose expertise extends to the stage and the studio Phil’s credits are astounding: Seal, Sir Mick, Sir Elton, Terence Trent D’Arby, Joe Cocker, Toyah, Mike Oldfield, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Right Said Fred (“I’m Too Sexy”),  Matthew Sweet, Bernie Torme, GTR with Steve Howe, Steve Hackett; Original Mirrors, Jewly Perso, Ray Charles, and if I keep dropping names I’ll break the internet….

 

Phil Spalding’s Know Your Bass Player Essay “The Journey” http://knowyourbassplayer.com/2022/06/30/phil-spalding-the-journey

 

Phil Spalding Sound & Vision…

 

Toyah in 1981: https://youtu.be/HWJWRbkGZBQ

 

Right Said Fred: https://youtu.be/P5mtclwloEQ

 

Original Mirrors “Boys Cry” https://youtu.be/XriIplP_-uE

 

Robbie Williams “Me and My Monkey” https://youtu.be/sY8LWPyOMpU

 

Mike Oldfield https://youtu.be/x5wP4SDYgro

 

Live with GTR from ‘86 https://youtu.be/qOujKHcwAW4

 

Phil and P.S.O. remake remodel of Mike Oldfield’s “Moonlight Shadow” https://youtu.be/Go-epkDEkvo

 

Phil Spalding Know Your Bass Player Interviews: