By Thomas Semioli 

 

“He’s the baddest bass player in the U.S.A!” proclaimed the late, great Donny Hathaway from the stage of the Bitter End in New York City nearly 50 years ago (1971) – and that proclamation still holds true well into the 21st Century.

 

You know that jukebox that goes “doyt doyt” at Danny’s All-Star Joint? That’s Willie Weeks!

 

From the late 1960s to the present day, Willie Weeks continues to set the bar as a session player and sideman. A laid-back pocket player, Willie’s command of rhythm and blues, soul, country, jazz, and pop, and just about any permutation thereof has can be heard throughout the seminal recorded works of several artists including Stevie Wonder (“Misstra Know It All”), Rolling Stones (“It’s Only Rock n Roll), Chaka Kahn, Rickie Lee Jones, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, Vince Gill, Ron Wood , Etta James, John Scofield, Aretha Franklin, Joe Walsh, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Rod Stewart, Gregg Allman, Randy Newman, David Bowie (“Young Americans”), and Richard Thompson, to cite a very select few.

 

Willie’s weapons of choice include: Fender Precision and Fender Jazz basses, Kay, Alleva Coppolo, and his “WW” Willie Weeks signature bass by Bee Basses.

 

A giant of the instrument, Willie Weeks is long overdue for recognition in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 

Tom Semioli / Huffington Post “A Bass Player’s Rant: 33 Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” : https://bit.ly/2POxUJr

 

Willie Weeks Sound & Vision… (See Best Bass: Willie Weeks Know Your Bass Player Playlist – Spotify) 

 

Willie Weeks’ watershed solo on “Voices Inside (Everything is Everything)” https://youtu.be/3gpN-SJD-VY  from Donny’s iconic Live (1972) album remains a benchmark for bassists.

 

A rare Willie slap passage with  George Harrison “Woman Don’t You Cry for Me” https://youtu.be/47l0EzvjN4I

 

Willie and Eric Clapton on a live rendition of  “Motherless Children” https://youtu.be/h9d2ZeAvBgA

 

Rolling Stones “It’s Only Rock and Roll” https://youtu.be/DmgCy__eUa8

 

David Bowie “Young Americans”  https://youtu.be/iO6OvHxD_m8

 

Willie’s bass solo composition with Ron Wood “Crotch Music” https://youtu.be/KNAg8TVS2RY

 

Vince Gill “Never Alone” https://youtu.be/MtQvLF1ZKCg

 

James Taylor “I Was a Fool to Care” https://youtu.be/SnwZySCHyNw

 

Stevie Wonder “He’s Misstra Know It All” https://youtu.be/uivvYGyQiow

 

Rickie Lee Jones “Danny’s All Star Joint” https://youtu.be/T9dRLzd0sXU

A legend…an icon of the instrument!

 

If you grew up in the era of classic AM / FM radio, you grooved to Bob Babbitt, but you were likely unaware of the name…or his legacy!

 

Babbitt (born Robert Andrew Kranier) got his start in show biz as a professional wrestler! In the 1960s, Babbitt and James Jamerson alternated sessions with the top Motown artists until the imprint migrated to Los Angeles in the early 70s.

 

Rather than make the move out west, Bob settled in New York city and quickly became a first call session cat thanks to his Detroit pedigree. Babbitt also worked sessions in Philadelphia wherein he was instrumental (pun intended) in the city’s signature sound.

 

A member of the Music City Walk of Fame, Bob is featured prominently in the film Standing In the Shadows of Motown (2002). You can also catch a rare glimpse of Bob in action in Tim Curry’s campy music video “I Do the Rock” (see below).  

 

Bob’s weapon of choice was the Fender Precision and Phil Jones amplification.

 

Here’s Bob discussing his PJB gear: https://youtu.be/bOJqv9i5AXw (Follow the thread for the Three Part interview)

 

Bob Babbitt Sound & Vision…..

 

Edwin Starr “War” https://youtu.be/gKAM1NfMXY8

 

Jim Croce “I Got a Name” https://youtu.be/EG6ZlCpfVvU

 

The Temptations “Ball of Confusion” https://youtu.be/iYAEhgLgddk

 

Stevie Wonder “Signed Sealed Delivered” https://youtu.be/6To0fvX_wFA

 

Main Ingredient “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” https://youtu.be/2xMMZfLTkXA

 

Freda Payne “Band of Gold” https://youtu.be/daxiMb0rITA

 

Gladys Night & The Pips “Midnight Train to Georgia” https://youtu.be/A0F9lh8TiSM

 

Marvin Gaye “Inner City Blues” https://youtu.be/57Ykv1D0qEE

 

Jimi Hendrix “Crash Landing” https://youtu.be/LnG6qXE7xWk

 

Tim Curry “I Do the Rock” https://youtu.be/kXPCsaO_55o

 

The Capitols “Cool Jerk” https://youtu.be/R73iEOvkr10

 

Dig this performance of “Scorpio” at NAMM Nashville 2004 https://youtu.be/Lq-ATlSd-A8

 

Recorded live in 2004 at Summer NAMM in Nashville and now available from www.earwavemusic.com as a bonus cut on the DVD “The Day The Bass Players Took Over The World.”  “Scorpio” was originally recorded by Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band, featuring legendary Detroit (and NYC, Philly, and Nashville) session bassist Bob Babbitt, was an instrumental hit in the early 70s,  “Scorpio” has perhaps the longest bass solo on a pop hit ever, nearly half its 4 minute length. This live version features Bob as special guest, sitting in with Dave Pomeroy and the All-Bass Orchestra. Dave Pomeroy and Roy Vogt are playing piccolo and piccolino basses made by R.M. Mottola, a Massachusetts luthier, as part of a “family” of four basses, one with normal tuning, one up an octave (piccolo) and a pair up two octaves (piccolino). The All Bass Orchestra includes (L-R) Rick Taylor, Roy Vogt, Charlie Chadwick (upright) Dave Pomeroy, Dave Roe (upright) Bob Babbitt, Paul Arntz, Jackie Street. copyright 2012 by earwave music.

 

 

His slap/pop groove on “Glide” was a rite of passage for bassists of my generation.

A first call session cat, producer, and composer; Nathaniel Phillips co-founded the funk powerhouse Pleasure, and plied monster grooves for artists spanning Ronnie Laws, Roy Ayers, Jeff Lorber, Idris Muhammad, Herb Albert, Stevie Wonder, Bob James, En Vogue, and Toni Braxton to cite a select few.

Nathaniel Phillips Sound & Vision…with Pleasure 

“Glide” https://youtu.be/uo9u0vtOqHw

“Joyous” https://youtu.be/ezRwtHlQoM4

Leo Fender is credited with the invention of the electric bass as we know it, however it is James Lee Jamerson who created the rhythmic and harmonic language that (almost all) players utilize every time we pick up the instrument.

 

Even bassists who sound and play nothing like Jamerson, such as the late John Entwistle, Stanley Clarke, Jason Newstead, Geddy Lee, Billy Sheehan, Mike Watt, Victor Wooten, Flea, Sir Paul, among others, cite him as a major influence.

 

If Jamerson had never set aside the upright in the early 1960s when the bass guitar was in its infancy, perhaps the electric bass might not progressed beyond the scope of the tuba. We’ll never know. However we do know that the bible of the electric bass is the James Jamerson transcription book entitled Standing In the Shadows of Motown. Reading his rhythms, note choices, and voice leading is master course in electric bass in any genre of music.

 

The range of Jamerson’s artistry is immeasurable. Everything Jamerson recorded for Motown is essential, however his magnum opus is Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On – the greatest soul single and album ever committed to tape (note that James shared the bass duties on the long-player with Bob Babbit). James Jamerson’s status as the supreme electric bassist is – in essence – unsurpassable.

 

James Jamerson Sound & Vision

 

“What’s Going On” Live 1972 https://youtu.be/fPkM8F0sjSw

 

Standing In the Shadows of Motown https://youtu.be/cQ8AtNylq7k