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BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 17
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 5:11 am: �� |     ���  |
I dragged this over from the old forum as it just started before the move.We all know something of Jamerson and Babbitt, but there were lots of other Motown bassists - Tweed Beard of legend, Nate East who was on the SITSOM picture and also played with certain well known west coast types. Tony Newton came to the UK on the first Motortown Revue to pass this way. Who else was the bottom of the class in the class where the bottom was tops? And who has recollections to share with SD?
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Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 39
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 11:29 pm: �� | ��� |
Bill Upchurch played bass for The Supremes (Jean, Cindy, Mary) when Gil Askey was their musical director.
S.S. |
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 19
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 3:30 am: �� | ��� |
Was that Bill or Phil, Soul Sis? Either way I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. I know Phil Upchurch played on one of the live albums - was it with the Temps? There was also someone called Jimmy Garrett who played with the Supremes at one time, if my memory serves. Don't know where I got that name from.
As for the great Tony Newton, I've tracked him down and we're talking. |
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 20
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 3:33 am: �� | ��� |
I forgot to change Nate East to Nate Watts when I cut and pasted my original post. |
Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 41
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:29 am: �� | ��� |
Bankhousae Dave;
NOT Phil (whom Bill joked was his brother) Bill Upchurch lived in L.A.
Here is a photo I took of Bill backstage at the Apollo Theater's Xmas Show 1970:
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Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 42
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:49 am: �� | ��� |
Well Bankhouse, since I have a minute to kill, here's another of Bill Upchurch:
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Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 43
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:50 am: �� | ��� |
The Supremes at the time:
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Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 44
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:53 am: �� | ��� |
Jean Terrell:
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BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 21
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 11:07 am: �� | ��� |
Thanks for sharing those brilliant pics, Soul Sis. It's great to put some faces and names to these people. Would it have been Bill on the Copa album. The bass was mixed right up on that album and was very much the lead instrument. Of course, as Kev pointed out on an earlier thread, it probably wasn't as fast on the night and was speeded up to fit on the vinyl.
Years ago (in the Diana days), the Supremes appeared on a Royal Variety Show in the presence of the Her Maj. The Palladium Orchestra was augmented with a rhythm section the girls brought with them. We didn't know any of the names and faces back then. There was a piano player and the guitarist(s) and bass player were all seated in a row behind the Sups, in tuxes and bowties, on their best behaviour. I don't remember what song it was - memory suggests Love Child, which could be true - but there came a point where the bassplayer could keep a lid on it no longer and he dropped to his knees to wrestle with his axe.
It may be that a tape of that exists somewhere other than in my head. |
Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 45
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 1:03 pm: �� | ��� |
Bankhouse;
Not sure if it was Bill on the album because I never bought any Supremmes albums or records, just thought they were too popish for my 'soulful taste' . Though I love Mary Wilson, she was sweet & gracious when I met her.
Yes, I too remember the band, Bill & the rest wearing their black tux's & bow ties back then!
S.S.
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BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 22
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 4:04 pm: �� | ��� |
I had soulful tastes too, Soul Sis, but I never knew anyone conveyed real joy like the Supremes. A lot of people thought they were lightweight, but they took me to a plane I couldn't share with those people. A lot of the music I loved was down and dirty, Diana and the girls were up and clean, but that's no bad thing, is it? |
Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 46
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 4:12 pm: �� | ��� |
Bankhouse;
Thats cool, its all good I did have one album I confess by them with Jean, Cindy, & Mary, with Nathan Jones, etc. This one:
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BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 4:21 pm: �� | ��� |
Now Sis:
You should warn me before posting pictures like this of Mary, I'm only flesh and blood, after all. We used to have a thing in the UK (not the TV series) called Top Of The Pops, budget LPs which were terrible imitations of chart records done by rather arrogant session musicians with cloth ears. The worst of many atrocities they were guilty of was their version of Nathan Jones. |
BassLand (bassland)
2-Debutant
Username: bassland
Post Number: 15
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 67.115.73.234
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 5:06 pm: �� | ��� |
I met Bill Upchurch when I replaced him in a band called Louis Thomas' "Pieces of Eight". Bill was recovering from his stroke and was there (we were playing a Jazz festival at the Santa Anita Race Track) to check out the cat who was replacing him. We talked a lot and talked about Motown and Jamerson. I miss his warmth and encouragement.
I also count Tony Newton as a friend and we have gigged together. He is an increadable musican (You should hear him play keyboards!)
BL |
Russ Terrana (russ_terrana)
1-Arriviste
Username: russ_terrana
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 198.178.8.81
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 5:11 pm: �� | ��� |
Another great bass player in LA that was used on a ton of projects was Freddie Washington. The man can play! He is a great guy and I was thrilled to see him last year in LA at the Funks concert. |
SOULBOY (soulboy)
1-Arriviste
Username: soulboy
Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 213.105.224.5
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 5:17 pm: �� | ��� |
There was also a guy called Clarence Isabel who was a bassist during the early years,does anyone know on what hits he performed?? |
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 26
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 5:19 pm: �� | ��� |
Thanks for all this great stuff. I'm looking forward to hearing Tony play keyboards. It also seems he invented some kind of multimedia enhancement thing, though as a cyber-lunkhead, I don't quite get what. Ready Freddy's name is among the legends, Russ. Did the Jimmy Garrett name mean anything to you?
I recall being told the name and saying, don't you mean Jimmy Garrison (then playing with Coltrane)? No, I was told. This guy is an electric bass player who works with the Supremes.
Again I am relying on memory from four decades back. Maybe part or all of the name is wrong. |
BassLand (bassland)
2-Debutant
Username: bassland
Post Number: 16
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 67.115.73.234
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 6:19 pm: �� | ��� |
Tony Newton and BassLand
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Soul Sister (soul_sister)
3-Pundit
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 48
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.73.160.101
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:10 pm: �� | ��� |
Hey Bassland;
Yeah Bill was a sweet person, wish he was still around, one of the good guys.
S.S. |
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 28
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 3:27 am: �� | ��� |
Brilliant picture, Bassland |
john c (john_c)
1-Arriviste
Username: john_c
Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.2.233.107
| | Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 10:55 am: �� | ��� |
Bob (bassland),
Do you know any tracks Tony Newton played on? |
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
2-Debutant
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 30
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 3:29 pm: �� | ��� |
John C:
According to the brief bio on his website, he played on Baby Love, Stop In The Name of Love and Nowhere to Run and some J5 stuff among others. |
BassLand (bassland)
2-Debutant
Username: bassland
Post Number: 17
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 67.115.75.38
| | Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 7:19 pm: �� | ��� |
A couple of those were 2 bass hits with him and Jamerosn playing counterpoint. I got this straight from Tony. I think Baby Love was definmately one of the tunes mentioned. Tony also played bass on some HDH Invictus records and other companies. |
MagyarEd (magyared)
1-Arriviste
Username: magyared
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 209.163.99.35
| | Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 7:21 pm: �� | ��� |
DAMN IT!!!!!
I wish that Motown had given credits to the musicians.
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Wonder B (wonder_b)
3-Pundit
Username: wonder_b
Post Number: 35
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 80.11.64.211
| | Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 8:30 pm: �� | ��� |
Bassland, I have an LP by Tony Newton called were you can see him on the cover with a three neck bass, "Mysticism & Romance"... do you know if he ever did another solo album?
Wonder B |
oli67 (ollie)
1-Arriviste
Username: ollie
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 213.132.174.166
| | Posted on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 4:43 am: �� | ��� |
Wilton Felder played Bass on Motown albums when i remember it right. Can someone verify ? |
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
3-Pundit
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 36
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 6:23 am: �� | ��� |
Wilton played on a lot of Four Tops and Marvin material, mainly post Motown I think. It seems likely he should have played West Coast sessions along with Joe Sample and other Crusaders. |
oli67 (ollie)
1-Arriviste
Username: ollie
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 213.132.174.166
| | Posted on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 7:31 am: �� | ��� |
thx Dave
i remember that he played for a lot of west coast sessions for the crusaders and various other's like Duke Lumumba |
john c (john_c)
1-Arriviste
Username: john_c
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 12.2.233.107
| | Posted on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 10:44 am: �� | ��� |
Wilton Felder plays on I Want You Back - J5.
Thanks for the info Bankhouse and Bassland. I found an interview on the net where it said Stop! In The Name was also Newton and Jamerson.
The bass in I Wish It Would Rain by the Temptations seems very uninspired to me and I can't imagine either Jamerson or Babbitt playing on that one. |
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave)
3-Pundit
Username: bankhousedave
Post Number: 39
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| | Posted on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 1:23 pm: �� | ��� |
I just heard from Tony and he said he played on most of the HDH catalogue too, as well as forming the live group and producing the second Eighth Day album. |