By Caleb (65.59.100.153 - 65.59.100.153) on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 04:32 am:

Babbitt,I see where your now in Nashville.As far as the recording scene down there,aside from Country and Gospel/Contemporary Christian music are there any Pop,R&B,or Rock projects going on down there.Thank you,Caleb

By chill (65.116.80.19 - 65.116.80.19) on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 09:48 am:

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20020912motown0912p1.asp

check it out!!

By Caleb (64.157.76.12 - 64.157.76.12) on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 12:02 pm:

Excellent article!

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 12:20 pm:

There's a LOT of pop, R&B and rock projects going on here and at this point most of the top songwriters in all genres live or at least regularly co-write here. It's very reminiscent of when the whole New York music industry moved to LA during the late '60s although not as obvious because things are a lot more decentralized now.

Everybody from Donna Summer to John Fogarty to Herb Alpert lives here. Bob Babbitt and Ed Greene were enough incentive for me. If you love great session musicians, Nashville is the place to be today. Now that anybody can put MIDI tracks together in their bedroom, I think there's a huge future in the world's greatest musicians, songwriters and their kids.

By Caleb (65.59.97.10 - 65.59.97.10) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 05:28 pm:

Babbitt,I picked up the movie soundtrack today thru Compact Disc World.That bass in the tag of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is really moving.There's quite a few good ones on there.Excellent work!!

By SisDetroit (67.26.8.115 - 67.26.8.115) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 05:51 pm:

(((BOB BABBITT))) Also, that bass is really kickin it in "Cool Jerk"

By SisDetroit (67.26.8.115 - 67.26.8.115) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 06:02 pm:

And "WHAT'S GOING ON" GREAT!!!!!!!!!

By Caleb (209.245.119.181 - 209.245.119.181) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 07:03 pm:

Yes,"Cool Jerk" is quickly becoming a favorite.Bootsy is the right guy for that tune.It does make you feel good,especially when he says,"Bobby-Hit Me".Your smokin' Babbitt!!

By SisDetroit (67.25.222.192 - 67.25.222.192) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 07:35 pm:

HaHa. I'll be smiling all night. Grooving with the Funk Brothers. I am having so much fun. I'm so happy that I met Babbitt, and very proud to be from Detroit. (Never thought I'd say that about Detroit.)

I know Allan Slutsky is playing the guitar on some tunes. Do you know what tunes?

By Paul Elliott (209.148.112.119 - 209.148.112.119) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 09:43 pm:

Re: Allan Slutsky on Guitar -

Allan is playing on *all* of the new ones. Essentially, he is sitting in Robert White's chair. So, the three guitars are Eddie Willis, Joe Messina, and Allan. If you didn't know it already, not only is Allan a great author, producer, conductor, and arranger, he plays one mean guitar!

And, since this is Babbitt's thread, let me tell you: Bob is one hell of a player. I was there -- no studio magic needed on the bottom end! Babbitt delivered the magic, every take.

Best,
Paul

By Paul Elliott (209.148.112.113 - 209.148.112.113) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 10:18 pm:

Re: Allan Slutsky on Guitar -

Wait, I could be wrong. Allan was conducting the band for "Brokenhearted", but I think he snuck into the mobile recording studio afterwards to lay down his track.

I will get the full scoop from Allan, unless he fills us in here himself.

-Paul

By BOBBABBITT (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 10:41 pm:

HEY MO-FU'S............................... THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT COMMENTS......
CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE SOUNTRACK AND PLAY AGAIN WITH THE FUNK'S!!!!!!!!!
BUSY IN NASHVILLE NOT ONLY AS A BASS PLAYER BUT INVOLVED IN A LOT OF PRODUCING PROJECTS!
THE ARTIST'S I AM WORKING WITH COVER ALL MUSICAL STYLES....BOB BABBITT

By Caleb (64.157.65.60 - 64.157.65.60) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 11:44 pm:

Babbitt good to see you back on the forum.I'll tell ya there's one move you made on the bass towards the very end of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" that's just brought such a charge in me.Like SisDetroit I've been groovin' all night here.Look forward to hearing about the different work you've been doing down there(sessions and production) Caleb

By SisDetroit (67.26.9.60 - 67.26.9.60) on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 11:59 pm:

(((((((((((((BOB))))))))))))) If you only knew how happy and excited I am right now. My friend in Florida and I have been chatting back and forth enjoying the CD together. Bob, I can't find the words to express the joy your bass playing and this CD has brought me.

Thank you PAUL. I heard Allan play behand Martha Reeves at Pistol's wake. He was fantastic. The picture we took did not show him very well. But, I am trying my best to find the lady who took a video of that session.

I'm breathless!!!!!!!!!!

Sis

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Wednesday, September 25, 2002 - 10:33 pm:

Hi Bob!
Missed you at the reunion on September 5th! When do you think you'll be in Detroit again?? Say hello to Ann and tell her I'm still trying to figure out how we know each other!!! Take care.
Millie

By A.C. Gates (208.59.249.8 - 208.59.249.8) on Saturday, September 28, 2002 - 11:54 pm:

Bob,
Just finished listening to "Standing",let me say it brought chills to me. To hear you guys playing
together again is fantastic. Your recreations & extra tags you added is just the touch this music needed. May God ever bless you & keep your talent
going strong.

By Caleb (65.59.110.213 - 65.59.110.213) on Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 10:09 pm:

Babbitt,nice bass work on"What's Going On"-two thumbs up!!

By TD (63.57.6.254 - 63.57.6.254) on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 11:16 pm:

Reachout was also quite nice
TD

By Rich (162.33.235.42 - 162.33.235.42) on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 09:51 am:

Bootsy & the Babbitt - need some more of that!! Bob Babbitt - a while back you mentioned being friendly with bassist Richard Boyce. Any recollections what types of things Richard worked on professionally thoughout his career? Richard & his brother Frankie were the Parliaments bassist & guitarist in the mid-60's before they went to Vietnam, where Frankie was tragically killed. I'd never realized that Richard stayed musically active until I read one of your posts.

Peace

By SisDetroit (67.26.10.234 - 67.26.10.234) on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 11:01 am:

Ritchie - I believe Bootsy & the Babbitt can be the hit. On the track "Cool Jerk", Bootsy sings:
"Drummer, hit me now...Hey Bobby, come on hit me, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny,...Rudy, Rudy,...can you do it, can you do it..." The instruments are hitting him real good. Real groovy.

By Caleb (64.157.78.70 - 64.157.78.70) on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 02:56 pm:

Bootsy and the Babbitt-I second that!!

By Friday (209.244.235.245 - 209.244.235.245) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 12:11 am:

Babbitt,goodness gracious!!You and Bootsy ought to definitely hook up again("Hit Me")I was listening to "Cool Jerk" in the car bopping as I was driving.People were driving by laughing and imitating me.I didn't care-I was diggin'it.When will the Funk's be touring?Have any dates been set yet?

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 06:37 am:

Bob - there is an article in this months UK Sound on Sound magazine about Nashville's top engineers. Bob Bullock, Brian Tankersley,Justin Niebank Bil Vorndick, Steve Marcantonio are all interviewed. The last paragraph says that differences are subtle between Nashville recordings and recordings made elsewhere. It finally says how unique the record-making centres are there and:- 'now, if only the food were better..'!! What on earth does this mean??

By Son of Thunder (64.157.73.223 - 64.157.73.223) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 06:48 pm:

Babbitt,the SITSOM CD is outstanding.Solid work!Do you remember an album you and Andrew did for the artist Gilbert O'Sullivan.I remember hearing about it but never did hear the album.How was the recording process and how did it do?

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 06:52 pm:

I just raised my eyebrows!

By BOBBABBITT (64.12.96.230 - 64.12.96.230) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 12:03 am:

MO-FU'S..BEEN BUSY IN THE STUDIO.......WILL ANSWER MESSAGES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE........... BOB BABBITT

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 04:06 am:

David - so did I! Gilbert O'Sullivan I quite like. 'Nothing Rhymed' has a special place in my heart. These were the type of things I listened to when I first started discovering Motown and Trojan records in the early seventies. I had no idea at that time about other soul recordings, as this was yet to come two years later. If you look at my record collection from 1972, you will find things like (raise your eyebrows again) Picketywitch, Edison Lighthouse, Neil Diamond, The White Plains (and I still love their early songs), The Pioneers, Judge Dread, Prince Buster, The Skatalites and loads more reggae stuff, which seems to be collectable these days. I had never heard of The Funk Brothers or even you Bob, but all that started to change around August 1973 when my first 'Saturday night fever' came to pass. All I heard was 80% 'something I liked' but had never heard it before. I was 'hooked for life' and started to seek out the records and buy them. As for Gilbert, he was brilliant and unique. I have no wish to hurry you David, but have you seen the time....?

By David Meikle (213.122.83.215 - 213.122.83.215) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 07:45 am:

Hi Carl

Are you on night-shift?

Did I tell you a webisode was coming? I promise it is imminent!

I was playing a Prince Buster track last night "Ten Commandments".

Still have Max Romeo's 45!

Did you ever get hold of the "Front Line" album(s)? One in particular was fantastic.

Ritchie will know the one I mean.

Also love Gregory Isaacs "Night Nurse" album.

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 08:09 am:

I have the original Prince Buster yellow melodisc with Ten commandments and 'Freezing up Orange Street' on, which I like. I think Max Romeo must have been on the night shift when he wrote that one! I am not on the night shift at present. No I have not got Front Line - amazingly that is the name of the flea sparay for our cats. That line from my previous post was from the song 'Matrimony' by Gilbert! Look forward to the webisode.

By Caleb (209.244.235.14 - 209.244.235.14) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 11:55 pm:

Babbitt,did you do some type of work for Art Garfunkel?

By glenn lasiuta (68.43.160.189 - 68.43.160.189) on Saturday, October 05, 2002 - 10:19 pm:

hi everybody
who can tell me is robert white still around, i heard he passed a while ago
hope its not true.
me and him where hanging just b4 he left for calif in the late 70's

By Caleb (63.208.118.242 - 63.208.118.242) on Saturday, October 05, 2002 - 11:06 pm:

Glenn,unfortunately and sadly to say Robert White did pass away.Babbitt probably has the details on it. Caleb

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.47 - 195.219.7.47) on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 02:31 am:

You cant beat a good bit of ska n ragga,now and then.Every time the local fairgrounds came around in the early 70s,all the sounds would be double barrel or Al Capone as all the boys were all kicking hell out of the various motor bike ruffians.(or being kicked hell out of).Never forget in Sunny Southport as around 100 boot boys were exchanging telephone numbers with the same amount of our angels from hell.And I always remember Dave and Ansill Collins blasting out with Double Barrel.Those were the days(not).Enough drivel.Give me some Pioneers with Longshot kick de bucket,Kingston Town by Prince Buster,Roland Alfonso with Phoenix City or even Rudie Bam Bam,007(shanty town)etc.Thank You Lord For Turning Me On To Rare Soul and to the wonderful 4 beats to the bar dancers.MEL(rare soul man forever).

By soulboy (213.105.224.5 - 213.105.224.5) on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 01:26 pm:

Glenn and caleb
With all this talk of Robert White the Guitarist, i believe he belatedy deserves recognition after all these years. I think he deserves his own thread on soulful detroit as have many other Funk brothers deceased or otherwise.
To hear him play the intro to 'my girl' in the SITSOM trailers was quite stunning, i thought.
I am sure others would agree.

By BOBBABBITT (152.163.189.167 - 152.163.189.167) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 02:23 am:

HEY MO-FU�S....(MOTOWN FUNK FAN�S)..........
RICH........RICHARD BOYCE IS STILL PLAYING, HE LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND PLAYS IN A INCREDIBLE GOSPEL GROUP WHERE RICHARD ALSO SINGS ALONG WITH HIS FATHER AND ANOTHER VOCALIST.. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HELP THEM WITH SOME OF THE GOSPEL COMPANIES HERE IN NASHVILLE TO GET THEIR PRODUCT OUT TO THE PEOPLE....THEIR MUSIC AND THEIR MESSAGE NEED TO BE HEARD..................

CARL DIXON.......AS FAR AS THE NASHVILLE ENGINEERS YOU SPOKE OF, I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH BOB BULLOCK, BUT NONE OF THE OTHERS YOU MENTIONED, A ENGINEER CAN BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THE MUSICIAN STUDIO SOUND AND I KNOW BOB IS ONE OF THE BEST AND IF THE OTHERS WERE MENTIONED ALONG WITH BOB THEN THEY ALSO MUST BE TOP CALIBER ENGINEERS.....NOW AS FAR AS THE FOOD.......I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEY MEAN WHEN THEY SAY �IF ONLY THE FOOD WERE BETTER�?? THE RESTAURANTS AND THE CATERING SERVICE AT THE STUDIOS FOR ME PERSONALLY ARE GREAT! OF COURSE MY WIFE SAYS THAT I NOT ONLY EAT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.........I LIKE IT TOO!!!!!!!!!

SON OF THUNDER............GIBERT O�SULLIVAN.....NEW YORK...1973OR �74.............
A&R STUDIOS (I THINK 48TH STREET).......ANDREW SMITH AND MYSELF REALLY LIKED HIS HIT RECORD (I THINK �ALONE AGAIN NATURALLY�) AND WE WERE SO EXCITED TO BE RECORDING AN ALBUM WITH HIM.....I DO NOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE ALBUM BUT THERE WAS AN ENGLISH ARRANGER.....�PLAY A MOIJAR SEVENTH BAUB�.......
THE MANAGER OF TOM JONES AND ENGELBERT HUMPERDINK WAS THE PRODUCER..
I DON�T REMEMBER HIS NAME BUT HE WAS NOT VERY FRIENDLY WITH THE MUSICIANS,
A BUCKET FULL OF CHAMPAGNE WAS IN THE CONTROL ROOM AND AT ONE POINT THE PIANO PLAYER (RICHARD TEE) POURED A GLASS FOR HIMSELF AND THE PRODUCER
TOTALLY FREAKED OUT ON HIM??????????? AS FAR AS THE RECORDING PROCESS...., THE ENGINEER WAS PHIL RAMONE WHO WAS ALSO THE OWNER OF THE STUDIO AND BILLY JOEL�S AND PAUL SIMON�S PRODUCER ......THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE RECORDING...............DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT ALBUM???????

CALEB..........ART GARFUNKEL........IN 1977 I DID A TOUR WITH JOAN BAEZ..........
THE BAND CONSISTED OF MUSICIANS ELLIOTT RANDLE, NY GUITARIST(STEELY DAN)
RICK SCHLOSSER, LA DRUMMER (ROD STEWART, JAMES TAYLOR) AND TOP NEW YORK SESSION PIANIST PAT REBILLOT (HERBIE MANN) AND MYSELF....THE TOUR ENDED IN NEW YORK AND BEFORE RICK WENT BACK TO LA ELLIOTT WAS CONTACTED BY ART GARFUNKLE�S PEOPLE THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR A BAND TO TOUR WITH HIM AND ASKED IF THE JOAN BAEZ BAND WOULD AUDITION FOR HIM........WE WENT TO SIR REHEARSAL STUDIO TO AUDITION FOR ART GARFUNKLE.......WELL, WE PLAYED ABOUT 20 OR 30 MINUTES OF MUSIC WITH HIM........HE DROVE US CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!! WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, ASKED HIM IF WE COULD TAKE A BREAK, WENT TO THE REST ROOM FOR A CONFERENCE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I WAS PART OF A GROUP OF MUSICIANS WHO WENT TO THE ARTIST AND TOLD HIM THAT HE DID NOT PASS THE AUDITION AND THE BAND DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH HIM........TRUE STORY!!!!!!!!

ROBERT WHITE............. ...I WAS TOLD THAT HIS F-----G HMO HEALTH PLAN TOOK HIM AWAY FROM US.. HE HAD A NORMAL HEART BYPASS OPERATION........BUT SUPPOSEDLY A YOUNG DOCTOR (INTERN?) DID THE OPERATION..................
THE FILM DOES NOT GO INTO THIS, BUT THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT ROBERT THAT
WILL ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.............
BOB BABBITT

By Caleb (209.245.114.119 - 209.245.114.119) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 02:53 am:

Babbitt,thanks for the info-great post!!Did you do some recording with producer Richard Perry for Diana Ross?

By willy wilson (64.27.205.156 - 64.27.205.156) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 01:33 pm:

Hey Mr. Babbit,

What can you tell me about the Scorpion record you recorded for Tower, any chance of a reissue of the record? and is there any chance of a potential reunion gig?

By BCNYC (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 01:39 pm:

Ahhh, we love fly-on-the-wall stories. BTW, Gilbert O'Sullivan's manager would have been Gordon Mills, who actually wrote "It's Not Unusual" for his other client Tom Jones. Gilbert later sued the heck out of Gordon, however, over what else, royalties.

By Son of Thunder (65.59.99.118 - 65.59.99.118) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 06:37 pm:

Babbitt-yes,would love to hear that Scorpion album.I hope you can look into it/find those vaulted tapes.

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 07:35 pm:

That food crack probably meant there isn't enough vegi stuff! For a midwesterner like myself, Nashville food is SUPURB. I had forgotten how great beef, pork and chicken can be. It is dramatically better here than the average was in San Francisco!

Bob Bullock here shouldn't be confused with Robert Bullock who worked at Motown in Detroit and L.A. Brian Tankersley is a friend of mine. He briefly worked for Motown in LA directly with BG. I've also hung out a bit with Bill Vorndick.

By Brian Chin NYC (64.12.96.230 - 64.12.96.230) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 09:02 pm:

Brian Tankersley? Worked for Motown? Hey, no wonder he was the king of country dance mixes!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80 - 64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 10:53 am:

Carl Dixon:
The British pop acts you mentioned brought back great memories for me. I still have my 45s of Edison Lighthouse's "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes," the Flying Machine's "Smile A Little Smile For Me" (featuring it's author Tony Macaulay on the lead vocal)and the Foundations' hits "Baby Now That I Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup" (talk about a group that was influenced by the Motown Sound!).
Peace,
KevGo

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170 - 195.153.219.170) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 12:40 pm:

KevGo:

Tony Macaulay and Tony Macleod were indeed gifted writers. There was always a melody from them and as for The Foundations, I met Clem Curtis a couple of years ago at a wedding near Northampton. He is over 60 years old and has a great voice still. He did not sing one record from The Foundations. I think they were heavily Motown influenced and their records are still being played today. I even loved Candlewick Greens 'Who do you think you are?'. I could talk forever about these songs. Cook and Greenaway wrote some great songs as well, just check this out:
http://www.rogercook.com/default.asp

for Roger Cooks contribution!

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4 - 209.100.86.4) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 02:05 pm:

Bob - turning down Art Garfunkel...Hilarious!

Scorpion LP - I saw an old add for a copy for sale in Sweeden (on line of course). It sold for $150.00 in US currency. Tower must have pressed a whole dozen of those records back in 1969!

By Friday (65.59.99.124 - 65.59.99.124) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 04:32 pm:

Babbitt,I read an excerpt from a Bass player magazine saying you wanted to "body slam" Gene Simmons.What was that all about?Please,no violence.Peace,Friday

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 05:04 pm:

Friday,
With Babbitt a body slam and a hug feel somewhat similar.

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 05:30 pm:

This past June, when Bob Babbitt and his wife Ann were in town, Sue and I met up with them at the Clawson. That's when he named us the "Funk Sisters"! He hugged us both, at the same time, and I don't ever remember feeling a hug like that in my life! He meant that hug. We should all have a hug like that once in our lives! Long Live Babbitt!

By TD (63.57.6.173 - 63.57.6.173) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 10:17 pm:

Bob

I just heard the great-should have been a Motown song " With This Ring" by the Platters. I was amazed at the backing music-especially the bass and thought that it sounded alot like the Funk Brothers.
Than I remembered that you had listed your top non Motown songs in a previous thread-which by the way I had requested from you and that this was one of the songs that you listed.
Can you give me the skinny on this great song and were there some other Funk Brothers backing you up?

Great job on bass

TD

By Caleb (209.244.235.248 - 209.244.235.248) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 12:58 am:

TD,I remember reading one of Babbitt's posts saying drummer Benny Benjamin was on that one.Maybe there was some other funks as well.We'll see when Babbitt replys. Caleb

By KevGo (64.115.26.80 - 64.115.26.80) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 01:40 pm:

Carl Dixon:
Just came from Roger Cook's website. My God, what a life & resume! My favorite record he wrote was the Gary Toms Empire's "7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle)" - great party record!
Thanks again for the URL.
KevGo

By soulboy (213.105.224.5 - 213.105.224.5) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 04:25 pm:

Kevgo
I can't remember the exact details, but motown (jobete)once took legal action against the writers of 'build me up buttercup' they reckoned the riff was similar to 'turn to stone' by the four tops.On listening to both records they DO sound quite similar.
Interestingly enough 'build me up buttercup'is a song that is still quite hip and popular among the younger generation, and i find it is always played in clubs almost everywhere.

.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 04:29 pm:

Yes, I think John L has the goods on that story.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 06:14 pm:

TD

Music of the great Popcorn Wylie/Tony Hester and Luther Dixon.

What a great combination, what great music!

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.54 - 195.219.7.54) on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 06:41 am:

I Second that David,without a doubt.MEL.

By BOBBABBITT (64.12.96.230 - 64.12.96.230) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 04:10 am:

CALEB.........YES I DID DO SOME RECORDING FOR DIANA ROSS IN NEW YORK WITH PRODUCER RICHARD PERRY...THE ARRANGER WAS JERRY RAGAVOY WHO HIMSELF WAS NOT ONLY A SUCCESSFUL PRODUCER BUT A SUCCESSFUL SONG WRITER AS WELL, .....RICHARD PERRY NOT ONLY DROVE JERRY CRAZY BUT ALSO THE MUSICIANS, HE JUST NEVER SEEMED SURE OF WHAT HE WANTED TO HEAR WITH THE MUSIC, I KNOW HE PRODUCED SOME BIG RECORDS BUT I WONDER IF HE WAS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRODUCTION, SOME PRODUCERS WOULD HIRE PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN INADEQUACY�S.............

STEVE LITOS, SON OF THUNDER, WILLY WILSON...........SCORPION ALBUM.............
WOULD LOVE TO SEE A REISSUE (TOWER RECORDS, SUBSIDIARY OF CAPITOL).....NOT BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP BUT I THINK THAT THE MUSIC SHOULD BE HEARD.....MY FEELING WAS THAT IT WAS AHEAD OF IT�S TIME AND ONLY A FEW RECORD PEOPLE REALIZED THAT?
AS FAR AS A REUNION GIG.....THE DRUMMER ANDREW SMITH PASSED AWAY...........
THE GUITAR PLAYER, RAY MONETTE IS STILL PLAYING WITH RARE EARTH AND THE VOCALIST MIKE CAMPBELL WENT INTO ACTING FOR A WHILE (UNDER THE NAME, MICHAEL CHAMPION) HE LIVES IN ANDERSON, INDIANA........I KNOW THAT RAY AND MIKE WOULD LOVE TO PLAY THE SCORPION TUNES AGAIN BUT WITHOUT ANDREW I DON�T THINK IT WOULD BE THE SAME....................

FRIDAY...........GENE SIMMONS........BASS PLAYER MAGAZINE DID AN INTERVIEW ON HIM AND IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST PIECES OF TRASH I EVER READ.........FOR HIM IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE SEX, DRUGS, ROCK & ROLL SYNDROME AND HIS SPOILED RICH KID ATTITUDE READ THRU THE COMMENTS HE WAS MAKING ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS,
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE SAID I DID AGREE WITH HIM BUT WHEN HE MENTIONED THAT THE MOTOWN BASS SOUND WAS NOTHING BUT A MUDDY NON- DESCRIBABLE SOUND WITH NO DEFINITION........AND THAT PLAYING WITH A PICK WHERE EVERY NOTE WAS CLEAR AS A BELL WAS HIS ANSWER TO HIS BASS SOUND....
WELL....I GOT PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!! I RESPONDED TO HIS ARTICLE AND BASS PLAYER GLADLY PRINTED MY RESPONSE..................I TOLD HIM THAT MOST BASS PLAYERS WHO PLAY WITH A PICK ARE FRUSTRATED GUITAR PLAYERS.........( BY THE WAY CAROL KAYE BUSTED ME ON THAT) AND THAT THE MOTOWN BASS SOUND WOULD �PUNCH AND HIT YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE�............THAT AS FAR AS THE KISS GROUP WAS CONCERNED THAT I KNEW FROM THE RUMORS IN NEW YORK AMONG THE MUSICIANS AND SOUND ENGINEERS THAT �GHOST MUSICIANS� WERE BEING USED ON THEIR RECORDS...
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DOD NOT KNOW WHAT A �GHOST MUSICIAN � IS...........
A MUSICIAN WHO IS BROUGHT IN TO RECORD AND IS NOT GIVEN CREDIT, INSTEAD THE GROUP MEMBER GETS THE CREDIT.........ALSO THAT WHEN YOU GENE DID YOUR SOLO ALBUM I WAS CALLED TO PLAY ON IT AND FORTUNATELY I WAS BUSY WITH ANOTHER ARTIST AND COULD NOT DO YOUR ALBUM..
AND THEN I CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT I HAD NOT BEEN WRESTLING IN YEARS BUT IF I RAN INTO YOU I WOULD GIVE YOU A PILE DRIVER................
BASS PLAYER REACTIONS TO MY RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY STOOD UP AND CLAPPED WHEN THEY SAW ME AND CHEERED ON THE PHONE OR ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE!!

TD...............WITH THIS RING.......PRODUCER.... LUTHER DIXON, STUDIO....GOLDEN WORLD,
MUSICIANS, I REMEMBER........ BENNY BENJAMIN, DRUMS.......POPCORN WYLIE....PIANO
(SOME OF LUTHER�S SESSIONS JOHNNY GRIFFITH WAS THE PIANO PLAYER ) I DO NOT REMEMBER THE GUITAR PLAYER BUT I KNOW ON �I LOVE YOU 1000 TIMES� DON DAVIS WAS THE GUITAR PLAYER, EDDIE WILLIS ALSO DID SOME OF LUTHER�S SESSIONS.......
I ALSO REMEMBER SONNY SANDERS (AGENT OO SOUL,EDWIN STARR) DOING SOME OF THE ARRANGEMENT'S.......ALMOST ALL OF LUTHER�S SESSIONS AT GOLDEN WORLD THE RECORDINGS
STARTED AT 3AM...BOB BABBITT

By Sue (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 01:00 pm:

Wow, a 4 a.m. Babbitt posting! Must have been a late session!

Bob, Gene Simmons is a piece of work. Obviously Kiss' musical reputation is nil, he was in it for the girls, as he admits.

Dealing with him as a journalist was awful, no female writer could be alone with him because he doesn't take no for an answer. I'd be happy to see you give his lame butt a good Pittsburgh/Detroit whacking ...I have more stories that I'll save til I see you here at the premier.

By Eli (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 01:02 pm:

Hey Babbitt,

My hat goes off to you pal!! I would have done the same. Vinnie Bell used to always say that he played sitar on all of the Philly records.
Everyone wants undue credit when they already have enough as in C.K.
The Motown bass sound was in my opinion the greatest thing to come along in decades.
Gene Simmons is an Assholian as I call them, and furthermore where he be without his tongue, and further-furthermore I can more than likelly beat him at that, if you know what I mean!!!

B.T.W...Looking forward to the NYC premier!!!

By Gary Rosen (12.234.95.0 - 12.234.95.0) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 01:09 pm:

Regarding "ghost musicians" that Bob talks about: when I lived in LA during the '70s I took a bass seminar from Chuck Rainey who said very matter-of-factly that studio musicians were used on a lot of records where "the group" was supposed to playing. Remember it was after the Beach Boys and especially the Beatles became popular that the idea of the self-contained musical group, always very young guys, became fashionable. When you listen to these records from the '60s now it is clear that many of them were using older, more experienced studio musicians. I'm not necessarily referring to the Beatles themselves, though we have heard about Bernard Purdie's claims!

- Gary Rosen

By Caleb (65.59.109.218 - 65.59.109.218) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 05:59 pm:

Babbitt,what's a "pile driver"?Is that where you get up on top of the turnbuckle and jump down on em' full force?Hey Sue,your coolness!!

By STUBASS (152.163.189.167 - 152.163.189.167) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 06:16 pm:

BOB BABBITT; ON BEHALF OF ALL "THUMPERS"...AMEN...STUBASS

By STUBASS (152.163.189.167 - 152.163.189.167) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 06:33 pm:

BOB; I WAS JUST THINKING...PERHAPS SIMMONS WAS TRYING TO SAY THAT PLUCKING IS A MORE SPOHISTICATED SOUND, BUT PICKING...IN HIS HARSHER MUSIC GENRE WAS MORE APPROPRIATE. I DIDN'T SEE THE ARTICLE, HOWEVER, IF HE WAS IN ANY WAY DISSING THE GREATEST ELECTIRC BASS PLAYERS OF OUR OR ANY GENERATION SINCE...THAN HE IS INDEED A "PUNK".

By thecount (64.53.143.173 - 64.53.143.173) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 09:08 pm:

CALEB,A pile driver is a drink from the hospital
PRUNE JUICE AND VODKA.
"COUNT"

By Friday (63.208.114.161 - 63.208.114.161) on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 11:01 pm:

The mighty ghost musician.Interesting story and reaction regarding Gene Simmons.Peace,Friday