Carol Kaye Website: Awesome

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Nov 2005 6:48 am

Amazing musical insights and tips at her website. Go to http://www.carolkaye.com and click on Education. The tips are fabulously instructive for anyone playing in any band.[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 29 November 2005 at 06:48 AM.]

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 29 Nov 2005 8:35 am

Thanks Jim. Great site. She's just great.

Brad

Jeremy Steele · Post by **Jeremy Steele** » 29 Nov 2005 10:26 am

I was a big fan of Carol's until I read an interview where she attempted to take credit for a lot of the incredible Motown bass stuff laid down by the late, great James Jamerson...she's played on enough classic recordings, no need to gild the lily.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 29 Nov 2005 12:00 pm

I also wondered about all the Motown tracks she claims she did. Lot of debate over that.

She is a fine player and she did so many incredible sessions on guitar and bass.

erik · Post by **erik** » 29 Nov 2005 4:17 pm

I viewed that site years ago. It is a good one. The Motown debate has been beaten to death. AFAIK, Jamerson is in the HOF, Kaye is not. Figure that out.

I think she is a great bass player and I certainly like her many contributions to hits of the 60s and 70s.

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-johnson

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 29 Nov 2005 4:42 pm

The Ventures are not in the HOF....figure THAT out.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Nov 2005 4:49 pm

I don't really want to rehash all that. I just think that the tips she shares about soloing, whether to comp during the bass or drum solo, trading 8's with the drummer, getting lost, and all kinds of tips like that are really very helpful.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 29 Nov 2005 5:00 pm

soloing, whether to comp during the bass or drum solo, trading 8's with the drummer, getting lost, and all kinds of tips like that are really very helpful.

I don't see as how I need to go to her website, Jimbeaux. I've already done those things numerous times. For example, I was continuously getting lost just the other night. But I finally called the bandleader on the cell phone and eventually made it to the club, only a half hour late.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 29 Nov 2005 7:14 pm

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 30 Nov 2005 9:52 am

I don't want to rehash it either, BUT...

You tell me how someone could accurately remember what specific sessions they played on 40 years ago, when that's what they did all day long EVERY day. For example, what were YOU doing on July 24, 1965?

I believe Carol was the bassist on the Quincy Jones/Bill Cosby "Hickey Burr" cut. She's got an awful lot of soul for a white girl. She is, no doubt, one of the most influential bassists in rock and roll.

And what about Joe Osborne, the other great LA bassist of the 60's and 70's. Add up the total hits that those two played on.

Jamerson was fairly late to arrive on the LA scene, having spent most of his career in Detroit. [This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 30 November 2005 at 09:54 AM.]

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 30 Nov 2005 10:00 am

For example, what were YOU doing on July 24, 1965?

...Celebrating my third birthday

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“I always knew that there was something out there that I needed to get to.
And it wasn't where I was at that particular moment."
-Bob Dylan

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 30 Nov 2005 10:21 am

Many muscicians keep detailed log books of all the sessions they've done. I'm sure Mr. Green would be able to tell us what songs and what musician's he recorded with in August 1975 (just picked that date out of a hat). [This message was edited by Chris Forbes on 30 November 2005 at 10:22 AM.]

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 30 Nov 2005 6:59 pm

I read somewhere on her site once that she started out on an old cheap lap steel that guys used to sell door-to-door with lessons when she was growing up on the West Coast.

If you want to see a musician with detailed notes on his career, read Bill Wyman's "Stone Alone" Book.

My friend, Dennis Kelly does an internet radio show on Luxuriamusic.com called 'Heros and Villians" -(Beach Boys and Surf related music) and has interviewed Carol on the show and says that she is a great gal.

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Regards, Craig

[This message was edited by Craig Stock on 30 November 2005 at 07:00 PM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 30 Nov 2005 7:02 pm

It was my 10th birthday, Greg. That's why I picked the date!

Many preachers keep detailed logs of all the funerals and weddings they do... and then there's me

Did ya'll see that video clip of her playing guitar on "Just Friends" with someone else on bass (apparently in the Ibanez booth at the NAMM Show). She's not too shabby on guitar, either! (Didn't they have a George Benson model in the booth??) I believe Carol started out as a guitar player, then discovered she could get more gigs on bass. I made a similar discovery in the early 70's.[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 30 November 2005 at 07:03 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Nov 2005 7:55 pm

Yeah, according to her website, she used to be a jazz guitarist.

Jon Bergh · Post by **Jon Bergh** » 30 Nov 2005 9:08 pm

A few years ago I was getting my Fender Jazz bass worked on by a really sweet and talented man in Brooklyn... he did some stuff and tuned it up and then played one of the most bizzare bass lines I'd heard.

He said, "what?!? You don't know that? It's a great Carol Kaye Line! You know, from that Doublemint commercial in '78 or something!"

Not really adding to the thread, but I liked the story...
-jon

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 30 Nov 2005 10:39 pm

Carol Kaye...a GREAT bassist.

As far as keeping logs of session dates, I know Hal Blaine -- "The Most Recorded Drummer Of All Time" -- kept precise notes ofdates and sessions. He said he had to in order to make sure he got paid correctly. Keeping a log was common practice, at least with the Wrecking Crew session players.

Along the lines of Kaye's claim regarding Motown bassist James Jamerson, drummer Bernard Purdie claims to have done a lot of the drumming on early Beatles tunes: http://www.jimvallance.com/03-projects-folder/purdie-project-folder/pg-purdie.html

Interesting stuff...

Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com

[This message was edited by Mike Winter on 30 November 2005 at 10:40 PM.][This message was edited by Mike Winter on 30 November 2005 at 10:45 PM.]

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 30 Nov 2005 11:52 pm

A Finnish tv-producer who lives in LA has done a great one hour documentary of Carol Kaye. It has aired twice here and it's one of the most enjoyable documentaries ever made of a musician, no talking heads doing the nonsense praising, mostly just Carol telling her story, playing the famous bass lines from the hits, etc. And yes, her first instrument was a lap steel and she is a darn good jazz guitarist. Her cd "Guitars 1965, California Creamin'" is very cool.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 1 Dec 2005 12:21 am

You tell me how someone could accurately remember what specific sessions they played on 40 years ago, when that's what they did all day long EVERY day. For example, what were YOU doing on July 24, 1965?

Lloyd Green, most likely can...
If he had a session that day it was no doubt logged and he STILL has the book.

Carol Kaye was a super player for so long,
that we take her for granted.
I bet there are some "Jamerson" songs, she actuially played on,
that they all think HE did.
Same same.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 1 Dec 2005 1:20 am

It's easy to tell the diff. Carol played with a pick, and Jamerson used his fingers.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 1 Dec 2005 7:36 am

Well speaking of Mr. Green...

With Lloyd's kind permisions I post this:

Hi David,
Very interesting post for session players such as Carol Kaye, Hal Blaine and me, all of who kept accurate session notes.
On Thursday, July 24, 1975 I recorded at 10AM, Columbia Studio B with Tony Joe White (Warner Bros.), 2PM, Woodland Studio A with Earl Thomas Conley(GRT Records), at 6PM Jack's Tracks with Crystal Gayle(United Artists) and finally at 10PM Moe Bandy(GRC Rec.).
I trust you are happy in your newest home.

Best regards,
Lloyd Green

[ In a follow up email with Lloyd,
I noted that it was 1965 in Ricks post above. And asked if I might post the above, and the 1965 if available, if perchance might send it.

I also noted that was a pretty darned good muscal day by any standards]

David,
Unfortunately for me I discarded the session books for my first two years as a session musician; 1964 & 1965. It was at that time Dot insisted I keep the historical record of what I was doing. Thank goodness I have all the rest of them, 1966 - 1988. And of course I have my session books of the past 3 years since returning to the studios. But by looking at almost any given session date I can visualize conversations, where each player was sitting and much of the construction of the songs recorded. Those books provide me with a "virtual" mental movie of certainly the more important sessions which produced big records, but equally important to me, the personalities of the singers, writers, engineers, producers and the musicians.
Yes, please add this to the discussion if you don't mind, along with the previous email data.
Glad to hear of your less stressful life. It sounds like a glorious part of the world in which to live.

Best regards,
Lloyd Green

Lloyd makes some great points about session logs.
Logs as memory jogs.
I bet he really re-lives some fine moments when he browses throught then from time to time.

Many thanks to Dot Green for leaning on her Mr.
to keep the records intact too.

Well Rick how about July 24th 1966...
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 01 December 2005 at 07:40 AM.][This message was edited by David L. Donald on 03 December 2005 at 05:17 AM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 1 Dec 2005 7:07 pm

The point is well taken, David and Lloyd.

She is one funky granny. Does anyone know if that was Carol on "The Streetbeater" (Sanford and Son theme)?

Where would modern electric bass playing be without CK, Jamerson and McCartney? They are the big 3, in my opinion. Of course, they built on what came before them.[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 01 December 2005 at 07:43 PM.]

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 2 Dec 2005 6:49 am

Yes, built on what came before them, and added so much more!!!! I really enjoy the playing and am kinda sore I am too young to have heard it when it was new. I'm sure it amazed many musicians to hear that stuff come out of their radios!!!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 3 Dec 2005 5:17 am

Rick I gotta add:
Larry Graham from Sly's band,
John Paul Jones,
and of course Monsier Entwhistle.

Equally big influences

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 3 Dec 2005 7:27 am

You're right, Chris. Before the 60's, bass was very much a background instrument. The 60's were a decade when you heard new sounds on every new album, and bringing bass to the forefront was certainly a component of that. Things we take for granted now, and which can be done on your home computer or with a couple of cheap stomp boxes, were mind-blowing back then.

I agree with your additions, David!

This may seem silly, but I would add Mel Schacher with Grand Funk. That cat was bad, too. Because GFR recorded "Locomotion," I think people have forgotten how "heavy" they were at the outset. They were a great trio and were HUGE in '70-'71.

Interestingly, the same thing happened with Three Dog Night. They started out to be a serious, heavy, rock band and were accepted by both the critics and the heads. Then they strayed over into "Joy To The World" "Shambala" and "Never Been To Spain" and that's the way people remember them. They were a great band early on, though... go back and listen to "Chest Fever" "Easy To Be Hard" and "One"... killer stuff. (It would've also helped if they'd had a serious writer in the band.)

But I digress... sorry.[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 03 December 2005 at 07:28 AM.]