Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I pretty much always hated Duran Duran.I did kinda like Power Station, because it was guitar-based rock when there wasn't that much guitar-based rock on the pop charts.But as I was going through songs searching for some that are in my vocal range, I discovered (somewhat to my chagrin) that "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf" are low enough I can sing them. So they went on the "commuting" CD for the car.And as I listened to them a few times, I noticed that the bassist, John Taylor, seems extremely skilled. He sets a strong root, flies all over the place, includes good voice leading, and establishes a nice groove...!What is his reputation in the bass community? Admired? Derided? Studied? Ignored?Seems to me he would be a good role model for bass players, but I recognize I have the worst musical taste of anyone on HFC, so I have to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
it's me HHB Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Great great player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCChris Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Admired. There were lots of great bass players in the '80s pop realm (Mark King, Nick Beggs, etc.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
it's me HHB Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 If the late 60 was Brits blowing up blues rock guitar the 80s were Brits popping and slapping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichRS6 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Great bassist.Andy Taylor was a very underrated guitarist too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Haynie Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Andy Taylor got recognized and respected in the musician magazines back in the 80's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 He's awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tres Aardvarks Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 It was after I started playing bass that I realized he was a pretty solid player. A lot of their songs are driven by the bass line. My sister WORSHIPPED them so I heard way too much of it, but years later I can groove along to it. I also was shocked when I saw him playing a Kubicki (after I knew what they were) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie G. Moseley Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 John Taylor is presently a Peavey endorser. Of what, I dunno...yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichRS6 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Mick Karn from Japan was pretty good too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamerhack Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 Exactly. That was the song that established John Taylor's reputation with me. He's all over the place, yet never loses the root. If I were still playing bass, I'd place him above Paul McCartney as an influence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feynman Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 That was cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcsride Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 John Taylor bass lines are sometimes two bass lines - studio work. Yes, he is great. But, he is creative and song centric if you will. I think it was Rio that use one of his two baselines baselines. They built up songs in the studio so he’d lay down one line, then add another. I learned this on a Classic Albums of Rio or something like that. Check it out. I’m not taking a shot at John Taylor just like I’m not taking a shot at Tom Scholtz guitar work, any vocalist in the last 20 years, and etc. The studio is an instrument, you play it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwhitcomb3 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 John Taylor bass lines are sometimes two bass lines - studio work. Yes, he is great. But, he is creative and song centric if you will. I think it was Rio that use one of his two baselines baselines. They built up songs in the studio so he’d lay down one line, then add another. I learned this on a Classic Albums of Rio or something like that. Check it out. I’m not tacking a shot at John Taylor just like I’m not taking a shot at Tom Scholtz guitar work, any vocalist in the last 20 years, and etc. The studio is an instrument, you play it. That isolated bass track sounded just like just one bass. Not sayin' it was or was not a single take, but I didn't hear any doubled notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCChris Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I'm equally impressed by the fact that they got away with putting out a 5 1/2-minute pop song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcsride Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 John Taylor bass lines are sometimes two bass lines - studio work. Yes, he is great. But, he is creative and song centric if you will. I think it was Rio that use one of his two baselines baselines. They built up songs in the studio so he’d lay down one line, then add another. I learned this on a Classic Albums of Rio or something like that. Check it out. I’m not tacking a shot at John Taylor just like I’m not taking a shot at Tom Scholtz guitar work, any vocalist in the last 20 years, and etc. The studio is an instrument, you play it. That isolated bass track sounded just like just one bass. Not sayin' it was or was not a single take, but I didn't hear any doubled notes.Not doubled notes, two parts. The discussion of having two parts was by John himself in the video I saw. He was discussing it in the context of having to figure out how to play it live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tres Aardvarks Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 John Taylor bass lines are sometimes two bass lines - studio work. Yes, he is great. But, he is creative and song centric if you will. I think it was Rio that use one of his two baselines baselines. They built up songs in the studio so he’d lay down one line, then add another. I learned this on a Classic Albums of Rio or something like that. Check it out. I’m not taking a shot at John Taylor just like I’m not taking a shot at Tom Scholtz guitar work, any vocalist in the last 20 years, and etc. The studio is an instrument, you play it. It might have been on some other tracks on the Rio album, but pretty sure it wasn't on the title track(listening to the notes and trying to find a cut off or bleed over). ETA: Pretty sure the 3 Taylors in Duran Duran were the only ones that could actually PLAY when the band formed. Nick Rhodes was a total one hand keyboard player for a while. If you go back and listen to most of their upbeat numbers, the arrangements are pretty wide open, leaving a lot of room for the bass to drive the band. Some good examples of John: Girls on Film, Is There Something I Should Know, Save A Prayer (very Pino Palladino quality to his playing), and New Moon on Monday. (Ah crap, is now when I admit I still sometimes listen to them?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biz Prof Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I pretty much always hated Duran Duran.I did kinda like Power Station, because it was guitar-based rock when there wasn't that much guitar-based rock on the pop charts.But as I was going through songs searching for some that are in my vocal range, I discovered (somewhat to my chagrin) that "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf" are low enough I can sing them. So they went on the "commuting" CD for the car.And as I listened to them a few times, I noticed that the bassist, John Taylor, seems extremely skilled. He sets a strong root, flies all over the place, includes good voice leading, and establishes a nice groove?What is his reputation in the bass community? Admired? Derided? Studied? Ignored?Seems to me he would be a good role model for bass players, but I recognize I have the worst musical taste of anyone on HFC, so I have to ask.You took the words out of my mouth. I developed respect for the guy once Duran Duran was toast and I actually listened to the music. He's a superb player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I'm equally impressed by the fact that they got away with putting out a 5 1/2-minute pop song.Or a 5 1/2 minute video with a song attached?I always thought he was the only reason to listen to that band. I hated the overplayed, overhyped image, but really dug his playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie G. Moseley Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I was listening to the Live Aid set by Power Station the other day (Michael Des Barres on lead vocals instead of Robt. Palmer) and J. Taylor meshed well with Tony Thompson, who shoulda scared the bejeezus outta almost every other drummer on the scene back then. A very good performance overall in spite of Des Barres' put-on enthusiasm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamer_SS_guy Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I listened to them too. I was quite into Zappa for a while and really dug Warren Cuccurrullo's guitar work as well as Patrick O'Hearn's bass playing and Bozzio's drumming of course. So, I also listened to Missing Persons a lot too. At that time, I didn't care for Duran Duran (and I really disliked Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes). I was a bit astonished to learn that Cuccurrullo got the guitar spot in DD then (while Bozzio and O'Hearn went with Andy Taylor). I liked Andy Taylor's album "Thunder" and also both of the Power Station albums. Some of the DD stuff was nice, but once Cuccurrullo got fired I lost interest in them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cynic Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I liked Andy Taylor's album "Thunder" and also both of the Power Station albums.For me, Thunder was the album that prompted me to go back to listen to some of the DD and PS stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridasam Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I really liked JT's playing then and now. My main bass is a 1981 Aria Pro I I SB - 1000 in black just like he played. Killer instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atquinn Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Mick Karn from Japan was pretty good tooMike Karn is an amazing bass player. I don't actually have any Japan stuff, but I have a few things he's done with David Torn.Back to John Taylor, I think he's great as well. I was just listening to Hungry Like the Wolf on the radio this morning and his bass part is very tasty, especially in the chorus where he creates a bit of satisfying tension by going to a resolving the progression before the rest of the music gets there (at the end of the "I'm on the hunt, I'm after you line).-Austin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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