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Title: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Ed Roach on February 18, 2010, 07:27:49 PM from this weeks LA Weekly http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/
By Jessica Hopper Thursday, Feb 18 2010 You may not know Carol Kaye's name, but you know her work. You've probably heard at least a few dozen examples, and all the words, too. She spent the '60s as the most requested session bassist in L.A., playing on many of the tracks and albums that form the American pop canon: the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, " "La Bamba," "These Boots Are Made for Walkin,' " Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright," the Doors' "Light My Fire," "I Am A Rock," "Wichita Lineman," the majority of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound"–era productions, as well as most of the Monkees discography. Her credits show up everywhere, from "Theme from Shaft" and Frank Zappa's Freak Out! to Electric Prunes, Dusty Springfield albums, and literally hundreds more. Carol Kaye is said to be the most recorded bassist in history, with a purported 10,000-plus tracks to her credit. Kaye, now 75, was a member of what has since been termed — much to her dismay (she hates the moniker) — "The Wrecking Crew," a loose cabal of top L.A. session musicians best known for their work in the '60s. Some days, they played a dozen sessions, and their ranks included future notables Dr. John, Leon Russell and Glen Campbell. Though occasionally other women were included — mostly singers, harpists and string players — Kaye was one of the only women in the Wrecking Crew, and the only one on a rock instrument. Despite her credits, and being one of the true innovators on electric bass, she's mostly unknown to everyone except for amateur rock historians, bass nerds and admins of studio-lore message boards. "Back in the '60s, the people who bought the records we were playing on, if they knew the people who made the record were straight — we weren't on drugs, were a mixed group, black and white, and as old as their parents — they wouldn't have bought the records," Kaye contends. "For that reason, they kept it quiet. Our stories haven't been told. Few people know, and it's a story worth telling, so we can take pride. We were good people, and we cared about the music. The power and technique of studio musicians and engineers are what made so many of these [songs] hits. "It's a sad thing to see that decades later, people's drug use [was] influenced by musicians whose records they idolized, that the real musicians playing on them were totally straight," she adds. "Some people smoke and drank — I never did — but we all just went on coffee. We worked day and night, and knew one day it would stop." Kaye was also working at every session she could get because she was a single mom with three kids, her mother and a full-time nanny to support (her child support totaled all of 75$ a month). Her first marriage, to musician Al Kaye, lasted only a few years; they'd met playing and touring in a big band. "[He} was a lot older than I was and drank a lot of wine," she remembers. Her second marriage lasted only a few years, and ended in 1964 after her husband grew violently jealous of men whom Kaye was recording with. Kaye grew up poor in Everett, Washington, and was raised by musician parents. When she was 6, her folks moved her to Wilmington, California. At 13, she took up steel guitar, and within a few months was assisting her teacher in giving lessons in Long Beach. He loaned her a standard guitar, and she taught in exchange for his lessons. Three or four months later she started playing dates. While she was a natural and enjoyed gigging for its own sake, her dad had recently left his family, and Kaye's lesson work and gigs helped to support them. As she told NPR's Bob Edwards last year, "I could make money, and it was a powerful thing, at the age of 14, to be able to put food on the table and do what you want to do." Her first gig was in 1949, playing as part of a jazz trio at a party. "I played parties and nightclub gigs. Jazz wasn't a danceable music in the early '50s, but soon enough, I was playing dances, all styles of music." While Kaye was still a high school student, her musical education consisted of taking the train up to L.A. to see Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and countless big bands. She spent 1954 and 1955 on the road, playing guitar with a big band, and then returned to L.A., where she worked a day job and played five nights a week at jazz clubs. Kaye was gaining a reputation as a guitarist. After a club date in 1957, Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, who helped to oversee the early careers of Little Richard and Ray Charles (among others), approached her about playing on a record. Kaye was hesitant but agreed, despite being unfamiliar with the singer. The session was for Sam Cooke's first proper single, a cover of "Summertime" with "You Send Me" on the flip. The tide was turning: Jazz clubs were becoming rock clubs, and for Kaye, a single session paid as much as a week's worth of club dates. She began booking as many sessions as she could, and was soon in demand. Her guitar work can be heard on Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" and dozens of Spector-produced hits, such as the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling " and the Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me." Though she was often the only female musician on a session, working in a man's world wasn't difficult for Kaye, who prided herself on her professionalism and an ability to outcuss the men. "People like to think it was tough, but I walked into those early sessions with the attitude like, 'I gotta play this stuff?' I was overconfident. I came from jazz," she laughs. "I played in the black nightclubs every night. In the studios, it didn't matter. I didn't get attitude from anyone for being a woman. It didn't matter if you were a zebra if you could help make a song a hit." After a bassist failed to show on a date in 1963, Kaye picked up the instrument that would define her career: "I became the No. 1 call for electric bass, which was a brand-new instrument. I invented most of the bass lines on the records, plus I innovated the teaching style for electric bass — a brand-new style." Kaye thrived in her work: "It was wonderful. The 50 or 60 of us who were always working together — to come in every day and work with the L.A. Philharmonic or the horns from Artie Shaw's band was just the highest experience you could have." In 1968, after years of working back-to-back sessions all day, every day, and disquieted by the cultural upheaval, drugged-out musicians and the Manson murders, Kaye took a break from studio work. A few years later she began taking only the choice dates, and worked largely on TV and movie themes (everything from M*A*S*H to the Planet of the Apes' proggy score) before withdrawing in the mid-'70s to teach and write bass-instruction books (she has authored 27). She's spent the last decade digging up and compiling studio documents and union records for her memoirs, in hopes of not only chronicling her contributions to pop but also telling the story of the rest of the musicians behind the hits. "It feels great, as an older musician, to be able to pass things on, but the main thing is for the studio musicians to get their due." Unlike most of her still-living peers, Kaye hasn't retired. She lives in Valencia but plans to move back to the Valley soon. "My friends are there. The Valley's got soul. I miss it." She still plays the occasional jazz session or gig, gives master class–type lessons to bass pros and does seminars for her sponsor, Ibanez. She laughs, "I might be old, but I'm not done yet." Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Sheriff John Stone on February 18, 2010, 07:45:50 PM from this weeks LA Weekly http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/ By Jessica Hopper Thursday, Feb 18 2010 You may not know Carol Kaye's name, but you know her work. You've probably heard at least a few dozen examples, and all the words, too. She spent the '60s as the most requested session bassist in L.A., playing on many of the tracks and albums that form the American pop canon: the Doors' "Light My Fire" It's interesting that Carol continues to list "Light MY Fire" on her credits. That is the only place I have seen it. I have seen it documented that Larry Knechtnel was brought in to overdub his string bass over Ray Manzarek's keyboard bass. Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Andrew G. Doe on February 18, 2010, 09:57:40 PM She also still lists "Surfin' USA" (on guitar), despite the fact that the AFM sheet doesn't list her and that David Marks doesn't recall her being there... and he did recall Frank DiVitto drumming for Dennis on this date.
And let's not even mention the M-word. ;) Awesome musician, significant contribution to modern music... so why the need to claim she was on records where it's so easy to prove she wasn't ? Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Jay on February 18, 2010, 10:02:51 PM When I first saw the bold font, and the news article headline, I thought I was going to read that she had died. Don't scare me like that. lol
Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: The Heartical Don on February 19, 2010, 01:41:00 AM from this weeks LA Weekly http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/ By Jessica Hopper Thursday, Feb 18 2010 You may not know Carol Kaye's name, but you know her work. You've probably heard at least a few dozen examples, and all the words, too. She spent the '60s as the most requested session bassist in L.A., playing on many of the tracks and albums that form the American pop canon: the Doors' "Light My Fire" It's interesting that Carol continues to list "Light MY Fire" on her credits. That is the only place I have seen it. I have seen it documented that Larry Knechtnel was brought in to overdub his string bass over Ray Manzarek's keyboard bass. Carol Kaye made an immense contribution to pop music. Indeed, it's puzzling that the myth around Light My Fire (and other tracks) persists. On another board, perhaps 10 years ago already, I read that Light My Fire doesn't feature bass guitar at all. Then the Kaye claim already was under fire. She does not need that type of fantasy. Did she always claim the LMF thing, or was it something that came with time, and herself aging a bit? Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: The Shift on February 19, 2010, 02:54:19 AM It reads like an obit Jay...
and what does this mean: "Though occasionally other women were included ... Kaye was one of the only women in the Wrecking Crew" I'm one of the only blokes on the Smiley board. I'm also one of the only people drinking coffee in the world this morning. Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: The Heartical Don on February 19, 2010, 03:26:34 AM It reads like an obit Jay... and what does this mean: "Though occasionally other women were included ... Kaye was one of the only women in the Wrecking Crew" I'm one of the only blokes on the Smiley board. I'm also one of the only people drinking coffee in the world this morning. Hehe, I did not notice that, perhaps due to a slight hangover... :lol Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Loaf on February 19, 2010, 03:30:41 AM It reads like an obit Jay... and what does this mean: "Though occasionally other women were included ... Kaye was one of the only women in the Wrecking Crew" I'm one of the only blokes on the Smiley board. I'm also one of the only people drinking coffee in the world this morning. Hehe, I did not notice that, perhaps due to a slight hangover... :lol That piece of writing really annoyed me. "one of the only"???? She is either "one of the few" or "the only". The very word "only" describes a state of "oneness". Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: c-man on February 19, 2010, 04:32:26 AM from this weeks LA Weekly http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/ By Jessica Hopper Thursday, Feb 18 2010 You may not know Carol Kaye's name, but you know her work. You've probably heard at least a few dozen examples, and all the words, too. She spent the '60s as the most requested session bassist in L.A., playing on many of the tracks and albums that form the American pop canon: the Doors' "Light My Fire" It's interesting that Carol continues to list "Light MY Fire" on her credits. That is the only place I have seen it. I have seen it documented that Larry Knechtnel was brought in to overdub his string bass over Ray Manzarek's keyboard bass. Carol Kaye made an immense contribution to pop music. Indeed, it's puzzling that the myth around Light My Fire (and other tracks) persists. On another board, perhaps 10 years ago already, I read that Light My Fire doesn't feature bass guitar at all. Then the Kaye claim already was under fire. She does not need that type of fantasy. Did she always claim the LMF thing, or was it something that came with time, and herself aging a bit? If memory serves, there was a Doors biography that described a Doors recording session, and mentioned that a "female bass player" was present. Carol made mention of it in a magazine article, so probably either she played on some other date for them but doesn't remember which songs and subsequently "remembered" it as LMF, or the book specifically (and erroneously) attributed the session to LMF and Carol just rolled with it. Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: The Heartical Don on February 19, 2010, 04:35:03 AM Thanks c-man. Sounds credible.
Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Andrew G. Doe on February 19, 2010, 11:08:27 AM from this weeks LA Weekly http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/ By Jessica Hopper Thursday, Feb 18 2010 You may not know Carol Kaye's name, but you know her work. You've probably heard at least a few dozen examples, and all the words, too. She spent the '60s as the most requested session bassist in L.A., playing on many of the tracks and albums that form the American pop canon: the Doors' "Light My Fire" It's interesting that Carol continues to list "Light MY Fire" on her credits. That is the only place I have seen it. I have seen it documented that Larry Knechtnel was brought in to overdub his string bass over Ray Manzarek's keyboard bass. Carol Kaye made an immense contribution to pop music. Indeed, it's puzzling that the myth around Light My Fire (and other tracks) persists. On another board, perhaps 10 years ago already, I read that Light My Fire doesn't feature bass guitar at all. Then the Kaye claim already was under fire. She does not need that type of fantasy. Did she always claim the LMF thing, or was it something that came with time, and herself aging a bit? If memory serves, there was a Doors biography that described a Doors recording session, and mentioned that a "female bass player" was present. Carol made mention of it in a magazine article, so probably either she played on some other date for them but doesn't remember which songs and subsequently "remembered" it as LMF, or the book specifically (and erroneously) attributed the session to LMF and Carol just rolled with it. The female bass player on a Doors session refers to the original demos they cut pre-Elektra. No-one, not even Manzarek, can recall who she was. But whoever she was, it wasn't Carol Kaye. That biography may well have been mine - I surely mentioned it. Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: OneEar/OneEye on February 19, 2010, 11:51:02 AM I took bass lessons from her when I was 15 or 16 and living in Santa Cruz CA, but it only lasted about two weeks before she split town and went back to LA. I was in awe of her because I knew she'd played on so many big recordings (including Beach Boys). She would have me tape each of our lesson sessions so I could listen to them at home as I practiced what we'd gone over.
Wish I still had some of those tapes! :( Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: BJL on February 19, 2010, 11:54:58 PM That piece of writing really annoyed me. "one of the only"???? She is either "one of the few" or "the only". The very word "only" describes a state of "oneness". It's a very common expression, at least where I live (New York and Connecticut). I think its root would be in the phrase "only three female musicians played in the wrecking crew," of which she was "one of the only," just the first part is left out or phrased differently or whatever. Probably a regional thing, not a bad grammar thing, imho. Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: DonnaK on February 20, 2010, 01:30:32 PM Ed, thanks for posting a very interesting article.......never knew that much about Carol except that she was/is one great gal!!!
Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: TheLazenby on February 20, 2010, 05:20:35 PM She seemed like a very cool lady in "Beautiful Dreamer" - and geez, what a list of accomplishments! (Not that being 'that woman who played bass on SMiLE' isn't good enough. :-P)
Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Sheriff John Stone on February 20, 2010, 05:38:07 PM Yeah, we should recognize and honor a lot of those great musicians. Many have either passed on or are getting up there in years. It's hard to believe that Hal Blaine is 81 years old! Look at this very short list of songs Hal played on:
"Can't Help Falling In Love" - Elvis Presley "Surf City" - Jan And Dean "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin "Mr. Tambourine Man" - The Byrds "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" - Nancy Sinatra "Strangers In The Night" - Frank Sinatra "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" - 5th Dimension "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon And Garfunkel "Close To You" - The Carpenters "Annie's Song" - John Denver "The Way We Were" - Barbra Streisand "Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain And Tennille to name a few.... Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: hypehat on February 21, 2010, 04:00:51 AM 81? blimey. Hal Blaine is easily my favourite drummer. Although he didn't do as much as is commonly thought on Spector stuff, right?
Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: c-man on February 21, 2010, 05:24:22 AM 81? blimey. Hal Blaine is easily my favourite drummer. Although he didn't do as much as is commonly thought on Spector stuff, right? He didn't do as much as commonly thought on Beach Boys stuff. ;) Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Andrew G. Doe on February 21, 2010, 09:25:36 AM 81? blimey. Hal Blaine is easily my favourite drummer. Although he didn't do as much as is commonly thought on Spector stuff, right? He didn't do as much as commonly thought on Beach Boys stuff. ;) Certainly not "Surfin' USA", as is claimed on his website (or was, the last time I looked). Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: TheLazenby on February 21, 2010, 04:49:43 PM Quote "Annie's Song" - John Denver *ahem* And now the sound of John Denver being strangled. "You came on my pillow.... GAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCK!" Thank you. Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Sheriff John Stone on February 21, 2010, 05:04:14 PM Quote "Annie's Song" - John Denver *ahem* And now the sound of John Denver being strangled. "You came on my pillow.... GAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCK!" Thank you. I'm a big fan of John Denver. Great singer and songwriter. He's written some standards. One of the best concerts I ever saw was John Denver at Hershey, PA, and the musical director and drummer was - Hal Blaine. Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: the captain on February 21, 2010, 05:11:49 PM While I'm not a fan of his music, I'll always respect John Denver for taking a stand alongside Frank Zappa and Dee Snider in the whole PMRC mess.
Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Jon Stebbins on February 21, 2010, 07:16:58 PM 81? blimey. Hal Blaine is easily my favourite drummer. Although he didn't do as much as is commonly thought on Spector stuff, right? He didn't do as much as commonly thought on Beach Boys stuff. ;) Certainly not "Surfin' USA", as is claimed on his website (or was, the last time I looked). Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Sam_BFC on February 22, 2010, 07:00:02 AM Timbales on I Get Around? Wow :)
Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: Beach Head on February 22, 2010, 03:59:17 PM Sometimes it's a small world! I was quite surprised to stumble across this while reading up on one of my other interests ...
http://freakbits.com/carol-kaye-misunderstands-torrentfreak-0221 (http://freakbits.com/carol-kaye-misunderstands-torrentfreak-0221) Carol's at it again! Title: Re: Ace of Bass: Carol Kaye Post by: letsmakeit31 on February 23, 2010, 11:37:40 AM I read somewhere that she played with Jimi Hendrix too :hat. Mitch Mitchell said "She was brilliant, scared the sh*t of me" Quoted from "Black Gold" The Lost Archives Of Jimi Hendrix p101.
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