She's a bonafide Bad ass. Broke ground as a woman in a mans world. And along the way created some of the most memorable guitar and bass lines of any musician...ever. If you play guitar, and especially bass...you NEED to learn about Carol Kaye.
I wonder though why people like the Beach Boys made her record the tracks. Also many other the other musicians mentioned were themselves really good musicians and could play the basslines just fine. The other examples are surely just songs where they needed a bigger sound maybe and would multitrack for the famous wall of sound. But apart ofrom that I wonder why people like the Beach Boys hired her.
@@EbonyPope A couple of observations: 1) "The Wrecking Crew," as those studio musicians were known as (unofficially, yet officially), could knock out songs in a hurry, having the right feel, groove, etc., whereas the youngsters oftentimes didn't have the chops to pull the music off on just one or two takes. I recall The Byrds' Roger Guinn saying that he was the only one who was allowed to record his instrument from the group, as the rest simply were not up to snuff, while their vocals were the stars of the show -- they just needed the more-seasoned professional touch on the instruments. 2) The Wrecking Crew were all fantastic at improvisation, so (as was mentioned in the video piece) they could take bare-bones charts (music), and add their own groove to them. Hal Blaine was the famous drummer, Tommy Tedesco was one of the famous guitarists, Carol was one of the great bass players, etc. And you might have heard of another of the Wrecking Crew, who later went on to great fame as a solo artist: Glen Campbell, who couldn't read a lick of music, but had such a tremendous ear that he could make it happen with his guitar work! One final observation: It oftentimes takes me over 100 takes to get just one line right (I am a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist), where The Wrecking Crew could slash that time considerably. With home recording studios, our financial commitment is in our recording gear, and time is not as much of a factor; but in the professional recording studios, you had to pay (usually) union scale to the recording engineers, maintenance engineers, studio musicians, and for the studio time. Even in the 1980s, it was not unusual to spend $150,000 just to get an album recorded! Add to that the graphic designs of the albums, pressing to vinyl (or tape or CD), marketing, and so on, putting out a record was a major event for a large corporation! So one cost that could be cut down on was in studio time -- which The Wrecking Crew could do, and quite admirably, may I say! I'm assuming you don't know a ton about the "business" (and that's not a knock on you at all!) -- and I confess that I have never been a big recording star, nor is my studio in any kind of shape to host a Frank Sinatra or a Taylor Swift or whomever!
@@EbonyPope The studio musicians were more consistent and they contributed to the songwriting. Sonny Bono wrote songs on an upright piano, but the arrangements came from the studio. Ditto for the Beach Boys. The bands could _play_ the parts, but they couldn't come up with them quickly and then play them well enough to cut the record that same day.
Carol Kaye was great! If they put all the studio regulars in the various halls of fame there would be massive overpopulation!So many in the sidelines.Studio work still is lucrative and still is a world of no credit,no royalties,nobody knows you unless your good and don't mess up.Mess up once and everyone and there mother knows it.Years of excellence are needed just to begin a reputation.
I wonder though why people like the Beach Boys made her record the tracks. Also many other the other musicians mentioned were themselves really good musicians and could play the basslines just fine. The other examples are surely just songs where they needed a bigger sound maybe and would multitrack for the famous wall of sound. But apart ofrom that I wonder why people like the Beach Boys hired her.
Somebody said they had no idea my 10 favorite bass players were Carol Kaye,lol. So true! If haven't checked out the documentary "The Wrecking Crew" do so. It's on RU-vid.
I wonder though why people like the Beach Boys made her record the tracks. Also many other the other musicians mentioned were themselves really good musicians and could play the basslines just fine. The other examples are surely just songs where they needed a bigger sound maybe and would multitrack for the famous wall of sound. But apart ofrom that I wonder why people like the Beach Boys hired her.
I thought Carol and the other studio musicians referred to themselves as "The Click" and it was the promoter of the documentary that came up with "The Wrecking Crew"?
Ronnie Don’t despair. Switzerland is awesome (though I haven’t been there 😝). I mean the chocolate alone...just imagine, Netflix + Swiss chocolate. The Swiss would become the most lethargic people on earth! Lol
Kent Hartman wrote a book titled "The Wrecking Crew" (published in 2012). It is an excellent book about Carol and all the others, with stories about the individuals and their work together. It is one of the best books I have ever read.
I know who Carol Kay is, and she is a national treasure. She is uninhibited on her instruments and a master of her craft. It is a very humbling experience to watch her videos because there, in front of you, is someone who experienced musical creativity from start to finish and gave us a lot of what we hear today. She's a monster. I love her.
Carol's contributions along with 'The Crew' are nothing less than legendary. Her soft spoken bass- line on Witchita Lineman leads to the anticipation of the building of the arrangement. Hall of Fame for her and the Crew- individually.
I am a bass player myself. I first learned of Kaye about 5 years ago. I consider her one of my HERoes. An amazing woman and gifted musician. Thanks for posting.
Knuckle Hammer what about all of the other studio musicians then? Why is it if a woman does something men do all of the time regularly, it's lifetime movie amazing?
I met her in Reno at a gig I was on. Funny enough, I think she was dating our bass player! This was the late 70s. Nice, accessible person. I was honored.
I was raised in the 1960s and only learned about Carol in 1978 when I attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in L.A.. Her contributions to recorded music are legion.
this woman just created the best bass lines for all successful songs of the 60s and beginning of the 70s..at least 10 years of so big bass lines which are recognized all over the world by anyone who likes good music..god bless you carol..
Love this lady! Can't have a discussion about bass players without her name inevitably coming up as a true pioneer! She played on damn near everything back then! Those chops man! Woo!
She's a national treasure, and so humble!! I'll tell you now, if I'd played on just ONE of the hundreds of hits she played on, I'd be preening around like a peacock for the rest of my life! Thank you Carol!
Mahesh Bhenchod pretty sure Brian Wilson did write the lines of pet sounds, although I’m sure that Carol embellished them and played them better than anyone else
Bryan did wrote the baseline for pet sounds even tho she thought Brian was crazy Bcs the bass lines didn’t make no since Bryan give it to her Bcs they where in a different key but Brian was a genius! He knew what he was doing ! And created one of the most icon albums in rock history !
The essence of Rock n'Roll. Classic hooks which will live forever. Now look at the shit the USA music industry produces. Wrap this woman up in protection and learn from her how to express emotion and feelings through understanding music and its power. Thank you Carol Kaye and your friends for making some of the most wonderful music ever. With that over - let's get back to fiddling with our phones and iPads. Someone help me!
Carol Kaye came up with the bass intro to Witchita Lineman in the studio. Glen Campbell said, “that’s it” and we’ve all heard it countless times. She and the other “Wrecking Crew” musicians are music legends.
She is amazing!!! There is a documentary out there somewhere that features her and mentions her battle with sexism as well. Im a bassist as well and I cant believe how she flawlessly switches styles.
And that is where her genius comes in. Being able to create something out of nothing. In just a matter of a few takes. Time is money as they say and that is never more true than in the recording studio.
Carol gives us a terrific insight into exactly why music was so great back in her era , "it wasn't me , me , me , it was us , us , us , as a group ... " we can see that applies to everything and everybody , people need to get back to working together as a team
Shout out to the reporter and news anchor at the end of the segment. Talking about technique, mentioning the use of a guitar pick and height of strings. This did allow for her bass lines to cut through better in the mix, allowing the bass to be heard better.
Don't quite. I wanted to but realized that I was trying to take on tpo much. My friend Jason Damico can rip up the fret board. Practice everyday even if it's for 15 minutes
Thank you for the advice. I try to practice at least an hour a day. I can play Margaritaville and Mr. tambourine Man pretty well. It’s that damn C chord that is giving me trouble. At first I couldn’t make it sound right at all but with practice if I go slow and put my fingers correctly on the frets it sounds good. but my problem is I can’t switch from the other cords to the C quick enough. I guess that comes with practice. But I’m not giving up because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do my whole life. No excuses.
The reporter had it right the first time when she said "magicians." Carol Kaye as a part of the "Wrecking Crew" were to the West Coast what The Funk Brothers were to Motown (Kaye also played at Motown)... they were what made those incredible hits. Not that the vocal you heard didn't matter, but they put it in its best light. You might not know her name, but someone my age literally grew up listening to her playing. As a guitarist, I was familiar with her (more as a bassist), but it is hard to grasp the scope of what she actually did. All the more incredible as a woman during the 50s and 60s. She did it the right way, by just being better at what she did than others, male or female. Hats off to her, and the rest of the musicians who still serve the song instead of just their ego. True musician.
"The note doesn't say it's male or female. The note is either good or bad, see? You don't think that way (about what sex the musician is)." and "We didn't think me, me, me. We thought us, us us... if more musicians thought that way, we would have a damn good business." These are the sorts of statements a real, pure musician and artist lives by. It's why she is who she is, and the overwhelming majority of "stars" since then are long forgotten. I've had the honor of conversing with her over emails, and she is as real as she seems. A treasure, really.
Exactly. I bet she was never recorded for diversity reasons: a real talent and a dedicated hardworker does not need such excuses and would rather find them insulting.
I love this. Carol I do love you. We have met and visited a few times. Since the 70's. You are a true part of today's music. Your picking style was /is always so clean. I mostly followed her bass work. You should see the list of songs she does. Everyday, even today, all day, somewhere a Carol Kaye Bass line is being heard. She did work for Motown too. Stevie Wonder hit songs. Carol on Bass. Great TV clip of a real part of history.
This is one of the great things about the Internet, as I didn't even think about the backup musicians, until now. I am 65 years old, and was lucky enough to listen to these great songs that she collaborated with. Thank you Ley Vaughn...
What a Gift Carol Kaye is to the Electric Bass ! Her instructional books & videos will forever be THE Holy Grail among Bassists. And a great Attestment to the effectiveness of playing Bass with a Pick (in addition to the Fingers, when appropriate), which IS Cool, as she has shown within thousands of Recordings. Thanks so much, Carol - you have always been & will forever be a Household Name among my Students.
What a humble lady she is! Even though she has recorded tons of hit records, she never shows any arrogance. Wish I listened to her stories about the records she had related!
there are so many stories of people who didn't credit for their contributions to the hits we all know and love, the funk brothers, Carol Kaye, Darlene Love. at least not until many many years later. The funk brothers got their tribute movie, and so did Darlene Love, maybe Carol Kaye deserves one too.
I just want to say Thanks to you carol Kaye This is Ken Warfield. Peater's friend. When I tell people I Played. Bass on a gig with you In san Francisco 1976 They think WHAT? I say right I played Bass Peater Kaye on Drums Craig Fisher on Guitar And You on guitar I just wanted to SAY... THANK YOU! THANK YOU! With Love and appreciation Always. I will carry the memory Of our experience all my days.🎉 Kenny Warfield...
Great local story about a true Legend in the Music Industry! I also have to say Kudos to the interviewer for actually learning about both subject and about the person!
Phil Spector wasn't always known for his generosity, but at least he names all the musicians, including Carol, on the sleeve of 'Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes'.
@@manbeast If anyone ever needed his guns "red flagged" it was Phil Spector, and we'd all be better off for it including Phil, but wealthy connected people just aren't held to the same scrutiny as the rest of us.
I just discover this great musician an hour ago, through an email from Reverb the music magazine. What a humble woman, I don't think she even realize how huge she is in music!!!!
My ex wife plays bass & guitar & sings… That's all I ever cared IF she could play she started playing bass for one of my bands as a favor she learned a two hour set in like 3 days on bass that she never played but was a guitarist.
Doug K Actually, she's wrong, it does, and not for better or for worse, but simply to make a different sound. For starters, women are not, on average, as strong as men, so they don't typically get the same volume that men do. Their hands are, on average, smaller, which has an effect (often positive) on their mechanics. The average woman also has better hearing than the average man, which means that they can produce more frequencies than men can, which means that they can produce a richer sound than men can. Women also have much better auditory processing than men, so that also gives them an advantage. There are many great female musicians, but arguing that they aren't any different from male musicians is errant. They are women and bring the unique musical skills that women have to being musicians, just like a female singer is a female singer and a male singer is a male singer. The whole being, not just the voice, is a different instrument.
Bless this great woman avenues, ball parks, concert halls, schools, dollar bills should be named after her. What a legacy of unparalleled talent...incredible.
You would think that musicians of a certain age would be playing vintage Fenders, Gibsons, Gretsches etc...So it's always refreshing to see a musician of her caliber play an Ibanez guitar and bass...Very cool person...
Jerome Wagschal You were so right with that comment.A musicians magic comes from their mind and hands so really they could be playing a piece of crap Sears guitar and make it sing.
I am only one of millions who recognize the incredible talent of Carol..in her own way she has made a mark in musical history... she has a natural understanding of harmony that few people do .her journey to get to where she became is fascinating...if it sounds like I play a little bit I do... Carol my hats off to you ma'am.what can I say I'm in awe.
Some of my FAVORITE Carol Kaye bass playing is what she did on the TV show , The Streets of San Francisco from the 70's...including the theme. Great player !
I remember a Dutch documentary, when she walk'd in the legendary studio were she workded for decades. She had to introduce herself and refused to go inside. Men! I'm from another generation but give this legendary woman a statue please! Carol Kaye you rock lady🎸
As a life long musician, I and all my musician friends have known of Carol Kaye as the premium studio artist most all my life. She made being a session artist noteworthy and artist like Glen Campbell and Skunk Baxter (steely dan and the doobies) and so many of the "behind the music" people popular and known.
Carol, I listened to your playing with so many well known singers and bands never knowing the truth of the music. Thank you so much for the beautiful additions to so many of generational soundtracks...
@ Ley Vaughn.....I am very impressed with this lady. So glad to know that a female helped to provide music for some of the greatest songs. Kudos to Carol.
It’s weird how she wasn’t in hired guns, she had such a profound effect on Rock an Roll. Kaye not only was an accomplished bassist, as well as guitarist
Wow, surreal! An elderly lady playing an Ibanez superstrat using fat flatwound strings! It's like seeing my grandmother using a macbook pro with a dialup modem surfing the internet...Respect, though! Never got the credits she deserved. Great to watch here play, wish it was my grandma!
