Entertainment For Lively Minds
In Search Of Delayed Bass Syndrome
Nick Lowe told me that he learned all about mastering records from "December 63" by the Four Seasons. It doesn't have that many instruments on it but nevertheless it punches through the radio like very few records do because it is perfectly arranged. I twittered about this yesterday and Gary Parkinson pointed out that it is also a great example of what he calls Delayed Bass Syndrome. I confess I'd never thought of this myself but he's absolutely right. Until the bass comes in the record hasn't really started and it's the resolution of the tension that makes it so satisfying. And it arrives at a very interesting point, in the middle of a vocal line. I'm sure there are bass players out there who can come up with other well-known examples.
- More from David Hepworth.
- Login or register to post comments
-
Honky Tonk Women
Bass comes in for the chorus. Comes out again for the next verse too. Delayed Bass syndrome X2.
Lawks, you're right
Never noticed.
That is
a very good bass-line, not that I know much about bass-lines. I actually bought the latest Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Best Of the other day; because I felt I should own a copy and not just borrow my Dad's every so often.
Ian Gomm
I wonder if Nick and Ian discussed this while in Brinsley Schwarz? Bass really lifts the song when it kicks in at 24 seconds.
It's only a brief wait
and as guitar player, I love the intro to The Waterboys' 'Fisherman's Blues'. A great opening acoustic rhythm base with delicate mandolin strokes, the fiddle hovering, and then swooping down as the bass guitar kicks in like an adrenalin shot, with great sturdy pulses, making the song jump to life with a wallop and you're off.
Alright Now
goes on for a bit before the bass kicks in in the chorus - wasn't it written by the bass player?
It was indeed
He knew less is always more.
and he was about 12
when he did it
Lola
The Kinks' Lola has a delayed bass part also - if memory serves it comes in as Ray is spelling out COLA.
Aphex Twin
Ageispolis on 'Selected Ambient Works I'. I remember hearing this for the first time. When the subsonic bass finally kicked in, my speakers nearly imploded.
Subsonic bass
How do you know it's kicked in? :-)
Mm. Good point! Well, it was
Mm. Good point! Well, it was when the house sank a few feet in its foundations and the cat began levitating that I could tell.
Ooo, good speakers! :-)
Our House - Madness
I know they don't wait *that* long, but the 'awoowoo' slide up the neck kicks serious bottom. Best enjoyed on the twelve inch version where a cautious increase in volume as you're not quite sure where the bass is can catch you and your sub-woofers totally and delightfully unprepared.
Smoke on The Water
Working from dulled memory here, but I think Smoke On The Water really lifts when the bass enters. The song almost sounds like it speeds up, but that is probably just the listener's heart beat.
December '63 is unusual
In that the bass carries the instrumental melody line and is consequently pushed much further forward in the mix. I've been trying to think of other examples of this. Black Cherry's Play That Funky Music probably is one.
Clean-Up Woman - Betty Wright
A record of unalloyed genius - exhibits early onset Delayed Bass Syndrome
http://open.spotify.com/track/4iFIR2kpNw8yvmZr1o4SJP
'Baba O'Riley' by The Who...
The Ox only joins the action 1 minute 16 seconds in...
When Doves Cry - Prince
Bass never arrives at all, beat that.
I've always thought that...
It would benefit from the arrival of a bit of bass.
But then, I'm not a tiny purple genius...
Paisley
Park.
Stupidly Happy
by the legend that is XTC. A wonderful 1.22 before Colin Moulding comes in to make it an even more wonderful 6.07.
If I knew how to, I would post a youtube clip for your delectation
Allow me
Diamonds Are Forever
It's not that there's a total absence of bass in the first 1:24 of Shirley Bassey's 'Diamonds Are Forever', but it's at this point that everything else drops out, and the bass heralds a gear change:
Shirley Bassey – Diamonds Are Forever: http://open.spotify.com/track/78hUEhIJAIMIckpzmXGHsj
I absolutely love this!
As usual, David Bowie is etc
And when the bleedin bass does bother to turn up - it's only like the best bleedin bass riff ever.
Eh? Wot is it? "Secret Life of Arabia" - 'course
Jealous Guy
When Klaus Voorman's full-fat bass slots into the melody, in the second verse. What a brilliant bassist he was.
Nutbush City Limits - Ike and Tina Turner
The bass comes in at about 00.36, after the first verse and chorus.
Brilliant arrangement by, presumably, ike.
"All Right Now" by Free..
..repeats the Honky Tonk" trick, but I love the way the bass just falls out of the sky in this.
Great Version
Never heard this version before - think I like it more than Kim Weston's attempt