He literally made the fender jazzmaster cool, they weren’t particularly popular at the time but were more affordable than the more desirable vintage strats and teles
So many great bass lines, graham is my favorite from that era. Not just the hard rocking ones like one more time, got the time? But songs like Friday just legendary
@@LowEndUniversity Yes! 2 Tone is an amazing subgenre of ska and the first music I really latched onto as a kid - Madness were the band that opened the way to so much for me.
From the same era, country and scene, Ian Dury had a great bass player, Norman Watt-Roy. Another great of the era was Graham Maby from Joe Jackson's band. "I'm the man" live 1980 shows he was up there with Jean Jaques Burnel.
Dude every time i listen to your channel you play a song i grew up LOVING! I really enjoy Elvis Costello. Check out "Watching the Detectives" or "I don't want to go to Chelsea"
This has always been one band that my dad and I can bridge across with my love for punk and his love for the classics. Many memories made bonding over his music. Great analysis as always!
My second favorite song about self gratification, right behind turning Japanese. Spanking pickle did a great cover of the latter and mud honey of this one
Check out “Accidents Will Happen”, as it’s an all bass song, lead bass, with some tasty bass chords. “Every Day I Write the Book” is also a lead bass song, Elvis Costello knew how to utilize Bass!
"Why Can't I Touch It" was in the Ted Lasso TV show. My GF (we're both soccer fans in our 60s) was almost freaked out when I got up and started dancing. He should start with "Ever Fallen in Love", though. That's usually what I play for people who've never heard of them. 😄
@matthewgerken7487 Perhaps I Believe, You Say You Don't Love Me...kinda going "off the board" and skipping the 1st two (phenomenal) albums and the outstanding Singles Going Steady Steve Garvey was really underrated imho
Costello's first album My Aim Is True was recorded in London, produced by Nick Lowe using a California country rock band called Clover. The hit single from that album was a beautiful ballad called Alison.
This is a brilliant album ! All songs are good ! Even the drumming is awesome on some tracks like on "Lipstick Vouge" both the drummer and bassist are killing it on that one ! 😃❤️👍👍
Videos were of a low budget, diy, punk ethos back in those days. Artists and Bands worked hard to get to where they got before the internet. Great reaction!✌️❤️🇨🇦
My much older brother took me to see Elvis Costello in the early 80s when he was touring this album. We were pushed up against one speaker. I blame the tinnitus I have today on that gig!
I don’t know if he still does but at one point Costello lived in Vancouver BC and I got to go out with him for an evening for drinks via a friend inviting me. Such an unbelievably awesome experience.
You might have mentioned this, but another cool aspect of the bass here is that way that it interacts with the staccato rhythms of Costello's vocal on the verses. The whole thing (all parts) is really well locked in.
Every member of The Attractions are proper level musos, almost too good for the scene they came from. Elvis found gold with these guys and his albums are littered with great thought out basslines. Bruce Thomas is that guy. Thanks BT.
Troy at the THJ3113 channel does a lot of Elvis Costello bass covers. He even has a Bruce Thomas designed bass. This song got a second life on AOR stations in the early 80s because early had almost no videos and Played Pump it Up all the time.
The band featured on his debut album was called “Clover,” from the U.S. Clover. Clover soon disbanded, but the harmonica player and the keyboardist went on to a small degree of success in the eighties under a different band name- Huey Lewis and the News.
Great analysis, particularly comparing to The Jam and other British bands at the time. Not necessarily to analyze but just for fun you should check out Lipstick Vogue off this same album - the drums and bass are totally showing off and fun and locked and exciting. Its a great song for any rock rhythm section
Can I suggest you try Norman Watt Roy from Ian Dury and The Blockheads. The tracks Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, What A Waste, and Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt 3.
The bass tracks you need to do are " Lipstick Vogue ", " I Don't Wanna Go To Chelsea ", " No Action", " Clean Money", " Accidents Will Happen", " King Horse", and " Hand in Hand among many by 4 string genius Bruce Thomas
@@joegabbard5281 I agree, and Glen was fantastic but I think he's pretty well known and appreciated. Unfortunate that he was fired by Tull. Wild Turkey was a pretty cool band though. Sad that he's passed away too soon. Some other under the radar guys are Herbie Flowers, Jerry Scheff, Jerry Jemmott, Paul Gray (UK) and Andrew Weiss.
I always think of this song as EC's "Subterranean Homesick Blues". Bruce Thomas is a great bassist - check out his fretless work with Suzanne Vega on the track "99.9F°". Elvis's early work was post-punk, but he and the band fell out and he went solo on a very eclectic career ranging all over the musical map. I see a few mentions here of the great Graham Maby - I'll add another name of a fantastic bassist from the era: Colin Moulding from XTC - try their 1989 song "One of the Millions".
You've stumbled upon the master. Check out Opportunity and B-move, these really showcase Bruce Thomas' skill as a bass player. Also, Watching The Detectives, although Bruce Thomas didn't play bass on this one as it was pre-Attractions. Bruce Thomas is effing legendary!
Hey Mark have you ever heard of Turbonegro? Their bass player Happy Tom is one of my all time faves. Simple but their songs are so anthemic. If you could look at some of their songs like high on the crime, prine of the rodeo or the age of pamparius then you too would be a sexy denim sailor man.
the first time I heard EC was in 1979. Saw him over a half dozen times since and his best performance was the last one I saw in 2016. Don't get me wrong, they were all great and each one was better than the last. if David Bowie was like an uncle to me Elvis is surely a close cousin.
Another Bruce Thomas winner is " Party Girl" which includes a bass lead / solo. Have you done anything on Norman Watt Roy of Ian Dury and the Blockheads ? All of the " New Boots and Panties " LP is a bassists paradise plus the single " Hit Me W/ Your Rhythm Stick".
Great analysis. If you ever want to go deeper on EC and his musical influences, look up the interview and sing-a-long he did with Marian McPartland for Piano Jazz. It’s so good and really shows how deep and smart his music knowledge is.
Actually the backing band for "My Aim is True" was Clover, a country rock band from California. Huey Lewis (along with Sean Hopper who plays keyboards for The News) was a member, but the band did not evolve into The News. Another member of Clover was John McFee, who went on the join The Doobie Brothers.
The album version of it was pre-Bruce Thomas, though Bruce has certainly played it enough times live. For an amazing Bruce Thomas bass line of his own, check out Shabby Doll.
Excellent presentation! Reminded me of Bob Geldof’s band THE BOOMTOWN RATS Check out the songs THE ELEPHANTS GRAVEYARD and/or RAT TRAP. Pete Briquette is the bass player. You won’t be disappointed.🤟🇨🇦
one of the best songs bass lines ever brilliant bassest, brilliant drummer these buys are still playing rick beato interviewed the drummer at least these guys would just pop into the local pub and drop these recordings live. listen to these first albumns you know you didnt get it right especially in the last half
You have to do some Violent Fems! They are amazing with some great nasty acoustic bass. Add it up is a great song but their whole first album is amazing. Cheers.
I feel sad for any musician who has lived for so long without listening to Elvis Costello’s early music. His first album, which also features The Attractions, is a golden classic. What you see in this video, with the stumbling and all, is his “Angry Young Man” character. For more, look for his early appearance on SNL, when he has only the one album out, which got him banned from the show because he interrupted the planned performance of Watching The Detectives, and told the band to instead play Radio, Radio, which threw off the tight and fraught timing the the live broadcast. Also, the album NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is amazing.
Elvis Costello is the embodiment of what it means to be genuinely cool. It’s not just a performance, it’s who he is.
whatever, see my comment
He literally made the fender jazzmaster cool, they weren’t particularly popular at the time but were more affordable than the more desirable vintage strats and teles
Joe Jackson - I'm the Man. Bassist Graham Maby. Same era and is a must.
So many great bass lines, graham is my favorite from that era. Not just the hard rocking ones like one more time, got the time? But songs like Friday just legendary
@@chet-vk6it ua-cam.com/video/q-c0gTY_U8U/v-deo.html I gave this one a shot...
Excellent song! The whole album is fantastic.
Steppin Out is a worthy bass line as well.
Sunday Papers
Putting in another vote for Horace Panter from The Specials-“Concrete Jungle” and “Nite Klub” have two of the best ska/punk bass parts of all time
Right on! ❤
Yep, The Specials will be up soon!!
Nite Club was and is the most amazing pain in my ass to learn. Sir Horace is a giant.
Fun Fact. Elvis Constello produced the Specials First Album.
@@LowEndUniversity Yes! 2 Tone is an amazing subgenre of ska and the first music I really latched onto as a kid - Madness were the band that opened the way to so much for me.
The bassline for Lipstick Vogue is dope.
From the same era, country and scene, Ian Dury had a great bass player, Norman Watt-Roy. Another great of the era was Graham Maby from Joe Jackson's band. "I'm the man" live 1980 shows he was up there with Jean Jaques Burnel.
He should give Friday from I’m the Man a listen
Graham Maby from Joe Jackson’s band is awesome. Songs like “Friday”, “On Your Radio”, “One More Time”, and “I’m The Man” are phenomenal
Books & Water by Ian Dury and the Blockheads features a juicy bass groove and a jazzy solo, recommend. Great outro excerpt as well
Elvis Costello
Watching the detectives
I came here to say this or
I Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea
@@tjrenn yes. He should do both. Haha
@@tjrennmy fav of his.
my fave Elvis Costello song! ♥
Dude every time i listen to your channel you play a song i grew up LOVING!
I really enjoy Elvis Costello. Check out "Watching the Detectives" or "I don't want to go to Chelsea"
I saw Elvis Costello twice in the late 1970s and they were fantastic. The Attractions were a force on the stage.
My favorite Elvis album. First with the Attractions and it's perfect from start to finish. It's a masterpeice!!!
I don't say many albums are, but it IS a masterpiece
Bruce Thomas is a major influence on my bass playing. His lines were perfect for the songs and usually were busier. (Which I like)
"Radio, Radio" next.
If anyone in music deserves to be remembered forever, it's Elvis Costello.
This has always been one band that my dad and I can bridge across with my love for punk and his love for the classics. Many memories made bonding over his music. Great analysis as always!
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea, off of the same album, has such a fun bass line. My favorite Elvis, hands down.
I've seen him live many times between 1979 and about 2015... every show was great, but those early shows were really something special.
One of the best part of you videos is that everytime you can always learn something new. 12 minutes of music enciclopedia. Cheers! ❤
Wow, thanks friend!
"Everyday I write The Book" is a hit song because of the baseline if you ask me.
*bassline, but yeah 🙂
My second favorite song about self gratification, right behind turning Japanese. Spanking pickle did a great cover of the latter and mud honey of this one
"Spanking" pickle how Freudian lol. That Skankin' Pickle cover is great!
Bruce Thomas was/is a fantastic bass player
Check out “Accidents Will Happen”, as it’s an all bass song, lead bass, with some tasty bass chords. “Every Day I Write the Book” is also a lead bass song, Elvis Costello knew how to utilize Bass!
Came here to say this. What an amazing ride that song is, and so short.
Loved this reaction. You HAVE to do Buzzcocks.
"Why Can't I Touch It" was in the Ted Lasso TV show. My GF (we're both soccer fans in our 60s) was almost freaked out when I got up and started dancing. He should start with "Ever Fallen in Love", though. That's usually what I play for people who've never heard of them. 😄
Great song. Very boring bass line.
@matthewgerken7487 Perhaps I Believe, You Say You Don't Love Me...kinda going "off the board" and skipping the 1st two (phenomenal) albums and the outstanding Singles Going Steady
Steve Garvey was really underrated imho
Looks like Bruce's hand is in a cast. Damn, you know you are good when you play this well in a cast! - gotta do Lipstick Vogue
Saw him four times in 10 days in this period - great shows
Costello's first album My Aim Is True was recorded in London, produced by Nick Lowe using a California country rock band called Clover. The hit single from that album was a beautiful ballad called Alison.
A couple of members of Clover couldn't be bothered, Huey Lewis went on a holiday instead of taking part.
YES!!!! I feel like you listened when I recommended this a few months back. Amazing bass player
One of my top 10 songs of all time. Thanks for reviewing it. Very, very enjoyable.
Thank you kindly!! 🙏🏼
Recommending David J from Bauhaus and later Love & Rockets. She's In Parties from Bauhaus has a really cool bass line.
Doom-do-do-doo-do-doom, do-do-do doo-do-doo. I know you can here it as I do. It's kind of a bass solo.
Such a groovy track. He is a great songwriter. I hear this track a lot at sporting events. Surprised you hadn’t heard it. Nice reaction.
Btw, the dance moves and look are a tribute to Buddy Holly.
I love this song so much and glad you’re hearing it finally.
My favorite Bruce Thomas bassline is from "Shabby Doll". He especially goes nuts in the outro.
This is a brilliant album ! All songs are good ! Even the drumming is awesome on some tracks like on "Lipstick Vouge" both the drummer and bassist are killing it on that one ! 😃❤️👍👍
It’s a joy to concentrate on these genius bass lines. Really enjoyed this one.
Agreed. Thanks so much!
The band behind him on the 1st album was called Clover. This was the first album with The Attractions.
Clover (in part) later morphed into Huey Lewis &the News.
I'd love to get updates whenever this guy takes in another Costello and the Attractions tune.
A kid came into lessons and told me his dad wanted him to learn this tune. I’d never heard it before and it made for a very fun half hour lesson
There was some excellent bass players knocking around the UK in the new wave scene.
Videos were of a low budget, diy, punk ethos back in those days. Artists and Bands worked hard to get to where they got before the internet. Great reaction!✌️❤️🇨🇦
My much older brother took me to see Elvis Costello in the early 80s when he was touring this album. We were pushed up against one speaker. I blame the tinnitus I have today on that gig!
Loved your reaction to Elvis and The Attractions.
I don’t know if he still does but at one point Costello lived in Vancouver BC and I got to go out with him for an evening for drinks via a friend inviting me. Such an unbelievably awesome experience.
Nice reaction. This Year's Model is a rocker for sure.
You might have mentioned this, but another cool aspect of the bass here is that way that it interacts with the staccato rhythms of Costello's vocal on the verses. The whole thing (all parts) is really well locked in.
Every member of The Attractions are proper level musos, almost too good for the scene they came from. Elvis found gold with these guys and his albums are littered with great thought out basslines. Bruce Thomas is that guy.
Thanks BT.
Troy at the THJ3113 channel does a lot of Elvis Costello bass covers. He even has a Bruce Thomas designed bass.
This song got a second life on AOR stations in the early 80s because early had almost no videos and Played Pump it Up all the time.
The studio band on his first album was most of the members of The News, as in Huey Lewis & the News. Small world.
We used to play this in a band I was in (I was on guitar though), and it’s a really fun one to do. 🙂
His band for the first album was Clover, who were also 'The News' as in Huey Lewis & The News
The band featured on his debut album was called “Clover,” from the U.S. Clover. Clover soon disbanded, but the harmonica player and the keyboardist went on to a small degree of success in the eighties under a different band name- Huey Lewis and the News.
Graham Maby with Joe Jackson is a must. I always enjoy your vids.
LOVED LOVED LOVED this song back in the day.
Nice!! ☺️
'Accidents will happen' has a Great bass line
Great song. Coolest outtro ever written
Great analysis, particularly comparing to The Jam and other British bands at the time. Not necessarily to analyze but just for fun you should check out Lipstick Vogue off this same album - the drums and bass are totally showing off and fun and locked and exciting. Its a great song for any rock rhythm section
Can I suggest you try Norman Watt Roy from Ian Dury and The Blockheads. The tracks Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, What A Waste, and Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt 3.
The bass tracks you need to do are " Lipstick Vogue ", " I Don't Wanna Go To Chelsea ", " No Action", " Clean Money", " Accidents Will Happen", " King Horse", and " Hand in Hand among many by 4 string genius Bruce Thomas
for semi old-school bass work, He's the man! otherwise... Glen Cornick was totally underated.
@@joegabbard5281 I agree, and Glen was fantastic but I think he's pretty well known and appreciated. Unfortunate that he was fired by Tull. Wild Turkey was a pretty cool band though. Sad that he's passed away too soon. Some other under the radar guys are Herbie Flowers, Jerry Scheff, Jerry Jemmott, Paul Gray (UK) and Andrew Weiss.
@@joegabbard5281Glen was amazing. Early Tull is the best stuff. Benefit especially
Attractions my favorite backing band. Great musicians.
Pretty cool, dude. It’s a pleasure to hear a professional talk about professional sh*t. Truly.
"Living in Paradise" has a super fun, kinda wacky bass line. The entire album is fantastic!
Excellent video Mark!
The whole foot thing made me laugh.
You might want to check out his 4th album, Get Happy. So much bass goodness on that one, same backing band.
Bruce Thomas is amazing on the Get Happy album.
Good comments here. Wish I could pick music up that quickly! Never been a fan of Costello as a vocalist but liked his band sound
I always think of this song as EC's "Subterranean Homesick Blues". Bruce Thomas is a great bassist - check out his fretless work with Suzanne Vega on the track "99.9F°". Elvis's early work was post-punk, but he and the band fell out and he went solo on a very eclectic career ranging all over the musical map. I see a few mentions here of the great Graham Maby - I'll add another name of a fantastic bassist from the era: Colin Moulding from XTC - try their 1989 song "One of the Millions".
Bruce Thomas can be a wormhole if you let him....
Also, these guys were tight AF.
Lipstick Vogue same album
IYeah, great bass line on Lipstick Vogue. t’s a great album, start to finish. Love EC’s dancing in this video. Rubber ankles 😂
You've stumbled upon the master. Check out Opportunity and B-move, these really showcase Bruce Thomas' skill as a bass player. Also, Watching The Detectives, although Bruce Thomas didn't play bass on this one as it was pre-Attractions. Bruce Thomas is effing legendary!
That whole album - Armed Forces - is fantastic & Bruce Thomas is a stand-out
This is from This Year's Model
@@CristyReacts Doah!
Amazing rhythm section
You have got to listen to Bruce Thomas on the Elvis Costello song "Lipstick Vogue", it is amazing!
Bruce Thomas is a Bass Beast!!!!
Band on 1st album was Clover.
Mudhoney did a great and very faithful version of this, on the PCU Soundtrack
Can you blow me where the pampers is?
It is one of the most fun covers I’ve heard. Indeed very true to the original but still very true to Mudhoney’s style and sound.
@@retrieversqbd very much so!
Hey Mark have you ever heard of Turbonegro? Their bass player Happy Tom is one of my all time faves. Simple but their songs are so anthemic. If you could look at some of their songs like high on the crime, prine of the rodeo or the age of pamparius then you too would be a sexy denim sailor man.
Japan’s Mick Kahn (rip) was a monster.
the first time I heard EC was in 1979. Saw him over a half dozen times since and his best performance was the last one I saw in 2016. Don't get me wrong, they were all great and each one was better than the last. if David Bowie was like an uncle to me Elvis is surely a close cousin.
Another Bruce Thomas winner is " Party Girl" which includes a bass lead / solo. Have you done anything on Norman Watt Roy of Ian Dury and the Blockheads ? All of the " New Boots and Panties " LP is a bassists paradise plus the single " Hit Me W/ Your Rhythm Stick".
The other great, deeply punk, song from this album is Lipstick Vogue
Great analysis. If you ever want to go deeper on EC and his musical influences, look up the interview and sing-a-long he did with Marian McPartland for Piano Jazz. It’s so good and really shows how deep and smart his music knowledge is.
A really fun, danceable song, also, his backing band before these guys was Huey Lewis and the News, before they were a thing...
Actually the backing band for "My Aim is True" was Clover, a country rock band from California. Huey Lewis (along with Sean Hopper who plays keyboards for The News) was a member, but the band did not evolve into The News. Another member of Clover was John McFee, who went on the join The Doobie Brothers.
Lipstick Vogue is the best for bass
Watching the Detectives is a KILLER bassline...
The album version of it was pre-Bruce Thomas, though Bruce has certainly played it enough times live. For an amazing Bruce Thomas bass line of his own, check out Shabby Doll.
*bassline, but yeah 🙂
@@ImYourOverlord :)...That's what I wrote...:) .........................Now. :)
Excellent presentation!
Reminded me of Bob Geldof’s band
THE BOOMTOWN RATS
Check out the songs THE ELEPHANTS GRAVEYARD and/or RAT TRAP.
Pete Briquette is the bass player.
You won’t be disappointed.🤟🇨🇦
Gotta make my pitch for The Vapors again. Give "waiting for the weekend", "bunkers", or "silver machine" a try!
this year's model has some of the greatest driving killer bass lines ever IMO.
you've never heard pump it up ??!!
Yesssss!!!
I didn’t forget!!
one of the best songs bass lines ever brilliant bassest, brilliant drummer these buys are still playing rick beato interviewed the drummer at least these guys would just pop into the local pub and drop these recordings live. listen to these first albumns you know you didnt get it right especially in the last half
Should check out Martino, Ne Obliviscaris`s bassist, with his playthrough of Forget Not or And Plague Flowers The Kaleidoscope
I think Elvis took a lot of visual cues from the great Buddy Holly. The glasses give it away, but also the way he holds his guitar and his crazy legs!
1. PCU mudoney cover.
2. Escape club wild wild west reminds me of this verse.
Have you looked at Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury and the Blockheads? One of the best bass playthroughs ever.
It’s on the list!
You have to do some Violent Fems! They are amazing with some great nasty acoustic bass. Add it up is a great song but their whole first album is amazing. Cheers.
“Barbed Wire Love” - Stiff Little Fingers
This bass style also reminds me of other new wave bands such as XTC and the Cure
No ankles were broken in the making of this video, 😄😄😄
This whole album is a “lead bass” record. Worth noting producer Nick Lowe was himself a bassist (for Rockpile)
Television is another great 70s punk band, you gotta listen to Marquee Moon!
You need to do XTC's "No Thugs In Our House" if you like the line in this song.
Please also consider reacting to Esperanza Spalding and Michelle N'Dege O'Cello! Also Paul Young's recording called "No Parlez"
I feel sad for any musician who has lived for so long without listening to Elvis Costello’s early music. His first album, which also features The Attractions, is a golden classic. What you see in this video, with the stumbling and all, is his “Angry Young Man” character. For more, look for his early appearance on SNL, when he has only the one album out, which got him banned from the show because he interrupted the planned performance of Watching The Detectives, and told the band to instead play Radio, Radio, which threw off the tight and fraught timing the the live broadcast. Also, the album NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is amazing.
The Clash had groove in their songs from the bass no punk band could touch, reggae/dub influenced but higher tempo.
Bruce Thomas is my bass god