Female Bass Guitarist- Carol Kaye

aubs1

I came across this lady's website a few months ago, and my jaw dropped. She is probably in her 70's now, but will still play many-a-bass-player into the ground. Somewhere I found a clip of her playing the bass on Stevie Wonder's "I was made to love her"....... wow, if you know that riff, you'll know what I'm talking about .....

If you have'nt heard her or of her, bass players, do yourself a favour and go listen ....she has played on Zappa, The Beachboys, Joe Cocker and with the great Quincy Jones.

Like to hear what you think.

Electric bass credits

[edit] Songs

* "Good Vibrations" (The Beach Boys)
* "Soul Reggae" (Charles Kynard)
* "Andmoreagain" (Love)
* "Homeward Bound" (Simon and Garfunkel)
* "California Girls, Sloop John B, Help Me, Rhonda, Heroes and Villains" (The Beach Boys)
* "Natural Man" (Lou Rawls)
* "Come Together" (Count Basie)
* "Feelin' Alright" (Joe Cocker)
* "I Think He's Hiding" (Randy Newman)
* "Games People Play" (Mel Tormé)
* "Cantaro" (Gene Ammons)
* "Wait 'Til My Bobby Gets Home" (Darlene Love)
* "Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (The Lettermen)
* "Go Little Honda" (The Hondels)
* "Hikky Burr" (Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby & TV theme)
* "I'm a Believer" (The Monkees)
* "Indian Reservation" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)
* "In the Heat of the Night, I Don't Need No Doctor, America The Beautiful" (Ray Charles)
* "It Must Be Him" (Vikki Carr)
* "Little Green Apples" (O.C. Smith)
* "Midnight Confessions" (The Grass Roots)
* "Mission: Impossible Theme" (Lalo Schifrin)
* "Out of This World" (Nancy Wilson)
* "Wichita Lineman" and "Rhinestone Cowboy" (Glen Campbell)
* "River Deep - Mountain High" (Ike & Tina Turner)
* "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" (Simon and Garfunkel)
* "Sixteen Tons" (Tennessee Ernie Ford)
* "Someday We'll Be Together" (The Supremes)
* "Something Stupid" (Frank and Nancy Sinatra)
* "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (Nancy Sinatra)
* "This Diamond Ring" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys)
* "The Twelfth of Never" (Johnny Mathis)
* "The Way We Were" (Barbra Streisand)
* "Understanding" (Ray Charles)
* "Soul & Inspiration" bass, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" guitar (The Righteous Brothers)
* "Suspicious Minds" (Elvis Presley) - some sources & Musicians Union contract

[edit]

Bob-Dubery

aubs1 wrote: I came across this lady's website a few months ago, and my jaw dropped. She is probably in her 70's now, but will still play many-a-bass-player into the ground. Somewhere I found a clip of her playing the bass on Stevie Wonder's "I was made to love her"....... wow, if you know that riff, you'll know what I'm talking about .....

Great bass player.

It says a lot about the reality of the supposedly liberated 60s that she is remembered more for being female than for being a great bass player.

I didn't know she'd played on Motown tracks - I thought James Jamerson got all that work.

Riaan-Combrink

Here's a nice doccie on Carol ... with some great names dropping some good tales ... talks about the Motown perception as well

aubs1

Great bass player.

It says a lot about the reality of the supposedly liberated 60s that she is remembered more for being female than for being a great bass player.

I didn't know she'd played on Motown tracks - I thought James Jamerson got all that work.

You're right Bob, he did play on the recorded track. As you can see on the clip posted by RiaanC, she plays it IDENTICAL, maybe I heard it on another clip and assumed..... And I hear your comment about her being remembered as being female..etc..... but I like what the guy says on Riaan's clip..... "Carol was one of the guys!"

Re: Female Bass Guitarist- Carol Kaye
« Reply #2 on: Today at 03:09:23 pm »
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Here's a nice doccie on Carol ... with some great names dropping some good tales ... talks about the Motown perception as well

Brilliant, Riaan. The woman is soooooo versatile, that's what blew me away. When she plays, I can listen to ANYTHING she's involved in.
And, hell, she plays awesome guitar as well!!! Excellent doccie, i enjoyed it. Thanx.