An Alembic with Ian Dury and the Blockheads

[blazer]

 
Boy listen to Norman Watt Roy DRIVING that song.

[bassfingers]

Great clip,thanks for for posting.I'm sure I read that he either bought or borrowed this bass from John Entwistle.
 
Simon.

[tubeperson]

Did you notice that the rotary switch was removed from the bass?  That was pile driven bass.  A funkified in the pocket riff.  I got tired watching NWR play that there ditty!  Excellent post.

[hifiguy]

NWR was/is a BEAST of a player and Rhythm Stick is his masterpiece IMO.  Took me 30 years to be able to play that song with any consistency - it is a pig and a half of a riff.  And the Blockheads were one of the tightest, funkiest, smokinest' bands to ever tread the boards.
 
I've read on a few boards that NWR bought a couple of Alembics in Brazil from a guy who needed money and then used them as his main basses for several years. Could be apocraphyal, but that he was an Alembic player for several years is not open to doubt.
 
BTW, the Blockheads' rhythm section of NWR and the late Charley Charles on drums played on _all_ of the Frankie Goes To Hollywood stuff.  Trevor Horn, the producer, wanted them and no one else.
 
Tnx for the post!

[blazer]

Tubeperson, look more closely, the rotary switch has been relocated with the other pots at the lower part of the body.
 
Hifiguy: That explains why Welcome to the pleasure dome has such a tight groove.

[tubeperson]

Thanks blazer, first the legs go, then the eyes go.  What's next?  Getting old sucks!!!!!!  I also agree about making Frankie Goes to Hollywood sounding so tight in the rhythym section.

[jacko]

Great video.!  I read an interview ages ago where he said he had to give up the Alembic because of the weight. I'm pretty sure the mags used to show him with this bass in a rotosound ad.  
 
Graeme.

[white_cloud]

I remember owning a copy of guitar player magazine back in the mid 80's that featured Norman talking about the two Alembics that he had bought in Brazil for what was basically peanuts!
 
I also remember watching the entire live show that the previously posted clip was extracted from around the same time.....I was hugely impressed not only by Normans playing but also by his tone.  
 
I reckon the bassline for HMWYRS  must be a candidate for one of the best on a hit record.

[jazzyvee]

yeah I think Pino Palladino's bass line on that Paul Young hit, Wherever I lay my hat must be up there too. It's a great bass line for a pop song.  
 
Jazzyvee

[adriaan]

Always loved the bass parts on Nick Lowe's I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass, then someone here at the Club mentioned that was NWR too. Great player (though that's not him finger-synching on TOTP).
 
Nice piano parts too (but I digress).

[terryc]

NWR was on Jules Holland show last week with Wilko Johnson, saw them both at a college gig in Darlington UK, literally right up close like a pub gig.
My mates were all watching Wilko but my ears and eyes were on Norman..great playing

[jacko]

My mate went to see Wilco and NWR in Edinburgh a month ago and said they were brilliant (and knowing how much I appreciate the bottom end, made me very jealous). However, I was unable to go as I was seeing Mr Big in Glasgow the same night. NWR or Billy Sheehan? Difficult choice to make ;-)
 
Graeme

[cozmik_cowboy]

He gets my vote for Most Diabolical-Looking Bass Player Ever.  (Kinda plays, too)
 
Peter