who plays bass on this track?

zaza said:

Jarvius? Is it you? My copy says: Atkinson - Stand-up bass.

thanks.

crazydoctor said:

"Pop Life" was recorded on February 19, 1984 at Sunset Sound. He also recorded great songs like "Erotic City", "17 Days", "She's Always In My Hair", "Another Lonely Christmas", and "Paisley Park" during those sessions (which lasted from very late December 1983-late April 1984).

It was just Prince in the studio, so it was him on bass. It's really a reflection of a later track, "La La La, He He Hee", where Prince's incredible bass playing really shines.

In fact, the only number the band really plays on in full is "The Ladder", which was recorded at a December 23 soundcheck at the St. Paul Civic Center on the Purple Rain tour. He was to play five concerts at that venue. It also featured Eddie M. on sax, and Susannah Melvoin & Taja Sevelle on background vocals; and "America".

ernestsewell said:

"Pop Life" was recorded on February 19, 1984 at Sunset Sound. He also recorded great songs like "Erotic City", "17 Days", "She's Always In My Hair", "Another Lonely Christmas", and "Paisley Park" during those sessions (which lasted from very late December 1983-late April 1984).

It was just Prince in the studio, so it was him on bass. It's really a reflection of a later track, "La La La, He He Hee", where Prince's incredible bass playing really shines.

In fact, the only number the band really plays on in full is "The Ladder", which was recorded at a December 23 soundcheck at the St. Paul Civic Center on the Purple Rain tour. He was to play five concerts at that venue. It also featured Eddie M. on sax, and Susannah Melvoin & Taja Sevelle on background vocals; and "America".

Thanks.

Thanks for the informed reply.

ernestsewell said:

It's really a reflection of a later track, "La La La, He He Hee", where Prince's incredible bass playing really shines.

What exactly do you mean by a reflection? I'm not seeing much similarity between these two tunes offhand.

Anotherwontdare said:

What exactly do you mean by a reflection? I'm not seeing much similarity between these two tunes offhand.

Then go listen to them again, and focus on the bass lines. I never said there was a similarity, I said, they're a reflection of Prince's incredible bass playing. He uses the same style of playing on both tracks.

It should be noted that Sheila E played drums on Pop Life, though as Ernest said, it was pretty much Prince on his own in the studio. Wendy and Lisa also contributed an interlude between Pop Life and The Ladder. Pop Life, Paisley Park and Temptation (as well as the early version of Raspberry Beret) were recorded prior to the completion of the Purple Rain LP.

OT, but interesting - the songs Around The World In A Day and Paisley Park have no bass line - ala When Doves Cry and Kiss.

squirrelgrease said:

It should be noted that Sheila E played drums on Pop Life, though as Ernest said, it was pretty much Prince on his own in the studio. Wendy and Lisa also contributed an interlude between Pop Life and The Ladder. Pop Life, Paisley Park and Temptation (as well as the early version of Raspberry Beret) were recorded prior to the completion of the Purple Rain LP.

OT, but interesting - the songs Around The World In A Day and Paisley Park have no bass line - ala When Doves Cry and Kiss.

You know something. I never thought about that with ATWIAD and Paisley Park before and I can't believe I missed it. But you're absolutely right now that I think about it.

Very cool.

Since we are taliking about Pop Life, can someone tell me what really are those crowd and other noises that we can hear in the song during the break ? I recently heard that it was the sound of the crowd at the Rolling Stones concert that boo him of stage...anyone ?

yankem said:

Since we are taliking about Pop Life, can someone tell me what really are those crowd and other noises that we can hear in the song during the break ? I recently heard that it was the sound of the crowd at the Rolling Stones concert that boo him of stage...anyone ?

yup. that's right.

yankem said:

Since we are taliking about Pop Life, can someone tell me what really are those crowd and other noises that we can hear in the song during the break ? I recently heard that it was the sound of the crowd at the Rolling Stones concert that boo him of stage...anyone ?

To my knowledge, that is what those sounds are, but for years I had no idea. That piece became even more interesting when Lisa compiled interviews she conducted w/ Matt, and Bobby about that gig, and she put it into a 30 minute segment on a radio show. I have it. It's very interesting to hear everyone's take on it.

ernestsewell said:

yankem said:

Since we are taliking about Pop Life, can someone tell me what really are those crowd and other noises that we can hear in the song during the break ? I recently heard that it was the sound of the crowd at the Rolling Stones concert that boo him of stage...anyone ?

To my knowledge, that is what those sounds are, but for years I had no idea. That piece became even more interesting when Lisa compiled interviews she conducted w/ Matt, and Bobby about that gig, and she put it into a 30 minute segment on a radio show. I have it. It's very interesting to hear everyone's take on it.

I always thought it was sound effect from a collection, not that gig. But then, I hear it's the Rolling Stones gig. So, I refuse to 100% say which is right!

Fenwick said:

squirrelgrease said:

It should be noted that Sheila E played drums on Pop Life, though as Ernest said, it was pretty much Prince on his own in the studio. Wendy and Lisa also contributed an interlude between Pop Life and The Ladder. Pop Life, Paisley Park and Temptation (as well as the early version of Raspberry Beret) were recorded prior to the completion of the Purple Rain LP.

OT, but interesting - the songs Around The World In A Day and Paisley Park have no bass line - ala When Doves Cry and Kiss.

You know something. I never thought about that with ATWIAD and Paisley Park before and I can't believe I missed it. But you're absolutely right now that I think about it.

Very cool.

Yes, but the outtake of ATWIAD which does have bass, is SO much better than the released version. Funky and extremely fun! This is the one that should've been released, not the released one.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

ernestsewell said:

To my knowledge, that is what those sounds are, but for years I had no idea. That piece became even more interesting when Lisa compiled interviews she conducted w/ Matt, and Bobby about that gig, and she put it into a 30 minute segment on a radio show. I have it. It's very interesting to hear everyone's take on it.

I always thought it was sound effect from a collection, not that gig. But then, I hear it's the Rolling Stones gig. So, I refuse to 100% say which is right!

i think its from a collection as i remember hearing the same sound FX on a Tom Waites track, but it'll take me a while to find it...

mrsquirrel said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

I always thought it was sound effect from a collection, not that gig. But then, I hear it's the Rolling Stones gig. So, I refuse to 100% say which is right!

i think its from a collection as i remember hearing the same sound FX on a Tom Waites track, but it'll take me a while to find it...

You'd think wrong.

ernestsewell said:

mrsquirrel said:

i think its from a collection as i remember hearing the same sound FX on a Tom Waites track, but it'll take me a while to find it...

You'd think wrong.

it sounds like it could have been used on 'Straight To The Top' off of Waits' album 'Big Time'...

[Edited 6/21/10 18:36pm]

ernestsewell said:

yankem said:

Since we are taliking about Pop Life, can someone tell me what really are those crowd and other noises that we can hear in the song during the break ? I recently heard that it was the sound of the crowd at the Rolling Stones concert that boo him of stage...anyone ?

To my knowledge, that is what those sounds are, but for years I had no idea. That piece became even more interesting when Lisa compiled interviews she conducted w/ Matt, and Bobby about that gig, and she put it into a 30 minute segment on a radio show. I have it. It's very interesting to hear everyone's take on it.

If you don't mind, what were some of their point-of-views on the topic?

Sessions for POP LIFE began early in the afternoon on Sunday, February 19, 1984 in Studio 2 at Sunset Sound. After doing some overdubbing on ANOTHER LONELY CHRISTMAS, Prince had his engineer Peggy McCreary (Peggy Mac) set up for a jam session. Peggy spent an hour getting the room ready for recording and at 7:30 PM, Prince started recording. From my understanding, Prince did the basic tracks himself. The session ended at 6:15 AM on Monday morning.

Less than 12 hours later, Prince and Peggy were back in the studio working on overdubs for POP LIFE. That is supposedly when Tim Barr and Annette Atkinson added Bass, and Wendy and Lisa added their background vocals. The overdub session finished at 10PM and Prince spent 3 and a half hours creating a rough mix and playing it back before he left around 1:30 AM.

It was put to cassette tape the following day (Feb. 21) along with many of the tracks Prince was working on at that time (God, Another Lonely Christmas, and Sheila's album). He did some additional work on it in mid April, but then it went untouched for several months.

On Friday, September, 28, 1984 Lisa and Wendy had Sid Page, Marcy Dicterow, Vaj, Denyse Buffum, Suzi Katayama and David Coleman record the strings that would eventually become part of the song. Prince was not at this session.

More edits of the song were done in late May 1985 and Sheila worked on her remix of the song on the 22^nd and 23^rd of June.

The crowd sound is from a sound effects library and not (as legend has stated) from the Rolling Stones concert.

(this is taken from an early draft of "Prince: The Studio Sessions").

madhouseman said:

Sessions for POP LIFE began early in the afternoon on Sunday, February 19, 1984 in Studio 2 at Sunset Sound. After doing some overdubbing on ANOTHER LONELY CHRISTMAS, Prince had his engineer Peggy McCreary (Peggy Mac) set up for a jam session. Peggy spent an hour getting the room ready for recording and at 7:30 PM, Prince started recording. From my understanding, Prince did the basic tracks himself. The session ended at 6:15 AM on Monday morning.

Less than 12 hours later, Prince and Peggy were back in the studio working on overdubs for POP LIFE. That is supposedly when Tim Barr and Annette Atkinson added Bass, and Wendy and Lisa added their background vocals. The overdub session finished at 10PM and Prince spent 3 and a half hours creating a rough mix and playing it back before he left around 1:30 AM.

It was put to cassette tape the following day (Feb. 21) along with many of the tracks Prince was working on at that time (God, Another Lonely Christmas, and Sheila's album). He did some additional work on it in mid April, but then it went untouched for several months.

On Friday, September, 28, 1984 Lisa and Wendy had Sid Page, Marcy Dicterow, Vaj, Denyse Buffum, Suzi Katayama and David Coleman record the strings that would eventually become part of the song. Prince was not at this session.

More edits of the song were done in late May 1985 and Sheila worked on her remix of the song on the 22^nd and 23^rd of June.

The crowd sound is from a sound effects library and not (as legend has stated) from the Rolling Stones concert.

(this is taken from an early draft of "Prince: The Studio Sessions").

Tim and Annette played upright acoustic bass if I remember correctly, right? And the crowd sound from the effects library is what I've always heard was used as well.

Oh, and when the heck are you going to finish that book Madhouseman? We. Want. It.

squirrelgrease said:

Oh, and when the heck are you going to finish that book Madhouseman? We. Want. It.

Hell yeah! I'm actually drooling here!

MartyMcFly said:

squirrelgrease said:

Oh, and when the heck are you going to finish that book Madhouseman? We. Want. It.

Hell yeah! I'm actually drooling here!

Thanx for the props. It is still being nibbled on by me. It looked like there was another book coming out about his studio sessions, so I haven't pursued it completely. Overall, it is a book I'd like to read and that is how I am approaching it.

jdcxc said:

ernestsewell said:

To my knowledge, that is what those sounds are, but for years I had no idea. That piece became even more interesting when Lisa compiled interviews she conducted w/ Matt, and Bobby about that gig, and she put it into a 30 minute segment on a radio show. I have it. It's very interesting to hear everyone's take on it.

If you don't mind, what were some of their point-of-views on the topic?

I wish Luxuriamusic still had the podcast up for folks to grab and listen to. It was a great 34 minute segment. It's one of those things you just have to listen to.

madhouseman said:

MartyMcFly said:

Hell yeah! I'm actually drooling here!

Thanx for the props. It is still being nibbled on by me. It looked like there was another book coming out about his studio sessions, so I haven't pursued it completely. Overall, it is a book I'd like to read and that is how I am approaching it.

Well, I wish you the best on the book and hope you see it published. I know the other book you're talking about that was supposed to come out but never did. It was by Jake Brown and titled Prince In The Studio (1975-1995). That one seems dead in the water.

squirrelgrease said:

madhouseman said:

Thanx for the props. It is still being nibbled on by me. It looked like there was another book coming out about his studio sessions, so I haven't pursued it completely. Overall, it is a book I'd like to read and that is how I am approaching it.

Well, I wish you the best on the book and hope you see it published. I know the other book you're talking about that was supposed to come out but never did. It was by Jake Brown and titled Prince In The Studio (1975-1995). That one seems dead in the water.

I wonder why that occurred. Maybe it is paranoia, or maybe it was our (UPTOWN's) dealing with the lawsuit by Prince that has me gun shy and suspecting he shut down another writer. Or maybe Jake Brown just isn't ready with his book yet. I'd like to read it, when it is done.

The bass line to Pop Life is great, but to me it always sounded kinda white.

A great bass line for the song, but with the popping and slapping of octaves, it sounds like a white guy trying to play funk. Kind of like "The One U Wanna C".

And no, I'm not being racist. Think of the stereotypical white guy dancing. Now think of a white guy playing basketball. Not think of a white guy playing bass.

The white guy isn't bad, he's just... white about it.

ernestsewell said:

mrsquirrel said:

i think its from a collection as i remember hearing the same sound FX on a Tom Waites track, but it'll take me a while to find it...

You'd think wrong.

Heh - and yet, it seems, he thinks right!

ernestsewell said:

"Pop Life" was recorded on February 19, 1984 at Sunset Sound. He also recorded great songs like "Erotic City", "17 Days", "She's Always In My Hair", "Another Lonely Christmas", and "Paisley Park" during those sessions (which lasted from very late December 1983-late April 1984).

when you say it was recorded on febury 19 1984. do you imply it was recorded in a day ? Just curious