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Song Analysis with the Songwriter

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NEM#220: Jah Wobble’s Bass Worship

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John Wardle (named Jah Wobble by Sid Vicious) started playing bass in John Lydon’s post Sex Pistols band Public Image Ltd. in 1978, left after two albums, and has since recorded 50+ solo and collaborative albums, largely led by the bass, but spanning many genres including some particularly famous work in the world-music area.

We discuss “Last Exit” from A Brief History of Now (2023), “21 Towards Lewisham Shopping Centre” from The Bus Routes of South London (2023), “Fly Away” from Jah Wobble & Invaders of the Heart from Ocean Blue Waves (2019), and “Blowout” (a 1985 single). End song: “Visions of You” by Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart (feat Sinéad O’Connor) from Rising Above Bedlam (1991). Intro: “Public Image” by PiL from First Issue (1978).

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NEM#185: Bruce Thomas’ Bass Lines Before, After, and During the Attractions

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Bruce is best known as Elvis Costello’s bassist for his first on about a dozen albums as The Attractions, but he’s been in bands since 1970 and has done numerous session gigs.

We discuss his work on “Blood Makes Noise” by Susanne Vega from 99.9 Degrees (1992), play clips from several of the most famous Attractions tunes plus “La La La La Loved You” by The Attractions from Mad About the Wrong Boy (1980), the first half of the title track of Quiver’s Gone in the Morning (1972), and we conclude by listening to “There’s a Place” by Spencer Brown and Bruce Thomas from Back to the Start (2018). Intro: “Radio Radio” by The Attractions feat. Fito Paez from Spanish Model (2021). For more info, see brucethomas.co.uk.

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NEM#155: Melvin Gibbs Protests w/ Bass, Jazz Composition, Production, Sound Design

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Melvin has played bass on over 200 albums since 1980 in the worlds of jazz, rock, and hip-hop, and has numerous songwriting credits, playing with Defunkt, Arto Lindsay, Henry Rollins, Bernie Worrell, Vernon Reid, etc.

We discuss his solo tune featuring Kokayi “Get Some” from 4+1 Equals 5 for May 25 (2021), the title track from The Terror End Of Beauty (2018) by his trio Harriet Tubman, and “Howard Beach Memoirs” by Power Tools (with Bill Frisell and Ronald Shannon Jackson) from Strange Meeting (1987). We end by listening to “Canto por Odudua” by Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity from Ancients Speak (2009) Intro: “Melvin’s Tune” from Defunkt (1980). More at music.melvin-gibbs.com.

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NEM#108: Mike Watt’s Punk Operas

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Ace bassist Mike started with punk legends MINUTEMEN in the early ’80s, broke into the majors with fireHOSE going into the 90s, and was so beloved by the alternative music scene that his first solo album in ’94 was star-studded, with Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl in the supporting tour. Mike has released three concept albums over the years and has collaborated on dozes of projects as well as backing Iggy Pop in the reformed Stooges.

We discuss “Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs” by Minutemen from What Makes a Man Start Fires (1983), “The Boilerman” from Contemplating the Engine Room (1997), the first, second, and last sections from Hyphenated-Man (2011), and “I Got Marty Feldman Eyes” from the Big Walnuts Yonder self-titled album (2017). We conclude by listening to “Yeah, We’re Gonna Learn to Fall” by Jumpstarted Plowhards from Round One (2019) featuring Todd Congelliere. Intro: “Walking the Cow” by fireHOSE from Flyin’ the Flannel (1991). For more, visit mikewatt.com.

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