dcr Posted August 14, 2003 Share Posted August 14, 2003 Is this guy the real deal, or what? I've recently gotten out an old CCR compilation, which I really hadn't listened to since college, and listening now as a bass player I'm really impressed with what this guy does. There are no killer riffs or monster licks. But if you ever threw a "killer riff" under what John Fogerty & the others are doing, you'd just kill the song. This guy serves up EXACTLY what the song needs, every time, & keeps you smiling. And THAT, imo, is a great bass player. Right now, I'm listening to their version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," and I love how he can combine the funkiness of Jamerson's approach on the original (Gaye) version, with the straight-ahead roots rock of CCR. Nailing that feel is trickier than it sounds. Good on ya, Stu! Can I get a witness? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4strings Posted August 14, 2003 Share Posted August 14, 2003 Amen bother! Graveyard Train. The most incredibly simple yet indespinsible part of that song is that compilation of 4 notes. I can play that for the 8+ minutes of that song and never get bored because it is what keeps it all together. That is what the Bass is all about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Keelan Posted August 14, 2003 Share Posted August 14, 2003 Not to take anything away from Stu but my understanding is that those guys pretty much played exactly what John Fogerty told them to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4strings Posted August 14, 2003 Share Posted August 14, 2003 John was, and still is, a serious control freak. After CCR he produced several albums with himself as the entire band (try the Blue Ridge Rangers). Amazing what you can do with multi-track recording. He wouldn't even let his old band use the name Creedence Clearwater Revisited because they would be playing HIS music. I believe he did cave in to that recently, though. Nevertheless, John is an incredible-if not somewhat tempramental--artist and I have loved his music since day one. He may have told his band what to play, but the feeling, rhythm and soul is all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted August 14, 2003 Author Share Posted August 14, 2003 Yes, that John exercised a very high level of control over CCR comes as no surprise at all. John may have told Stu (& Doug & Tom) what to play, but John didn't play it. The execution--the heart--is coming from Stu. And it would come as a HUGE surprise if all of Stu's jams & improvs on songs like "Grapevine" were written out for him, by John or anyone. That I simply won't believe (and even if they were, he sure put a lot of booty in them). But of course that's where his unique, personal contribution to all their music is revealed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted August 14, 2003 Share Posted August 14, 2003 I'll agree, Stu rocked. One of my earliest influences, along with Duck Dunn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim4003 Posted August 15, 2003 Share Posted August 15, 2003 If you love this music, check out the DVD "John Fogerty:Premonition". Guaranteed to keep a big smile on your face through the whole show! My Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Keelan Posted August 15, 2003 Share Posted August 15, 2003 I think 'Grapevine' is abit atypical as far as letting Stu & Doug loosen up a little bit. Again, I'm not trying to take anything away from these guys. I thought they swung pretty good. Here's an interview with Fogerty that'll give a little insight to what went on with CCR: http://ww2.mcgill.ca/psychology/levitin/fogerty.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted August 15, 2003 Author Share Posted August 15, 2003 Caught it on TV a couple of years ago--great show! Hafta get that DVD... John Fogerty knows rock & roll, & he knows how to show a crowd a helluva good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted August 15, 2003 Share Posted August 15, 2003 Sorry dcr, for me the jury is still out (not that I have the right to criticize another player). The problem is that too many of those lines needed help - I don't subscribe to the idea that every CCR song stood best with a simple bass part. I also think some of the songs needed "more" ("Keep On Chooglin" comes to mind). My impression of the band and it's work is that the songs fall into 3 types: 1. Boring (see above example, as well as items like "Midnight Special"). I could take a few of these (maybe boring is too strong a term), but there were too many. 2. Cool - Fortunate Son, Lodi, Green River, etc. are tunes I enjoy listening (and when possible, playing). 3. Great - Most of these are covers (though I like Who'll Stop The Rain). Grapevine, Suzi Q, and I Put A Spell On You had the best arrangements, playing, and feel. Stu played on all of these, so my love of some of the songs means the dude can play. But I get sick listening to some of the boring parts. If that wasn't Stu's fault (as I said - I don't know), then maybe he's better than I tend to think of him. Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted August 15, 2003 Author Share Posted August 15, 2003 Just came across this: http://members.tripod.com/riverising/stu/bassplayer.htm Reprint of an article Ed Friedland did on Stu Cook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xhawk4 Posted August 15, 2003 Share Posted August 15, 2003 I agree with both opinions. CCR is fun to cover, as we cover quite a few. Besides "Grapevine", one of my other favorite CCR covers is "Good Golly Miss Molly". Cool dance groove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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