I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Kaye, when she first moved to the Antelope Valley. My son heard someone playing bass on the block, so he went to find out who it was (my son plays guitar). Anyway, it turns out that the music was his next door neighbor. He knocked on the door and it was Carol Kaye and the BBC doing a documentary about her life. She invited him in. The next day he told me about it, I was shocked. She needed some repairs around the house, so I volunteered to help. Man, we talked and talked. Carol had some Great stories about the Giants of the industry. She even gave me a guitar lesson ( can't beat that!) She also gave me a copy of her Studio dates, with a list of all the who's who's she played for. The sweetest LADY & hippest person I've ever met. Why she's not in the Rock N Roll hall of fame is beyond me! She is "the first lady of bass".
Sounds like a genuine real lady, ran into a genuine real cat, I'm glad your son had that experience, that's pretty dope, you rub elbows with the legendary G, and a beautiful talented awesome person, she will be I truly believe she'll be in the Rock Hall of Fame, American people don't understand the people behind the scene drives what's in front of the scene that they see, they don't know any better than that
bryan macneil She didn't actually play on the final single that was released. "Kaye is often credited for playing on the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" single,[13] but a session list compiled by Craig Slowinski for The Smile Sessions box-set liner notes states that, although she played on several sessions for the song, none of those recordings made the final edit as released on the single." That was Ray Pohlman on the record.
In an interview with her (also on RUclips), she talked about playing for hours with Brian on that song, trying different ideas and not just following his direction. He apparently respected her greatly.
So, what you are saying is this lady played on about half of my favorite tunes ever. She is the one common denominator to half of my favorite songs. That's extremely surprising, and gives her an unrivalled position in my personal 'musicians hall of fame.'
And as she says the base is the bottom, the foundation for the whole song. If a great basest was not playing most of these songs they would not have been that good.
@@tonys4396 I tell you what, I'll leave it to you to do the research on how many of her 10,000 songs made it into the top 20, or so. I don't doubt that she played over 10,000 songs, but just because she played bass on 10,000 songs is not enough to make all of them hits. Some songs are just duds, even if they have a great bass line. And there were plenty of record labels that produced tunes I love that never used her. For instance, the songs recorded in England made up a large percentage of the hits recorded in the 60s and 70s. But there were also American labels that didn't use her. If you do the numbers and can list the songs she played on and show that she was on more than half of the top 20 hits from 1960 to 1980, then I'll bow to your hard work.
This lady is rock and roll. She is a part of the fabric of music that so many generations have listened to and I agree that she should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
@@jeffwalker6815 Many such examples over the decades. Toto is probably the best known example - started by a group of long-time studio musician, and most if not all of them STILL did some studio work on the side while the band was in existence.
Actually, she's NOT there according to their inductees list. I THOUGHT I remember them inducting The Wrecking Crew as a group, but if so I can't find them listed or which individuals they included.
I saw Carol Kaye host at a bass clinic held at a music store in Santa Cruz back in 1974 or 75. She was so friendly and informative. Glad you are making tribute to great musician and person who should not be forgotten.
I laugh when I see people mock Gene Simmons having "taken bass lessons with some woman" when that "some woman" was Carol Kaye. It's like saying, "yeah, he's not that great, he had to go see Eddie Van Halen for guitar lessons."
Kylie McInnes Gene was in awe of her and gave her total respect. It's a great piece of video. I love seeing Gene acknowledge that Carol was the alpha dog--and he's a very competent bass player, all other BS aside.
@Shock Actually, you're way off. There are plenty of guitarists who are better technical players than EVH. But none of those folks innovated the way EVH did. He literally changed rock music in many ways (both technically on the guitar, but also with pedals and amp technology). Carol Kaye was a similar player. She helped develop the rich rhythmic lines of the 60's and 70's--not in a vacuum, but anyone who knows bass and rock/pop from her era knows she was a driving force. Also, and this is a bit of an aside, this internet obsession with equating skill level with grade level and age is PLAYED OUT. Gene Simmons is a good bass player, and his bass playing did exactly what Kiss needed it to do. That is all that matters. On the spectrum of bass players, you simply cannot claim Gene Simmons is shitty. Not to your taste? Sure, of course. But he got the job done, and that is not shitty.
Pet Sounds is not only one of the greatest records of all time but it has some of the best musical moments ever. The bass always grabbed my attention the most in that specific record. What an amazing musician.
Correct (below} ..but Brian , being such a huge fan of her sound bumped up her levels on pet Sounds. This woman (through listening to all her amazing work with a lot of their stuff}, taught me bass when I was an amoeba listening to the Monkees. And the whole time, I thought this was another great, African American dude.. Lol.. ~ Before I was a session player myself, I Hated them not being listed on the HUGE hits of the day back then. I still cant quite believe they didn't openly credit Not only her, but So many greats.. . WhattheCrap Capitol!!
@@remotexpolde Where is Jaco on your list? Pop music is such a sliver of music and not even the best stuff. And these days, anything written now worth listening to won't be heard on the radio that's for damn sure.
For a few of us older folk, the ultimate start of this vid may have been Ms Kaye's opening riff for Glen Campbell's 'Lineman For The County'. Glad to see some love for her and her work.
Campbell was also a Wrecking Crew member...before going on his own..also a Beach Boy...just saying. The entire Wrecking Crew should be in the Rock Hall of Fame.
Two examples of Carol taking improvization to the max. The original version of Joe Cocker's Feeling Alright, where she never plays the same riff twice and Mel Torme's cover of Games People Play, where she laid down a fast syncopated bass line in attempt to wake up a sleepy drummer and created the foundation of Mel's biggest selling single.
Carol is a true legend. Any hour of any day, somewhere in the world, a song with Carol Kaye on bass or guitar is playing. POLYPHONIC you have done a superb job showcasing Carol Kaye.
Thank you for bringing this incredible talent into the light. She and Suzi Quatro should be in the rock and Roll hall of fame . Both women are legendary bassist, and have paved the way for many women in the music industry.
She is definitely a hero in my book for shaping music, just like James Jamerson. I just wish all these musicians were recognized for their brilliance they brought into the world of music.
Funny thing, she got James Jamerson started on the west coast gigs. She helped a lot of musicians get their foot in the door. She had some incredible stories, Ray Charles, Motown sound in L.A. Four Tops, Glen Cambell, sat next to her when the crew was together. Glen couldn't read music, so she would tell him how the tunes went, but he was quick to pick it up (great ear). The list goes on and on. Working with Phil Spector, being in the studio with John Lennon in the booth. She has a book out on her site.
Lovingly crafted. When Ms Kaye briefly lived in Denver in the 90’s, I had the opportunity to take a few lessons with her. We spent a lot of the time just talking about music and drinking tea. Lol. She was something special. Loved her.
Carol Kaye - an unsung hero if ever there was one in the history of Rock music. I am ashamed to admit that I had no idea who she was before this but her impact and her repertoire are beyond reproach. What an icon, what a legend. Polyphonic - Great video as always and extra credit for always keeping the content fresh, fascinating and completely unlike anything else on this site. You're a hero to me man - Long Live and Keep em coming!
Finally! Prolific session musicians get recognition! The Wrecking Crew and The Funk Brothers were the genius architects of the sound of the 60s. Kaye deserves all her plaudits though still can’t decide if she is better than the great James Jamerson.
Carol is now in the past 5 years getting the recognition she deserves what a career I must have heard her a thousand times and didn't even realize it she and the wrecking crew all deserve a place in the rock and roll hall of fame GO Carol Go
She's awesome. And you don't have to go back to the 60s to hear her, she was still rocking in the 90s. Check out Matthew Sweet's 1999 album In Reverse for some of her work.
Carol Kate IS ,without question, one of the greatest, most innovative musicians ever to grace the face of our planet! Her contribution to rock and roll, pop music and the 1960s in general is unrivaled....AND she was a Mom!!!!! God bless Carol!!
At age 6 years old I wanted to be a bass player because of the bass tone and riffs of all those popular songs on 1950/60s radio. I didn't find out until I'm in my early 60s that Carol Kaye is THE reason I want to be a bass player! ! I love you Carol Kaye!!
According to Carol, there wasn't the type of sexism you describe with the studio musicians back then. There were many, many top-tier female musicians. Everyone got along, had super-tight schedules and no time for nonsense. These were all jazz musicians. You're thinking rock and roll mentality, which is when Carol quit the studio business.
Carol Kaye was brilliant, one of a kind, and she made all the 60s and her other work, much more than superb. She is an unsung hero in recording history.
That she managed to do all this at the same time as bringing up a family (on her own) is simply amazing and a testament to her work ethic and her incredible talent.
Today it's unwed mothers wno don't know who their "baby daddy" is, laying around in the projects doing drugs, eating like pigs, with a BMW in the parking lot
Every so often a video comes along that just stuns you. This is one of those. I've been a pro cover artist for 40+ years and had never heard of her, much to my chagrin. I even play some of the songs she played on in my show. She has a new fan in me, that's for sure.
Yep, it was a one chord song and the bass line that she created, made the song. That's what she brings. It's a good example of how music is sort of defined by the other stuff it's played over. A simple melody sounds different over chord changes. Sonny sounded like a singer over that bass line, that she made up. She might not write the song but she can make it work. Touring bands promoting hit records, owe it to people like her. I say "hall of fame, yes!"
Carol states in "The Wrecking Crew" movie that she came up with the bass line but that fellow Wrecking Crew member Bob West played her line for the radio release version of the song.
@@jacobsmith9117 My God I just listened to it... Its such exquisite playing, SO totally clean --not one note sounds uncertain or imperfect--even in tone and very, very precisely in time and inventive.
Carol Kaye, the almost unknown but most widely heard bass player of the last 50 years in Rock music. Thank you Carol!! How many artists had number one hits because of your playing and creativity? Countless, actually. :)
Carol Kaye, Thank you for the MEMORIES! I was there though it ALL! I'm sad no one said it was you! Great work from a REMARKABLE SESSION MUSICIAN! A job WELL DONE! Ray Boston Massachusetts
Just a note: According to her, the bass lines on the Beach Boys musics were written by Brian Wilson. Some of my favorite lines of her is on Games People Play, by Mel Thormé, I'm a Believer, by The Monkees and Midnight Confessions, by The Grass Roots.
So glad to see that Carol is now really being recognized. I've been fortunate to have met Carol and once took a personal lesson from her at her home. Astonishing that it took the internet to finally allow the world to learn her name and of her gifts. We hear her playing every day, even now in 2022.
@tonys4396 You always count them? Always? Baloney! Haha. What in the world is so special about meeting famous people? Cheer up. You might meet someone famous. It will be just like meeting the cashier at a local music store. Living life via RUclips and Wik wok must be horrible for you. Thanks for sharing such a cheerful, and useful comment.
@@charlesmcgehee3227 I've lived in NYC all my life. There isn't a day I don't see famous people. Only losers who live in the sticks mention if they met a famous person and it's usually BS. Now go milk your cow
Carol Kaye is one of the best musicians on the planet, period. Glad to see she's getting the recognition she deserves, although she needs much more. ♫♥♫
I am glad to see this has come to light. Carol Kaye is a fabulous musician and being a teen throughout the 1960s and living in LA, I would have thought I would have heard of her due to all of the Rock music being played on the air there. Carol was one of the best kept secrets in music during the era.
I recently watched the Brian Wilson biopic "Love and Mercy" and I felt really confused when in the scene about the creation of "Good Vibrations" Brian goes up to one of the session musicians, a blonde girl with a bass, and says "Hi, Carol. How you doin'?". This video really helped me understand why a biopic about Brian would even name one, apparently, random session musician. Great video, man. Keep them coming.
Man, not only do you explain all of this music WONDERFULLY, but on the screen, as you are talking and describing the symphony before us, the viewer can SEE what we are HEARING. Again, sir, you are TOO GOOD FOR RUclips (but I'm glad I found you!)
Carol Kaye, you are a huge part of the soundtrack of my life. Thanks for making so much music - sound so much BETTER - with your creativity, high standards and work ethic. You're a superstar! 🌟🙂🙃🙋
What is amazing is that session guitarists such as Carol and Louis Shelton came up with such inventive bass and lead riffs and fills. That is the true genius
There are two bass parts in “These Boots are made for Walking” Carol played electric jazz bass and Chuck Berghoffer played standup acoustic bass including the now iconic sliding intro (as confirmed in the Wrecking Crew docu and by Carol on another interview). Multiple bass parts were a common studio technique back then especially by Phil Spector & later by Brian Wilson
Chuck Berghoffer - what a tremendous bassist! I have loved his work since hearing him on a somewhat obscure Howard Roberts jazz guitar recording called "H.R.is a Dirty Guitar Player!" - from 1964 or so. Berkley Kendrix on organ (spelling?) and I can't recall the drummer...
She is the greatest bassist in Rock and Roll history. Others may have more accolades, but no one has anywhere near the sheer quantity and quality of hit records and TV theme song performances. I didn’t even know of her until recently, but after researching her career, it is staggering to really fathom what Carol has accomplished. What was depicted in the Movie “Forest Gump” of the character’s whimsical ties to world events, she actually had a hand in the success of hundreds of millions in record sales and iconic TV show themes. Simply the best.
Janis Ian is a musician who's quite under the radar these days but revolutionary for her time.. especially with her very first recording, Society's Child, which was about a very taboo topic at the time (interracial relationship), got banned across the country from various radio stations, yet was a hit song, #1 in numerous markets, and apparently got a reporter fired for writing about it and possibly a record/radio studio burned down for playing it. If someone is deserving of a video to bring some limelight to a mostly forgotten 60/70s pop artist with today's generation, it's Janis Ian.
I love Janis Ian's songs. I saw her some years back. What an incredible guitar player, song writer and performer. I took my kids to see her. They were just blown away by her talent.
Where did you read this liner note? The bass playing in "I Was Made To Love Her" was credited to James Jamerson. Carol Kaye claimed that she was the one recording the bass on that tune. Mr Alan Slutsky did a research on this issue. That include some interviews with people involved in the recording of this particular tune (the producer, recording engineer, etc). And Mr Slutsky's evidence was in favor of Mr Jamerson. This liner note thing never came up in the discussion. As for me, based on what I heard in the recording itself, and comparing the sound to Carol Kaye's work on her recordings, I think it was Mr Jamerson who played on that tune. But I don't know. I might be wrong.
I loved learning about Carol Kaye and her contribuition to music through this awesome video, not sure if the creator will see this comment, but I just found it in February 2023, and wanted to say that the whole production is stunning, from the audiovisual content (specially the screen representation of the bass sound) to the pleasant well pronounced voice over, Congratulations what a great job!! Cheers!
Seriously thank you so much for highlighting one of my Heroes in a simple yet great video that I can easily direct people to. Carol is one of the most prolific musicians ever and so few people know her name it is criminal. Want to point out that she is literally written out of history in some cases. Where is she is La Bamba? The movie shows Valens playing and struggling to conform to the recording process. Carol isn't even mentioned.
Thanks for giving her the respect .from53 to 79 the rennisance period of pop music, her contribution is as you said unquestionable. Her iconic bass lines are carved into the minds of billions of ppl .who listened with a huge smile
Carol Kaye's bass playing is never actually heard on Good Vibrations. The liner notes of the Smile Sessions album states that, although she was present at a few sessions, the recordings actually used on the song is of Craig Slowinski.
Very well done job show casing Carol Kaye. She once told me she contributed the string melody on the Glen Campbell session when they did Wichita Lineman. She has done so much beautiful work.
I bought some of her materials online and i actually exchanged emails with her much to my amazement. She doesn't like the name "The Wrecking Crew". She said it was Hal Blaine's term and she didn't agree with it. I consider myself very lucky to have had a conversation (if just with emails) with such an iconic musician. You can't go wrong studying her style and technique.
FANTASTIC Video about the greatest bass player in modern history, the incomparable CAROL KAYE!!!! Thank you for posting this, I hope she watches it from time to time to see how incredible her work truly is in American music !
When I switched to bass because we couldn't find a bass player, I bought "How To Play Bass Guitar" by Carol Kaye (this was 1966) and I thought "What a weird name for a guy". Boy was I schooled. The more I learn at all the recording she did, I just shake my head in wonder. I've watched a lot of the videos of her on YT. Incredible, and she had a pretty rough time, raising three kids while so prolific in the studio. I would love to meet her
Carol was so more talented than everyone, she was a resource they could have made a star herself. She should be in the hall off fame for what she done for music stars...they all owe her and should vote her into the hall of fame!!
"The Beat Goes On" would not have topped the charts without her bass line. I can imagine when that heart drug commercial comes on TV playing the bass line she invented, it puts a smile on her face. She's an unsung hero.
Thanks so much! I met Carol a few times back when i was a studio musician for Terry Melcher (Doris Day's son) at Columbia Records.. We would often bump into Carol and Hal Blaine and Tommy Tedesco and the wrecking crew (which they were not called in those days -- Hal made it up later) when we sauntered around the corner to Capital records, or we were both doing stuff over at Gold Star studios. She was very professional. Always wore those big horn-rim glasses (they were popular in the 1960s!). What a career she had! I'm on a few records, no credit usually, but she had thousands! Wow. Here's some trivia for you: Hal Blaine told me he always tuned his drums to the first 4 notes of 'I Got Rhythm" I knew the song by The Happenings in 1967, but it was an old George Gershwin song from the 1930s.
I had the greatest pleasure meeting her in Denver- now many years ago, and I greeted her by dropping to one knee, and bowing...She laughed, and simply said "Get up dear- it's nice to meet you too!" Such humility from a TRUE LEGEND. She is one of the (if not THE) greatest session bassists of all time! There are very few within her ranks!
I love Carol Kaye. I just located an Ibanez SRX-500. Hers was a 700. I am so enthralled with her chemical make up as a person. Her great attitude, ability to always play the appropriate bass lines, and hard work ethic mean everything to me. Although I've been playing Blues Bass for decades, as soon as the Ibanez bass gets delivered, I'm tuning it up, turning on the metronome, and playing some of her instructional lines.
I bought her Bass book when I was learning Bass. I didnt realise her playing was in so many of the big TV show themes, and pop music on the radio ,from when I was growing up. What a legend!
I was married to a bass player & I thought I heard of all of them, but he never spoke of Carol Kaye. The schmuck was always a bit of a sexist. Viva Carol!!!🎵🎶🎸
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Carol should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame
Tom Adamson Yes sir!!! 🤘
Tom Adamson. I posted exactly the same comment. It's hard to think of anyone more deserving of a place.
Amen to that!
Inducted this year
Was thinking the same thing. She's earned it.
I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Kaye, when she first moved to the Antelope Valley. My son heard someone playing bass on the block, so he went to find out who it was (my son plays guitar). Anyway, it turns out that the music was his next door neighbor. He knocked on the door and it was Carol Kaye and the BBC doing a documentary about her life. She invited him in. The next day he told me about it, I was shocked. She needed some repairs around the house, so I volunteered to help. Man, we talked and talked. Carol had some Great stories about the Giants of the industry. She even gave me a guitar lesson ( can't beat that!) She also gave me a copy of her Studio dates, with a list of all the who's who's she played for. The sweetest LADY & hippest person I've ever met. Why she's not in the Rock N Roll hall of fame is beyond me! She is "the first lady of bass".
Carol lives in Rosamond.
She gave me the same lists of songs she’d recorded, dates she’d played on, and tons of articles and interviews.
Gerry Hernandez What a great story! Thank you for sharing!
it's one of the biggest crimes of all time - she should be in the hall about 30 years ago!!!!
Sounds like a genuine real lady, ran into a genuine real cat, I'm glad your son had that experience, that's pretty dope, you rub elbows with the legendary G, and a beautiful talented awesome person, she will be I truly believe she'll be in the Rock Hall of Fame, American people don't understand the people behind the scene drives what's in front of the scene that they see, they don't know any better than that
I just want to say thank you for bringing an unsung hero of music to the spotlight
Same af
Fuckin' A.
You can see a lot of Carol in the doc film, "The Wrecking Crew." Playing on either Netflix or HULU now.
Unsung ? No.
He's not the only one to spotlight her nor is he the first
She deserves to be in the Rock Hall of Fame.
Her work on Good Vibrations is amazing.
bryan macneil Well, she was just playing the lines Brian wrote out for her, and her playing never even made it to the final recording.
bryan macneil She didn't actually play on the final single that was released. "Kaye is often credited for playing on the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" single,[13] but a session list compiled by Craig Slowinski for The Smile Sessions box-set liner notes states that, although she played on several sessions for the song, none of those recordings made the final edit as released on the single." That was Ray Pohlman on the record.
In an interview with her (also on RUclips), she talked about playing for hours with Brian on that song, trying different ideas and not just following his direction. He apparently respected her greatly.
So, what you are saying is this lady played on about half of my favorite tunes ever. She is the one common denominator to half of my favorite songs. That's extremely surprising, and gives her an unrivalled position in my personal 'musicians hall of fame.'
The odds are pretty good that Hal Blaine played drums on half your favorite songs, too. Those two together were magical.
@@MyMotherTheCar True. The two of them, Blaine and Kaye, didn’t get along that well, on a personal level, but you’re right. Those two could play.
And as she says the base is the bottom, the foundation for the whole song. If a great basest was not playing most of these songs they would not have been that good.
Carol Kay played on over 10,000 songs. WAY more than half
@@tonys4396
I tell you what, I'll leave it to you to do the research on how many of her 10,000 songs made it into the top 20, or so. I don't doubt that she played over 10,000 songs, but just because she played bass on 10,000 songs is not enough to make all of them hits. Some songs are just duds, even if they have a great bass line. And there were plenty of record labels that produced tunes I love that never used her. For instance, the songs recorded in England made up a large percentage of the hits recorded in the 60s and 70s. But there were also American labels that didn't use her.
If you do the numbers and can list the songs she played on and show that she was on more than half of the top 20 hits from 1960 to 1980, then I'll bow to your hard work.
This lady is rock and roll. She is a part of the fabric of music that so many generations have listened to and I agree that she should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She should have gotten songwriting credit for “And the Beat Goes On” - that bass line IS the song.
She also does the solo on Glen Campbell's Wichita Lineman.
WOAAAH
She played that fuckin bassline? Amazing
Wait are you talking about the Sunny and Cher song or The Whispers song?
@@NasByTheWay24 She didn’t just play that bass line, she created it. Watch The Wrecking Crew documentary.
The Wrecking Crew doc is a great watch too. Carol’s a legend. Unsung hero.
The unforgettable intro to 'Witchita Lineman" .What Thing ❤❤
Studio musicians are often the unsung hero’s of the industry. Great story !
Most definately agree there. They're the one's that bring the chills up your spine!.
Jimmy Page and JPJ played on Donovan tracks before LZ.
@@jeffwalker6815 Many such examples over the decades.
Toto is probably the best known example - started by a group of long-time studio musician, and most if not all of them STILL did some studio work on the side while the band was in existence.
Carol in the Hall of Fame. Absolutely no question she's one of the best of all time.
Actually, she's NOT there according to their inductees list.
I THOUGHT I remember them inducting The Wrecking Crew as a group, but if so I can't find them listed or which individuals they included.
I saw Carol Kaye host at a bass clinic held at a music store in Santa Cruz back in 1974 or 75. She was so friendly and informative. Glad you are making tribute to great musician and person who should not be forgotten.
Jammin' with Jambo, Amen!
I miss Santa Cruz so Much!!!!!!!
You would like "Hired Guns" then: ruclips.net/video/gfYbLXCHjBM/видео.html
"She was pulling 3 to 4 sessions per day, while raising 3 kids on her own..."
God! Damn!
Let's see a guy do that. Oh wait.
Its called having a job. One Job. Calm down.
She considered herself a jazz player. The rock and roll studio sessions were used to pay the bills.
Her parents raised them. She even admitted that in retrospect she wishes that she spent more time with her kids.
And made a better living than the acts on the road... imagine having the privilege of working with Brian Wilson ... wow
I’m in love with Carol Kaye.
She certainly deserves it!!!!
ME TOO❤️
@@prencesst1971 Me Tree
And here we have it. The real legend of rock and roll is this lady. Played on so many great songs. Instantly a fan
I found about her and other studio musicians when I watched The Wrecking Crew documentary on Netflix, highly recommended!
I watch a lot of music documentaries and in my opinion the one on the Wrecking Crew ranks near the top.
Just watched it, thanks!
Roberto, Yes Sir!
Can you guys recommend your favorite music documentaries on Netflix?
+ Sebastian Tinajero - check out Muscle Shoals as well. Definitely one of the best.
Oh, wow, Carol Kaye...so important, talented, hard-working, and fun. What an absolute treasure in so many ways.
Huge respect to her and to you for making this. She’s the best
She is that and then some.
I laugh when I see people mock Gene Simmons having "taken bass lessons with some woman" when that "some woman" was Carol Kaye. It's like saying, "yeah, he's not that great, he had to go see Eddie Van Halen for guitar lessons."
Kylie McInnes Gene was in awe of her and gave her total respect. It's a great piece of video. I love seeing Gene acknowledge that Carol was the alpha dog--and he's a very competent bass player, all other BS aside.
Eddie van Halen asked for guitar lessons from Glen Campbell...who was a session player with Carol Kaye.
He has always admired her and says so . She is it !
Glen Campbell asked Jimmy for guitar lessons who also jammed with Carol Kaye😜
@Shock Actually, you're way off. There are plenty of guitarists who are better technical players than EVH. But none of those folks innovated the way EVH did. He literally changed rock music in many ways (both technically on the guitar, but also with pedals and amp technology). Carol Kaye was a similar player. She helped develop the rich rhythmic lines of the 60's and 70's--not in a vacuum, but anyone who knows bass and rock/pop from her era knows she was a driving force.
Also, and this is a bit of an aside, this internet obsession with equating skill level with grade level and age is PLAYED OUT. Gene Simmons is a good bass player, and his bass playing did exactly what Kiss needed it to do. That is all that matters. On the spectrum of bass players, you simply cannot claim Gene Simmons is shitty. Not to your taste? Sure, of course. But he got the job done, and that is not shitty.
Pet Sounds is not only one of the greatest records of all time but it has some of the best musical moments ever. The bass always grabbed my attention the most in that specific record. What an amazing musician.
I agree my friend,the bass on Good Vibrations is nothing short of genius
@@williammclauchlan2610 As noted in other comments, she isn't on the final recording of Good Vibrations.
@@williammclauchlan2610 "Good Vibrations" was not actually released on "Pet Sounds".
Correct (below} ..but Brian , being such a huge fan of her sound bumped up her levels on pet Sounds.
This woman (through listening to all her amazing work with a lot of their stuff}, taught me bass when I was an amoeba listening to the Monkees. And the whole time, I thought this was another great, African American dude.. Lol.. ~ Before I was a session player myself, I Hated them not being listed on the HUGE hits of the day back then. I still cant quite believe they didn't openly credit Not only her, but So many greats.. . WhattheCrap Capitol!!
@@remotexpolde Where is Jaco on your list? Pop music is such a sliver of music and not even the best stuff. And these days, anything written now worth listening to won't be heard on the radio that's for damn sure.
Basically, Ms. Kaye is rock and roll. Anything I've ever heard from the era that was great was due to her musical genius. And I had no idea.
Well, that's about as big an overstatement as I've ever heard.
Jesus. People really go overboard with the praise when it’s a woman don’t they? Almost feels patronising.
You're absolutely correct, Ignore the chauvinist hogs who just can't admit it. I'm a MALE musician by the way
For a few of us older folk,
the ultimate start of this vid may have been Ms Kaye's opening riff for
Glen Campbell's 'Lineman For The County'.
Glad to see some love for her and her work.
Tim Sheneman ...Barney Miller...
I thought that was Glen on bass. But he was playing Carol's bass.
You know someone is world class when an an incredible virtuoso like Glen Campbell demands you for his sessions.
Campbell was also a Wrecking Crew member...before going on his own..also a Beach Boy...just saying. The entire Wrecking Crew should be in the Rock Hall of Fame.
Joshua Freedman Chuck Berghofer played bass on the Barney Miller theme.
Two examples of Carol taking improvization to the max. The original version of Joe Cocker's Feeling Alright, where she never plays the same riff twice and Mel Torme's cover of Games People Play, where she laid down a fast syncopated bass line in attempt to wake up a sleepy drummer and created the foundation of Mel's biggest selling single.
Carol is a true legend. Any hour of any day, somewhere in the world, a song with Carol Kaye on bass or guitar is playing. POLYPHONIC you have done a superb job showcasing Carol Kaye.
Thank you for bringing this incredible talent into the light.
She and Suzi Quatro should be in the rock and Roll hall of fame .
Both women are legendary bassist, and have paved the way for many women in the music industry.
She is definitely a hero in my book for shaping music, just like James Jamerson.
I just wish all these musicians were recognized for their brilliance they brought into the world of music.
@Shock both "playing for the song" in different genres - apples & oranges
Funny thing, she got James Jamerson started on the west coast gigs. She helped a lot of musicians get their foot in the door. She had some incredible stories, Ray Charles, Motown sound in L.A. Four Tops, Glen Cambell, sat next to her when the crew was together. Glen couldn't read music, so she would tell him how the tunes went, but he was quick to pick it up (great ear). The list goes on and on. Working with Phil Spector, being in the studio with John Lennon in the booth. She has a book out on her site.
Lovingly crafted. When Ms Kaye briefly lived in Denver in the 90’s, I had the opportunity to take a few lessons with her.
We spent a lot of the time just talking about music and drinking tea. Lol. She was something special. Loved her.
I can listen to the story of Carol Kaye time and time again and not get bored of it. Nice summary of some of her works :)
Me to as that what Legends do to you they keep you coming back for more.
Why have I never heard this before!? This woman is legend. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Carol Kaye, James Jameson, Duck Dunn. Daaammmmnnn those three rocked the bass on a lot of records in the 60s (and beyond).
Don't forget Tommy Cogbill, Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley's Bassist!
Carol Kaye - an unsung hero if ever there was one in the history of Rock music. I am ashamed to admit that I had no idea who she was before this but her impact and her repertoire are beyond reproach. What an icon, what a legend.
Polyphonic - Great video as always and extra credit for always keeping the content fresh, fascinating and completely unlike anything else on this site. You're a hero to me man - Long Live and Keep em coming!
Finally! Prolific session musicians get recognition! The Wrecking Crew and The Funk Brothers were the genius architects of the sound of the 60s. Kaye deserves all her plaudits though still can’t decide if she is better than the great James Jamerson.
Carol is now in the past 5 years getting the recognition she deserves what a career I must have heard her a thousand times and didn't even realize it she and the wrecking crew all deserve a place in the rock and roll hall of fame GO Carol Go
Anyone who has ANY interest in music should watch "The Wrecking Crew" and watch it over and over again!
This blew my mind. She immediately jumped into my top 5 bass players. You think you know music and then you blast me with this knowledge. Thank you!
Wow. I'm glad you made this, I would've never know about her if not for this video. More people need to hear about her.
She's awesome. And you don't have to go back to the 60s to hear her, she was still rocking in the 90s. Check out Matthew Sweet's 1999 album In Reverse for some of her work.
Carol Kate IS ,without question, one of the greatest, most innovative musicians ever to grace the face of our planet! Her contribution to rock and roll, pop music and the 1960s in general is unrivaled....AND she was a Mom!!!!! God bless Carol!!
At age 6 years old I wanted to be a bass player because of the bass tone
and riffs of all those popular songs on 1950/60s radio. I didn't find out
until I'm in my early 60s that Carol Kaye is THE reason I want to be a
bass player! ! I love you Carol Kaye!!
Richie Valens pronounced Val as in valley. Oh and Carol is one of THE all time greats. Props to her for kicking butt in a what was a man's world.
According to Carol, there wasn't the type of sexism you describe with the studio musicians back then. There were many, many top-tier female musicians. Everyone got along, had super-tight schedules and no time for nonsense. These were all jazz musicians. You're thinking rock and roll mentality, which is when Carol quit the studio business.
Carol Kaye was brilliant, one of a kind, and she made all the 60s and her other work, much more than superb. She is an unsung hero in recording history.
That she managed to do all this at the same time as bringing up a family (on her own) is simply amazing and a testament to her work ethic and her incredible talent.
Today it's unwed mothers wno don't know who their "baby daddy" is, laying around in the projects doing drugs, eating like pigs, with a BMW in the parking lot
Every so often a video comes along that just stuns you. This is one of those. I've been a pro cover artist for 40+ years and had never heard of her, much to my chagrin. I even play some of the songs she played on in my show. She has a new fan in me, that's for sure.
Carol's bassline made "The Beat Goes On."
Yep, it was a one chord song and the bass line that she created, made the song. That's what she brings. It's a good example of how music is sort of defined by the other stuff it's played over. A simple melody sounds different over chord changes. Sonny sounded like a singer over that bass line, that she made up. She might not write the song but she can make it work. Touring bands promoting hit records, owe it to people like her. I say "hall of fame, yes!"
Between her and James Jamerson, they cover EVERY song you've ever loved. Pretty much.
Carol states in "The Wrecking Crew" movie that she came up with the bass line but that fellow Wrecking Crew member Bob West played her line for the radio release version of the song.
My favorite bass session that Carol did was for the Grass Roots. Midnight Confession is an awesome song with some of the most intricate bass playing!😎
Bingo. That bass is insane on that song.
@@jacobsmith9117 My God I just listened to it... Its such exquisite playing, SO totally clean --not one note sounds uncertain or imperfect--even in tone and very, very precisely in time and inventive.
@@theminotaurs You described it better than I ever could have!
Agreed. Another killer Carol Kaye baseline is the original theme for the movie "Bullitt"
OMG that bass intro always blew me away, that was Carol Kaye?!!
She should already be in the hall of fame. Thanks Carol for your contribution to American Music. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Carol is such a hero of mine. I was there, same time, and it was so wonderful to discover it was Carol on that recording!
Carol Kaye, the almost unknown but most widely heard bass player of the last 50 years in Rock music. Thank you Carol!! How many artists had number one hits because of your playing and creativity? Countless, actually. :)
Carol Kaye,
Thank you for the MEMORIES! I was there though it ALL! I'm sad no one said it was you! Great work from a REMARKABLE SESSION MUSICIAN! A job WELL DONE!
Ray Boston Massachusetts
Just a note: According to her, the bass lines on the Beach Boys musics were written by Brian Wilson.
Some of my favorite lines of her is on Games People Play, by Mel Thormé, I'm a Believer, by The Monkees and Midnight Confessions, by The Grass Roots.
It's true, while Brian hired her for her style of playing and execution, he wrote all the basslines that she recorded.
Brian Wilson wrote ALL of the parts and orchestrated all his music. He and Carol are still friends. Read her book.
My mouth dropped when you mentioned that she played on Scarborough Fair. That's one of my favorite songs of all time
The music world owes a deep debt of gratitude to the decades of genius that is Carol Kaye. She is truly a musician's musician.
So glad to see that Carol is now really being recognized. I've been fortunate to have met Carol and once took a personal lesson from her at her home. Astonishing that it took the internet to finally allow the world to learn her name and of her gifts. We hear her playing every day, even now in 2022.
I always count how many people post comments claiming that they met the famous person in the videos, ALL baloney
@tonys4396 You always count them? Always? Baloney! Haha. What in the world is so special about meeting famous people? Cheer up. You might meet someone famous. It will be just like meeting the cashier at a local music store. Living life via RUclips and Wik wok must be horrible for you. Thanks for sharing such a cheerful, and useful comment.
@@charlesmcgehee3227 I've lived in NYC all my life. There isn't a day I don't see famous people. Only losers who live in the sticks mention if they met a famous person and it's usually BS. Now go milk your cow
Love Carol Kaye. I knew she was on a lot of popular songs, but this made me aware of even more. Great video!
Her bass lines were so melodic. Truly a humble and exceptional guitarist.
Her bass line on Mrs O’Leary’s Cow by The Beach Boys is the absolutely the greatest
You mean Brian's Bass line?
Carol Kaye is one of the best musicians on the planet, period. Glad to see she's getting the recognition she deserves, although she needs much more. ♫♥♫
There is a movie called The Wrecking Crew, about the group of session musicians she worked with for a number of years, and it is very insightful.
happy to be affiliated with the making of that wonderful doc.
I am glad to see this has come to light. Carol Kaye is a fabulous musician and being a teen throughout the 1960s and living in LA, I would have thought I would have heard of her due to all of the Rock music being played on the air there. Carol was one of the best kept secrets in music during the era.
I recently watched the Brian Wilson biopic "Love and Mercy" and I felt really confused when in the scene about the creation of "Good Vibrations" Brian goes up to one of the session musicians, a blonde girl with a bass, and says "Hi, Carol. How you doin'?". This video really helped me understand why a biopic about Brian would even name one, apparently, random session musician.
Great video, man. Keep them coming.
Man, not only do you explain all of this music WONDERFULLY, but on the screen, as you are talking and describing the symphony before us, the viewer can SEE what we are HEARING. Again, sir, you are TOO GOOD FOR RUclips (but I'm glad I found you!)
Carol Kaye, you are a huge part of the soundtrack of my life. Thanks for making so much music - sound so much BETTER - with your creativity, high standards and work ethic. You're a superstar! 🌟🙂🙃🙋
What is amazing is that session guitarists such as Carol and Louis Shelton came up with such inventive bass and lead riffs and fills.
That is the true genius
There are two bass parts in “These Boots are made for Walking” Carol played electric jazz bass and Chuck Berghoffer played standup acoustic bass including the now iconic sliding intro (as confirmed in the Wrecking Crew docu and by Carol on another interview). Multiple bass parts were a common studio technique back then especially by Phil Spector & later by Brian Wilson
Chuck Berghoffer - what a tremendous bassist! I have loved his work since hearing him on a somewhat obscure Howard Roberts jazz guitar recording called "H.R.is a Dirty Guitar Player!" - from 1964 or so. Berkley Kendrix on organ (spelling?) and I can't recall the drummer...
She is the greatest bassist in Rock and Roll history. Others may have more accolades, but no one has anywhere near the sheer quantity and quality of hit records and TV theme song performances. I didn’t even know of her until recently, but after researching her career, it is staggering to really fathom what Carol has accomplished. What was depicted in the Movie “Forest Gump” of the character’s whimsical ties to world events, she actually had a hand in the success of hundreds of millions in record sales and iconic TV show themes. Simply the best.
Janis Ian is a musician who's quite under the radar these days but revolutionary for her time.. especially with her very first recording, Society's Child, which was about a very taboo topic at the time (interracial relationship), got banned across the country from various radio stations, yet was a hit song, #1 in numerous markets, and apparently got a reporter fired for writing about it and possibly a record/radio studio burned down for playing it. If someone is deserving of a video to bring some limelight to a mostly forgotten 60/70s pop artist with today's generation, it's Janis Ian.
I love Janis Ian's songs. I saw her some years back. What an incredible guitar player, song writer and performer. I took my kids to see her. They were just blown away by her talent.
She was a major player!! Love her style and she played on tons of albums. She needs to be recognized and awarded for all her work.
I first heard about her work with Stevie Wonder in " I was made to love her". He gave her credit on the liner notes.
Where did you read this liner note? The bass playing in "I Was Made To Love Her" was credited to James Jamerson. Carol Kaye claimed that she was the one recording the bass on that tune. Mr Alan Slutsky did a research on this issue. That include some interviews with people involved in the recording of this particular tune (the producer, recording engineer, etc). And Mr Slutsky's evidence was in favor of Mr Jamerson. This liner note thing never came up in the discussion. As for me, based on what I heard in the recording itself, and comparing the sound to Carol Kaye's work on her recordings, I think it was Mr Jamerson who played on that tune. But I don't know. I might be wrong.
I loved learning about Carol Kaye and her contribuition to music through this awesome video, not sure if the creator will see this comment, but I just found it in February 2023, and wanted to say that the whole production is stunning, from the audiovisual content (specially the screen representation of the bass sound) to the pleasant well pronounced voice over, Congratulations what a great job!! Cheers!
The woman is a trail blazing legend!
How can anyone dislike a video so wonderful like this?
Long life to Ms. Carol Kaye.
Seriously thank you so much for highlighting one of my Heroes in a simple yet great video that I can easily direct people to. Carol is one of the most prolific musicians ever and so few people know her name it is criminal.
Want to point out that she is literally written out of history in some cases. Where is she is La Bamba? The movie shows Valens playing and struggling to conform to the recording process. Carol isn't even mentioned.
luckily she was shown in the brian wilson biopic (Love and Mercy)
Happy Birthday to a bass player who personified the instrument. Carol is a big part of the bass we hear today. Can't escape her influence.
And the drummer for many of these songs was the legendary Hal Blaine. Check him out, too!
Hal is an incredibly nice guy. I knew him for nearly 35yrs b4 he passed.
Thanks for giving her the respect .from53 to 79 the rennisance period of pop music, her contribution is as you said unquestionable. Her iconic bass lines are carved into the minds of billions of ppl .who listened with a huge smile
Carol Kaye's bass playing is never actually heard on Good Vibrations. The liner notes of the Smile Sessions album states that, although she was present at a few sessions, the recordings actually used on the song is of Craig Slowinski.
There will never be a group of session players again like the Wrecking Crew. Thanks for posting this video and Carol is exactly right.
She is so damn hip and cool. If you look up "hit & cool", there should be a pic of Carol! One of the best guitarist of all time!
Very well done job show casing Carol Kaye. She once told me she contributed the string melody on the Glen Campbell session when they did Wichita Lineman. She has done so much beautiful work.
Carol is a legend. Once we got to see behind the curtain we had to give her long overdue credit.
I bought some of her materials online and i actually exchanged emails with her much to my amazement. She doesn't like the name "The Wrecking Crew". She said it was Hal Blaine's term and she didn't agree with it. I consider myself very lucky to have had a conversation (if just with emails) with such an iconic musician. You can't go wrong studying her style and technique.
Carol Kaye is a gem!
FANTASTIC Video about the greatest bass player in modern history, the incomparable CAROL KAYE!!!! Thank you for posting this, I hope she watches it from time to time to see how incredible her work truly is in American music !
Carol is a legend, the female James Jamerson. And that's the highest compliment anyone can get.
Yes, she is and yes, it is! So thankful we get to keep the music for always-and pass it along.
When I switched to bass because we couldn't find a bass player, I bought "How To Play Bass Guitar" by Carol Kaye (this was 1966) and I thought "What a weird name for a guy". Boy was I schooled. The more I learn at all the recording she did, I just shake my head in wonder. I've watched a lot of the videos of her on YT. Incredible, and she had a pretty rough time, raising three kids while so prolific in the studio. I would love to meet her
Great video on Carol! always happy to see members of the wrecking crew get the recognition they deserve
Carol was so more talented than everyone, she was a resource they could have made a star herself. She should be in the hall off fame for what she done for music stars...they all owe her and should vote her into the hall of fame!!
She's the most famous musician that nobody has ever heard of. She played on "everything."
"The Beat Goes On" would not have topped the charts without her bass line. I can imagine when that heart drug commercial comes on TV playing the bass line she invented, it puts a smile on her face. She's an unsung hero.
"I dug being on the bottom of the band." WHOA! Super pause.
Just stop, you pathetic child.
The most radical bass tone I've ever heard! Such a badass. :)
This was rad. It's always cool to hear about prolific artists who didn't make headlines.
Thanks so much! I met Carol a few times back when i was a studio musician for Terry Melcher (Doris Day's son) at Columbia Records.. We would often bump into Carol and Hal Blaine and Tommy Tedesco and the wrecking crew (which they were not called in those days -- Hal made it up later) when we sauntered around the corner to Capital records, or we were both doing stuff over at Gold Star studios. She was very professional. Always wore those big horn-rim glasses (they were popular in the 1960s!). What a career she had! I'm on a few records, no credit usually, but she had thousands! Wow.
Here's some trivia for you: Hal Blaine told me he always tuned his drums to the first 4 notes of 'I Got Rhythm" I knew the song by The Happenings in 1967, but it was an old George Gershwin song from the 1930s.
I had the greatest pleasure meeting her in Denver- now many years ago, and I greeted her by dropping to one knee, and bowing...She laughed, and simply said "Get up dear- it's nice to meet you too!" Such humility from a TRUE LEGEND. She is one of the (if not THE) greatest session bassists of all time! There are very few within her ranks!
I love Carol Kaye. I just located an Ibanez SRX-500. Hers was a 700. I am so enthralled with her chemical make up as a person. Her great attitude, ability to always play the appropriate bass lines, and hard work ethic mean everything to me. Although I've been playing Blues Bass for decades, as soon as the Ibanez bass gets delivered, I'm tuning it up, turning on the metronome, and playing some of her instructional lines.
I love all of Carol Kaye's work as a musician and arranger.
Absolutely Carol should be Recongnized. What an absolute marvel listening to her play that Bass. Humble women.
I just recently learned that Carol Kaye played on the theme song of the original series The Wild Wild West theme written by Richard Markowitz...
What a amazing musician. Some of them bass lines are unbelievable.
Carol Kaye is the "Zelig" or "Forrest Gump" of the music industry. 100 years from now people will still be playing sessions she participated in.
I bought her Bass book when I was learning Bass. I didnt realise her playing was in so many of the big TV show themes, and pop music on the radio ,from when I was growing up. What a legend!
I was married to a bass player & I thought I heard of all of them, but he never spoke of Carol Kaye. The schmuck was always a bit of a sexist. Viva Carol!!!🎵🎶🎸
😂
ha! I love this comment.
Your funny as heck, love your spirit and whit!!
I loved your comment so much! thanks
Ahh yes because someone not knowing a bass player is them being sexist......