Aretha doing "Rock Steady"

[Larry Kart]

You can tell she's not lip synching because she starts to come in too early at about 2:21:

[JSngry]

Miles was right - build it from the bass up.

[Larry Kart]

Looking at the back-up singer on the left, I would say build it from the ass up. And I mean that as a compliment.

[JSngry]

Well, yeah. But also look at the people dancing & how it's all off the bass. That's what Miles was taking about, how the bass triggers everything else, phsyically, emotionally, mentally, whatever. Of course, he was talking about the difference between "black people" and "white people", but that was in 1974(?), and now, a generation or two later, it's not just about that any more. And of course, that was hardly an original or unique comment on his part. But for some reason, that bass line (always a favorite here, btw) on that clip came out of my speakers in such a way that...yeah, Miles was right.

And fwiw, "let's call this song just exactly what it is" is one of the truly great phrases in the English language, and one that is great to throw into a serious conversation where nobody wants to be the one to speak the obvious. Try it sometimes. If it works, proceed accordingly, and if it doesn't....turn up the bass!

[jazzbo]

I used to play with King Wilson here in Austin, a bass player who could really groove. He worked with me as the drummer, his partner in the beat. He told me he thought the drive for dancing came from the interaction of low bass strings and the hi-hat.

I love Aretha all the way through all the Atlantics. I get more and more from listening to her albums year after year.

Edited July 23, 2011 by jazzbo

[Noj]

I can tell she's not lip syncing from the first note she sings, since I know the original recording so well. I love Aretha.