Chuck Rainey: Mind-boggling Session Stories from a Bass Legend | EP46 | The SBL Podcast

182 | EP46 | Chuck Rainey: Mind-boggling Sessions Stories from a Bass Legend
In this episode Ian Allison talks to Chuck Rainey, one of the most admired bass players in popular music. Chuck has played and recorded with the likes of King Curtis, Sam Cooke, Etta James, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Steely Dan, Roberta Flack and Quincy Jones. This is an excerpt from Bass Space 2022.
In this podcast you're going to learn:
- How Chuck took the art of grooveful bass playing to its musical peak.
- How he became one of New York’s and then LA’s most sought-after studio players.
- All about his time with Aretha Franklin.
- His slap riff that made Steely Dan’s 1977 hit Peg.
- Why he remains one of the most influential bass players in history.
- And much, much more!
[ - PODCAST - ]
► iTunes: apple.co/1O6P2oZ
► Spotify: spoti.fi/3M7ZlbY
► Stitcher: bit.ly/3BZNc4m
[ - SOCIAL - ]
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[@njoysuccessnow]

I love how respectful and encouraging you were, and I believe Chuck really appreciated your disposition as well. Legends deserve to be treated as such.

[@mariodmoses32]

Great Interview with one of the Great Bass Player's of All Time Chuck Rainey 🎸

[@pezzatolo365]

Wow!!! This is gold! Of course Mr. Rainey is a remarkable bass player, probably my all-time favorite. But, what an incredible, beautiful person he is as well. Thanks for this SBL.

[@put-on]

Best quote "As a bass player you have a responsibility. It ain't no chord until a bass player plays. And music is made up of chords... So many great musicians have come through that wouldn't get a second job in that same circle environment because of their behavior. And their behavior has a lot to do with their not understanding what their responsibility is. It's not your time to blow your horn. You're not blowing your horn, you're being part of a unit. Let other people decide that you blow your horn... I have been very fortunate but I tell every young bass player that it's my fingerprint but, as I look at what it's all about, it's about THE SONG." Amen

[@theduppykillah]

What a beautiful human being. Tremendously inspiring

[@westwindpainting]

I admire Mr Rainey ...imagine if he was your Dad. ...the way he talks says all you need to know....great interview..

[@fender.tone.63]

I attended a free clinic Chuck had held at Stanford back around 2010, and he played a piece he had come up with called “Sophisticated Monkey”, a spoken-word monologue over a funky, sophisticated bass line. It was a brilliant piece that he performed flawlessly! I’d love to find a clip of that somewhere online, but he may have saved that bit for special occasions. 😎

[@dezlazywork6616]

Thank you so much SBL and the legend that is Chuck Rainey, for this brilliant interview.

[@johnrigby6758]

Outstanding! What a beautiful soul Chuck is. Truly inspirational. Thank you for all the music and unforgettable bass lines.

[@bartgelin]

What a dude! Thanks for uploading this and thanks also for simply listening. Great interview Ian :)

[@juanrial1620]

Great conversation! Thank you Ian! Chuck played bass on Calamaro´s album Alta Suciedad. Delicious!

[@ghana1823]

BEST interview I've EVER seen in my Over 60 years in the business! And I've heard interviews with Many of thee most gifted legends! But this was the deepest, Thanks! And you did a Beautiful job with Amazing questions 🙏🏾❤️👍🏾🎶🎸😊

[@pedrobaeztorres4401]

I was fortunate to be in Chuck Rainey's bass workshop at Dick Grove's music workshop in North Hollywood in 1972,he stressed to our small class to learn to play multi genres and styles of music well',and to play your part in the group to make the band sound good,and stay on the pocket and dont overplay

[@warwickdennis4114]

You guys at SBL are great, when I financially able I plan to join.

[@olesolja1407]

Wow..I totally enjoyed this interview. I’m a huge Chuck Rainey fan. I especially love the work he shared with Donny Hathaway and also the work with Roberta Flack. The Streetsweeper Q.J. Theme for Sanford and Son. Soul Serenade by King Curtis was when I first discovered and listen to Chuck. Definitely class amongst the Best of the Best. Thanks for sharing.

[@anibalibrahim2963]

Thank You Sir--Honest sincere interview and insight..Thank You for giving us your thoughts and experiences and thank you SBL

[@twmoore60]

I'm a percussionist, but bass players are my guide! This was an amazing interview with an absolute legend. I thank the universe for Chuck Rainey. Great stuff.

[@manlioyllades]

I'm a bassist and once a percussionist saved my gig: Chuchito Valdés called me and asked me to play a date with him. When I got there I was really worried about my playing because I didn't have much experience playing Cuban rhythms. I guess it showed in my face because the percussionist asked me what was wrong. I told him I didn't feel self-confident about my playing and he just said: "Don't worry bro, just follow me". And he did took me by the hand through the pieces. So it can be both ways :)

[@Harlembrown]

That right there was a bucket list checkmark for me. Mr. Rainey and Mr. Marcus Miller are the reasons I L-O-V-E the bass today.

[@lee399]

Same here 😁

[@suburbanbeatatx1824]

G.O.A.T. awesome, legendary, huge influence on me as a bass player :)

[@PushSueAside]

Thank you Chuck! and Thank you Ian! This is a wonderful and fascinating interview. Loved every minute. Cheers

[@pdexBigTeacher]

Thank you, Mr. Rainey for affirming what I've felt. As an aspiring bass player as much as I'm inspired by your playing, learn from your playing, thank you for affirming me playing the way I feel, playing what is me, because I'm (certainly) not Mr. Rainey!

[@bytemen0w]

Chuck is my new favorite philosopher

[@warwickdennis4114]

Most great artist are humble.

[@GittinNGiven]

This is LIFE/MUSIC mastery being articulated through verbal expression.

[@gordonmcneil8729]

Great interview. Btw Maggie Bell was from Glasgow, Scotland.

[@tonydesarzec907]

Wonderful. Love it!

[@bassbymichele]

A perfect musician and a beautiful wise person! Wish I could have a chat with you Love you Chuck, forever a fan of yours.. MIke

[@spankdaplank7774]

Thank you, thank you! This is THE greatest interview. I am a 72 year old bass player and in a much smaller way, shared so many of the same experiences and observations of the music business. But I was overwhelmed by much of it. This master class in music, bass, and especially life has put it into a cohesive memory that I can now reflect upon and hopefully still learn from. Thanks Chuck. Please listen to my favorite cut from the holy trinity of rhythm sections; Chuck Rainey, Cornell Dupree, and Bernard Purdie on this Aretha tune written by Stevie Wonder: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJPSnJpmgLJgpJo

[@MA_808]

Bass Master

[@jefschr1]

I didn't know Chuck is so funny!

[@KeithCopeland778]

Chuck dropped some SERIOUS PEARLS OF WISDOM and I expected nothing less!!!!!! His attitude, perspective, and obvious preparation are what have kept his phone ringing for all of these decades. Pretty much every song he's played is a masterclass!!! PLEASE STOP CALLING THUMPING AND PLUCKING SLAPPING!!!!!! THE INVENTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE LARRY GRAHAM NEVER CALLED IT THAT!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS A PET PEEVE FOR ME!!!

[@stewartmckinlay2374]

Sorry, Maggie Bell was Scottish . Massive Fan of yours, Mr. Rainey

[@headninjadog8120]

Didn’t he do the awesome bass on WKRP? 😂

[@gj8683]

YO-shida, not yo-SHI-da