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VIDEOS
Most of my favorite Steely Dan tracks were played brilliantly by legendary session bassist Chuck Rainey. However, founding member Walter Becker(R.I.P.)played bass on many songs as well as some of their radio hits. Steely Dan’s “Everything Must Go” record featured Walter’s bass playing on every track. “Lunch With Gina” was probably my favorite on the record. It's funky and syncopated(and what else would you expect on a Steely Dan record😂LOL). Walter most likelt played it with a pick but I decided to finger style this one on my fretless. In addition, I threw in a little bit of me a couple of places. I hope you enjoy my interpretation.
I was going through some MP3s on my computer and came across this live recording of The Headhunters version of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” by my former Lee Ann Womack bandmates. We recorded this in our dressing room Jam Room while we were out on the 2011 George Strait Tour. We had a lot of great times on that tour playing real book standards & pop tunes. Hope you dig this version.
Randy Smith - Please Don’t Stop(Richard Bona Bass Cover) September 2020
Bass Cover of Lamar Campbell's "More Than Anything". I Love playing black Gospel music. My daughter requested I do this one and it's is one of my favorites (June 2020)
Bass Cover Of "She's Like No Other" by Ole Borud
June 2016
Bass Cover of Steely Dan's "Green Earrings"(LIVE) February 2019
“Last Train Home” is an instrumental track from the Pat Metheny Group’s 1987 release “Still Life (Talking)”. As with many songs written by Pat Metheny, this one has a hauntingly ethereal vibe with Pat’s signature guitar tone. I used my “Moises” app to and I chose my Kala U-Bass(A Christmas gift given to me by my daughter Madi and my son-in-law Kyle several years ago) to capture the upright tone for this recording. October 2021
Children’s Crusade was a tune off Sting’s first solo record called “The Dream Of The Blue Turtles” following his departure from The Police. I always loved the changes of this tune and chose to play my fretless Yamaha TRBII5F because of the haunting vibe of the song. The subject matter of this song makes it that much more haunting. I hope you dig my take on this. August 2021
Bass Cover of Dave Grusin's "Mountain Dance" July 2018. Playing this song brings me so much joy as you can tell from the smile on my face.
Bass Cover of Al Jarreau's "I Will Be Here For You" February 2019
Bass cover of Shaun Martin's "Yellowjacket 7 Summers". I love the melody of this tune. (March 2020)
Bass Cover of James Taylor's "Secret O Life". This Live version of this song has always been my favorite and even though there isn't bass on it, I played my modified Yamaha TRBII5F (April 2020)
Bass cover of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" January 2019 - I've loved this song since I was a teenager.
"One Thing Leads To Another" is this song by the English new wave band The Fixx off their 1983 release “Reach The Beach”. I was a senior in high school when this song came out and it’s still as fresh today as it was the first time I heard it in 1983. Hope you dig it!!
Bass Cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You" January 2019
Bass cover of Michael Jackson's "Working Day & Night" July 2018. This is my little tribute to the late great Louis Johnson R.I.P..
I obviously LOVE old school music :-)
Stretching out on "Runaway" by Jamariquai
June 2016
Bass Cover of Michael Jackson's "Girlfriend". Another salute to the late great Louis Johnson. October 2018
“Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up” is a song written, produced & recorded by legendary R&B singer Barry White for his 1973 release “Stone Gon” I chose my 1977 Fender Reissue Jazz Bass with Flatwounds for that vintage tone. Turn on your lava lamp, slip on your platform shoes & leisure suit and groove to the funkiness. In the words of the late great Don Cornelius as he closed every episode of Soul Train….”Peace, Love & Soul” to you all
From the first time I heard it, "I'll Be Over You has been on of my all time favorite Toto songs. It's a brilliantly crafted song and I loved hearing the incomparable Michael McDonald in the background vocals. I chose my fretless Yamaha BBN5AF for this. I also used my Moises app on this track so all you hear is my bassline. October 2021
Bass cover of Brand New Heavies "Back To Love" I'm obviously embellishing on the line but trying to stay true to the original
“Depending On You” was the 3rd single off The Doobie Brothers 1978 multi platinum release “Minute By Minute” I always loved this song and the bassline shows the brilliance of bassist Tiran Porter.
I first heard this Steely Dan tune off their “Live In America” record. However, I think I prefer THIS version by the band Monkey House.
Bass Cover of Isreal Houghton's "Everywhere That I Go"
This is a song off John Mellencamp’s 1996 release “Mr Happy Go Lucky”. It was written by John’s longtime bassist Toby Myers. Maybe that’s why I love it so much LOL🤷🏼♂️. I chose my 1977 Fender Reissue Jazz Bass strung with flatwounds.
This song came out in 1983 when I was a senior in high school. There was just something about it that I was drawn to. I always thought Cheap Trick should have been bigger than they were.
Sample clip of new song from my rock band "Facing Eden".
Performing "JoJo" by Boz Scaggs with my band PacAKrakRs
Playing along with Ole Borud's "High Time"
Performing Steely Dan's classic "Black Cow" with my band PacAKrakRs
Performing "Either Way" With Lee Ann Womack from her record "Call Me Crazy" for "Soundstage" by Walmart
Performing "I May Hate Myself In The Morning" from her album "There's More Where That Came From" with Lee Ann Womack for "Soundstage" by Walmart
This is a song by Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen titled "Sometimes I Wonder". This was with my former bandmates for the Lee Ann Womack band and it was recorded in the Jam Room sometime during the 2011 George Strait Tour
Playing upright & singing BGVs with Lee Ann Womack on the old George Jones classic, "You're Still On My Mind" for Marty Stuart's TV show.
I remember hearing this song when I was a kid. It was the 2nd single off Paul Simon’s 1975 release entitled “Still Crazy After All These Years”(the title track of which is one of my all time favorite songs). “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” featured the iconic drum intro/track played by the incomparable Steve Gadd and Tony Levin playing the wonderfully melodic bassline. I took some liberties at the end of the song but the baseline didn’t need any embellishment.
In my opinion, Michael Franks is one of the most clever lyricist & musical artist of my lifetime. In addition, the guy is the definition of cool. “Your Secret’s Safe With Me” was a major crossover hit from Michael’s 1985 release “Skin Dive". It’s one of my favorite songs for obvious reasons. I hope you dig my take on it.
I love playing funky R&B music but I also truly love music of all other music genres. This is a song by my dear friend and legendary Grand Ole Opry member Lorrie Morgan and it's a perfect example of a classic country shuffle. I hope you dig my take on it.
This tune was written by Chick Corea with lyrics by the late great Al Jarreau. This was on Al’s “This Time”. It’s always been my favorite version. R.I.P. Al Jarreau🙏🏼 It's one of the hardest songs I've ever learned, I hope you dig my take on it.
This instrumental tune entitled “Far and Near" was written by my buddy Jonathan Bradford while he was learning Logic. Jonathan had posted it on social media and I just thought it was so funky and cool. I messaged him and asked if I could add live bass to it to which he gladly obliged. It’s just a instrumental jam but I had a lot of fun playing it. I hope you enjoy my take on it.
I believe The Beatles body of work in the short time they were together as band is so incredible. I tend to be more of a McCartney fan, mainly because he’s the bass player but I also thought that his sensibility with pop melodies was pretty amazing. I don’t really consider myself a soloist but I just got inspired with this particular song and just put on a percussion loop on my laptop and played along with it. I wasn't trying to copy Jaco's version of it but I hope you dig my pseudo Latin flavored take on this Beatles classic.
I first heard "Mama" by LunchMoney Lewis after watching the (Lip-Sync Video) by Sean Hayes & Scott Icenogle. The video was hysterical but I so sotaken my the track, it was FUNKADELIC and I just had to learn it. Hope you dig my take on this and God bless all of our "Mamas", they are a blessing in our lives. May, 2016
The first time I heard Elvis Costello perform “Veronica” was on SNL when the late great Tom “T-Bone” Wonk was in the house band and he was KILLING the bassline(R.I.P.🙏🏼). Afterwards I bought the record and discovered that Sir Paul McCartney played his iconic Hofner bass on the original 1989 release. I’m sure I didn’t get it exact but I tried to cop my best “McCartney” feel picking my muted Jack Casady Signature bass with tapewound flats. FYI, the cameo victory(aka Veronica) hand photobomb at the end of the first chorus, comes courtesy of my funny wife Jan Smith(she so cra cra and I love her madly)
My first major artist gig was with country singer #TrishaYearwood. “Under The Rainbow” is a song off of her 1996 release “Everybody Knows”. Although I never played it live with Trisha, I always loved this song and particularly how the bass rarely plays the tonic for the entire song. I chose my fretless #YamahaTRBII5F for this bass cover. I took a couple of liberties during the turnarounds but tried to stay true to the original. I hope you enjoyed my take on it.
"I'll Supply The Love" is a track off Toto's debut album and was just one of a string of hit albums they would have. As always, their musicianship is stellar and they were one of the reasons I wanted to pursue a career as a professional musician. Hope you dig my take on it.
This is a complete departure from almost everything that I normally do but I absolutely love great rock ‘n’ roll & have been a Van Halen fan since I was in high school. “She’s The Woman” is a track off of their 2012 release “A Different Kind Of Truth”. I loved the groove and the intensity of it from the first time I heard it. I love the syncopation and the unison lines. It’s not perfect but I really enjoyed recording this one. I hope you dig it.
“What A Fool Believes” was off The Doobie Brothers’ “Minute By Minute” record. Released in 1978. The song was written by both Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins and features Michael’s incredible piano & vocals. This track was a huge hit for The Doobs and is one of my all time favorites. Hope you dig my take.
When this record came out in 1982, it absolutely changed my world and made me want to be a professional Bass Player. I Chose my 1977 Fender Reissue Jazz Bass for this track to capture the vibe of original bassist Willie Weeks' track. Hope you dig my take on it.
I have always been a big fan of Kirk Franklin. I think he was such an innovator in gospel music. I first heard this song at a time where I really needed encouragement and it really spoke to my heart. I recently went through some personal things and it encouraged me again when I listened to it. I love playing gospel music and this song just seemed to call for my fretless bass. I kind of improvised a bit in places but tried to stay true to the original. Hope you dig my take
My dad was a huge fan of Elvis Presley. This version of "Big Boss Man" was always one of his favorites. It recorded in 1967 and it was featured in his 1968 Comeback Special for NBC. I chose my Epiphone Jack Casady Signature strung with tapewound flats to capture a vintage vibe for this tune. Hope you dig my take on it. I wanna dedicate this video to my dad who passed away in May of 2021. R.I.P. Billy Ray Smith
I’m usually not a big fan of “programmed basslines”, mostly because they don’t sound like anything a bass player would play. That said, since the first time I heard Charlie Puth’s bassline on his hit “Attention”, I loved it and everything else about the track. I hope you dig my take on it.
My dear friend Lorrie Morgan did a wonderful cover of this Glen Campbell classic and it’s always been one of my favorites to play live with her. I chose my Epiphone EL Capitan CLFL5 fretless to capture the "upright" vibe from the original recording. I hope you enjoy my take on it
“Lonely Boy” was off Andrew Gold’s 1977 release “What’s Wrong With This Picture”. I loved playing a very cool syncopated bassline. FYI, the BGVs were sung by the one and only Linda Ronstadt. I love how 70s & 80’s pop songs had such cool chord changes. I miss that in current music. I hope you dig my take on this classic.
This was a demo of a song written by good friend & keyboard player in my band American Limehouse Kevin Adams. The lyrics were intended as a play on words with colors. See if you can figure it out how many colors there are. We never ended up using the song for our record but I always loved playing it. I was just experimenting for this video with my Kala U Bass. I hope you dig it
This is a tune by a band called Big Wild. One of my bass students introduced me to this song. I thought the bassline was very melodic and fun to play. This is good example of palm muting with the use of a pick. Hope you dig my take on it.
Earth Wind & Fire has always been one of my favorite bands and bassist Verdine White is one of the major reasons why. The way Verdine is so melodic and drives the groove, he has earned a spot as one of the most influential Bass Players in Pop/R&B/Soul music. I didn't catch every little thing Verdine played on the original but I hope you dig my take on it.
A dear friend and brilliant Nashville musician hipped me to Ole Borud several years ago and I was an instant fan. I love this song both musically and lyrically. It always reminded me of a saying my grandfather would say when I would get stressed about anything. He'd say.."Son relax, it'll all come clean washday". Hope you dig my take on this.
Michael McDonald's debut solo album #IfThatsWhatItTakes came out when I was in high school and from the first time I heard it, I fell in love with it. "I Can Let Go Now" might be one of the most emotional ballads I’ve ever heard. I love Michael’s vocal on it. There isn’t any bass on the original track but I always imagined it being played on fretless if there were. So I chose my modified Yamaha TRBII5F played thru my #FatBoyTubeDI & #RadialTonebone. I hope you dig my take on it
This is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists. I became a Dave Grusin fan when I was in high school. I recorded this video with my modified Yamaha BB Series Frankenstein fretless bass. I've had this bass for over 35yrs and it's been through many changes. Hope you enjoy my take on it.
Interview for Bass Frontiers Magazine -
Part 1
Interview for Bass Frontiers Magazine -
Part 2
Bass Cover of Echosmith's "Get Into My Car". This video was made in my dressing room using my Roland Go Mixer while I was on the road with Lorrie Morgan in Texas (Summer 2018)
“For A While” is a track off Trisha Yearwood’s 2001 release “Inside Out”. The bassline on this song was crafted by session ace Michael Rhodes. I don't know if Michael played fretless or not but I chose my Epiphone El Capitan CLFL5 acoustic fretless for this track. I hope you dig my take on it
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