Bass Players - how good was Fred Turner when he played with BTO?

Cafe Society
1

Here’s a live version of Let It Ride. You can see Turner on his 5 string Carvin bass and clearly hear his part.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwkz28_bachman-turner-let-it-ride-live-at-the-roseland-ballroom-nyc_music

I really appreciate how Fred moves over next to Randy during his difficult solo. Randy glances over at the bass several times. I assume making sure of his place. Fred is right there supporting Randy.

Fred Turner was semi-retired for awhile. Randy convinced him to tour again as Bachman & Turner. I think Fred has retired again.

You got to hear the original BTO recordings to appreciate their playing in their prime.

I always thought the driving beat from the drums and bass with the guitars made BTO special.

Fred Turner is a versitile singer. How is he regarded as a bass player?

2

Looks like Fred plays a six string bass too.

Here’s the 5 string.
https://goo.gl/images/ekPkev

6 string
https://goo.gl/images/HRjR5M

LOL Randy loves staring at that bass.

I can’t find a vintage 1970’s photo.
I’m curious what he played then.

3

I found a late 80’s performance.
Fred is playing a 4 string bass.
He was a lot heavier back then.

I can’t find any 70’s live performances.

4

As a bass player, I’d be pretty damn happy if I laid down that bass part. The verse isn’t anything to write home about (more about that later); but the chorus parts have damn nice fills and runs, and lead into the next chord, and aren’t getting in the way of anything.

As a bass player/guitarist that has sometimes been pressed into singing, yeah, he’s doing goddamn well. If what you’re playing isn’t directly related rhythmically to what you’re singing, it’s a complete bitch. The verse part he’s playing isn’t crazy, but even if he wasn’t singing, he’d have to work hard to not step on toes or screw with the thump, tha-da-thump, tha-da-thump, thump-da-dum-dump of the verse. When he gets a chance to run around on the chorus, he does, and still sings great at the same time. Seems to me he knows how to be a damn good bassist, and when to be what type.

BTW, he’s playing pretty much the same part on the 5 sting as he did on the 4 string. From a short sampling of what I can find, he was playing a Rickenbacker 4001 back in the 70’s.

5

I’ve been taking bass lessons online. I’d like to eventually jam with some of BTO’s songs at home.

I haven’t found any tab books for BTO except a Randy Bachman guitar tab book. That gives me the chords and I’m hoping to figure out the bass from that.

Some groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd do have bass tab songbooks. I’ve been using this one a lot.

I know what you mean about bass and singing. The low thump thump of the bass throws me off trying to sing higher notes.