Yes, this thread has been in the back of my mind since it got dusted off.

I played this album a couple of days ago and was going to put up this song and got busy.

To me, a totally unique bass everything through the song.  In fact it is the song. A love at first listen 55 years ago.  Never heard a bass played quite the same way before this album and since, only on this.  You can hear it a little bit on Something in The Air.

The player, Bijou Drains.  :)

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 islander wrote:
Love the Police...but watching that reminds me how much I miss Stewart Copeland.   Drummer... bassist... in a 70s/80s trio.... and the thread got me to thinking...

Moving Pictures is an album that puts me back in school.. driving around in cars with friends... it's a time machine.

Since this is popping up a lot now, I had to go back through 19 years of entries to see that this wasn't already listed. Shame on all of us.

 Proclivities wrote:
That's better!

I'm not a Bowie fanatic, but this feels to me like "peak Bowie".  He looks great...happy...like a guy who is comfortable with his place in the universe and the quality of his work.  I saw somewhere that Plati noted it was one of his favorite experiences in music (doing the BeeB shows).  

It's not a chore....it's a celebration.  

 Proclivities wrote:

Or Diamond Dogs.
For those too young to know, here’s Newley, during his high point. 

 Steely_D wrote:
Like on much of his first album, or in "The Laughing Gnome"?

 Proclivities wrote:

I really like when he breaks out the Anthony Newley voice, but maybe that's just me.

 rgio wrote:
There is (or was) a cleaner version of that at one time.  Ah,  from a BBC show.

Apparently Plati and Gail Ann Dorsey would often switch playing bass and guitar for live shows, but for that song she told Plati she didn't like "slapping" on bass, so they decided he would play bass on that. He kills it on this song. Bowie wanted her to sing Freddie Mercury's part and play bass on "Under Pressure" though.

Horrible video.... but quite possibly my favorite Bowie song/version ever...

Mark Plati on the bass. 

Kind of a long version but it's awesome.  She's an incredible bass player, plus it's cool how she rearranged an American Songbook classic into 5/4 time.

too funny...

Haz anyone posted props to these guys? bassist Herbie Flowers, drummer-percussionist Jim Gordon?
Very definition of 'in the pocket.'  

 Steely_D wrote:

I saw Joe, Graham and the band perform that tune live in Phoenix last June. Same high energy as the vintage version. Awesome stuff!

Tom Semioli's KNOW YOUR BASS PLAYER is a cool YT channel that honors a lot of the greats like Maby.  This video is one of seven in a playlist interviewing Graham. It's well worth the time to watch them all.

 Steve wrote:

The criminally underrated Graham Maby:

Gentle Giant was always a bit too busy for my tastes though I understand the peer recognition (including Steven Wilson). 

 Red_Dragon wrote:
That's the second time they did that tune that day at Shepperton studios. I have the whole thing on DVD and the big finish (not the version here) is horrible. Sometimes things just don't gel, and it's obvious that it's a terrible absolutely not-noteworthy performance. The band knew it; the director knew it. So the next thing to do was ask someone to go down to the dressing room and ask Pete and the boys if they wouldn't mind coming back upstairs and doing it all over again...knowing that whoever talked to Pete was likely to take a beating.

But, no problem. They got themselves together, came back up and knocked it out of the park. And that was the last time they played with Moonie.

RIP Ray 

He frequently looks quite bored...