Revelation about BiA album from bass player Neil Jason

[Mossguitar]

I thought we all knew that drums and bass got replaced by others on the BIA-album. One World, YLT and Why Bother certainly don’t sound like John, and I’ve always wondered about the rest (MfN and Ride AtR especially). It’s been so many years now, so I’ve forgotten were I have it all from, but maybe from several Dorfsman interviews here and there? The last albums that sound like Dire Straits are Communique (studio) and Alchemy (live) IMO

[dustyvalentino]

I thought we all knew that drums and bass got replaced by others on the BIA-album. One World, YLT and Why Bother certainly don’t sound like John, and I’ve always wondered about the rest (MfN and Ride AtR especially). It’s been so many years now, so I’ve forgotten were I have it all from, but maybe from several Dorfsman interviews here and there? The last albums that sound like Dire Straits are Communique (studio) and Alchemy (live) IMO

I think we all knew that John didn't play on Why Worry and One World, but I don't recall any serious questioning anywhere about any of teh other tracks.

[Jules]

As far as I read, like many of you, it was just Neil Jason playing on One World and Tony Levin on Why Worry, but it's also known they did quite some overdubs in New York after Montserrat recordings so maybe they asked Neil play bass for some tracks more for whatever reason.

[Pottel]

one thing we may forget about here is that, just like mark spent a lot of time playing on the Steely dan album and then only appeared for 7 sec
the same may be the case here.
he may have indeed played on a version of WOL that just did not end up on the album??

[dustyvalentino]

one thing we may forget about here is that, just like mark spent a lot of time playing on the Steely dan album and then only appeared for 7 sec
the same may be the case here.
he may have indeed played on a version of WOL that just did not end up on the album??

True. Although the Record Plant sessions were at the end of the recording process.

Would be odd to decide the bass wasn't up to scratch, get someone ot re-record, then decided the first one was OK. But not impossible.

[Silvertown]

Not surprised.

Based on John's playing abilities or...?

Based on having worked with Neil Dorfsman, who nagged McCartney to have me replaced.
Also idle chatter I've heard about the BIA sessions.

Thank you Chris! Sorry about the offtopic, but any change for new videos in your Youtube channel? I suggest Tunnel of love from the new DS box, but would appreciate also other than Dire Straits tracks.

[Chris W]

just like mark spent a lot of time playing on the Steely dan album and then only appeared for 7 sec
the same may be the case here.
he may have indeed played on a version of WOL that just did not end up on the album??

It's funny. Just as in the discussion about Ed Bicknell not socialising with Mark, people are reaching for an alternative that feels nicer.

[Matchstickman]

I would agree with the above statement that RATR sounds unusual also, for John.

And of course they smoothed all of this over quite nicely with the "Thank you" liner notes on BIA - lots of names, very few specifics. 

[Matchstickman]

Anyway, whatever they did, it sounds great, Mark must be a genius!  (kidding)

[Jules]

Anyway, whatever they did, it sounds great, Mark must be a genius!  (kidding)

I'd say that Neil Dorfsman has a lot of to do about how it sounds and involving Neil Jason, Tony Levin etc as he had with Omar Hakim replacing Terry.

[dmg]

Anyway, whatever they did, it sounds great, Mark must be a genius!  (kidding)

I'd say that Neil Dorfsman has a lot of to do about how it sounds and involving Neil Jason, Tony Levin etc as he had with Omar Hakim replacing Terry.

You can't just replace band members though.  I mean they aren't session musicians but members of a band.  Doesn't that make it less of a DS album with two members, one founding, being replaced?

[Chris W]

You can't just replace band members though. 

You can if you get the band leader (and/or songwriter) to agree the album would be better with replacements.

[MagicElliott]

Anyway, whatever they did, it sounds great, Mark must be a genius!  (kidding)

I'd say that Neil Dorfsman has a lot of to do about how it sounds and involving Neil Jason, Tony Levin etc as he had with Omar Hakim replacing Terry.

You can't just replace band members though.  I mean they aren't session musicians but members of a band.  Doesn't that make it less of a DS album with two members, one founding, being replaced?

Part of it might just be a feel thing though.
The whole band LOVE Glenn Worf and his playing but don’t forget that Guy’s initial bass recording made the Final Cut on Redbud Tree as they didn’t feel Glenn could improve it.

[Jules]

Anyway, whatever they did, it sounds great, Mark must be a genius!  (kidding)

I'd say that Neil Dorfsman has a lot of to do about how it sounds and involving Neil Jason, Tony Levin etc as he had with Omar Hakim replacing Terry.

You can't just replace band members though.  I mean they aren't session musicians but members of a band.  Doesn't that make it less of a DS album with two members, one founding, being replaced?

Obviously they did with Illsley in BIA, as he was replaced at least in two songs for sure!

[ds1984]

Well, since every BIA tracks have been performed live during the 85/86 tour, and we even have at least one sbd recording for each, so we know how John is dealing with them.
But studio recording remains another animal.