So I have spent the whole day getting way inside “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”. It’s been a song that has hitchhiked on my back since I first heard it in 1971 around my 10th birthday. As far as birthday gifts go, I doubt I’ve ever been given a better one. The thunder and rainstorm sound effects, the crazy underwater vocals, the way the bass turns the beat around in the “live a little be a gypsy” section. It’s magic to be sure even though McCartney allegedly stitched this one together ala the Abbey Road medley a few years earlier. The genius of the bass part on this one is the way he (McCartney that is….obviously) is so “less is more” in his approach. Actually the entire Ram album is mostly a masterclass in sublime bass playing. The beginning starts in the 10th fret D on the low E string with the 12 fret octave on the D string. The coolest thing about this is the drone notes that hang over the changes and the way they create the mystery mood. Then the 1/5’s in the b section that turn the beat around are also brilliant in creating a tiny bit of tension to challenge the sweet release of that genius “Hands Across The Water” chorus. One of my all time top 10 favorite songs and a wonderfully beautiful song to play bass to. This was Paul’s 8th consecutive year to have a #1 record (starting with “I Want To Hold Your Hand”) a record…no pun intended for that time. Fun times.
Hands Across The Water
Published by jimswayoffbass
Jim Reilley of The New Dylans Formed in 1986 in Warren, Pennsylvania, The New Dylans (James Reilley and Reese Campbell) recorded their eponymous debut EP in 1986 with the help of John Lombardo and Jerry Augustyniak of 10,000 Maniacs. Pressing up 1,000 vinyl copies, the duo sent the EP to names on a borrowed 10,000 Maniacs press list. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice ranked the EP among the top 5 EPs of 1987 in the prestigious Village Voice Pazz and Jop Poll of that year. R.E.M.'s Micahel Stipe chose The New Dylans as one of his favorite bands of 1987, and the band was also featured on BBC Radio One and MTV shows 120 Minutes and The Cutting Edge. The New Dylans played a handful of live shows in 1987 before breaking up at the end of that year. Reforming in 1992, James and Reese recorded demos of new material (Fester) before signing a record deal with Minneapolis based Red House Records in 1993. The New Dylans released two critically acclaimed albums on Red House (Warren Piece 1993) and (The American Way 1995). Demos for a possible third album were recorded in 1996 (Joe 6 Track), but the band never completed the actual album. The New Dylans earned rave reviews in Rolling Stone, Spin, Stereo Review, Audio, Pulse, CMJ New Music Report, Goldmine, Cd Review, Request, Sing Out, Dirty Linen and Leak magazines, and received generous radio airplay on the then burgeoning AAA/Americana radio format. The New Dylans were also featured on NPR's All Things Considered with Noah Adams, World Cafe, Acoustic Cafe, Vin Scelsa's Idiot's Delight and several guest spots on ex-Partridge Danny Bonaduce's Chicago Radio show on WLUP. Touring extensively throughout the 1990's, The New Dylans shared stages with The Band, Townes Van Zandt, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, The Fleshtones, Syd Straw, The Silos, Steve Forbert and 10,000 Maniacs. After breaking up the band in 1998, Reilley moved to Nashville and signed a songwriting deal Curb Publishing. Reilley's songs have been recorded by many artists most notably Tim O'Brien, Sam Bush, Hal Ketchum, Vince Gill, and Jack Ingram. Reilley's music has also been featured in several movie soundtracks. Reilley released his first solo album "The Return of Buddy Cruel" in 2003. The album spent 3 months in the top 20 on the Americana Album Chart. The Return Of Buddy Cruel also garnered significant airplay on Acoustic Café, BBC Radio 1,BBC Scotland, Radio Golden Flash in Belgium, Real Roots Cafe Network in Central Europe, and BRTO's Crossroads in Bergen, the Netherlands whose host Jos Van Den Boom placed the album in his top 10 of 2003. Performing Songwriter and Paste magazines also ran feature articles on the album and The Tennessean called "The Return of Buddy Cruel" one of the top 10 albums of 2003 and the track "Won't Let You Make Fool Of Me" one of the top 10 songs of2003 in their year-end critics poll. Reilley's song "The Man Who Had Everything" was named to Karen Miller's (of BBC Scotland) "Best Of The Decade" list. Reilley eventually tired of the Nashville songwriting treadmill and turned his full attention to producing and also becoming a session bassist. Reilley has produced over 40 albums including some Kerrville and Merlefest award winners and played hundreds of sessions most notably with Sheryl Crow. Reilley is also a member of avant-garde experimental jazz outfit The Birdwatcher Experiment with Jerry Oliver and a rotating cast including Cheetah Chrome of The Dead Boys. A release expected in early 2021. In January 2014, The New Dylans (now including ex-Wilco founder Ken Coomer and Chris Autry) began working on a new album of all original material, their first in 18 years. The new album entitled “Meta” was released to much critical acclaim in 2015. Nashville’s daily, The Tennessean, documented the entire process of writing and recording of “Meta” (https://youtu.be/daDqtoMrWCk). The band is planning to begin a new album in 2021. View all posts by jimswayoffbass
Jim Reilley 
Jim – thanks for sharing this journey. I find it refreshing that someone for whom the magic of music should’ve been sandblasted many years ago comes shining through like a curtain of crepuscular rays after a sad stormy day. I hear some musicians lament their loss of enthusiasm once the shroud is lifted, either through exposure or education – clearly that is not necessary collateral damage simply because one delves deeper into the mechanics. This is helping me to buckle down and try to craft my own songs despite my limited musical toolbox. Cheers!
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Thank you Bill! I feel 10 again learning barre chords and Beatle songs haha!
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Strange coincidence. I’ll be starting out on bass as well this year! My three kids have been in the Suzuki violin program with a fantastic teacher who also instructed my wife when she first started – my mother in law then picked up the cello two years ago and now I am called to fill in the missing instrument.
Twinkle, twinkle little star isn’t quite the Beatles but this will be tremendous fun.
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