Tuba in popular music

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David Richoux
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by David Richoux »

eupher61 wrote:
As mentioned, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was from the 60s, but that version, by The Tokens, used a soprano sax in that lick being thought of.

Robert John re-covered it in 1970 or 71, using trombones on that same lick. no tubas that I've ever heard or seen on those two.

I haven't heard any other versions of it, which are surprisingly many. The Weavers did it, I think, and the fore-mentioned Donny Osmond TV show version.
The California Repercussions Sousaphone section does a pretty good arrangement of "Lion Sleeps Tonight." We have performed it in several music festivals in California. Sorry, no video ;-)
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Re: Tuba in popular music

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Last edited by bass0 on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by Steve Marcus »

Check out Jonathan Dorn's Facebook page. He posts examples of the studio work that he's done on tuba over the years, particularly on pop/rock/soul tracks, including some of the titles mentioned in this thread. He also appeared on SNL and other stages with Leon Redbone.

Jonathan also posts other non-classical recordings that include Don Butterfield, Red Barber, Harvey Philips, and several other great tuba players.
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by iiipopes »

The Beatles song off the White Album, "Martha My Dear," has a brass band in the bridge of the song, where Paul sings the lyrics, "Hold your head up, you silly girl, see what you've done," etc.
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by pjv »

Tuba in popular music. I assume you are speaking of western popular music. Jazz used to be popular music. Now it isn't, (sorry).

That being said many brass bands in the NOLA tradition have and still are leaving their mark. Howard Johnson can be heard on The Band: Rock of Ages, The Last Waltz and High on the Hog, all from The Band as well as on John Lennon's Walls & Bridges and Double Fantasy, to name a few.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band recorded a CD with Elvis Costello as well as Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, The Neville Brothers and have shared stages with Los Lobos and The Grateful Dead.
Their are probably many more names to be dropped, but you can also check the smaller circuits. Boom Pam from Isreal has been around sinds 2003, using a tuba for all the bass work. They do a balkan, surf rock metal mix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QpbqT2nuXc" target="_blank" target="_blank

In the Netherlands you have De Kift which has been around sinds 1988 playing a kind of punk, pop, brass band music as accompaniment for text derived from world literature. Here the tuba is not always used, but when it is then it's often part of the brass section, but sometimes as a 2nd bass line or just doubling the bass for texture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwItzXGkawI" target="_blank" target="_blank and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdJJvxJSWf4" target="_blank" target="_blank

Also in the Netherlands and quite popular is The Kyteman Orchestra (if I may say so myself, since I play with them, haha). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2AkEDNRUho" target="_blank" target="_blank or if you can't wait until there's action try 5'30" for tempo and sousaphone at 8'30"

Anyway, it's all out there if you look for it,
or better yet, go out and do it yourself!
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by PaulTkachenko »

This went to number one in the UK charts a few years ago:

https://youtu.be/xqBBJJNs8-8
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by The Big Ben »

Taj Mahal's live recorded album, "The Real Thing" (1973-4?) has quite a bit of tuba in it. "Sweet Mama Janiese" is four tubas and Taj on the banjo. Howard Johnson plays one of the tubas.
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by The Big Ben »

PaulTkachenko wrote:This went to number one in the UK charts a few years ago:

https://youtu.be/xqBBJJNs8-8
Pretty good. Make me big happy.
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by tubeast »

LaBrassBanda from Bavaria comes to my mind. They applied to be Germany´s contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest and finished second place, if that counts.
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Re: Tuba in popular music

Post by davetubaking »

I did a pop record with Julian Cope (previously of Tear Drop Explodes). I can't stand pop music but this seems to have been quite popular.

Sunspots - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG5Ouy9jozg" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.davetubaking.com" target="_blank - tuba ensemble and brass band MP3s - free to enjoy
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