Bass Player: Phil Curtis

Phillip Edwin Lionel Shutt (31 March 1951 – 14 March 2018), known professionally as Phil Curtis, was an English session musician and bass guitarist known for his work with Arthur Brown, Kiki Dee, Steve Gibbons, Larry Carlton, Chris Rea, Gilbert O’Sullivan, John Morgan, Denny Laine, Steve Marriott , The BAy City Rollers and many others.

In his later years he worked as a composer for television and radio, as a sound engineer and as an educator.

Phil was born in Newton Longville, Buckinghamshire in 1951. His first instrument was the trumpet, which he picked up at the age of 6 before switching to bass guitar during his school years. He joined his first band, The Stormbeats, in 1961, playing at the local cinema on Saturday mornings. When asked on his motivation for becoming a musician, Phil claimed that it was “to get girls!”.

Phil went on to study music at Watford College of Music before moving to London in pursuit of a career in music.

Some of his session work includes

Singles[edit]

• (1969) “Ride On/Along Came John” – (The Spirit of John Morgan) – Carnaby
• (1970) “Age Machine” – (The Spirit of John Morgan) – Carnaby
• (1970) “I Want You” – (The Spirit of John Morgan) – Carnaby
• (1970) “The Floating Opera Show/Never Let Go” – (The Spirit of John Morgan) – Carnaby/Colombia
• (1973) “Spirit of Joy” – (Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come) – Polydor
• (1974) “Hard Luck Story” – (The Kiki Dee Band) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1974) “I’ve Got The Music In Me/Amoureuse” – (The Kiki Dee Band) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1975) “Step By Step” – (The Kiki Dee Band) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1975) “How Glad I Am” – (The Kiki Dee Band) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1975) “Someone To Me/Do It Right” – (The Kiki Dee Band) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1977) “Chicago” – (Kiki Dee) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1977) “First Thing In The Morning” – (Kiki Dee) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1979) “Do The Bossa Nova/Night People” – (Vapour Trails) – Warner Bros. Records
• (1980) “What’s In A Kiss” – (Gilbert O’Sullivan) – CBS
• (1980) “I Love It But” – (Gilbert O’Sullivan) – CBS
• (1980) “Hello It’s Goodbye” – (Gilbert O’Sullivan) – CBS
• (2013) “Lilith” – (The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet) – Self Release
• (2013) “Tried So Hard” – (The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet w/Daevid Allen) – Dakini Records

Albums[edit]

• (1969) “Spirit Of John Morgan” – (The Spirit Of John Morgan) – Carnaby
• (1969) “Age Machine” – (The Spirit Of John Morgan) – Carnaby
• (1972) “Kingdom Come” – (Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come) – Polydor
• (1973) “Journey” – (Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come) – Polydor
• (1974) “I’ve Got The Music In Me” – (The Kiki Dee Band) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1975) “The Kiki Dee Band – Stereo Pop Special 90” – (The Kiki Dee Band) – BBC Transcription Services
• (1976) “Tiger” – (Tiger) – Warner Bros. Records
• (1976) “The Lost Ears” – (Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come) – Gull
• (1977) “Kiki Dee” – (Kiki Dee) – The Rocket Record Company
• (1977) “People of The Wind (Soundtrack)” – (G.T. Moore & Shusha) – Carolyn
• (1977) “Chisholm In My Bosom” – (Arthur Brown) – Gull
• (1978) “Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?” – (Chris Rea) – United Artists Records
• (1978) “First Offence” – (Bunk Dogger) – RCA Victor
• (1979) “Vapour Trails” – (Vapour Trails) – Warner Bros. Records
• (1980) “Off-Centre” – (Gilbert O’Sullivan) – CBS
• (1999) “Roller-coaster” (Sound Engineer) – (Nightporters) – Indigo
• (2003) “The Reluctant Dog” – (Steve Holley) – Angel Air Records
• (2011) “Live At Sonic Rock Solstice 2011” – (The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet) – Dakini Records
• (2014) “Songs From The Temple Of Now” – (The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet) – Dakini Records
• (2015) “Drones4Daevid’ – (Various) – Real Music Club
• (2017) “Live 1973” – (Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come) – Gonzo Multimedia
• (2018) “Love Song: Previously Unreleased 1977 – 1986” – (Lesley Duncan) – Celeste

The attached transcription shows the power of a solid root note played on the beat and Curtis adds just enough colour to stop it being boring. He subtly phrases the part to fit in with the main part of the arrangement but, in short, this is a great performance that is not too challenging to read and great fun to play.