The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: nofi on April 09, 2011, 11:01:33 AM
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tis' the season for polls i guess. list your FAVORITE 10 or less bass players. "best" or "unsung" is not the main issue here. just some fun. upright guys always welcome. ;)
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I'll bite...
Geezer Butler
Dennis Dunaway
Billy Rath
Ronnie Asheton
Ronnie Wood
Ronnie Lane
Jack Bruce
Geddy Lee
Bill Black
Overend Watts
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Not in any real order, but some of my faves.
Andy Fraser - Free
Pete Way - UFO
John Taylor - Duran Duran
Gary Thain - Uriah Heep
Roger Glover - Deep Purple
Jim Lea - Slade
Overend Watts - Mott the Hoople
Nikki Sixx - Motley Crue
Tom Petersson Cheap Trick
Tony Butler - Big Country, Yeah I know obscure!
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In no particular order...
John Entwistle
Dennis Dunaway
Gary Thain
Mars Cowling
Geezer Butler
Joe Osborn
Andy Fraser
Cliff Williams
Bob Daisley
Peter Cetera
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I could have named a hundred this morning, but it's like going into a record store: once there I can't name a thing. So, here's a few.
Leon Wilkeson
Dennis Dunaway
Roger Glover
Glenn Cornick
Chris Squire
Pete Way (because I played the 26 minute version of "Flying" at the station this morning and it was awesome)
Stu Cook
Greg Lake
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I'm not sure I know enough bassists by name...never studied names much. Here are some I have definitely enjoyed:
Duck Dunn (amazed I'm the first to mention him)
James Jamerson
Jack Bruce
John Paul Jones (Led Zep)
John Lodge (Moody Blues)
Ray Brown
Bob Babbitt (Motown)
Jerry Scheff
Carol Kaye
Greg Lake (ELP)
I've met Sam Bolle (formerly of Agent Orange, now with Dick Dale), and he is simply fantastic as well. I'm sure there are many others I have enjoyed, but I just don't know that many names.
Comment: I respected Jaco's abilities but didn't particularly like his style of playing, so he's not on my list.
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larry taylor
macca
gerry mcavoy
ray brown
jack bruce
brian ritchie
charles calmese
bill laswell
randy jo hobbs
al cisneros...
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Gene Simmons
Dee Murray
Mel Schacher
Reggie McBride
Norman Durham
Mark Adams
Bernard Edwards
Chuck Rainey
Anthony Jackson
George McArdle
Dave Hope
Phil Lynott
Pete Cetera
Norbert Putnam
Ronnie Baker
Pete Farndon
Oops, I went over..... 8)
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Jack Bruce
Bill Church
Mars Cowling
Dennis Dunaway
John Entwistle
Andy Fraser
Jim Lea
Lemmy
John McCoy
Berry Oakley
Felix Pappalardi
Mel Schacher
Sorry - just a rethink to stuff I used to listen to more...
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Jack Casady (amazed I'm the first to mention him)
Duck Dunn
Jamerson
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In no particular order:
Jim Lea
Alan Lancaster (Status Quo)
Glenn Hughes
Roger Glover
Macca
John Gustafson
John McCoy
Peter Hook
John Glascock
Gary Thain
Trevor Bolder
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As of 7:23 PM today...
Tom Fowler
Tim Bogert
Holger Czukay
Jimmy Jonhson
Tom Wolk
Steve Swallow
Ben Allison
Herbie Flowers
Bootsy Collins
Tom Jenkinson
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T-Bone Wolk
Jack Bruce
Macca
Noel Redding
Chris Wolstenholme
Tim Bogert
Chris Chaney
Peter Cetera
Chris White
Rinus Gerritsen
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Andy Fraser
Duck Dunn
Jack Casady
Graham Maby
JAE
Herman Deinum
George Porter jr.
Chris Squire
Rick Wills
David Hayes
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Douglas Rauch (Santana, Cobham, Lenny White, David Bowie)
Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick)
Chris Squire (Yes)
John Entwistle (The Who)
Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant)
Richard Sinclair (Caravan, Hatfield & The North, Camel)
Pekka Pohjola (Wigwam, solo artist)
John Gustafson (Quatermass, Roxy Music, Ian Gillan Band etc.)
Patrick O'Hearn (Zappa)
John Paul Jones (Them Crooked Vultures and some obscure band from the seventies...Detective?)
Only three of them dead...
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1. Dusty Hill / ZZ Top
2. Jack Bruce / Bluesbreakers, Cream, Ringo Starr and His Allstar Band
3. Glenn Hughes / Trapeze, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Black Country Communion
4. John McVie / Blues Breakers, Fleetwood Mac
5. Tommy Shannon / Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Arc Angels
6. Berry Oakley / Allman Brothers
7. Allen Woody / Allman Brothers
8. Geddy Lee / Rush
9. Roger Waters / Pink Floyd
10. James "Jim" Dewar / Robin Trower Band and Stone The Crows.
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Sorry, can't give you 10. My final offer is 12. Deal? :D
Geezer Butler
Jack Bruce
John Entwistle
Gary Thain
Paul McCartney
Lemmy
Tim Bogert
Roger Waters
Martin Turner
Colin Edwin
Greg Lake
Luitjen Janssen (ELOY)
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Larry Taylor
Ray Brown
Ron Carter
Stanley Clarke
Scott Lafarrow
Brian Ritchie
Monk Mongomery
Charlie Mingus
Barry Oakley
Larry Graham
Peter Tork..............(just kidding)_ ;D
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"peter tork" sounds like a sexual issue. :P
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Willie Dixon
Jack Cassidy
Berry Oakley
Duck Dunn
Jameson
Victor Wooten
Stanley Clark
Alan Woody
Tal Wilkenfeld
Otel Burbridge (sp)
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Dang, how did I forget Entwhistle, Macca, Dusty Hill and Tommy Shannon????
I do notice that most of my favorites have been playing for at least 30 years.
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"peter tork" sounds like a sexual issue. :P
It's not as serious as Peter Lupus or Rusty Staub.
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Shameful: I forgot Martin Turner. I am not worthy.
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I'm trying to be reasonable - the list covers the people I truly listened too in my formative years - Gustafson, McCoy, Turner - they were all people I saw many times, but the (amended) list is possibly more truthful for me; heck, McCoy offered me a shot at his slot in a band, how can he not be an influence, considering his agressive style of playing, probably seen him play more times than I saw anyone - I "listened" to Macca, but not to his "playing", just the ensemble, whereas even if CSI is playing my wife knows better than to fast-forward beyond the credits - Jack Bruce was an influence, but I played Montrose to absolute death and saw Bill Church numerous times - when it comes to an utterly overdriven bass sound, it had to be Lemmy or Felix. I was also influenced by Lamar Williams; Dusty Hill's simple driving bottom-end too - Jaco and Clarke came later - more as a listen than a true influence...
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why didn't you take that mccoy job. i had to look him up but i know the bands. :mrgreen:
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Ya know, Dusty Hill is one of those guys that I never thought would make a "favorites" list. Don't get me wrong, I really like him, I never thought too many people appreciated him. It took me a long time to get his simple root note only approach. When ZZ Top was a new thing, I was a very busy type of player and I thought that anyone who wasn't a busy type player simply couldn't play very good. After trying to play busy type bass parts to ZZ Top songs and having the bottom drop out every time, I realized how good he and his simple rock solid method were :o.
Rick
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I'm trying to be reasonable - the list covers the people I truly listened too in my formative years - Gustafson, McCoy, Turner - they were all people I saw many times, but the (amended) list is possibly more truthful for me; heck, McCoy offered me a shot at his slot in a band, how can he not be an influence, considering his agressive style of playing, probably seen him play more times than I saw anyone - I "listened" to Macca, but not to his "playing", just the ensemble, whereas even if CSI is playing my wife knows better than to fast-forward beyond the credits - Jack Bruce was an influence, but I played Montrose to absolute death and saw Bill Church numerous times - when it comes to an utterly overdriven bass sound, it had to be Lemmy or Felix. I was also influenced by Lamar Williams; Dusty Hill's simple driving bottom-end too - Jaco and Clarke came later - more as a listen than a true influence...
That approach makes sense. I listed people who had what might be considered more of a direct influence than anything else. In some cases, these are bassists I was influenced by more by circumstances than by personal choice. I didn't actually list what I considered the top ten important bassists or my personal top ten favorites. Also, I agree that on lists such as these it makes perfect sense to try to place more emphasis on early formative influences.
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"peter tork" sounds like a sexual issue. :P
Yeah, it sounds like something that would hurt alot :o :o ;D
Rick
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It's not as serious as Peter Lupus or Rusty Staub.
Le Grande Orange - you must know him from his rookie days with the Colt 45s, Dave.
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Andy Fraser
Duck Dunn
Jack Casady
Graham Maby
JAE
Herman Deinum
George Porter jr.
Chris Squire
Rick Wills
David Hayes
I share many of the same bass players as many of you, but I have to make a mention of George Porter Jr, as that was my dad's name, I am the III. I waited outside of a Gov't Mule concert to meet George Porter Jr & show him my drivers license as kind of a joke. I asked him if he ever liked playing any short scale Gibson basses like Allen Woody, it didn't sound like it. Through the years, calling many stores, asking questions about a bass they had for sale, many sales people would get excited thinking I was George Porter Jr............ Sorry!
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why didn't you take that mccoy job. i had to look him up but i know the bands. :mrgreen:
Early 1978 - I was eighteen, two years through a four year apprenticeship - no money and a stickler for a dad... John McCoy had just recorded the "Gillan" lp after the split of IGB; lived a couple of miles from me - I was being reaslistic and he agreed that I was being sensible - forward thinking - that band recorded a few singles with JM and recorded several LP's but are now long-gone and the singer is the only one of any note these days...
Ooh yeah, another omision and major influence had to have been Geddy Lee, but not a formative one...
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My personal top 10 in no order -
James Jamerson
Paul Macartney
John Entwistle
John Paul Jones
Bill Wyman
Rick Danko
John Wetton
Duck Dunn
Jack Bruce
Dee Murray
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It's not as serious as Peter Lupus or Rusty Staub.
or Rusty Kuntz
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I want to follow up on Rahock's comment. I find Dusty Hill's work to be powerful, and absolutely correct for HIS band's music. There are times when a simple bass line is powerful and fits the music perfectly.
Another bassist who often stays on the side of minimalism is Duck Dunn, who I think is one of the true greats. Certainly his early work as part of the Stax house band (with Booker T.) defined a sound that is clearly recognized today.
We needed guys like the Ox, but we also needed Dusty and Duck.
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We needed guys like the Ox, but we also needed Dusty and Duck.
+1. I played Deguello for a solid year when I was a freshman in college. Some huge bass sounds on that record. And who could forget Duck Dunn. It was cool to see him in The Blues Brothers movie.
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Allen Woody
Michael Mathews (Australian session player)
Andy Fraser
Gary Thain
Roger Glover
Jim Lea
Jack Bruce
John Entwistle
Leon Wilkeson
Macca
Mel Schacher
Chuck Rainey
Tim Bogert
Greg Mcainsh (Skyhooks)
Shortest list I could do without feeling guilty :P
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Lemmy Kilmister
Jack Bruce
John Entwistle
John Paul Jones
Mel Schacher
John Wetton
Roger Waters
Steve Harris (am I the first to mention him?)
Greg Lake
Roger Glover
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Bill Black
Jet Harris
Paul McCartney
Bill Wyman
John Entwhistle
Duck Dunn
Phil Lesh
Rick Danko
Carl Radle
Fred Smith
One could say that the time span above isn't long. Well, that's how it is, anyway. Those are the bassists I enjoyed listening to in my youth, and I still find myself with open mouth, from time to time, as I listen to the guys again. The list is in no way completet. We all know our list of influences is longer than a reindeers horn, when streched out (never seen it done, though!).
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Robert P Kearns
Allen Woody
Cliff Williams
Andy Hess
Sven Pipien
Billy Sheehan
Andy Fraser
Tommy Shannon
Philip Lynott
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a short list of players I really like and have had some influence on me in one way or another.
my father plays piano and listening to him play are some of my earliest memories, so he makes my list. 8)
among others and in no particular order
Jack Bruce
Phil Lesh
Jack Casady
Gerald Johnson
Lonnie Turner
Glenn Cornick
Graham Maby
Colin Moulding
Klaus Floride
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II find it interesting (and refreshing!) that some names that are conspicuous by their absence. In almost every other poll, you'll see Jaco, Rocco, etc. Also of note is that while there is alot of overlap, almost every list has a couple names on it that aren't on any of the others. Bravo!
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II find it interesting (and refreshing!) that some names that are conspicuous by their absence. In almost every other poll, you'll see Jaco, Rocco, etc. Also of note is that while there is alot of overlap, almost every list has a couple names on it that aren't on any of the others. Bravo!
Good point.
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Graham Maby
John Doe - X
Mike Mills
Tony Stevens
Roger Glover
Gary Thain
Craig Bloxom - Spy V Spy
Colin Edwin
Billy Gould
John McVie
Dan Maines - Clutch
John Taylor
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many sales people would get excited thinking I was George Porter Jr...........
Hell, I would get exited if you were ....... and I have very little commercial bones in my body... ;D
Also of note is that while there is alot of overlap, almost every list has a couple names on it that aren't on any of the others. Bravo!
And on some of those there's players that should have been on my list as well ...... How could I forget John Wetton, Tommy Shannon, Martin Turner and Gerald Johnson ...... :sad:
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Are we collectively losing our minds? No one has mentioned Jerry Scheff yet, and hadn't it been for the TV set that's turned on right now, showing The Elvis tour from 1972, I guess I wouldn't have thought of him either... What a BASS player. He's got everything incorporated into one person. A true Great!
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Tony Butler - Big Country, Yeah I know obscure!
Obscure to who, non bass players?
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no order
1 Dee Murray -Elton John Band
2 John Entwistle -The Who
3 Tom Petersson -Cheap Trick
4 Jack Bruce -Cream
5 Chris Squire -Yes
6 Bruce Foxton -The Jam
7 Peter Hook -Joy Division
8 John Lodge -The Moody Blues
9 Sid Vicious -The Sex Pistols
10 Rick Danko -The Band
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because you play a particular instrument does not mean you know every player. someone's mainstream is someone elses 'obscure'. ish...!
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pilgrim mentioned scheff back at the beginning the poll i think.
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Yup, I mentioned Scheff - and Carol Kaye, who is otherwise absent.
The first time I tried to play L.A. Woman, I realized just how great Scheff is.
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Yup, I mentioned Scheff - and Carol Kaye, who is otherwise absent.
The first time I tried to play L.A. Woman, I realized just how great Scheff is.
Sadly, compared to Carol Kaye, I'm a rank amateur.
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Sid Vicious? As the carrier of an iconic image or what? He had little to do with bass playing, Glenn Matlock was the Sex Pistol's bass player, I can't really think of any musical contribution Sid made, even Rotten thought he couldn't play bass, Sid's solo songs were carried by his vocals not his bass playing (if he played bass on them at all, Steve Jones probably did).
Of course, he epitomizes Punk Rock and he lived fast and died young. But that image had nothing to do with his bass playing or even the fact that he was the bass player of the Sex Pistols, he could have played marimbas with them and he would have still had the same musical influence (zero) and the same iconic image as a "punk rocker", not as a punk bassist because I think that space is taken up by The Clash guy and his permanent enshrinement on the London Calling cover.
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Sid's one of his favorites. Why does he need to justify it?
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Not justify, explain. Sid's the odd man out in Lefty's list which is otherwise filled with players with an individual style that contributed greatly to their band. What did Sid contribute to the Sex Pistols that you can listen to (not look at)? I wouldn't have asked if Glen Matlock had been named or Dee Dee Ramone and I certainly agree that Bruce Foxton was a wonderful player.
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What did Sid contribute to the Sex Pistols that you can listen to (not look at)?
My list is people who "contributed" something to ME. I started playing bass in the late 70s, right about the time we in America were becoming aware of the Pistols, and by that time Sid WAS the bass player. Yes, I know he couldn't play, but it was his name/photo on the album/TV, so he was who I was into when I started my own Punk band in 1978(The Stiffs TX). When I spoke to (Sex Pistol guitarist)Steve Jones a couple years ago, I told him even after I found out that he played most of the bass on "Bollocks", I was still a Sid fan, he laughed and said he completely understood. Maybe you can too, or not.
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I thought as much - emotional attachment. Perfectly fine. As long as you don't stab your significant other to death that is!
I always thought that Matlock had played on Bollocks and they never bothered to wipe his parts?
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If you look at the number of white Precison basses with a black pickguard Sid Vicious obviously still has a major influence on young bass players these days. Not his playing, but just the look of it.
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There are some great lists here. Some of mine are there for their composing and playing, and some are there (like Sid listed above) for their inspiration to me. In no particular order:
Gene Simmons
Paul McCartney
Pete Way
Steve Harris
John McVie
Jerry Scheff
Joe Osbourn
Pete Farndon
John Deacon
Tony Cavazo
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Oh yeah, Paul McCartney....oops. :-[
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Chris Squire
Jack Bruce
John Paul Jones
Tim Bogert
Glenn Cornick
Sir Paul McCartney
Berry Oakley
John Entwistle
T Bone Wolk
Jaco
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Obscure to who, non bass players?
Well, to most of us Amis, Big Country ( if they even recognize the name!) is only known for the song of the same name. Like many things in life I became aware of and attracted to Big Country long after they became known for their one U.S. hit single. "The Crossing" is really an all time fave album. I like Tony Butler's playing, especially on "Wonderland" I think it's solid, but creative as well. The Seer is certainly another fave too.
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Well, to most of us Amis, Big Country ( if they even recognize the name!) is only known for the song of the same name. Like many things in life I became aware of and attracted to Big Country long after they became known for their one U.S. hit single. "The Crossing" is really an all time fave album. I like Tony Butler's playing, especially on "Wonderland" I think it's solid, but creative as well. The Seer is certainly another fave too.
Not to mention his work with P.Townshend, and The Pretenders. The bass on "My City Was Gone" is great fun to play.
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The first time I tried to play L.A. Woman, I realized just how great Scheff is.
I have to agree Al. I had the same experience. I would also have liked to put Carl Raddle in my list as well as Scheff. Both were definite influences on me but I was already over my 10
Oh yeah, Paul McCartney....oops. :-[
Given your current gig that did make me laugh a bit ;) :)
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Stanley Clarke
John Entwistle
Jack Bruce
James Jamerson
Chris Squire
John Wetton
Paul McCartney
Peter Hook
Billy Sheehan
Mike Watt
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Given your current gig that did make me laugh a bit ;) :)
I make me laugh all the time. For a variety of reasons....... :-\
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If you look at the number of white Precison basses with a black pickguard Sid Vicious obviously still has a major influence on young bass players these days. Not his playing, but just the look of it.
Sid borrowed that look from Dee Dee Ramone.
Chuck Raineys work with Aretha and Steely Dan are enough to make him a legend in my book. He also played on some of The Rascals stuff too.
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Shortest list I could do without feeling guilty :P
Remove guilt from the equation, Bret... try and think like I did - who were the people you listened to the most; those that were there at the start... ;)
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Sid borrowed that look from Dee Dee Ramone.
Chuck Raineys work with Aretha and Steely Dan are enough to make him a legend in my book. He also played on some of The Rascals stuff too.
Chuck Rainys work on Tim Bucklys Greetings from LA is enough for me. Everything else he has done is a bonus. A big bonus I'll admit ;D
@Ken: No particular order mate
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Without giving this a ton of thought, off the top of my head:
Paul McCartney
John Entwistle
Chris Squire
Geddy Lee
John Paul Jones
Tony Levin
Stanley Clarke
Bootsy Collins
Doug Wimbish
Billy Sheehan
Edit - I just added Tony Levin and dumped Jeff Berlin. Got Peter Gabriel's 3rd record in the car. ;D
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Is it OK if I throw in another one? Someone here, might have been Pilgrim (?), mentiones Ron Wood. And yes, I agree. His bass playing on the first few Rod Stewart albums is fan-tastic! He's working in a field where very few bassists in rock dare to go. Even plays the electric bass like an ukulele. (Fantastic how everything comes around in this here forum!) :mrgreen:
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Is it OK if I throw in another one? Someone here, might have been Pilgrim (?), mentiones Ron Wood. And yes, I agree. His bass playing on the first few Rod Stewart albums is fan-tastic! He's working in a field where very few bassists in rock dare to go. Even plays the electric bass like an ukulele. (Fantastic how everything comes around in this here forum!) :mrgreen:
He also plays bass on some of The Stones songs. Emotional Rescue comes to mind. I'm sure there are others.
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George Porter Jr.
Jack Casady
Jah Wobble
Bill Laswell
Rick Danko
McCartney
Michael Henderson(Miles electric '71-'75 Killer bass stuff)
Klaus Voormann (in not just for the 1st solo John Lennon LP the most subliminal lines ever eternal)
Robbie Shakespeare
Aston Barrett
Carol Kaye
T-Bone Wolk
Bootsy Collins
All Fela Kuti's Bass Players in Afrika '70 and Egypt '80
James Jamerson
not to forget a few of the uprighters:
Edgar Meyer
Paul Chambers
Scott LaFaro
Blanton
Ray Brown
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Nice to see another mention of Ron Brown!
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Willie Dixon
James Jamerson
Bob Babbitt
Leo Lyons
Gary Thain
Keith Ferguson
Charles Mingus
Geezer Butler
Bill Wyman
Mike Watts
Klaus Voormann
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And, please: Richard Davis, who played the double bass on Van Morrison's Astral weeks. Plus, of course, Russ Savakus.
It's really impossible to choose just ten... And I haven't even mentioned Danny Klein i J Geils Band... I don't think it will ever end, now that the process in the head is rolling!
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My Picks (.... sorry, couldn't keep it to just 10):
Jaco
JPJ
Alain Caron
Geddy Lee
John Entwistle
Larry Graham
Kenny Gradney
Lee Rocker
Andrew Levy
Sting
Marcus Miller
James Jamerson
I figure if I could learn only a quarter of what these cats know, I'd be a very happy bassist indeed.
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Now days extreme proficency of bassplayers is so common as to be practically ubiquitous and to compose a stable list of my Top 10 would be impossible. However, when I was a young musician, new to the bass guitar my Top 10 would have probably have looked pretty close to this:
Geddy Lee
Chris Squire
Jaco
John Entwistle
John Paul Jones
Jack Bruce
Geezer Butler
John Deacon
Peter "Mars" Cowling
Stanley Clarke
Honorable Mentions:
Pete Way (mainly because my first band played A LOT of UFO tunes)
James Jamerson (Didn't know who he was, just listened to a lot of Motown)
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Seems weird that folks can't "list your FAVORITE 10 or less bass players". If you list 12 does that mean you only like those 12 and no more? And if you like more than those 12, why couldn't you just list your top 10, as asked? Not a biggie, I know, just weird.
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Seems weird that folks can't "list your FAVORITE 10 or less bass players". If you list 12 does that mean you only like those 12 and no more? And if you like more than those 12, why couldn't you just list your top 10, as asked? Not a biggie, I know, just weird.
It's probably because some people have choices they consider co-equal. Eliminating a co-equal choice might feel arbitrary.
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That's normal. Ask people for their single most influential and you'll get three from someone, then almost everyone starts listing three or more. Used to make me wonder, now I realize it's the usual on forums.
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ok then-holger czukay ,jean jaques burnell,jah wobble.
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Out of my list of 16, 6 are dead so that left the 10 living players. Just saying..... ;)
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Obscure to who, non bass players?
;D
Easy fixed if we were made to put them in order. I would put 3 players as equal 1st place 2 players as equal 3rd etc. ;) ;D
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The top 10 is just a metaphor much like 'the top 10 in Austin'. more or less
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ok then-holger czukay ,jean jaques burnell,jah wobble.
What an intellectual show-off you are!!! :mrgreen:
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Seems weird that folks can't "list your FAVORITE 10 or less bass players". If you list 12 does that mean you only like those 12 and no more? And if you like more than those 12, why couldn't you just list your top 10, as asked? Not a biggie, I know, just weird.
I'm a non-conformist. :D
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yes indeed kids,show all intellectuals the off switch! ???
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...and another thing...i forgot to mention mick karn, lothar meid and paul keen.oh crap thats more than 3 now.
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I don't think I've ever bought anything because a specific bass-player was on the recording - I've always gone for the "ensemble-piece" - that would be my problem with a "strict" top-ten (Alice Cooper, Allman Brothers, Who, Rush, etc...)
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same here.
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I don't think I've ever bought anything because a specific bass-player was on the recording - I've always gone for the "ensemble-piece" - that would be my problem with a "strict" top-ten (Alice Cooper, Allman Brothers, Who, Rush, etc...)
Same here. That's why I haven't posted a list. I either like the music as a whole, or not. Even then, the bassist doesn't necessarily have to stand out. If he does, then I'll take notice (e.g. Wyman, Entwistle) but that's not necessary.
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I used to focus more on the music as a whole. Now I focus way more on the bass. I really prefer the way it used to be. When I used to sing as well as play bass, I was able to focus on all the music more. That doesn't completely make sense, but it's true. Now that I rarely sing, I concentrate way more just on the bass. This isn't just when I'm playing, but also when I'm just listening to music. I appreciated music more when I wasn't so keyed in on just the bass. Nevertheless, this isn't just something that you can will to be so one way or another. I'll just say that in theory I prefer listening to the music as a whole, but in practice I now seem to do it another way.
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Same here. That's why I haven't posted a list. I either like the music as a whole, or not...
That's why I had to view mine as "influences" and not "faves"... Who did you enjoy listening to when you first started playing - try that approach...
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That's why I had to view mine as "influences" and not "faves"... Who did you enjoy listening to when you first started playing - try that approach...
Britpop and country.
Speaking of country, I only recently found out that one session bassist was responsible for more hits coming out of Nashville (country and otherwise) than anyone else from about 1960-1990. Probably more number one hits and total sessions than the names we're familiar with (Osborn, Kaye, Jamerson etc). And yet his name has never been mentioned here and I would be surprised if more than a few of us would recognize his name.
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I've heard about the Nashville A-Team. I'd guess Bob Moore. I'm not that far from Nashville; this really shouldn't be something I have to guess.
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I don't think I've ever bought anything because a specific bass-player was on the recording
I've bought for example Lenny White's "Venusian Summer" because of Doug Rauch. Luckily it turned out to be a fine fusion album. I'm a collector anyway and have bought and been drawn to some albums because of some musicians playing on them.
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Sh-t! I forgot to mention Charlie McCoy, the harmonica player who played bass on Dylan's John Wesley Harding, a bassist who really impressed me with his simpleness. I enjoy just listening to them bass parts on that album.
And last (maybe), but not least: The Truly Great man from The Blockheads, and Wilco Johnsons band, yes... we're talking about the explosive Norman Watt-Roy. Got a truly amazing stage style, cramped over his Jazz bass, looking like a panther waiting for another booty. And a great funk player in a cool style. Listen to Ian Dury's Sex and drugs and rock'n'roll, and you'll hear what I mean.
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I think most of us admire and listen to many more than 10 bass players, even if we can't name them. There are great bass parts scattered throughout music, and any of them can inspire us to try a sound, technique or bass line that we hadn't thought of before.
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Agree completely, Pilgrim. And now, that you mention it, did I remember to mention, eh... what's that name again... Played on... no, must have been... Scheiße, can't remember... Is it all right if I come back, later? ;D
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The Truly Great man from The Blockheads
norman watt-roy.
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One name I thought someone would have mentioned is Willy Weeks. I really don't know much about him, but several of my bass playing friends think he's one of the best they've ever heard. ???
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Emory Gordy jr.
Bill Black
Timothy B. Schmidt
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Timothy B. Schmidt?!! Great backing vocals, but as a Randy Meisner fan I dissent!!!
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The top 10 is just a metaphor much like 'the top 10 in Austin'. more or less
Aww..don't be jealous, it's kinda cute but also very unbecoming. It would be impossible for you to affect how proud I am of the recognition I received from fans/peers in a HUGE music town. Enjoy your day.
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i am sure no one is jealous.
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I'm not jealous, but I am impressed. It is a big honor and an accomplishment.
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I'm not jealous, but I am impressed. It is a big honor and an accomplishment.
Thanks DW!
Point being, someone trying to diminish something I'm quite proud of/happy about/been trying for for 20+ years, isn't gonna happen.
But everyone can feel free to pile on, won't matter.
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You ought to be proud...
I sure would be...you know how hard this business is.
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Speaking of country, I only recently found out that one session bassist was responsible for more hits coming out of Nashville (country and otherwise) than anyone else from about 1960-1990. Probably more number one hits and total sessions than the names we're familiar with (Osborn, Kaye, Jamerson etc). And yet his name has never been mentioned here and I would be surprised if more than a few of us would recognize his name.
I've heard about the Nashville A-Team. I'd guess Bob Moore. I'm not that far from Nashville; this really shouldn't be something I have to guess.
I guess you and I are the only ones who care.
It's Henry Strzelecki (http://www.premierguitar.com/magazine/Issue/2009/Nov/Gallery_Guitars_of_the_Country_Music_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum.aspx?Page=27&). I had seen his name on some albums, I knew he was the composer of Long Tall Texan. But until a discussion of the song recently in a thread at TDPRI, I had no idea how accomplished he was.
He moved to Nashville in 1960 (at age 20) to work with Hank Garland. After Garland's accident in 1961, he worked with Chet Atkins for the next 20 years. Did over 10,000 sessions, sometimes as many as 20 a day. Played on over 100 number one hits. Not just country. He was bassist on Dylan's Blonde On Blonde. Played on albums by Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Levon Helm, etc. Played on Chester and Lester, the Les Paul/Chet Atkins album. Did Louis Armstrong's last album. Mostly a session guy but played in Elvis' band in the mid 60s and much later with Johnny Cash.
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Leftbass you absolutely should feel proud, it is a great accomplishment!
Heck, if I were offically recognized as the top bass player in my town I be proud and Tucson is not even on the map musically.
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I guess you and I are the only ones who care.
It's Henry Strzelecki (http://www.premierguitar.com/magazine/Issue/2009/Nov/Gallery_Guitars_of_the_Country_Music_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum.aspx?Page=27&). I had seen his name on some albums, I knew he was the composer of Long Tall Texan. But until a discussion of the song recently in a thread at TDPRI, I had no idea how accomplished he was.
He moved to Nashville in 1960 (at age 20) to work with Hank Garland. After Garland's accident in 1961, he worked with Chet Atkins for the next 20 years. Did over 10,000 sessions, sometimes as many as 20 a day. Played on over 100 number one hits. Not just country. He was bassist on Dylan's Blonde On Blonde. Played on albums by Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Levon Helm, etc. Played on Chester and Lester, the Les Paul/Chet Atkins album. Did Louis Armstrong's last album. Mostly a session guy but played in Elvis' band in the mid 60s and much later with Johnny Cash.
I see that he played on "Pretty Woman." Also, if he played bass for Chet Atkins that means I listened to him a lot when I was a kid. Chet Atkins was probably my father's favorite artist, although he did like quite a few artists. Actually, the song is "Oh, Pretty Woman" but the point is it's a great song to be associated with.
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i am sure no one is jealous.
Paul Macca is jealous. He never wins on any polls! ;)
Congrats again Ronn!
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Let's see who I can narrow it down to...
Gary Thain - Uriah Heep
James Jamerson
Jack Bruce - Cream, etc.
Dennis Dunaway - Alice Cooper
Dee Murray - Elton John
Tony Levin - King Crimon/Peter Gabriel
Ronnie Lane - Faces
Chris Squire - Yes
John Wetton - King Crimson
Tony Kanal - No Doubt
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Thanks DW!
Point being, someone trying to diminish something I'm quite proud of/happy about/been trying for for 20+ years, isn't gonna happen.
But everyone can feel free to pile on, won't matter.
It's pretty bad when I've only heard about 3 of the bassists that were in the top 10.
Best Bass Guitar
1.Jack O'Brien (the Bright Light Social Hour)
2. Jojo Garza (Los Lonely Boys)
3. Harmoni Kelley (Lonelyland)
4. Chris Maresh (Eric Johnson)
5. Matt Parmenter (Quiet Company)
6. Danny Gomez (the Frank Gomez Band)
7. Gavin Jasper (Saints of Valory)
8. Francie Meaux Jeaux (the Jitterbug Vipers)
9. Aaron Davis (Vitera)
10. Ronn Roberts (the Eggmen)
Where were Bruce Hughes, Mark Andes, Rob Pope, Tommy Shannon, Kyle Brock, Yogi, Ed Friedland, Lynne Davis, etc? BTW, Ronn should have been #1. His band(s) are very popular in Austin.
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Timothy B. Schmidt?!! Great backing vocals, but as a Randy Meisner fan I dissent!!!
Clang... third LP I bought was "On The Border" - Meisner should be on my list (TBS has a very shallow voice in comparison and Meisner is a very fluid player...)
... Mark Andes...
AAAAARRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!
(missed him too)
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Timothy B. Schmidt?!! Great backing vocals, but as a Randy Meisner fan I dissent!!!
I'm a huge Poco fan but TBS will never be among my fave 100 bassplayers ..... The best I can say about his style is that he gets the job done ...... Richie Furay hired him because of his vocal abilities, but because of his bass technique ( or lack thereof ) Rusty Young was very much opposed and that was the main reason he never really fitted in ......
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...and another thing...i forgot to mention mick karn, lothar meid and paul keen.oh crap thats more than 3 now.
All of'em intellectual too! :-X
But it's great that SOMEONE HERE actually knows Lothar Meid. Krautrock olé!!!
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I suppose, in looking over everyone's lists, and my own, I'd have dropped Tony Kanal (who I think is really good) and put Martin Turner in his place. Turner is the reason I love the Thunderbird sound.
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Gene Simmons - Detroit Rock City (I still love playing that riff!)
Dee Murray - Crocodile Rock (my older sister bought me the 45)
Mel Schacher - Into The Sun (Live Album version)
Reggie McBride - Post Toastee (It blew me away when I heard that short solo)
Norman Durham - Keep Your Body Workin' (Kleeer were very underrated)
Mark Adams - Slide (one of the first bass solos I took)
Bernard Edwards - Le Freak (I played this with my High School cover band)
Chuck Rainey - Until You Come Back To Me (I smile every time I hear this song)
Anthony Jackson - Me And Mrs. Jones (I was in 6th grade when it came out, but loved that bass!)
George McArdle - Happy Anniversary (One of the first slap parts I learned on bass)
Dave Hope - Song For America (I still have trouble playing this one with a pick!)
Phil Lynott - Opium Trail (Never knew how good a player he was until I bought Bad Reputation)
Pete Cetera - Dialogue Part 1 & 2 (A wonderful P bass with flats tone)
Norbert Putnam - Heart Hotels (A wonderful P bass with rounds tone)
Ronnie Baker - Oh Girl (a classic by The Chi-Lites)
Pete Farndon - Brass In Pocket (my introduction to The Pretenders)
Oops, I went over..... 8)
I have to stick with my list of players. Even though only 10 are alive today they all had something that made me take notice what it was to be a bass player. I've added songs to each player that are what made me notice them the first time I heard them.
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I suppose, in looking over everyone's lists, and my own, I'd have dropped Tony Kanal (who I think is really good) and put Martin Turner in his place. Turner is the reason I love the Thunderbird sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ5W6T6hU7w&feature=related
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Must be a matter of taste. I find it horrible... :-[
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Without Wishbone Ash, young man, your Thin Lizzies would have never stopped playing pop versions of Irish drinking songs! They owe the whole twin guitar thing to them. And have admitted as much.
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Chalk is chalk and cheese is fromage...
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Not the best sound, but one of my favorite songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o204_AZbwhc
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Without Wishbone Ash, young man, your Thin Lizzies would have never stopped playing pop versions of Irish drinking songs! They owe the whole twin guitar thing to them. And have admitted as much.
Yeahyeahyeah.
At least Thin Lizzy managed to use the twin guitar style to make exciting songs with head and tail. 8)
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Without Wishbone Ash, young man, your Thin Lizzies would have never stopped playing pop versions of Irish drinking songs! They owe the whole twin guitar thing to them. And have admitted as much.
Don't you find that the Ash sounds an awful lot like Fleetwood Mac ( in their Then Play On phase ) on their s/t & Pilgrimage albums ? :mrgreen:
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They have admitted that influence too. Fleetwood Mac's guitar work influenced a lot of people. But by Argus Ash had come into their own, they adopted a lot of English folk influence whereas early Fleetwood Mac stuck to the blues. And Ash's twin guitar work was much more elaborate than any of their prede- and successors'.
Wishbone Ash's work was largely lyrical, they created musical textures with their interwoven guitar work rather than dramatic chorus hooklines - they never had a singles hit, but were strictly an albums band, very seventiesh. By the time they started to try writing singles - late seventies, early eighties - they went on a slippery slope, it was the same time they had second thoughts about Martin Turner's singing which is lyrical/folky as well rather than "grab you by the throat frontman-ish". In fact, in their core sound, his voice is as much an instrument as the guitars and the bass and the swinging drumwork.
Though I do wonder whether the Frampton'ish Goodbye Baby Hello Friend could not have done a lot better with proper airplay. It at least reached German jukeboxes at the time. The intro says a lot why I love Martin Turner as a bass player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26MlNdhorHQ
Someone once described them as "the music you might want to listen to if The Grateful Dead are too lame for you and English hard rock sounds too aggressive".
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The bass playing has a way of leading you on the way. It grabs your attention without any effort on your part to notice it, all without being busy. At least I don't consider that busy, maybe some would. It's just right for me; melodic, balanced, interesting.
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Martin Turner plays nothing that is rhytmically difficult or tricky or especially fast, he's just melodic and puts accents in the music. Sort of like McCartney, who is rhythmically meat and potatores (certainly no Jack Bruce), but harmonically and melodically great. And Turner is one hell of an awkward finger player :mrgreen: when he - as he almost never does and more importantly never really should 8) - puts the pick away:
http://www.youtube.com/WishboneInfo#p/u/44/98EweSUZP1s
Gene Simmons, another pick player, looks the same way when he plays with his fingers. And so do I - just too embarrassing, really! :mrgreen:
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I like em both :)
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They have admitted that influence too
8) I like it when they ( we ;D ) own up ....
they never had a singles hit,
They came very close in Holland. The Jailbait 45 had enormous airplay during the fall and early winter of 1971...... It's a great edit and I really would love to see it as a bonus track on Pilgrimage someday .....
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Andy Powell (the bespectacled Flying V player with the Blackmore influence) was originally a horn player - so he came from those brass arrangements and pretty much transposed them to guitar playing.
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Martin Turner plays nothing that is rhytmically difficult or tricky or especially fast, he's just melodic and puts accents in the music. Sort of like McCartney, who is rhythmically meat and potatores (certainly no Jack Bruce), but harmonically and melodically great. And Turner is one hell of an awkward finger player :mrgreen: when he - as he almost never does and more importantly never really should 8) - puts the pick away:
http://www.youtube.com/WishboneInfo#p/u/44/98EweSUZP1s
Gene Simmons, another pick player, looks the same way when he plays with his fingers. And so do I - just too embarrassing, really! :mrgreen:
http://www.areuonsomething.com/m-files_wishbone.html
In this article, Martin Turner's style is compared to that of Jet Harris, Paul McCartney, and Sting.
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It's funny, Sting cannot really have had an influence on Martin Turner as Police were only on the way in when Wishbone Ash were already on the way out (there is a connection in so far as Stewart Copeland, the police drummer, was the younger brother of Miles Copeland, the Wishbone Ash manager), but when I listened to some of the tracks posted above I thought of a Sting likeness too ... that bony sound, they are both pick players (Sting at least in his early days, he plays mostly with his thumb now).
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I'm adding John Wetton on my list, and it is final! :P
(http://bookofdaze.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/asia-show-2.jpg)
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That look on his face says, "why did I decide to use this 15 pound Victory bass?!" ;D
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Looks like he could lose 15 pounds himself too ;D
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It's funny, Sting cannot really have had an influence on Martin Turner as Police were only on the way in when Wishbone Ash were already on the way out (there is a connection in so far as Stewart Copeland, the police drummer, was the younger brother of Miles Copeland, the Wishbone Ash manager), but when I listened to some of the tracks posted above I thought of a Sting likeness too ... that bony sound, they are both pick players (Sting at least in his early days, he plays mostly with his thumb now).
I think it could be quite possible for some melodic players who use a pick to have some similarities that are not due to direct influences from other players.
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Pet theory of mine: Pick players tend to lean towards melody and harmony while finger players develop in the direction of rhytmic nuances. Played with a pick the individual note stands out more whereas finger playing opens up a world of subtle rhythmic opportunities. You are never going to sound as even as an up- and downstroking pick player (and why should you?), but it is exactly that slight uneveness that will have you explore rhythm more. Gary Thain was melodic, but what makes him hard to copy was the rhythmic element he had as a finger player. Same with Jack Bruce, his melodies aren't rocket science, but his rhythmic intricacies are impossible to match (for me). Neil Murray as well or the Elton John guy (who certainly sounded like a finger player to me, but I don't know for sure). John Deacon of Queen was incredibly intricate in the rhythm of his lines as well.
There are exceptions of course (Geddy Lee sounds and plays like a pick player), but I think it is overall accurate.
Had I learned proper finger playing, I think my array of rhythmic variations wouldn't be as meat and potatoes as it is today. :-\ In the type of music I play and in the harmony and thirds-drenched style I've adopted people never really notice how rhythmically limited and unimaginative I am, but I'd be such a crap reggae or funk player even if my life depended on it.
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I agree with this. But it's mostly because of what I've experienced on a personal and practical level, especially recently. It's like reading Kierkegaard. You don't actually have to be an intellectual to clearly understand him if you've experienced in real life what he has written about on the abstract level.
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I'm a fingers player that has listened predominantly to pick players and in trying to emulate them I tend towards focusing on melody first. When I play with a pick it feels like I have more access to the rhythm of a song. Kind of like a rhythm guitarist, it feels like I get to use my wrist and not just my fingers.
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Interesting theory Uwe.
For me it almost seems to be the other way around.
When I want to focus on rhythm and play percussive and more straightforward parts I use the pick.
When I want to focus on melody and when I interchange a lot between the four strings I prefer fingerstyle.
But also,
when I want it tight and with some aggression I use the pick.
When I want it more fluent and with more subtility I prefer fingerstyle.
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I agree with this. But it's mostly because of what I've experienced on a personal and practical level, especially recently. It's like reading Kierkegaard. You don't actually have to be an intellectual to clearly understand him if you've experienced in real life what he has written about on the abstract level.
A reference to Kierkegaard in a pick vs. fingers discussion makes me smile.
I do know what you mean, though.
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I only started using a pick in the last 7 years or so.
No one mentioned Greg Lake, he did some great bass work with a pick
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/Musicians/zemaitis_greglake_double.jpg)
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A reference to Kierkegaard in a pick vs. fingers discussion makes me smile.
I do know what you mean, though.
I'm glad I was able to make my point.
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When I started playing I preferred using a pick but even then I found that some parts just called out for finger playing (beginning Jazz band in HS especially; walking with a pick just seemed wrong). A couple years later I took lessons and had a teacher that stressed being proficient with both even if one style was preferred over the other. He even had exercises designed for limbering up fingers to do the job. My playing at the time was probably 80/20 in favor of pick playing, while these days it's the opposite. Unless the song calls out for a pick I'm more comfortable with finger style these days. About the only exception is Pete Way style parts; those driving 8th notes just don't sound (or feel) right to me without a pick.
My son wants to choose a face for this post, so: :rimshot:
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I never thought of playing with a pick until a couple of years ago. Now I'm barely as fast with a pick as with fingers, but I can move across strings better with fingers. More learning to do, as surf music has many fast patterns where a pick is really needed.
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I just remembered/realized this morning how much of an influence John Wetton was on me, especially on the live King Crimson album USA. I feel like I am equally proficient with pick and fingers, but I play totally different depending on which I am doing. As mentioned, the physical movement of the pick results in different rhythmic approaches, which in turn affect my note choices. Not sure that I play more melodically with a pick than fingers, but definitely different.
On a similar note, we had another Northern California Alembic Gathering recently, and at one point while I was checking out a nice single-pickup Distillate through my amp, a couple of people detected a strong Chris Squire influence. Whether it was really there, because I was playing with a pick, or because of the (slightly distorted) sound I was getting I don't know, but it felt and sounded good to me!
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I never thought of playing with a pick until a couple of years ago. Now I'm barely as fast with a pick as with fingers, but I can move across strings better with fingers. More learning to do, as surf music has many fast patterns where a pick is really needed.
I'm learning that using a pick seems to work better for me while learning surf, ESPECIALLY with the Jerry Jones.
Another thing I've noticed is that certain basses lend themselves (from my limited experience) to to picks and others to fingers. My Jerry Jones, the Dano, the Ric and the Victory Standard all seem to work better with a pick (mostly because of the angled pup), while the rest seem to be more suitable to finger style.