The people who compiled this list probably know very little about bass and bassists. They've only read about them, and the ones they read about the most made the list. For example, Carol Kaye has always tooted her own horn -- nothing wrong with that -- while Joe Osborn hasn't. Ergo, Carol is at the top of the list and Joe is nowhere to be seen.
Maybe nobody else wants to come out and say it, but there seems like there was a distinct effort to get as many ladies on the list as possible
Most of them deserve to be there, or at least be in the running (Carol most definately, and I defended Tina's spot), but still. Some are conspicuously missing (they have Kim, who has been in the news a lot recently what with being back with The Breeders and not touring with the Pixies, but not Suzi, who nobody in the media are talking about in the last few years). Kim seems like a definite femme gimmie; now I love her work, but if she has much technical prowess, she doesn't show it off. Though there is something to be said for a bass layer who doesn't demand specific attention and will just work for the song as opposed to their own glory (something that can't be said of some of the others on the list)... and can provide iconic backing vocals at the same time (or lead as the case may be). There was a whole subgenre of breathy alt rock riot grrrl music that based their vocal styles on her (backing vs lead); and later in the early 00s even some cheesey pop. She was the basis of a rock vocal style just like Kurt was (and just like with him, some of the imitators are most irritating).
