Your Top Bass Players

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jack1953
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Your Top Bass Players

Post by jack1953 »

I know this topic has probably been discussed ad nasuem in here somewhere, but I wanted to get some opinions and a discussion going. I just started playing bass a little over a year ago, and I am certainly not the one who could compare different bass players over the years, but one of revelations, for me, was how superb of a bass player Paul McCartney is. Even though I'm an old guitar player and Beatles fan, I never paid much attention to Paul's bass playing. His vocals and his writing abilities always overshadowed his bass abilities. He too was a guitar player converted to bass.
Even without knowing or having listened to other top bass players over the years, I would have to rate Paul as one of the best. Not just for his great lines and patterns from his bass playing, but more importantly, his ability to do those lines and patterns and sing at the same time.
It would be a little like a lead guitar player trying to sing doing a lead lick. I know that comparison isn't exactly the same, but very difficult to do all the same.
Opinions?

Jack
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jimk
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by jimk »

Carol Kaye
James Jamerson
Macca
Larry Knechtel (Wrecking Crew)
Paul Goddard (Atlanta Rhythm Section)
Dick Kniss (Although he was an upright bass player, it seems he turned up everywhere.)
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jack1953
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by jack1953 »

jimk wrote:Carol Kaye
James Jamerson
Macca
Larry Knechtel (Wrecking Crew)
Paul Goddard (Atlanta Rhythm Section)
Dick Kniss (Although he was an upright bass player, it seems he turned up everywhere.)
JimK
Who did Carol Kaye and James Jamerson play with?
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blueflamerick
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by blueflamerick »

jack1953 wrote:Who did Carol Kaye and James Jamerson play with?
A question with a shorter answer would be "Who didn't they play with?".

Jamerson is best know for being one of the Funk Brothers, Motown's session players.

Kaye has been all over the place, even more if you ask her. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye
jack1953
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by jack1953 »

Very interesting. I saw a documentary special on the Funk Brothers. It was very interesting to learn that they played on most of the Motown recordings.
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iamthebassman
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by iamthebassman »

jack1953 wrote:
Who did Carol Kaye and James Jamerson play with?
:o

My faves:
The late, great Dee Murray(Elton John Band-70s/80s)
John Lodge(Moody Blues)
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longhouse
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by longhouse »

Steve Kilbey (Church)

Macca

Chas Chandler (Animals)

Mani (Stone Roses)

Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil)

Paul Brindley (Sundays)

Andy Rourke (Smiths)

James Jamerson (dig his lines in the Spinner's 'It's a Shame'!)

......

honorable mention to Simon Gallup (Cure), Flea (RHCP), Carol Kaye
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kiramdear
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by kiramdear »

These are the ones that influenced me the most:

McCartney

Entwistle

Jack Casady

Jack Bruce

Others that I really appreciate:

Jamerson

Carol Kaye

Pino

Jaco
Last edited by kiramdear on Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:43 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by xpitt »

These are the ones that impressed me most, because they were walking new roads :
Chris Squire
Tony Levin
Jack Bruce
Jaco
Anthony Jackson
..and recently this young Lady from Australia - Tal Wilkenfeld
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by RutleDirk »

Agree completely with the top 3!
I'll add a couple others:

Andy Kent (You Am I)
Donald "Duck" Dunn
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FretlessOnly
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by FretlessOnly »

Charles Mingus
Phil Lesh
Tony Levin
McCartney
Jamerson
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen
Scott LaFaro
Geddy Lee
Greg Lake (Really, you say? Listen to the solo section on 21st Century Schizoid Man and Movement II of Karn Evil 9)
Jack Casady
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winston
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by winston »

John Entwistle
Chris Squire
Jack Bruce
Willie Dixon
Carol Kaye
James Jamerson
Tal Wilkenfeld

and the list can go on for days.......................I suppose that this topic really ought to be moved to the Grooveyard or if you wish to Others, since not all of the people mentioned play a Rickenbacker bass.
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iamthebassman
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by iamthebassman »

To all "fans" of John Entwistle: Can you please spell his name correctly?!!!
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winston
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by winston »

Simply a typo on my part Ronn............... :? I fixed it.
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iamthebassman
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Re: Your Top Bass Players

Post by iamthebassman »

winston wrote:Simply a typo on my part Ronn............... :? I fixed it.
Thanks! :D
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