100 Greatest Bass Albums

Musicfan67 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:44 am **Posts:** 402

BayPineapple wrote:

Title says it all. Make suggestions please

Criteria: Influence, Creativity, Originality, Showcase of Bassists skills

1. Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius
2. Graham Central Station - Graham Central Station (Larry Graham)
3. Quadrophenia - The Who (John Entwistle)
4. Closer to the Edge - Yes (Chris Squire)
5. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye (James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt)
6. Moving Pictures - Rush (Geddy Lee)

Albums That Will Make The List
Quadrophenia - The Who (John Entwistle)
My Generation - The Who (John Entwistle)
Fragile - Yes (Chris Squire)
Close to the Edge - Yes (Chris Squire)
Relayer - Yes (Chris Squire)
Moving Pictures - Rush (Geddy Lee)
Hemispheres - Rush (Geddy Lee)
Discipline - King Crimson (Tony Levin)
Tomb of the Mutilated - Cannibal Corpse (Alex Webster)
Powerslave - Iron Maiden (Steve Harris)
Paranoid - Black Sabbath (Geezer Butler)
My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me - Graham Central Station (Larry Graham)
Graham Central Station - Graham Central Station (Larry Graham)
Stand! - Sly and the Family Stone (Larry Graham)
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye (James Jamerson)
Fresh Cream - Cream (Jack Bruce)
Disraeli Gears - Cream (Jack Bruce)
Lateralus - Tool (Justin Chancellor)
Frizzle Fry - Primus (Les Claypool)
Tales from the Punchbowl - Primus (Les Claypool)
Sailing the Seas of Cheese - Primus (Les Claypool)
Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Flea)
Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder (Nathan Watts)
Green Onions - Booker T. and the MGs (Lewie Steinberg)
Back to Oakland - Tower of Power (Rocco Prestia)
Kill 'Em All - Metallica (Cliff Burton)
Rust In Peace - Megadeth (Dave Ellefson)
Abbey Road - The Beatles (Paul McCartney)
The Beatles (The White Album) - The Beatles (Paul McCartney)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (Dee Murray)
Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago (Peter Cetera)
Ahh the Name is Bootsy Baby - Bootsy Collins (Bootsy Collins)
Mothership Connection - Parliament (Bootsy Collins)
Absolution - Muse (Chris Wolstenholme)
Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius
One of a Kind - Bill Bruford (Jeff Berlin)
Weather Report - Weather Report (Miroslav Vitous)
Heavy Weather - Weather Report (Jaco Pastorius)
School Days - Stanley Clarke (Stanley Clarke)
The Inner Mounting Flame - The Mahavishnu Orchestra (Rick Laird)
Birds of Fire - The Mahavishnu Orchestra (Rick Laird)
Thunder - SMV (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten)
Bitches Brew - Miles Davis (Harvey Brooks, Dave Holland)
High Bias - Niacin (Billy Sheehan)
Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin (John Paul Jones)
The Game - Queen (John Deacon)
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison (Richard Davis)

I would add the Beatles Rubber Soul

I think Paul independent bass lines is one of the key features on the album like "Michelle", "You Won't See Me", "Nowhere Man", "The Word" early funk, "Think For Yourself" lead fuzz bass, and 'If I Needed Someone" bass drone.

1965 Paul began to develop a bass playing style that was a bouncy melodic counterpoint for example “Michelle”. That was natural for McCartney, who, more than anything, is a gifted creator of melody. His bass playing, then, is an extension of his gift for melody.

Though maybe the most the innovative track might be "Think For Yourself" in which like the Who "My Generation" uses lead bass but differs in the track in two ways. One the lead bass sound is fuzz upfront followed by another bass in regular tone. The other is the lead bass is throughout the song never taking a back seat to an electric guitar. I think Paul being originally a lead guitarist transferred that style to bass leading a unique melodic lead bass sound in rock music. I think it really starts in full force on Rubber Soul.

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

RS definitely deserves a spot yeah. I think everything from at latest RS on in the Beatles' career correctly deserves a spot.

beaverteeth92 · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1163

I'd have to agree also. Paul was VERY influential as a bass player.

Musicfan67 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:44 am **Posts:** 402

ariel wrote:

RS definitely deserves a spot yeah. I think everything from at latest RS on in the Beatles' career correctly deserves a spot.

Well thank you for agreeing with my opinion. I won't debate for any other Beatles albums as I think three albums on a 100 greatest album list should be about the limit one artist should get though you are right Revolver and Sgt. Pepper is just as important.

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

If we put an arbitrary limit on how many albums one artist can have then it's not really a '100 greatest bass albums' list. I have no problem being honest and having numerous albums by The Who, Beatles, Yes etc on here.

Musicfan67 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:44 am **Posts:** 402

ariel wrote:

If we put an arbitrary limit on how many albums one artist can have then it's not really a '100 greatest bass albums' list. I have no problem being honest and having numerous albums by The Who, Beatles, Yes etc on here.

I agree with you 100% on your opinion. When you make a list you have to be honest and objective. If you're not then you are not being credible. You have to forget about your personal favorites and be honest. Sometimes I think that is the hardest part in making these kinds of lists.

Though, when you are talking about the Beatles the magnitude of their popularity and influence on so many musicians you could about add every album from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road. From a melodic lead bass style standpoint Paul is right up there with anybody. I remember in a radio interview that Geddy Lee said that he was influenced by Paul melodic style.

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

Yeah I think everything from RS thru Abbey Road probably deserves a spot on here.

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:17 pm **Posts:** 2453

..my favorite album with bass as lead ... Chris Squire`s Fish Out of Water and one of the best releases of the 70`s ... Take care

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfHulW_c ... re=related

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beaverteeth92 · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1163

My design pretty much tries to keep this limited to rock and fusion, with fusion players added primarily because the bridge between rock and fusion bass playing is very, very small (much smaller than the gap between rock and fusion guitarists). With jazz upright players, it's an entirely different story.

Johny_The_Fox · **Joined:** Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:04 pm **Posts:** 144

Close to the Edge should be above Quadrophenia

beaverteeth92 · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1163

Well Quadrophenia was Entwistle's peak, whereas Close to the Edge isn't nearly as good for Squire as some other Yes albums, like Fragile and Relayer.

Speaking of which, I'd put Fragile as Chris Squire's best performance.

Johny_The_Fox · **Joined:** Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:04 pm **Posts:** 144

beaverteeth92 wrote:

Well Quadrophenia was Entwistle's peak, whereas Close to the Edge isn't nearly as good for Squire as some other Yes albums, like Fragile and Relayer.

Speaking of which, I'd put Fragile as Chris Squire's best performance.

Roundabout FTW

StuBass · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:06 pm **Posts:** 794

Johny_The_Fox wrote:

beaverteeth92 wrote:

Well Quadrophenia was Entwistle's peak, whereas Close to the Edge isn't nearly as good for Squire as some other Yes albums, like Fragile and Relayer.

Speaking of which, I'd put Fragile as Chris Squire's best performance.

Roundabout FTW

Roundabout was a terrific tune highlighted by primarily the keyboard and the harmonic vocals. When I first really began looking at Chris Squire as a bassist, Roundabout was described to me as the "definitive" Squire bassline. When looking closer, I was frankly disappointed. Truly nice work, fitting the attitude of the performance...but nothing earth shaking as perhaps I was led to expect. Fortunately, further looking into Squires body of work, I heard some gems, perhaps supporting tbhe high esteem Squire enjoys amongst hardcore YES fans and Squire diehards. He's really good...if only he didn't feel he needed that cape to create the aura that he is indeed a "Superman".

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

Hahaha...such is Yes!

Yea Squire's truly best performances are some of the deep cuts -- South Side of the Sky, Close to the Edge, Siberian Khatru, basically the whole Tales album, parts of Relayer, the song Going for the One, obviously Heart of the Sunrise, Long Distance Runaround...

I'd say Roundabout is up there too, but it is definitely not his best -- I'd say CTTE is, personally. And fwiw, CTTE (the album) is also my pick for what deserves #1 on this list...if talent is the definitive criterion, that is

We need to start whippin' this one into shape! What say you on Jaco's album being #1 Stu...?

100 Greatest Bass Albums

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