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)

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)
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)


If you include fusion albums, then an absolute must for the Top 5 is Jaco Pastorius by Jaco Pastorius. It's essentially the bass player's Bible.

Thanks for the post. Keep em coming if you can think of anymore.
Also, what do you think should be number one?

Hard to say, because there are some VERY good albums. But overall, because Jaco is included, then easily Jaco Pastorius's debut. As I said before, it's by far the most well-respected bass album, and virtually every bassist has used it as a guide since its release.


For the rest of the Top 10 (in no specific order):

What's Going On
Stand!
Fresh Cream
Quadrophenia
Ah the Name is Bootsy Baby
Fragile
Moving Pictures
Kill 'Em All
Sailing the Seas of Cheese


But if we're including fusion (which the inclusion of Jaco implies), then the following should also be added:

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)
Any album Victor Wooten has been on


If you don't want to include fusion, then Jaco isn't eligible, but many fusion bassists are extremely influential on their own, so they should definitely be included on this list.

I don't care what type of music it is. As long as there is bass, then I am good with it. Also, you don't think Graham Central Station should be in the top ten?

Oh sorry I thought I put it there. But yeah, switch Stand with it. And add:

I Sing the Body Electric - Weather Report (Miroslav Vitous)
Sweetnighter - Weather Report (Miroslav Vitous)
Mysterious Traveller - Weather Report (Alphonso Johnson)
Black Market - Weather Report (Alphonso Johnson, Jaco Pastorius)
London Calling - The Clash (Paul Simonon)
A Farewell to Kings - Rush (Geddy Lee)
Power Windows - Rush (Geddy Lee)
Moving Waves - Rush (Geddy Lee)
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones (Victor Wooten)
The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band (Berry Oakley)
Exodus - Bob Marley (Aston "Family Man" Barrett)
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (Carol Kaye)
Queen II - Queen (John Deacon)
Every Who album up to "Who Are You"

So what do you think of this Top 3
1. Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius
2. Graham Central Station - Graham Central Station (Larry Graham)
3. Quadrophenia - The Who (John Entwistle)

Looks good. What's Going On should definitely be in the Top 5 though. But I forgot to mention Bob Babbitt is also on the album.

Led Zeppelin II should be on this list.

I agree, same for Queen's "The Game".

Sorry for forgetting a few really good albums. Add those too.

No Astral Weeks?! Richard Davis' double-bass playing on that album is extraordinary.

Problem: This list doesn't have any criteria.

Fragile >> Close to the Edge, for sure

Agreed.

We should also probably have at least one Level 42 album on this list. Mark King is a beast...