Mark Dyer Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Well, that's just made a mockery of the whole thread. I'm changing my choices. I'd like to nominate Mark King, no one here at work has heard of Level 42, and they have no idea what 'slap bass' is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='Mark Dyer' timestamp='1392288171' post='2366751'] Well, that's just made a mockery of the whole thread. I'm changing my choices. I'd like to nominate Mark King, no one here at work has heard of Level 42, and they have no idea what 'slap bass' is. [/quote] There you go. Another underrated, low profile and less well known bass player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Stu Cook of CCR. Knew when to reign it back and lock in, but equally could lift up a tune and really go for a melodic line. I love playing his stuff, just wish I could match his super-clean sound and technique. Some really iconic lines. My other one would be John McVie for exactly the same reasons. Cheers, Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1392291072' post='2366792'] There you go. Another underrated, low profile and less well known bass player. [/quote] Who's this McCartney bloke they keep banging on about anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Nice mentions for Bruce Thomas and Colin Moulding from my formative years. I'd offer up Graham Maby of the Joe Jackson band (plus, later, They Might Be Giants, Natalie Merchant, Marshall Crenshaw, Dar Williams etc etc etc). The kind of player that invented a ton of basslines that zillions of people know without realising that they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Glasgow Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1391974327' post='2363196'] For me it's Jimmy Johnson. The best live bass performance (and tone) I have ever witnessed...meeting him afterwards, talking gear and having a dink with Alan Holdsworth topped it off! [/quote] +1 Yeah, Jimmy is amazing! Another really great bass player who's done the Holdsworth gig is Skuli Sverrisson. He's also done some great stuff with Ben Monder. I really love his playing in this video. He gets a really beautiful and unique tone. [media]http://youtu.be/JTym00BErQ0[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Glasgow Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='achknalligewelt' timestamp='1392127160' post='2365034'] There were a lot of great bassists that appeared in the 90's that seem never to get a mention - Micky Quinn of Supergrass, Alex James of Blur, Colin Greenwood of Radiohead come to mind. Some great and inventive work ('Tracy Jacks' on Parklie has a bafflingly odd but totally perfect line - how did he come up with that?), and though the bands could be called niche (I know that for a lot of people, Blur are a bit Marmite) the bass playing was, I think, very good indeed. I learned a lot from my bedroom years, playing along to Parklife and In It for The Money. [/quote] another +1 Yeah, I completely agree. Those guys were playing some really innovative and unique stuff. Great players! Two tracks that come to mind for me are 'Airbag' and 'How to Disappear Completely'. Colin Greenwood's basslines on those tracks are really great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1392295391' post='2366859'] Who's this McCartney bloke they keep banging on about anyway? [/quote] I've just read a list of bass players to the lady in my local charity shop. To my astonishment she has never heard of Mark King, Chris Squire, Carol Kaye, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten or Alain Caron so now they must all go on the 'Less well known / low profile' list. She had heard of Macca though so he's off the list now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorbass Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='12stringbassist' timestamp='1392247747' post='2366557'] Under-rated... Bruce Thomas ex of Elvis Costello was certainly rated at the time, but has fallen out of the public eye now. I'd say the same for Colin Moulding of XTC - a total genius and innovator on bass, but XTC are gone now and he's largely forgotten outside of their fans. I miss them terribly. Nick Seymour of Crowded House was mentioned and he is a true jazz bassist in a pop band. His bass parts are little adventures for the ears - Fantastic syncopated little counter melodies that can't be second guessed, such as Don't dream it's over - try humming along with the bass part on that . I don't know how he gets some of the sounds he does - on Whispers and moans for example. I love his work on their albums up to Together Alone. After that they went a bit meh. Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick does some amazing stuff and gets little recognition except for starting the 12-string bass ball rolling. Jim Lea of Slade - a ridiculously good player, consigned to be remembered mainly as the one at the back on Merry Christmas everybody. A criminal underestimation. [/quote] Agreed, particulary Bruce Thomas and Jimmy Lea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Not sure about 'underrated', but a few that generally fall off the radar... Jim Dewar [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Yp7lvzv4M[/media] and Gerry McAvoy [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSe5v7mJMiY[/media] &, of course, The Hodge: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MblGNQnIpFY[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1392306547' post='2367077'] I've just read a list of bass players to the lady in my local charity shop. To my astonishment she has never heard of Mark King, Chris Squire, Carol Kaye, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten or Alain Caron so now they must all go on the 'Less well known / low profile' list. She had heard of Macca though so he's off the list now. [/quote] Oh - you mean old Ma Baldrick?? ........... It was a cunning plan. When she said she hadn't heard of them you were supposed to leaf through the charity shop's CD shelves, dig out all the CDs with them on, stand there with a handful of CDs, realise what you'd done and feel morally obliged to buy them all at 50p a pop. Well done you for not falling for it! Need proof? When did you last see a Beatles CD in a charity shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Oooh, oooh, I've got a good one. David Gilmour. *allegedly* *controversy alert* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 [quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1392310068' post='2367162'] Oh - you mean old Ma Baldrick?? ........... It was a cunning plan. When she said she hadn't heard of them you were supposed to leaf through the charity shop's CD shelves, dig out all the CDs with them on, stand there with a handful of CDs, realise what you'd done and feel morally obliged to buy them all at 50p a pop. Well done you for not falling for it! Need proof? When did you last see a Beatles CD in a charity shop? [/quote] I'm fortunate that in one of my local charity shops they have a 'Lesser Known & Low Profile Bass Players' section. The last time i was in there they had CDs by featuring Jason Newsted, Cliff Burton, Robert Trujillo, James Lomenzo, Lemmy and Steve Harris under the heading of 'Who Knows If These Are Any Good For Metal Because We've Never Heard Of Them?'. It is indeed one of the best kept secrets in our High Street and a wonderful resource for CDs by underrated bass players. I'm not surprised with what you say about CDs by The Beatles but i only buy cassettes these days. They are far better value as (or if) you can pick them up for about 50p per hundredweight nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirky Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I saw Pere Ubu last year and was very impressed with Michele Temple, very disciplined playing on her lovely G&L Asat. You can see her in action here from just a few nights ago: [url="http://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/sons-dhiver-2014-pere-ubu-147937"]http://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/sons-dhiver-2014-pere-ubu-147937[/url] You've got to skip through Mr Thomas's stream of consciousness ravings for a minute or two before they start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ednaplate Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 If i can add a couple to the mix; Kevin Miles (Gene) and the amazing Andy Rourke (Smiths) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fionn Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Nick Fyffe. Of the Jamiroquai bassists, Stuart Zender gets the lions share of the plaudits, and Paul Turner gets his quota too ... but surprisingly little is spoken of Nick Fyffe. He's a great player who's contribution to the bands sound was huge. I love his style, always so neat and appropriate. Definitley worthy of some extra kudos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 ^^ Nick Fyffe +1 Personally (and this maybe blasphemy to some) I prefer his playing to Zender's myself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmanzie Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Kim Deal during The Pixies years Alex James Fred Thomas (not sure he is under rated though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Peter Hook? my arse he's a chancer and crap (I mean it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 [quote name='witterth' timestamp='1392933120' post='2374524'] Peter Hook? my arse he's a chancer and crap (I mean it) [/quote] He speaks highly of you too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E sharp Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Good call on Nick Seymour from Crowded House - sort of a strange player , but really works . Also Nigel Harrison as mentioned . I also like the late James Dewer , with Robin Trower - but also liked what Rusty did with that band too . Clive Chamen is also good . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) What about Grog she is a great bass player and also rather sexy [attachment=155764:download.jpg] Edited February 20, 2014 by Thunderbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1392933529' post='2374528'] He speaks highly of you too!! [/quote] I should hope he does (git that he is) Edited February 20, 2014 by witterth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1392295391' post='2366859'] Who's this McCartney bloke they keep banging on about anyway? [/quote] McCartney is now underrated, but it's utterly his own fault. On 'Wings at the Speed of Sound', he played some IMHO great bass lines. Since then, he seems to have forgotten about bass apart from posing with his Hofner at concerts. When was his last great bassline? Nobody seems to mention Tom Fowler (when left hand is not broken) for his work with Zappa's band in the early/mid 70s. Particularly on 'One Size Fits All', except that I don't know which tracks on that album were recorded while his let hand wasn't broken, and which were done by James "Bird Legs" Youman. Tom Fowler handles the bass on Roxy and Elsewhere though, and that's IMHO great too. Most people don't know that Bob Mould plays bass, but he handles bass on a number of his albums. I think he does some good work, though occasionally a bit over-decorative. Which is surprising as his guitar work is very often very simple power chords in simple rhythms and very simple, not much more than 'a couple of notes' solos. So, it's not like he's playing the bass just like he plays guitar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaRw-8---WA Edited March 24, 2014 by icastle Link fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I really like Josh Homme's bass playing. First QOTSA album and more recently Mantra on the Sound City album. Krist Novoselic is class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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