Unsung bass albums

[bassbiscuits]

11 minutes ago, Musicman666 said:

yellow brick road is superb bass playing throughout and such a great tone ...

I play in an Elton tribute band and learning that album was a nice little adventure. Brilliant stuff. 

[SteveXFR]

Grade 2 - Grade 2

The fifth album by the young punk band from the Isle Of White. Bassist Sid Ryan is clearly heavily influenced by Matt Freeman but he's adding plenty of his own style. He also sings and is pretty lively on stage which is amazing. 

 

Monster - R.E.M

Mick Mills bass lines are absolute genius. Interesting rhythms and really complimenting the guitar and vocals. Absolutely brilliant bit of 90's alt rock. What The Frequency Kenneth and Orange Crush are favourites for me

 

Edited Thursday at 08:53 by SteveXFR

[rushbo]

Be Bop Deluxe: 'Live in the Air Age'

Charlie Tumahai did an amazing job in supporting Bill Nelson's extravagant and complex material. He's surprisingly funky, too. He also contributed some outstanding harmony vocals and had a very cool stage presence. 

 

fIREHOSE: 'Ragin' Full-On'

There's nothing like a three-piece band to get a bassist to put the effort in. Mike Watt blazes all over this album, filling up the dead air in melodic and interesting ways.

 

Max Webster: 'Live Magnetic Air'

Max Webster were more than 'that band who hung about with Rush' - they made some great albums and bassist Dave Myles was at the heart of them. This live album really showcases his superb playing - always forceful and driving. 'Paradise Skies' is a high point, but it's all good. (An honourable mention must go to the guy he replaced after their first two albums - Mike Tilka).

 

10cc: 'Deceptive Bends'

I've picked 'Deceptive Bends' but it could have been any 10cc album, really. Graham Gouldman is criminally underrated as a bassist. His composition skill carries over beautifully into how he writes his bass lines, and they are always superbly constructed. 'The Things We Do For Love' from this record is a great example of what he does.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 11:02 by rushbo

[rushbo]

On 07/11/2025 at 22:04, peteb said:

My go-to in these types of threads is always the Pat Travers live album 'Go for What You Know'. The bass playing of Mars Cowling is nothing short of astounding - I'm still trying to nail some of his parts 46 years later! The rest of band aren't too shabby either, elevating what otherwise might be seen as pretty standard groove based blues rock! 

Mars Cowling was so good. I saw him play with Travers on the 'Crash and Burn' tour, and he was outstanding. 

[bassbiscuits]

2 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

 

Monster - R.E.M

Mick Mills bass lines are absolute genius. Interesting rhythms and really complimenting the guitar and vocals. Absolutely brilliant bit of 90's alt rock. What The Frequency Kenneth and Orange Crush are favourites for me

 

Yeah that’s a great album. Revisited it recently after many years. Some great bass you’re right 

[MyNameIsMark]

Men I Trust: Oncle Jazz

Palm muted goodness, melodic lines, high in the mix, nice dreampop textures, a lucky find 🥰

 

The Poll Winners: The Poll Winners Ride Again

Proper jazz, Ray Brown on bass, beautiful playing, Barney Kessel on guitar, any of their music is incredible 😍 

[Rich]

Big Country, 'Steeltown'. Tony Butler is an absolute monster on this, superb melodic playing and a HUGE tone. And fabulous BVs too. Another guy to file under 'criminally underrated'.

[Grooverjr]

On 07/11/2025 at 09:42, miles'tone said:

Ozric Tentacles - Live Underslunky.

Zia Geelani's bass playing on this album is kind of my ground zero. Peak Ozrics line up (imho).

A corkin' live album.

Agree, I loved Zia but most of them are Roly Wynne's parts adapted by Zia. I think Pungent Effulgent, Erpland and Strangeitude are all great bass albums. Roly Wynne is one of my absolute bass heroes. 

[SteveXFR]

Meantime by Helmet has some killer bass lines. Really punchy tones and big riffs. Occasionally even dropping odd time signatures in post hardcore songs. 

[Grahambythesea]

We gotta get out of this place - the animals- the late Chas Chandler 

 

Kyle Eastwood - any of his albums which feature a mixture of fretted and fretless bass and upright bass.  Really accomplished player and a good composer.

[Grooverjr]

Not sure if Mysterious Traveller by Weather Report would count as Alphonso Johnson is well-acknowledged as a virtuouso and the album is hardly unknown. But in terms of counterpoint bass working in the spaces yet still driving the music, and the use of effects to get some killer tones, I think it's a visionary bass masterpiece from start to finish.

And always worth reminding the world that Weather Report is Zawinul and Shorter plus a great rhythm section and not simply a vehicle for Jaco as it sometimes seems to be painted. 

[Japhet]

On 07/11/2025 at 22:04, peteb said:

My go-to in these types of threads is always the Pat Travers live album 'Go for What You Know'. The bass playing of Mars Cowling is nothing short of astounding - I'm still trying to nail some of his parts 46 years later! The rest of band aren't too shabby either, elevating what otherwise might be seen as pretty standard groove based blues rock! 

 

The 1972 Donny Hathaway Live album, featuring Willie Weeks on bass, is pretty good as well... 

 

 

Great shout. 

[Reggaebass]

For me it’s Babylon by Bus - Bob Marley, it’s a live album and Family man’s basslines are just superb, I don’t play it often but when I do it’s quite uplifting, it’s worth a listen if your not familiar with it imo 

[Rich]

Fish, 'Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors'. Gorgeous fretless bass by the utterly awesome and much missed John Giblin.

The mid/solo section of this track is an absolute highlight. 

 

 

[Old Man Riva]

On 20/11/2025 at 10:00, rushbo said:

Be Bop Deluxe: 'Live in the Air Age'

Charlie Tumahai did an amazing job in supporting Bill Nelson's extravagant and complex material. He's surprisingly funky, too. He also contributed some outstanding harmony vocals and had a very cool stage presence. 

‘Live! In The Air Age’ is a great shout. Charlie Tumahai is fabulous on that record. The bass is also quite prominent in the mix, so tracks like Shine (which was included as part of the additional EP) really showcase his talent. Funky double stops ahoy!

 

John McKenzie, in his time with Steve Hillage, puts me in mind of Charlie Tumahai.

[Old Man Riva]

I’ve always found Roxy Music albums to be a treasure trove of low end delights, but the first two records are probably my favourites. Graham Simpson on the debut record, and John Porter on the For Your Pleasure follow up, are wonderful players, and add so much to the albums…

 

 

Edited 14 hours ago by Old Man Riva

[Old Man Riva]

4 hours ago, Grooverjr said:

Not sure if Mysterious Traveller by Weather Report would count as Alphonso Johnson is well-acknowledged as a virtuouso and the album is hardly unknown. But in terms of counterpoint bass working in the spaces yet still driving the music, and the use of effects to get some killer tones, I think it's a visionary bass masterpiece from start to finish.

And always worth reminding the world that Weather Report is Zawinul and Shorter plus a great rhythm section and not simply a vehicle for Jaco as it sometimes seems to be painted. 

Cucumber Slumber is seldom mentioned when Weather Report (and highly regarded bass lines) are discussed. That big fat funky line is life-affirmingly good! 

[peteb]

2 hours ago, Old Man Riva said:

I’ve always found Roxy Music albums to be a treasure trove of low end delights, but the first two records are probably my favourites

 

I would have thought that the latter Roxy albums with Alan Spenner would have been the ones to go for, if your interest is in great bass performances that are generally under-rated...! 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by peteb

[snorkie635]

Have a listen to 'Slade in Flame' with Jimmy Lea on bass (or any other Slade album with him playing).  You might get a surprise.
 

 

[ra0ulduke]

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - God Fodder (1991)

[Old Man Riva]

56 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

I would have thought that the latter Roxy albums with Alan Spenner would have been the ones to go for, if your interest is in great bass performances that are generally under-rated...! 

 

I think the John Gustafson and Alan Spenner eras get a fair bit of love and respect their way - and rightly so! For me, the first two Roxy albums can get overlooked, which is a real shame. They also hold a special place as they were pretty important records when I was first really getting into music - so not necessarily better, just my favourites, and I think underrated, from a bass playing perspective.

 

But as I say, the whole Roxy catalogue is full of great bass moments, across all eras… 

[NancyJohnson]

As a youngish teenager (and being fed a steady supply of singles), the names that immediately come to mind from that period are Martin Gordon (Sparks/Radio Stars), Steve Priest (for the glorious Sweet F*nny Adams/Desolation Boulevard albums) and Jim Lea.

 

Other guys I adore, Pete Vuckovic (3CR), Dan Adriano (Alkaline Trio), Stuart Hill (Shudder To Think), Clemente Sardi (Full Treble/Hawaii Zombies).. there's probably dozens.

[NancyJohnson]

...

Edited 1 hour ago by NancyJohnson

[AlexDelores]

I think Jared Followill from Kings of Leon is an incredibly underrated bass player. Especially on the first few albums and personally think ‘Only By The Night’ shows his best playing, even if this isn’t my favourite album. 
 

It’s not overly complex stuff but I think what his lines add to the songs melodically is superb.
 

Helps that the band were the reason I started wanting to play music but hey! I’m a fan 🪭 

Edited 1 hour ago by AlexDelores

[ASW]

On 07/11/2025 at 22:04, peteb said:

The 1972 Donny Hathaway Live album, featuring Willie Weeks on bass, is pretty good as well... 

 

 

The whole album has a great groove. All the players are amazing and Donny's voice is sublime. One of the best versions of What's Going On in my opinion. 

 

The album sounds good from a production perspective too. All the instruments can be heard clearly, yet you can also "hear" the room it was recorded in and the audience participation is electric.

 

The bass playing is the icing on the cake. 

 

I'm going to have to listen to it today!