Underrated Bass Players - Thoughts and Nominees

[Prestonyte]

Two on my list:

Berry Oakley
With Duane and Dickey guitar solos as distrctions, you have to listen closely for Oakley's incredible bass
Blue Sky (Live) - YouTube

John McVie
Fleetwood Mac ~ The Chain ~ Live 1979 - YouTube

 

[CockyCody]

First one that fits that bill for me is Daniel McCallum of Cake.

 

[winloseortie]

Not under rated, just almost totally unknown by those who just don’t know….

James Jamerson

 

[Prestonyte]

Not under rated, just almost totally unknown by those who just don’t know….

James Jamerson

Unknown to me.
Edisto native, wow. Never knew of him or a lot of other Motown session players I'm sure.

 

[Htavern]

GOAT - Jaco Pastorius

 

[winloseortie]

Unknown to me.
Edisto native, wow. Never knew of him or a lot of other Motown session players I'm sure.

Dig up the documentary Standing in the Shadow’s of Motown.

Joan Osborne just kills it on “What becomes of the Broken Hearted” and Bootsy Collins is,well Bootsy Collins.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[winloseortie]

GOAT - Jaco Pastorius

Pastorius is the bomb. And claims James Jamerson as one of his biggest influences

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Not under rated, just almost totally unknown by those who just don’t know….

James Jamerson

Another studio musician, playing on a estimated 10,000 recordings. (That is not a typo)
If you have ever heard of the "Wrecking Crew", you may be familiar.
Carol Kaye,

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Chris Squire.
Due to the very complex arrangements, and extended productions that Yes was noted for, his individual efforts tended to be overshadowed.

 

[Spinal Tap]

Stanley Clarke. Return to Forever and a lot more.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Stanley Clarke. Return to Forever and a lot more

One of the best.
Jazz aficionados are well aware and would hardly consider him underrated, but for the general public who are mostly unaware, I can see why he would be considered underrated.

 

[Prestonyte]

One of the best.
Jazz aficionados are well aware and would hardly consider him underrated, but for the general public who are mostly unaware, I can see why he would be considered underrated.

When I say underrated, I'm generally speaking to the fact that they are not on most popular Top 10 lists that are published but are well known to their peers. Also not referring to their financial earnings as many do very well but do so in the background of successful groups.

 

[Swifty]

John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Robert Deleo (STP, Army Of Anyone)
Tony Kanal (No Doubt)
Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Jerry Cantrell, Metallica)

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

I saw a Jeff Beck concert on TV and his bass player Tal Wilkenfeld was just absolutely incredible. If you can get the gig with Beck you had better be damn good.
If you get a chance you should check her out on YouTube.

 

[StephenSC]

Well, I don’t wanna brag, but this is one of my wife’s t shirts…

 

[Spinal Tap]

Derek Smalls. Spinal Tap.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

The dude from Radio Head.

 

[Blues man]

First one I think of is Geddy Lee

 

[Stardust710]

I swear to God if someone says the guy from u2.

 

[CockofEarle…]

Stanley Clarke. Return to Forever and a lot more.

Add some Larry .

 

[Surfcock]

Peter Hook - Joy Division / New Order

 

[Surfcock]

Forgot one , the master of funk

Bootsy Collins

 

[Personalfowl]

Geezer Butler-Sabbath
Bob Daisley-Ozzy, Rainbow, etc.
Dug Pinnick-King’s X
Gene Simmons-Kiss
Phil Lynott-Thin Lizzy

 

[CockofEarle…]

Forgot one , the master of funk

Bootsy Collins

Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!​

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Forgot one , the master of funk

Bootsy Collins

Great bassist, actually one of the best.
Which is why I definitely would not considered him underrated.

 

[CockofEarle…]

Great bassist, actually one of the best.
Which is why I definitely would not considered him underrated.

 

[Cackmandu]

I don’t know much about bassist, but the other day I happened to hear Yes Roundabout and the bass in that is incredible too me!

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

I don’t know much about bassist, but the other day I happened to hear Yes Roundabout and the bass in that is incredible too me!

See post #9

 

[Go Gamecocks]

I swear to God if someone says the guy from u2.

Boy band guy?

 

[Go Gamecocks]

Any of those unknown touring bassists who play with guys like Satch, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Petrucci, etc.
If you ever watched them, they are amazing.

 

[Stardust710]

Boy band guy?

Totally

 

[bayrooster]

Sean Yseult was great while she was bassist for White Zombie.

 

[The Reel Ess]

Rex Brown of Pantera. He played bass over Darryl's guitar so well you wouldn't know there was only one guitar in the band. And he's the least known of all 4. He doesn't care for the limelight.

 

[Carolina Doc]

An oldie, I know, but Jack Bruce. From Cream.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

An oldie, I know, but Jack Bruce. From Cream.

As long as no one nominates Ginger Baker (one of the very best) as an underrated drummer, we'll all be fine.