Name three albums a literate bassist should know front to back.

[chuck3]

all great choices, but I would add another vote for Chuck Rainey's work on Steely Dan's "Aja."

[whitefuneral]

Nirvana nevermind

[sricks3]

Gosh, there are so many great albums to choose from, but here are three.

Graceland - Paul Simon
11/17/70 - Elton John
Emergency On Planet Earth - Jamiroquai

[Emilym80]

All the material from the Standing in the Shadows of Motown book and cds- from basic to quite advanced and covers pop, r&b and even a bit of funk.
Rush- Moving Pictures
Queen- A Night at the Opera
You can't really go wrong with Led Zeppelin or Cream either. As for Primus, I don't mind them and I think Les Claypool's brilliant, but for a beginner, it wouldn't necessarily be the best to learn stylistically, you're not really going to play anything like Claypool unless you're playing a Primus song or mimicking him (imo), since his style is very distinctive.

[treekiller]

First of all, I could never limit my essential choices to 3.

One that is on my list definitely is Allman Bros. "At Fillmore East"! There is a lot here not just for a bass player, but musicians in general. The interplay between these guys and musicianship is incredible, they developed "jamming" into a fine art!!!

[basswave]

This is tough...But here is my take after 1 coffee this morning.

Led Zeppelin II (ultimate warm supportive playing that still moves)

Loud Jazz by John Scofield (very wide variety of playing Jazz/fusion by bassist Gary Grainger)

Blood Sugar Sex Magic RHCP (Its creativity of Flea’s part are often overlooked, interesting grooves)

[Jeremy Allen]

Originally Posted by oniman7

I see what you did there...

[fenderhutz]

My list is for rock/indie players:

For timing complexity and tone: Damiera M(us)ic - this album alone with make you a killer rock/indie bassist if you can play it. The bass tone is rock heaven. This album is under the radar for most people.

For out of the box riffage - Rush Moving Pictures

For timing - Any Johnny Cash album. Gets your brain thinking like a metronome because the foot tapping as you listen

[ronaldpdbrandt]

If you want a more 80s/90s/alternative perspective:

Disintegration, Faith, OR Pornography - The Cure
Meat Is Murder OR The Queen Is Dead- The Smiths
Doolittle - Pixies

If you want some indie:

Hissing Fauna...Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
Oui - The Sea and Cake
Living in Clip - Ani DiFranco

[PJMiDi]

More aimed towards Rock/Hard Rock players but here's 3

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

Alice in Chains - Dirt

Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast

[bass12]

For my personal tastes:

Chic - "C'est Chic"
Level 42 - "A Physical Presence"
Me'shell Ndegéocello - "Plantation Lullabies"

I have to admit that the first album that popped into my head, though, was "What's Going On". "Emergency On Planet Earth" is also one with really fun bass lines to play. A bunch of other great suggestions here too.

[dustinfennessey]

I'm guessing it has a lot to do with what music you are into and what music you want to play I've only seen a handful of people put heavy albums up lol

[cassius987]

Originally Posted by lfmn16

I would however disagree with the idea of choosing three albums, it's too limiting. I would choose 30 -40 songs that every bass player should know. I think you would be more well rounded.

It's fine if you feel like that but the whole point is to begrudgingly choose three you feel are so essential they have to be included in spite of the existence of other excellent albums. It's a purposefully annoying constraint to force people to pick the absolute most important records.

[onosson]

Just listening to Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" right now, fantastic rhythm section work there and interesting changes.

[theretheyare]

As a 'preparation to get work', on bass guitar:
Zappa: Overnite Sensation/'Apostrophe (reading/transcribing skills, precise playing that is not clinical, avoidance of bass cliches)
Four Tops; Reach Out (my personal Jamerson Fave, but anything with him is cool, of course...)
ZZ Top, Tres Hombres (how to play simple, in the pocket, and do it well)

[onosson]

Big +1 on the ZZ Top!

AC/DC Back in Black would be another standout choice for the same reasons.

[ThudThudThud]

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John.
No two songs are the same, and Dee Murray plays "the song" every time.

The Dream of the Blue Turtles - Sting.
Darryl Jones grooves impeccably. This is how to play with a drummer.

Seeds of Love - Tears For Fears.
Pino (and, occasinally Curt Smith) puts texture into these songs. Great feeling of space, and no over playing.

[JHandley]

Originally Posted by treekiller

.................................

One that is on my list definitely is Allman Bros. "At Fillmore East"! There is a lot here not just for a bass player, but musicians in general. The interplay between these guys and musicianship is incredible, they developed "jamming" into a fine art!!!

I was looking for this one to pop up.
It is my #1!

Best live album ever to me anyways.
I wore out my vinyl of this way back when.
Jeff

[theretheyare]

OK, I can't resist another list...
1- Beat Crazy, Joe Jackson (that or anything else with Graham Maby in full glory)
2- XTC, Drums and Wires (Colin Moulding doing his funnest grooves)
3- Curtis Mayfield-Curtis Live! (Joseph Lucky Scott - super cool funk playing)

[bassinplace]

My 2 cents, or 3 albums as it were,

Disraeli Gears - Cream

Revolver - The Beatles

Permanent Waves - Rush