Most underrated rhythm section(s)

[sricks3]

Anytime I hear people discussing the great rhythm sections of all time and those that they themselves study and try to emulate, I am always struck by some of the names that are left out. Sure, combos such as Jones/Bonham, Lee/Peart, and Claypool/Alexander are great and clearly worthy of note, but I always enjoy listening to bands that people don't usually think of for their solid foundations and being blown away by these lesser known rhythm sections.

The absolute number one underrated rhythm section that comes to my mind backed a man known as Sir Elton John. Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson formed one of the strongest backbones I've ever heard. They show everything from solid simplicity to left-of-center creativity on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. "Grey Seal" and "I've Seen That Movie Too" are two of my favorites, and who can forget "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding". Murray and Olsson were also phenomenal live on the lesser-known 11/17/70. Oh, and don't forget that Elton John is mildly talented (to say the least) on the piano himself.

Anyway, who would y'all consider to be other top-rate rhythm sections that don't seem to get the recognition of those I've mentioned above and the others that are inevitably mentioned in every rhythm section list?

[gweimer]

Bill Church/Denny Carmassi from Montrose
Tony Franklin/Chris Slade - The Firm (when I saw them live, they pretty much WERE the band)
Tony Kanal/Adrian Young - No Doubt

[sricks3]

I'll second the Kanal/Young matchup. I'm not a big fan of No Doubt, but I can't argue with their ability.

I'll have to check out the others.

[Swimming Bird]

Jesse Murphy/Aaron Johnston of Brazilian Girls is a great combo.
Colin Greenwood/Phil Selway of Radiohead -- they're a totally stable foundation for a great band.

[nysbob]

Joey Spampinato & Tom Ardolino - NRBQ

Kenny Gradney & Ritchie Hayward - Little Feat

Here's a blast from the past -

Mike Rutherford & Phil Collins - Genesis... those early tracks were really quite good.

[ctbass]

Serafin/Cetera
Rodby/Wertico
Egan/Gottlieb
Prestia/Garibaldi
The Who
THe Blue Line

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by nysbob

Here's a blast from the past -

Mike Rutherford & Phil Collins - Genesis... those early tracks were really quite good.

Very good indeed. Listen to anything on Lamb Lies Down On Broadway or before.

Suggested tracks:

• Watcher of the Skies
• Get 'Em Out by Friday
• In The Cage
• The Fountain of Salmacis

MM

[wideload]

+1 to the OP. Probably the first time that I recognized the bass as an influential part of music. I loved the interplay they had on those old songs. 11-17-70 is my favorite live recording because of that!

[BigSwami]

There was another thread recently about the Smiths, and I think they are an underrated rhythm section.

[sricks3]

I have to second both the Genesis and Tower of Power listings. Those are definitely high on my list as well. And speaking of Genesis, I have to throw in Tony Levin/Jerry Marotta/Manu Katche with Peter Gabriel on So. The verse lines from Sledgehammer make me happy.

[nortonrider]

Fleetwood Mac
Double Trouble

[sricks3]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

Fleetwood Mac
Double Trouble

I have to agree with both of these.

[Calebmundy]

The guys from the Counting Crows are AMAZING, and so underrated that I don't even know their names!

[locolobo85]

Shouldn't be underrated, but any number of combinations of bass/drums/conga/timbales that Santana has put together over the years.

My dream combo would have to be Alphonso Johnson/Graham Lear/Armando Peraza/Karl Perazzo. WOW!

[Dr. Cheese]

Chic: Bernard Edwardson bass, Tony Thompson on drums, and Nile Rogers on Guitar. Even though their production work outside of Chic proved they were great musicians, I still feel that they are underrated.

[sricks3]

I'll throw in two more I just thought of:

Dennis Dunaway/Neal Smith with Alice Cooper on the School's Out album
John Hartman/Michael Hossack with the Doobie Brothers

[thombo]

trying to stick to some "underated" sections
-tortoise... pretty much everyone in the band rotates between guitar and drums (a key to their success?) implementing some tasty, fairly egoless playing.
-critters buggin'- brad houser (bs), matt chamberlain (dr), mike dillon (per)
-fly, metheny/mehldau, mehldau trio- larry grenadier (bs) and jeff ballard (dr)
-william parker (bs) and hamid drake (dr)
-phish- mike gordon (bs) and john fishman (dr)

[Dordmháistir]

The Police: Stewart Copeland/Sting (Copeland is my favourite drummer ever)
Rage Against The Machine Brad Wilk/Timmy Comerford
Chic Tony Thompson/Bernard Edwards
Ian Dury & The Blockheads Charlie Charles/Norman Watt-Roy
King Crimson Bill Bruford/Tony Levin
Pearl Jam Matt Cameron/Jeff Ament
Rush Neil Peart/Geddy Lee

[Joebone]

Big +1 for the Chic section...absolute killer.

How 'bout the bassist and drummer from all of those Elvis Costello and the Attractions albums? Those guys came up with a lot of great parts and managed to set the right vibe on a wide range of material. ditto for the pianist, Steve Nieve! Feeling like a dope because I can't remember either the bassist or drummer's names...Pete Thomas? Check out "Trust;" not Costello's best-known album, but a pretty eclectic outing and the rhythm section is all over it in providing appropriate settings.

[Sneckumhaw]

Originally Posted by Dordmháistir

The Police: Stewart Copeland/Sting (Copeland is my favourite drummer ever)
Rush Neil Peart/Geddy Lee

Anything but underrated.