Best Bass Albums

There are a couple that really impressed me, but the absolute best is The Joker by The Steve Miller Band. Gerald Johnson is absolutely phenomenal. Bad Company's debut has some great fretless work by Boz Burrell. Innocence Ballet by Alfie Zappacosta showcases some fantastic work by Etric Lyons. Any of the Climax Blues Band's stuff from the '70's with Derek Holt is great. Artificial Paradise by The Guess Who is loaded with tasty bass lines from Bill Wallace. The Little River Band's Diamantina Cocktail and Sleeper Catcher were high points for George McArdle. Pops Popwell was really funky on the Crusaders' Those Southern Knights. Jerry Jemmott on King Curtis Live At Fillmore West is another must have.

 

Rush Hemispheres

 

Michael Manring - Soliloquy

 

Anything by McCartney.

 

Just about anything with Robbie Shakespeare, but certainly all the Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Black Uhuru albums.

 

when i think of "bass playing" i think of the virtuosos: name your poison.

when i think of "bass lines" i think of creative, clever, repeated lines --- usually/sometimes written by someone other than the player.

i like almost all things james brown (various players) and most other funk stuff.

 

This could easily stray to "who is your favorite bass player"... this should be a good one ;-)
Any Black Sabbath album...Geezer is a God.
Any Primus album...Claypool is a virtuoso.
Any Maiden album...Harris is an innovator.
Rock on.

 

Black and White by The Stranglers - the tiny part of the Venn diagram where prog meets punk.

 

Vic wootens a show of hands and what did he say is a masterclass it technique
Marcus miller’s M2 is good all around
Incubus’s science is great hard rock with a funk/jazz twist
Primus’ frizzle fry is good
311 grassroots is great all around with a lot of styles
Brothers Johnson’s greatest hits is great for funk/soul
Those are my tops but there is a ton of stuff out there and a lot of hidden gems. Hidden gem #1 for me is Kentucky rain by Elvis.

 

Thundercat - Drunk

 

The entire catalog of The Police. Now conveniently available in one tidy package.

 

Purple and Tiny Music from STP. Any STP, actually.

El Oso and Irresistible Bliss from Soul Coughing. Any Soul Coughing, actually.

 

Alice Cooper's School's Out album, not just the single.

 

SMV - Stanley, Marcus, Victor funk fest

 

Gerald Johnson on Dave Masons Certified Live album, their version of Gimme Some Lovin'.
Paul Goddard (RIP), from ARS...His Rick bass solo on Another Man's Woman from live album, 'Are You Ready'.

 

NO MYSTERY (honorable mention!)

 

This is a fun one... really well-produced, too.