Favorite singer/bassist

[Jeff Scott]

Mariusz Duda

 

[carrythatweight]

I’m susceptible to the charms of female singers who play bass (and a song worth checking out). Melissa Auf Der Mar (followed the waves) , Kim Deal (gigantic), or Aimee Mann (voices carry).

I'll second Aimee Mann. After her time fronting Til Tuesday, she turned out to be a phenomenal songwriter and has a terrific solo career going. The Forgotten Arm and Lost In Space are two favorite albums of mine, and she played bass on a number of those songs.

 

[jamro217]

Jim Dewar was great. Some overlooked bassists who can (or could) really sing: Tiran Porter (Doobie Brothers), Boz Burrell (Bad Company, King Crimson), Derek Holt (Climax Blues Band). Some singers who also played bass (even in band situations): Elvis, Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company), Kenny Rogers, Ian Lloyd (Stories), Bob Welch (Fleetwood Mac).

 

[Huw Phillips]

Other where’s Peter Hook of New Order, Joy Division, Monaco and Peter Hook and the light ?

 

[zon6c-f]

How about THIS for a curve-ball...JANICE M JOHNSON from A Taste of Honey?? That bass-riff (as she was lead-singing) on "Boggie Oogie Oogie" is a supreme funk classic (notice I said 'FUNK', not 'disco' - not that there's anything wrong with disco; there really isn't)! I really ought to explore them. At least listen to that debut LP of theirs. They WERE a REAL band! It's a shame they faded from the scene as 'disco' did.

Anyways, as for best bassist who just so happened to be a regular lead-singer...Sir Paul HAS to be Numero Uno with me! As for my personal 'Mt Rushmore' of bassists-period...he or Entwistle are either just in (at 4a) or just out (4b); take your pick! Actually, I'll make mine. Being that I like the Beatles noticably more than I do the Who (although Who are real great), I'll pick Paul by default if that very word needs to even be applied. Maybe he's better anyway. Yes, there is 'Fish Out of Water'. That makes Chris Squire technically a singer/bassist, but realistically, he was only ever a backup-singer (albeit a very IMPORTANT Beach Boys-like one; Howe too) for Yes so I guess you can't really nominate him in my opinion.


Sting and Cetera...very much to bass what Phil Collins is to percussion. Hall of Famers EACH of them (Phil on 'Mt Rushmore' of drumming if not 'Holy Trinity')! Don't let the respective solo pop-careers fool you! Especially Pete's mid-'70s-thru-'84 (despite Terry Kath still being around for some of it)/"Just You 'N' Me"-thru-"If You Leave Me Now"-thru-"You're the Inspiration" alleged 'schmaltz' while he was still with his initial band. Still one of the first bassists you should mention! Especially his work on Chicago I & II! And Sting's work with the Police...yeah!!

Geddy...if anyone places him #1, I won't argue. If anyone says that Lifeson and Peart are the best guitarist and drummer respectively, I won't argue either. They ARE phenomenal musicians. My sister's ex-boyfriend/drummer who she's still friends with (in '04 we were all at a Yes concert together - 'Topographic'/'Going for the One'/'Tormato'-lineup, mind you) would ask me, "How can you be such a big Yes-fan but not like Rush as much??" He and his best-friend, by the way, would do a yearly ritual/retreat where they would spend the whole day getting wasted and listening to every Rush album from their debut through their latest work.

I don't know, I so respect them, but I personally lean heavily toward their out-the-gate/pre-'2112' stuff. The only album of theirs I currently own, and only owned for quite some time, is their live 'All the World's a Stage'. I love "Fly By Night', "Working Man", "Lakeside Park", etc. I liked when they simply were more on the Zeppelin/Budgie side of things. But don't get it wrong, I won't turn the station if "Tom Sawyer" is on; nor "The Spirit of Radio" which is real fun, catchy - it rocks - but does in a good-hearted way crack me up a bit. And that very feeling is also well-meaningly applied in the film, 'I Love You Man' when Rashida Jones' character finally finds out that her husband (Paul Rudd) is a Rush-fan and he tries to suddenly get her into them, lol (trust me, it's funny).

SO MANY more to mention! I am very glad PHIL LYNOTT is nominated as well as mentioned numerous times!

Phil Lynott!

 

[Gizmot]

I hate to admit it, but I almost voted for Peter Cetera. For quite a few years, he played super solid bass and sang his butt off. He did a first class job on both.

But - when he quit Chicago and started doing elevator music as a solo artist he completely ruined his chances to get my vote

 

[DavC]

Glenn Hughes ... the voice of Rock ..!!

 

[SactoBass]

Chris Squire was a damn fine vocalist as well, often times doing harmony vocals way above Jon Anderson's pitch while playing a countermelody on his Rickenbacker and playing the bass pedals all the while looking badass and making it look like kid's stuff.
R.I.P. Chris. You're missed every single day.

Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig +1

Christopher Russell Edward Squire!

His vocals were incredible!

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[Dr F clef]

Lemmy is always the correct answer.

 

[gypsyfelon]

Tim Bogart!

 

[LT131]

My other vote goes to one of my faves and early influences, Felix Pappalardi.

2nd, Sting and, while not a yuge Yes man, Squire blows me away.

 

[Rob Martinez]

McCartney. He is the best by 100 miles. Yes, there are other greats. But no one sang and played THOSE songs looking like THAT and sounding like THAT.

 

[OogieWaWa]

Lots of great choices and many more for sure.

But after starting to sing a year ago (attempting to, anyway,) what I do know now is just how much I admire all those folks. It's definitely NOT easy.

Or maybe it's because I'm not a kid any more. Anyway, I'm doing pretty good, I'm told, but singing and trying to keep a proper bass line going is a lot of work. I still cannot sing and keep running 8's going well, for instance, have to drop to quarter notes. Have to get walking lines down to pure muscle memory by a lot of repetition. Worth it though, I guess, it's even more fun now than in my previous 13 years playing.

 

[TrevorR]

My vote is for Phil Lynott but you could also add Aimee Mann to that list.

 

[Nevada Pete]

Lots of great choices and many more for sure.

But after starting to sing a year ago (attempting to, anyway,) what I do know now is just how much I admire all those folks. It's definitely NOT easy.

Or maybe it's because I'm not a kid any more. Anyway, I'm doing pretty good, I'm told, but singing and trying to keep a proper bass line going is a lot of work. I still cannot sing and keep running 8's going well, for instance, have to drop to quarter notes. Have to get walking lines down to pure muscle memory by a lot of repetition. Worth it though, I guess, it's even more fun now than in my previous 13 years playing.

Now that your singing, your getting more female attention. Yes?

 

[Biffa]

.....didn't Tina Weymouth sing in Tom Tom Club?

 

[OogieWaWa]

Now that your singing, your getting more female attention. Yes?

You know, now that you mention it, yeah, I guess I am! I honestly hadn't thought about it until now. Huh. Or maybe it's just attention in general? That definitely didn't have anything to do with starting, it was just something that probably should have come out a long time ago.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Mariusz Duda. This time with video evidence:

 

[Element Zero]

Really?

Yes. Really. And it’s “KIP”, not “Kid”

 

[Nevada Pete]

You know, now that you mention it, yeah, I guess I am! I honestly hadn't thought about it until now. Huh. Or maybe it's just attention in general? That definitely didn't have anything to do with starting, it was just something that probably should have come out a long time ago.

Once you reach a certain point, I have found working with a good vocal coach to be very helpful. Secret: Your body knows how to sing! Like anything else, maybe some more than others. But, yeah. Vocalization exercises bring out this latent ability.

Now, finding a good vocal coach? That's a story in itself. I think finding someone who is a good match is pretty much like finding an old lady. You may have to try a few of them out first. Good luck!