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The Four Most Influential Bassists?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Well spoken.
Of this I am fully aware, nor did I attribute that sentiment to you. Carry on.
I just wish you had addressed the person who said directly instead of responding to a post I wrote if you were going to bring it up.
Well, I respectfully responded to your post because you are the OP and your quote involved McCartney and Jamerson, and not to start a pissing match. But I was clearly addressing statements made by posters other than yourself. And I frankly don't see the harm.
But if you feel so inclined and thin-skinned, piss away. Sadly, this unique and unnecessary form of contention and butt-hurt seems to be the hallmark of our encounters, you seeing harm and malice where none exists. It never ceases to take me by complete surprise.
To elaborate on my (somewhat obvious) intent, it seems whenever a thread has the words "McCartney" and "Jamerson" in it, someone makes the silly statement that McCartney is not a substantial influence as a bass player because he was so heavily influenced by Jamerson he doesn't rate as a true influence. And that is simply untrue. McCartney tipped his hat to Jamerson once in an interview, but he was surely influenced (or maybe "encouraged" is a better word) just as much if not more by many other bass players, including the bassists who recorded tracks for the Beach Boys and several of his contemporary countrymen like Wyman and Entwistle.
But, once again, before you needlessly take offense, I am not attributing any of those sentiments to you my friend. And I showed genuine appreciation for your eloquent clarification of how you felt on the matter. Not much more to be done here.
Influence does not necessarily dovetail with skill... you don't have be a virtuoso to influence people. You just have to be doing something they'd like to do.
My reason for wanting it to be clear that I did not bring up that subject is that I have had a number of threads shut down due to racial issues and I have been banned several times for threads with a racial component. I have made a conscious effort to steer clear of that sort if thing for several months on TB, and I don't want any ambiguity about the focus of this thread or what I have written. I'm done with this sideshow now that I have made my point, and I am glad we agree about McCartney.
To me, that is why I cite Larry Graham. I think he is an excellent bassist (better than many jazz types probably realize) but I don't think he is a virtuoso. That said his slap left a much stronger impact
on the bass world than a whole CD worth of 64th notes.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
How is it ignorant considering McCartney himself credits Jamerson with helping him define his style of bass playing? Did I say Paul McCartney wasn't influential? No, not for a second. I said he should not be on the same level. If you think he is more influential as a player, please do tell as any influence he imposed on pop music was actually influenced by Jamerson onto him.
I am also the one who mentioned race beacuse somebody mentioned Paul McCartney "broke down boundaries and kicked the bass up a notch", which he didn't, Jamerson did, and McCartney even credits Jamerson himself for this. Jamerson would have broken down those boundaries in the 60's had people been talking about him, had he been white there probably would have been more discussion about him. The Babbit comparison doesn't work, as he came late in the game and had to try to be Jamerson to fit in at the label, a more apt comparison would be Duck Dunn, who did receive recognition for his work down at Stax. (To my knowledge, I wasn't born until '86 so I can only wonder what it was like back in the day from reading)
http://www.examiner.com/article/pau...own-was-biggest-influence-on-his-bass-playing
Actually, what you said was:
"McCartney wouldn't exist without Jamerson"
You seem to believe that Jamerson was solely responsible for McCartney's genius. It would surprise me if, early on, McCartney was even aware of who Jamerson was.
Yeah, nobody ever talked about Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, etc...
We are talking about the early 60's long before this technology where Chairman Gordy would not credit sessions musicians. And unlike the MGs the Funk Brothers had not hit or. TV apperances on their own. Where as the Beatles were one of the biggest breakout stars in history.
Re McCartney & Jamerson...there should really be no hint of dissention as relates to these two. McCartney has ALWAYS mentioned Jamerson as his primary influence on electric bass...MC'd the Jamerson tribute CD giving thanks to Jamerson, and has praised Jamerson at every turn, to the extent that beyond Jamerson and because of Jamerson, McCartney went so far as to pay the entire cost of refurbishing the Steinway piano that was sitting in Jamersons home studio...Motown's snakepit...shipping to and from New York and all, dishing out more than $25,000 personally. If not for Sir Paul's respect for James and Jamersons band mates...The Funk Brothers, why would he have taken an interest in shelling out the money and spending his time to publicise the donation attending various events? He wouldn't...so it's true that Paul would not have been the same bassist without Jamerson...but it's also undeniable that due to The Beatles worldwide popularity versus The Funk Brothers relative obscurity...Paul did influence many more bass players who probably didn't realize that the real influence and melodic syncopation was rooted in what McCartney learned from Jamerson...
Willie Dixon- helped define bass in blues and gospel music. Played on Chuck Berry's early R&R records. His playing runs deep into R&R
James Jamerson- of course
Jack Bruce- pioneer of "in your face bass"
Duck Dunn- Booker T & the MGs, Otis, Stax records- he helped define what electric bass sounded like...
Too many others to limit to 4... Larry Graham, Jerry Jemmont, Chuck Rainey, Bob Moore- A team Nashville guy who played on so many records it is unbelievable,... On and on and on..
James Jamerson- of course
Jack Bruce- pioneer of "in your face bass"
Duck Dunn- Booker T & the MGs, Otis, Stax records- he helped define what electric bass sounded like...
Too many others to limit to 4... Larry Graham, Jerry Jemmont, Chuck Rainey, Bob Moore- A team Nashville guy who played on so many records it is unbelievable,... On and on and on..
