Ok, I'm late to the party, but feel there's no point in just giving a list. Reasoning needs to be offered, so here we go (with a fav line added as well)
In no real order ...
1. JJ Burnel. (The Stranglers). - For me, nothing has ever beaten the seriously dirty bass tone on 'Rattus Norvegicus', and the punk/prog-esq lines on albums like 'The Raven', were totally inspiring amidst all the root note merchants of the time. Fav line - the way the bass kicks down the door when entering the fray of the classic 'Hanging Around'.
2. Pino. Mr Flexible. And for introducing me to 'liquid bass' on 'Wherever I lay my hat'.
3. James Jamerson (The original JJ). For everything. Particularly love the Jackson 5 work with James' bass divinely entwining with Jacko's sweet soul vox.
4. Norman Watt Roy. Soooo underrated. An absolute boogie demon and anchor of a fantastic live band - The Blockheads. Fav line - Well, at least the one most bassists know ...
5. John Taylor. (Duran). Oh come on ... Rio? New Religion? Girls On Film? The ghost notes? Fab stuff. Fav line - It's gotta be Rio. And this section in particular.
6. Mark King. For me, the best slapper - and not too shabby with the finger lines either. Fav line - not a slapper, but this, blew my mind when I first heard it, and singing at the same time!
7. Bernard Edwards - JT's mentor, inspiration and all round disco God. Wonderful finger tone, and the way he slides and drops back down onto the groove after the bridge in 'Le Freak' is still a seminal bass moment for me. (2.47 in this vid)
8. Bruce Foxton. (The Jam). Because his lines were vital in making The Jam such an amazing live 3 piece.
Fav line - 'The Eton Rifles' - Classic example of Foxton's style, always searching for a riff /frill around the lead vocal, just what the Ricky was made for!
9. Sting. (See above). I love his style, he makes it look so damned easy. Even when using a fretless. Fav line - oh yes, it's the Demolition man!
10. Ok, This is the wildcard. (The Montclairs - Hung Up On Your Love) I don't know who the bassist was in this wonderful Northern Soul song, but I've never had such a reaction to any bass line as this. It's that frill mid verse, the descent into the bridge, but mainly the gorgeous line played alongside the lead vox in the chorus. First time I heard that I pulled my car over and dropped a few tears. Hard to say why, but I'm a Northern soul buff, and this is beautiful and, for me, what bass playing is all about.
lol...)
