I did one for guitarists, so why not one for my favorite instrument? The most underrated instrument in rock music, what gives rock and pop music it's groove and it's soul.
I tried to be as objective as possible and shine a light on all genres. Influence, impact, popularity, originality and skill make up the criteria.
1. James Jamerson (Funk Brothers, session work) -
Essential record: What's Going On? (Marvin Ga
ye) (1971)
2. John Entwistle (The Who) -
Essential record: Live at Leeds, Deluxe Edition (The Who) (1970, 2001)
3. Larry Graham (Sly & The Family Stone) -
Essential record: There's a Riot Going On (Sly & The Family Stone) (1971)
4. Tony Levin (King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment, Peter Gabriel, solo, other projects, session work) -
Essential record: So (Peter Gabriel) (1986)
5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings, solo) -
Essential record: Abbey Road (The Beatles) (1969)
6. Chris Squire (Yes, solo) -
Essential record: Fragile (Yes) (1972)
7. Bootsy Collins (Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band, James Brown, solo, other projects) -
Essential record: Mothership Connection (Parliament) (1976)
8. Jack Bruce (Cream, solo, other projects) -
Essential record: Wheels of Fire (Cream) (1968)
9. Geddy Lee (Rush) -
Essential record: Moving Pictures (Rush) (1981)
10. Donald "Duck" Dunn (Booker T & The M.G.'s, session work) -
Essential record: Otis Blue, Otis Redding Sings Soul (Otis Redding) (1965)
11. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers, session work) -
Essential record: Mother's Milk (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (1989)
12. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath, solo) -
Essential record: Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath) (1970)
13. Les Claypool (Primus, Oysterhead, solo, other projects) -
Essential record: Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Primus) (1991)
14. Louis Johnson (Brothers Johnson, session work) -
Essential record: Off the Wall (Michael Jackson) (1979)
15. Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) -
Essential record: Live/Dead (Grateful Dead) (1969)
16. Willie Dixon (Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Howlin Wolf, Bo Diddley, solo -
Essential record: The Great Twenty-Eight (Chuck Berry) (1982)
17. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, solo) -
Essential record: Led Zeppelin II (Led Zeppelin) (1970)
18. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) -
Essential record: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Iron Maiden) (1988)
19. Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges, solo) -
Essential record: Contemplating the Engine Room (solo) (1997)
20. John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Asia, U.K., solo, other projects) -
Essential record: Starless and Bible Black (King Crimson) (1974)
21. Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Wailers Band, solo) -
Essential record: Catch a Fire (Bob Marley & The Wailers) (1973)
22. Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) -
Essential record: Bless It's Pointed Little Head (Jefferson Airplane) (1969)
23. Cliff Burton (Metallica) -
Essential record: Master of Puppets (Metallica) (1986)
24. Bob Babbitt (Funk Brothers, session work) -
Essential record: Sky's the Limit (The Temptations) (1971)
25. Carol Kaye (session work) -
Essential record: Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys) (1966)
26. John Deacon (Queen) -
Essential record: The Game (Queen) (1980)
27. Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, King Crimson) -
Essential record: Brain Salad Surgery (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) (1973)
28. Billy Cox (Band of Gypsys, Jimi Hendrix) -
Essential record: Band of Gypsys (Band of Gypsys) (1970)
29. Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) -
Essential record: Tower of Power (Tower of Power) (1973)
30. Chuck Rainey (session work) -
Essential record: Aja (Steely Dan) (1977)
31 & 32. Bernard Odum and "Sweet" Charles Sherrell (James Brown, session work) -
Essential record: 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (James Brown) (1991)
33. Roger Glover (Deep Purple, Rainbow, solo) -
Essential record: Made in Japan (Deep Purple) (1972)
34. Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics, solo) -
Essential record: Foxtrot (Genesis) (1972)
35. Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order, session work) -
Essential record: Closer (Joy Division) (1980)
36. George Porter, Jr. (The Meters, Runnin' Pardners, session work) -
Essential record: Rejuvenation (The Meters) (1974)
37. Mick Karn (Japan) -
Essential record: Tin Drum (Japan) (1981)
38. Berry Oakley (Allman Brothers Band) -
Essential record: At Fillmore East (Allman Brothers Band) (1971)
39. Sting (The Police, solo) -
Essential record: Zenyatta Mondatta (The Police) (1980)
40. Paul Simonon (The Clash, other projects) -
Essential record: London Calling (The Clash) (1979)
41. Andy Rourke (The Smiths, session work) -
Essential record: Meat is Murder (The Smiths) (1985)
42. Bill Black (Elvis Presley, Bill Black's Combo) -
Essential record: Elvis Presley (Elvis Presley) (1956)
43. Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club) -
Essential record: Fear of Music (Talking Heads) (1979)
44. Bernard Edwards (Chic) -
Essential record: Risque (Chic) (1979)
45. Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings) -
Essential record: Let it Bleed (Rolling Stone) (1969)
46. Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire, solo) -
Essential record: That's the Way of the World (Earth Wind & Fire) (1975)
47. Rick James (solo) -
Essential record: Street Songs (solo) (1981)
48. Billy Sheehan (Mr Big, David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, Niacin, solo, session work) -
Essential record: Eat 'Em and Smile (David Lee Roth) (1986)
49. Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) -
Essential record: This Year's Model (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) (1978)
50. Jah Wobble (Public Image Ltd., solo, other projects) -
Essential record: Metal Box, Second Edition (Public Image Ltd.) (1980)