Poll: Favorite 1960s-1970s Session Bassists

Just like the previous drummers thread, but with bassist this time. For the record, I only included the bass players whose work I'm familiar with. On this poll, I'm gonna go with Carl Radle and Donald "Duck" Dunn.

Radle played with Delaney & Bonnie, played on All Things Must Pass, Layla. He was also backing Leon Russell, and a long time bass player for Eric Clapton.

Duck, on the other hand, was a member of the legendary Booker T. & the M.G.'s, played on Otis Redding's albums, even backing him at the Monterey Pop Festival. And played bass for another great recordings.

You can vote for 3 bassists, let's do it.

 

Osborn, Knechtel, Voorman

 

Would you like to share some of your favorite recordings?

 

Dunn, Kaye, and Jamerson. Dunn for all the great Stax records he played on. Carol Kaye because she was one of the Wrecking Crew and played on countless sessions. Her bass line on "The Beat Goes On" makes the song work. James Jamerson because his bass playing was a defining element of the Motown sound. "Bernadette" is a great example of his playing.

 

I forgot to include Tim Drummond

 

James Jamerson
Donald "Duck" Dunn
Carol Kaye

Three amazing bassists who all played on millions of people's "favorite song" without much household name recognition. Defining players of the era who will live on forever in the tracks they helped bring into our lives.

 

You left out my favorite over all...

1.Phil Lesh
2.James Jamerson
3.Duck Dunn

 

Went with Duck, Chuck and Jamerson.

also cant leave out Bob Cranshaw on the jazz side. The main guy on all those fonky Sonny Rollins dates on Milestone.

 

Those were my picks as well.

 

I like Lesh a lot, but he wasn't a session bassist.

 

Lesh was guest bassist on many records & IMO that qualifies him for this thread

 

As well as the hook on Lee Morgan's The Sidewinder and lots of other dates on Blue Note.

 

https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/tommy_cogbill/credits/ Duck, Jamerson, Cogbill would be my three if he were on it.

 

James Jamerson
Duck Dunn
George Porter Jr. The Meters were the MGs funkier New Orleans cousins.

 

Osborn- his work with Hal Blaine on the 5th Dimension records and Jimmy Webb’s productions is just wonderful.

Jamerson- So many classic Motown sessions, but I totally love his playing on The Four Tops “Reach Out” and “Bernadette” and Gaye’s “What’s Going On”.

Hood- His sessions with Aretha Franklin, Traffic and Bob Seger.

 

Osborn - Everything That Touches You (The Association), Let the Sunshine in (The 5th Dimension)
Knetchel - Mr. Tambourine Man (The Byrds), Baby I'm-a Want You (Bread)
Voorman - Oh Yoko (John Lennon) You're So Vain (Carly Simon)

 

What - no Ray Pohlman?? He was absolutely one of the best studio bassists of the '60s, and was active well into the '70s, when he died. The picked, tic-tac bass on the verses of "Good Vibrations", as well as the bass parts on many Pet Sounds tracks (both often incorrectly attributed to Carol Kaye) alone warrants him being included here...

FYI - I'd personally hate to limit myself to three from the above list, but would feel somewhat better if the decades were separated out...SO -

'60s: Pohlman, Jamerson, Kaye DAMN - had to leave out Knechtel and Dunn! - no fair
'70s: Voorman ("You're So Vain", "Give Me Love", and "Oh My My" are all indicative of his genius!), Osborn (for the Carpenters alone, he deserves it!), Weeks (getting George Harrison funky - "Woman Don't You Cry For Me"!) DAMN - had to leave out Rainey and Radle! - no fair

 

Sorry guys, I missed some great bass players, both intentionally and accidentally.

Great choices! Those three lead the poll right now. Btw, since you use a Joni Mitchell avatar, why don't you mention Jaco Pastorius?

The funny thing is I really enjoy Dr. John's album, In the Right Place, and yeah, I forgot about the bass player

Sorry @danasgoodstuff I thought it was David Hood on those 1960s Aretha's '60s albums. I didn't realize it wasn't.

Let the Sunshine In is a fantastic track!

Great selection man.. Thanks. What do you think about the other players? Do you like them too?

 

I just picked the same three!

 

Jamerson, Kaye, Sklar.

 

Jamerson, Kaye, Rainey

If your answer didn't include Jamerson it's wrong.

 

This list needs Herbie Flowers and Dave Richmond!

In their absence, picked Duck, Jamerson and Radle.

 

Herbie Flowers. 'Walk on the Wildside' 'Rock On'[David Essex.]

 

I saw the poll choices and my mind immediately went "60s" rather than 70s. And as much as I love Jaco's playing with Joni, and I do, I haven't heard much of his work beyond that.

We're fortunate to have so many amazing bassists to choose from and listen to!