A bass album that really affected you?

[Angel]

I was at Art college in Norwich having the time of my life 82-85. I found a lot of great music, saw lots of great gigs and probably did a bit of art as well somewhere. 

Out of the blue I just remembered today an album that blew my mind when I bought it in back in 85. I literally haven't heard it for decades as my copy is vinyl, and we have had no room in our house for my record player over the past 27 years of marriage. I need to buy a copy on CD!!!

Anyway, yeah so this is it - Stanley Clarke, Find out!

I absolutely adored that active bass sound. The playing was immense and the songs were catchy and vibrant. I bought a bunch of Stanley Clarke records afterward, but this one has always been my favourite. 

 

[Len_derby]

For me it was the first Back Door album with Colin Hodgkinson thrapping his Precision.

I was a student at York at the time and had the good fortune to see them play live at the Lion Inn , Blakey Ridge up on the moors. They were almost a house band.

[leschirons]

Fish out of water for me (Chris Squire)

Great bass playing but seriously well written numbers.

[oldslapper]

Unorthodox Behaviour Brand x ‘76?

Went out and bought an unlined fretless as a result. Played one ever since. 

[ezbass]

Not really a bass album per se, but Paul Young’s No Parlez was a revelation to my ears. I’ve been a fan of fretless and Pino ever since.

[mikel]

The Yes Album. I had never heard bass sound like that, played like that,  and such an important part of the composition. Back in the day it was a revelation, to me at least.

[Crawford13]

Not a solo bass album, but Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the album that got me obsessed with bass. Can still play the whole album.

[ambient]

The first solo bassist I heard was Michael Manring, that was when I heard bass being played as an instrument, rather than fulfilling a function. The bass album that really affected me was Steve Lawson’s Grace and Gratitude, which is still my favourite by him. It’s like listening to a Mark Rothko painting. Beautiful solo bass playing, woven into a sublime ambient soundscape.

[BrunoBass]

14 minutes ago, Crawford13 said:

Not a solo bass album, but Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the album that got me obsessed with bass. Can still play the whole album.

+1 on that 

[4000]

3 hours ago, Angel said:

I was at Art college in Norwich having the time of my life 82-85. I found a lot of great music, saw lots of great gigs and probably did a bit of art as well somewhere. 

Out of the blue I just remembered today an album that blew my mind when I bought it in back in 85. I literally haven't heard it for decades as my copy is vinyl, and we have had no room in our house for my record player over the past 27 years of marriage. I need to buy a copy on CD!!!

Anyway, yeah so this is it - Stanley Clarke, Find out!

I absolutely adored that active bass sound. The playing was immense and the songs were catchy and vibrant. I bought a bunch of Stanley Clarke records afterward, but this one has always been my favourite. 

 

I bought that when it came out. Some great playing on it. 

My “solo bass” album was also Stanley. Bought it the same day as Jaco’s first. Expected to prefer Jaco’s, but it was no contest. This remains one of my favourite albums, probably the only “solo bass” album anywhere near.

 

[paul_5]

Primus’ Sailing the Seas of Cheese for me.

Saw them when they were supporting Rush, but their sound was terrible. I decided to investigate and was not sorry!

[EJWW]

17 minutes ago, paul_5 said:

Primus’ Sailing the Seas of Cheese for me.

Saw them when they were supporting Rush, but their sound was terrible. I decided to investigate and was not sorry!

Rush supported by Primus. 

Oh yes 😎

[Bluewine]

3 hours ago, oldslapper said:

Unorthodox Behaviour Brand x ‘76?

Went out and bought an unlined fretless as a result. Played one ever since. 

My high school buddy and drummer was playing drums for Brand X in 76. Yankee Chuck Burgi.

Blue

[Bluewine]

Meet The Beatles 1964 .The unmistakable sound of the Gernan made Hofner bass. I bought a German made Hofner Club a few years ago. It's everything I dreamed it would be

Blue 

[Frank Blank]

None of them strictly ‘bass albums' but certainly the most influential in a bass sense for me...

 

Edited September 24, 2019 by Frank Blank

[Reggaebass]

I was 14 years old when I heard this, and I’m still playing it now 🙂

[Bill Yellow]

30 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

My high school buddy and drummer was playing drums for Brand X in 76. Yankee Chuck Burgi.

Blue

I think Burgi was with them 77-79.

Unorthodox Behaviour was 1975 and of course had a young man by the name of Phil Collins on drums.

Percy Jones' bass on that album tho...!

[MGB]

This is just such a great musical album with all players being in topform but for me as a bassplayer Jeff Berlin stood out even more.

[Leonard Smalls]

Bootsy's "Stretchin' Out"

 

 

[Coilte]

I have always admired the late great Glenn Cornick and his beautiful lyrical bass lines on the early 'Tull albums..especially "Stand Up". 

 

 

Edited September 24, 2019 by Coilte

[uk_lefty]

Pearl Jam, Ten. Not a "bass album" but some sublime bass playing. At the time I was looking at a new bass for my 18th and this album confirmed you can play rock with a Fretless. So I got a Fretless. I was playing a lot of Hendrix, Sabbath, Pearl Jam at the time so it helped me be more creative in my playing under these styles and fill out the sound of a three piece. 

The first solo bassist album I got was a Jaco live album, Invitation. The Chicken, Amerika, great tracks and some accessible stuff you can actually play yourself in amongst all the wizardry. Set me off on a love of using bass to drive the melody rather than playing supporting riffs and fills. It helped having already bought a Fretless

[4000]

12 hours ago, paul_5 said:

Primus’ Sailing the Seas of Cheese for me.

Saw them when they were supporting Rush, but their sound was terrible. I decided to investigate and was not sorry!

I first saw them supporting Rush on the Roll the Bones tour. To be honest I thought they blew a Rush offstage, and I’m a Rush fan.

[4000]

If we’re just talking albums with influential bass, rather than bass albums per se, then this was my biggest influence:

 

[Al Krow]

Loving this thread! 

[mikel]

1 hour ago, Coilte said:

I have always admired the late great Glenn Cornick and his beautiful lyrical bass lines on the early 'Tull albums..especially "Stand Up". 

 

 

+1.  If I want to hear melodic bass lines that often define the track I listen to Glen on early Tull stuff. With Clive Bunker they were a superb rhythm section.