100 Best Bassist In The World

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 Gaye) (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: THRAK (King Crimson) (1995)
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: Disraeli Gears (Cream) (1967)
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: Pork Soda (Primus) (1993)
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, Howling 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: Number of the Beast (Iron Maiden) (1982)
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: Exodus (Bob Marley & The Wailers) (1977)
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: Spinners (The Spinners) (1972)
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: Machine Head (Deep Purple) (1972)
34. Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics, solo) - Essential record: Foxtrot (Genesis) (1972)
35. Paul Simonon (The Clash, other projects) - Essential record: London Calling (The Clash) (1979)
36. George Porter, Jr. (The Meters, Runnin' Pardners, session work) - Essential record: Rejuvenation (The Meters) (1974)
37. Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge, Beck Bogert & Appice) - Essential record: Vanilla Fudge (Vanilla Fudge) (1967)
38. Berry Oakley (Allman Brothers Band) - Essential record: At Fillmore East (Allman Brothers Band) (1971)
39. Rick James (solo) - Essential record: Street Songs (solo) (1981)
40. Andy Rourke (The Smiths, session work) - Essential record: Meat is Murder (The Smiths) (1985)
41. Bill Black (Elvis Presley, Bill Black's Combo) - Essential record: Elvis Presley (Elvis Presley) (1956)
42. Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order, session work) - Essential record: Closer (Joy Division) (1980)
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. Billy Sheehan (Mr Big, David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, Niacin, solo, session work) - Essential record: Eat 'Em and Smile (David Lee Roth) (1986)
48. Sting (The Police, solo) - Essential record: Synchronicity (The Police) (1983)
49. Simon Gallup (The Cure, other projects) - Essential record: Disintegration (The Cure) (1989)
50. Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) - Essential record: This Year's Model (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) (1978)

51. Joe Osborn (session work) - Essential record: The Age of Aquarius (The 5th Dimension) (1969)
52. Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, solo, session work) - Essential record: Passion and Warfare (Steve Vai) (1990)
53. Nick Lowe (Rockpile, Brinsley Schwarz, solo) - Essential record: Nick the Nife (solo) (1982)
54. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy, solo) - Essential record: Bad Reputation (Thin Lizzy) (1977)
55. Billy Gould (Faith No More, other projects) - Essential record: Angel Dust (Faith No More) (1992)
56. Bruce Foxton (The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers) - Essential record: All Mod Cons (The Jam) (1978)
57. John Myung (Dream Theater, Platypus, The Jelly Jam, other projects) - Essential record: Image and Words (Dream Theater) (1992)
58. Steve DiGiorgio (Death, Testament, Sadus, Control Denied, session work) - Essential record: Human (Death) (1991)
59. Klaus Flouride (Dead Kennedys) - Essential record: Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables (Dead Kennedys) (1980)
60. Kim Deal (Pixies) - Essential record: Doolittle (Pixies) (1989)
61. Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) - Essential record: Truth and Soul (Fishbone) (1988)
62. BB Dickerson (War, Eric Burdon & War, Lowrider Band) - Essential record: The World is a Ghetto (War) (1972)
63. Trevor Bolder (David Bowie, Uriah Heep, session work) - Essential record: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (David Bowie) (1972)
64. Jah Wobble (Public Image Ltd., solo, other projects) - Essential record: Metal Box, Second Edition (Public Image Ltd.) (1980)
65. Billy Bass Nelson (Funkadelic, Parliament, session work) - Essential record: Maggot Brain (Funkadelic) (1971)
66. Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival, Southern Pacific, session work) - Essential record: Willy and the Poor Boys (Creedence Clearwater Revival) (1969)
67. Dirk Lance (Incubus) - Essential record: S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Incubus) (1997)
68. Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant) - Essential record: Acquiring the Taste (Gentle Giant) (1971)
69. David Steel (The English Beat) - Essential record: What is Beat? (The English Beat) (1983)
70. Colin Moulding (XTC) - Essential record: Drums and Wires (XTC) (1980)
71. Marshall Lytle (Bill Haley & His Comets, The Jodimars) - Essential record: Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley & His Comets) (1955)
72. Eric Avery (Jane's Addiction, Polar Bear, other projects) - Essential record: Ritual De Lo Habitual (Jane's Addiction) (1990)
73. Mike Gordon (Phish, other projects) - Essential record: A Live One (Phish) (1995)
74. Dave Allen (Gang of Four, Shriekback, other projects) - Essential record: Entertainment! (Gang of Four) (1979)
75. Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, other projects) - Essential record: Mr. Bungle (Mr. Bungle) (1991)
76. Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash) - Essential record: Argus (Wishbone Ash) (1972)
77. Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead, Hawkwind, other projects) - Essential record: Space Ritual (Hawkwind) (1973)
78. P-Nut (311) - Essential record: Music (311) (1993)
79. Rick Danko (The Band, Bob Dylan, solo) - Essential record: The Band (The Band) (1969)
80. Roy Estrada (Mothers of Invention, Little Feat, other projects) - Essential record: Freak Out! (Mothers of Invention) (1966)
81. John McVie (Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers) - Essential record: Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) (1977)
82. Justin Chancellor (Tool, Peach) - Essential record: Lateralus (Tool) (2001)
83. Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) - Essential record: Rage Against the Machine (Rage Against the Machine) (1992)
84. Joe Lally (Fugazi, Ataxia, other projects) - Essential record: 13 Songs (Fugazi) (1989)
85. Gary "Mani" Mounfield (The Stone Roses, Primal Scream) - Essential record: The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses) (1989)
86. Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield) - Essential record: Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield (Buffalo Springfield) (1969)
87. Holger Czukay (Can, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Ege Bamyasi (Can) (1972)
88. Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree, other projects) - Essential record: Lightbulb Sun (Porcupine Tree) (2000)
89. Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta, Racer X) - Essential record: Frances the Mute (The Mars Volta) (2005)
90. Matt Freeman (Rancid, Operation Ivy) - Essential record: ...And Out Come the Wolves (Rancid) (1995)
91. David Ellefson (Megadeth, other projects) - Essential record: Rust in Peace (Megadeth) (1990)
92. Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam, Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, other projects) - Essential record: Ten (Pearl Jam) (1991)
93. Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Metallica, Infectious Grooves, other projects) - Essential record: The Plague That Makes Your Body Move... It's Infectious Grooves (Infectious Grooves) (1991)
94. Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band) - Essential record: Under the Table and Dreaming (Dave Matthews Band) (1994)
95. Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne) - Essential record: L.D. 50 (Mudvayne) (2000)
96. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd, solo) - Essential record: Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) (1973)
97. Ian Hill (Judas Priest) - Essential record: Killing Machine/Hell Bent for Leather (Judas Priest) (1978)
98. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth, Free Kitten, other projects) - Essential record: Dirty (Sonic Youth) (1992)
99. Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) - Essential record: OK Computer (Radiohead) (1997)
100. Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Appetite for Destruction (Guns N' Roses) (1987)

Honorable mentions

Peter Quaife (The Kinks) - Essential record: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (The Kinks) (1968)
Mike Howlett (Gong) - Essential record: You (Gong) (1973)
Dave Alexander (The Stooges) - Essential record: Fun House (The Stooges) (1970)
Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, session work) - Essential record: The Division Bell (Pink Floyd) (1994)
Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen) - Essential record: Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen) (1975)
Doug Ferguson (Camel) - Essential record: Mirage (Camel) (1974)
Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) - Essential record: Toys in the Attic (Aerosmith) (1975)
Richard Sinclair (Caravan, Hatfield and the North) - Essential record: In the Land of Grey and Pink (Caravan) (1971)
Jeffrey Hammond (Jethro Tull) - Essential record: Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull) (1972)
Andrew Bodnar (The Rumour) - Essential record: Squeezing out Sparks (Graham Parker & The Rumour) (1979)
Mike Starr (Alice in Chains) - Essential record: Dirt (Alice in Chains) (1992)
Chris Wolstenholme (Muse) - Essential record: Origin of Symmetry (Muse) (2001)
Peter Cetera (Chicago) - Essential record: Chicago (Chicago) (1970)
Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, other projects) - Essential record: Blues for the Red Sun (Kyuss) (1992)
Richard Hell (The Voidoids, Heartbreakers, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Blank Generation (The Voidoids) (1977)