Horace Panter

Horace Panter, bassist for The Specials. I could not possibly love the bass playing on this song more than I do -- maximum awesomeness achieved:

Too Much Too Young

Graham Maby

Joe Jackson Band bassist Graham Maby's incredible chops reached out and grabbed me when Look Sharp! was released back in 1979. His playing is as much the focal point of the songs as Joe's piano. Something about his style and tone on this song reminds me of John Entwistle's solo on "My Generation".

I had the great good fortune to see Graham perform live with They Might Be Giants a decade or so ago -- man, can that guy play.

Baby Stick Around

John Munson

"Who?" I hear you asking. John Munson, late of Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare, is a fantastic player in the McCartney mold. His playing is always melodic and inventive, treating the bass as a lead instrument without overpowering the song. Here's a favorite of mine, from the first Semisonic e.p., Pleasure:

Sculpture Garden

Colin Moulding

OK, this next series of posts will feature my all-time favorite bass players. I think these guys (and a few ladies) have certain similarities, but each has his/her own recognizable style. Today's star is XTC's Colin Moulding, one of the most endlessly inventive and melodic players ever. These songs are a few of my favorites, but you really can't go wrong with any Moulding track.

Earn Enough For Us

Love On A Farmboy's Wages

The Mayor Of Simpleton

Lee Sklar

Here's the song that made me decide to create this series of posts. I hadn't heard this song in years -- back when I was in high school, my bass teacher gave me an assignment to learn the bass part to James Taylor's song, "Your Smiling Face" (bass by Lee Sklar). To this day, I believe there's no better way to truly appreciate a player's originality and musicianship than to transcribe and learn their part. Sklar played on so many sessions over the past four decades, it would be impossible to overstate his influence. His part simply makes this song for me - whenever I play it, I have to hit repeat.

Your Smiling Face