THE BASS 1970 - 1979 | The Players You Need to Know

So this lesson is a little different.

In fact, I'm not sure we can call it a lesson. It's more of a snap shot of the history of bass.

Lemme explain.

A few weeks back I released a video that broke down the years of bass from 1935 through to 1969 and it exploded on my YouTube channel racking up over a quarter million views in just a few weeks...

So, I'm back with another one for you.

This time we're looking at the years of 1970-79...

We're talking Disco, Funk, Metal, Jazz Fusion, and everything in-between...

And most importantly... once you've watched the video make sure to leave a comment and lemme know these 2 things:

1. Did I miss anyone out?
2. What other historical style bass videos would you like to see?

As always, see you in the shed...

Scott :)

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[devinebass]

Whoa... thanks for all these awesome suggestions guys... you ROCK! Quick note about the bassists missing from this video: 

There were a good hand full of bassists that could've been included in this video, but because their careers really took off in the 80's I held off putting them in this one and will be featuring them in the upcoming 1980-89 video...


Thanks for watching guys, see ya soon with the next one! :)

[Cubehead]

I think Greg Lake's work with King Crimson and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer deserves a mention, as well as John Wetton's with KC, particularly on 'Red'

[JanVoo]

Oh man, please make a Spotify or Apple Music playlist on this subject! This really is educationally fun to me, love it!

[jodyhendrix]

I love this video! Thanks for making it. If I were add a bass player from that era it would be John Paul Jones, he is not only a world class bass player but a world class musician and song writer. Led Zeppelin would not have been the same without him, and rock and roll would not be the same with out Led Zeppelin.

[MrTonysoundsgood]

Bruce Thomas of Elvis Costello and the Attractions is my bass hero. A really underrated genius.

[robertthurman]

I am 71 and live in the US. I've been a rock/hard rock guy my whole life. My all time group is a British group that only had 1 big hit here. Partly due to very bad record labels here and the fact they were never able to complete a US tour, they have been forgotten. When this video started and the first image that popped up was Andy Fraser I almost cried. Thankfully Free have always been held in high esteem by musicians and are mentioned in article and videos like this . Thank you.

[desvonbladet]

Dee Murray's work on Elton John's _Goodbye Yellow Brick Road_ is a masterclass in up-front but never intrusive melodic but groovy bass.

[lupevasquez]

So glad to see Willie Weeks on the list! He's my hero!

[cnilecnile]

Berry Oakley and Lamar Williams of The Allman Brothers Band.Berry's opening riff to "Whipping Post is required reading, and his lines in "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" are taught at most serious music colleges today- Lamar went on to form Sea Level, with Jaimo and Chuck Levelle, and put out some awesome work.

[DAngelotti]

Bruce Foxton - The Jam
Graham Mahby - Joe Jackson

[PhilipBallGarry]

Talking about the UK Punk Rock movement - how about the brilliant Norman Watt-Roy of the Blockheads? His bassline on "Hit me with your rhythm sticks" is one of his finest. Dury was a hard taskmaster by all accounts and his perfectionism (a bit like that of Donald Fagen) ensured the amazingly tight sound of the blockheads

[zaireblackshire]

Hey Scott! Chris Squire was amazing on "Heart of The Sunrise". Helluva Arrangement. Whole band kicked ass....Yes!

[gatekeeper]

Geddy Lee, - That was a huge oversight. I'm sure you'll mention him in the '80's video.
Tony Levin, - Shock the Monkey wouldn't even have worked without his bass playing.
Dougie Thompson, - It's sad that nobody mentioned this wonderful bass player from Supertramp.
Roger Waters, - So much great work on the bass, but "Money" in particular comes to mind.
Steve Harris, - Phantom of the Opera, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, The Trooper, Two Minutes to Midnight, ...


There are definitely others, but these are the ones who come to mind right now.

[BearfootBob]

Trevor Bolder? Played on most of the Ziggy-era Bowie music, and joined Uriah Heep in 1976. A true rags to stardom, if not riches, story. I don't know if you dig his playing, Scott, but I have found him a subtly awesome bassist. He carries on a lot of chromatic movement between the chords, like a real intuitive sense of leading tone harmony colors most of his lines and adds a classical / jazz touch to his blues foundation. Like the bassline under the chorus of "Moonage Daydream". Note also that many of the tunes he recorded with Bowie were 1st or 2nd takes.

[MrTw]

I don't even play bass, but I love this video. A friend of mine says that we all "stand on the shoulders of giants". This is what this video is all about.

[ratroute]

Felix Pappalardi is so underrated he would be left off a list of the Top Fifty bass players of WOODSTOCK!
That guy could play and produce and sing at level many(most) couldn't match!
Nantucket Sleighride from Mountain shows it all sweet vocals, original bass and song writing and production skills, a complete package.
Produced for the Youngbloods, Cream, Mountain, The Vagrants and many others.

[gregorymerriman]

Thanks Scott . This is brilliant, as always, but the most difficult era to capture everyone as it was the apex of the evolution of our instrument.
I must state in caps (sorry) PERCY JONES of BrandX.
He was doing amazing and groundbreaking things on his fretless P and then Wall Mark I that coincided with Jacos emergence.
Moroccan Roll, and particularly Masques are albums that can’t be missed. I must listen to the track Masques weekly to function, and the track Black Moon will be the soundtrack to my passage to the afterlife.
Percy was a major influence to Mick Karn, and they both embodied the most artistically abstract and unbridled approach to the instrument that has occurred.
Mick Karn is another beautiful bass beast in his own right.
Thx for putting these great decade tributes up.

[SpammerOvTheGods]

The punk section was pretty dang good. XTC's Colin Moulding should've been there, but still good.

[paulaustin]

Seeing Brand X on The Old Grey Whistle Test blew me away...In fairly esteemed company Percy Jones quietly smashed it . Quality

[mdturnerinoz]

Of all that you mentioned, Chuck Rainey will remain my fave icon. I took 4 one hour lessons from him at Guitar Showcase in San Jose Ca in June 1987. Not only a phenomenal player/teacher but a really, really nice guy. I know I was not his best student, but he was ever so patient with me. His teaching so inspired me I ended up in multiple bands at the same time afterward and got an A+ when I took music again at De Anza Junior College in Cupertino Ca. (I graduated High School with a C-).