Paul as a bass player

[Jeff in Ohio]

I had the good fortune of receiving the remastered "Yellow Submarine" CD for Christmas, and thanks to the clarity of the remasters I was blown away by the bass playing on Hey Bulldog (with headphones especially). It's long been said that Paul is/was the greatest bass player in rock, playing a melody within a melody, and this song sure makes that case. The video is fun to watch because the guys are having a good time, probably one of their last really good times in the studio (witness the depressing let it be sessions a few months later).

Anyway, enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVUjJZDVd4U

[markfeber@yahoo.com]

great video and yeah i have always thought he was the best bassist. maybe not the flashiest but he lays down such amazing grooves.

[KaiMcCart]

I really look up to Paul as a bassist. I have just recieved a fender p. Bass because of Paul McCartney's inspiraton. Paul has taught me many different things in life, and i hope one day how to play the bass will be amung them.

[jgkojak]

Well, Paul IS the greatest bass player in rock 'n roll.

Some will argue Motown bass player James Jamerson has had as much or more influence as Paul--
but after Paul and Jamerson, there isn't anyone really even close. Basically, if you looked at who has played bass on the most Top 10 hits, Jamerson and Paul are all alone at the top. If you look beyond the charts, Paul has certainly played on many more influential recordings.

Next would probably be Entwhistle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson

James Lee Jamerson (January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983) was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list session musician credits on their releases until 1971), and he has become regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Jamerson's discography at Motown reads as a catalog of soul hits of the 1960s and 1970s. His work includes Motown hits such as, among hundreds of others, "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker & the All Stars, "For Once in My Life", "I Was Made To Love Her" by Stevie Wonder, "Going to a Go-Go" by The Miracles, "My Girl" by The Temptations, "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Gladys Knight and the Pips, and later by Marvin Gaye, and most of the album What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Bernadette" by the Four Tops, and "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes. According to fellow Funk Brothers in the 2002 documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Gaye was desperate to have Jamerson play on "What's Going On", and went to several bars to find the bassist. When he did, he brought Jamerson to the studio, who then played the classic line while lying flat on his back. He is reported to have played on some 95% of Motown recordings between 1962 and 1968. He eventually performed on nearly 30 No. 1 pop hits—surpassing the record commonly attributed to The Beatles. On the R&B charts, nearly 70 of his performances went to the top.

[MartinD18]

No one touches Macca. Macca's Jamerson... "Goodnight Tonight."

[mccartney76]

No bigger Sir Paul fan than myself but you guys are kidding right? There are several better Bass players, perhaps not as famous or who provide a soundtrack of your youth, but better. John Entwhistle can frankly play rings around Paul as does Stanley Clark and Les Claypool. There are more but I don't want to come off sounding like I'm bashing because I'm not. Paul is great and will always be my favorite bass player

[mccartney76]

BTW - If you want to hear Paul laying down serious bass, give "Rain" a listen!

[EddieV]

Paperback Writer is awesome too.

[maccafan]

Paul McCartney is one of the greatest bass players, and even other very famous bass players say so.

Larry Graham is an absolutely awesome bass player, and so is alvin Mills, check them both out on Youtube.

[Tiger]

I had the chance to watch Victor Wooten give a lecture / demo on bass playing in a fairy intimate atmosphere at the lesson factory a couple years ago and he was absolutely mind blowingly talented. (and a really cool guy on top of it all.) Having said that, Paul is always first in my mind when ever the topic of "best bass player ever" is brought up.