# The best electric bassist of all time. Carol Kaye? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396 "2014-11-02T21:50:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/1 "2014-11-02T21:50:33Z")
I’m chagrined that I didn’t know her name. This skinny blonde white gal did the funky Shaft bass lines. 😛 learn something new every day. :eek: :eek: Yeah that’s an impressive resume. 🆒 [http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/](http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/) > [@](#): > > Carol Kaye is said to be the most recorded bassist in history, with a purported 10,000-plus tracks to her credit. > **[5 Unknown People Who Secretly Made All Your Favorite Music](https://www.cracked.com/article_21660_5-unknown-people-who-secretly-made-all-your-favorite-music.html)** > > What sucks about the entertainment industry is that usually a very small group of very pretty people get all of the credit for work done by an army of talented folks behind the scenes. > [@](#): > > She was there, because she was the bassist of her era. And when we say “the bassist,” we mean she was apparently the only one – she turns up on almost every album. She is literally one of the most recorded musicians of all time. > > Starting as a teenage jazz guitarist, she was asked to pound out some bass after the intended pluckmeister didn’t show up at a recording session. From then on, she was the go-to name whenever a cool-ass bassline was needed. For example, The Doors had no bassist unless you count Kaye, who’s all over “Light My Fire” and probably anywhere else they could stick her. You can hear her on Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers. She’s also worked with Simon & Garfunkel, played for the Beach Boys ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/2 "2014-11-02T21:59:09Z")
James Jamerson Larry Graham John Entwistle Jaco Stanley Clarke ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/3 "2014-11-02T22:12:25Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > James Jamerson > Larry Graham > John Entwistle > Jaco > Stanley Clarke Yeah, Carol will have to get in line behind at least them. I’d also add: Duck Dunn Rob Wright Jack Bruce Berry Oakley Larry Taylor Mike Watt Peter Hook ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/4 "2014-11-02T22:24:07Z")
I’ve often wondered why they use an electric bass in the studio. Seems like a big stand up bass gives such a richer tone. It should consider how big a wooden resonating cavity they have. I know they aren’t practical for gigging. But storing one in a studio’s instrument room wouldn’t be a big deal. Roy Huskey, Jr. played stand up bass for decades. Played with Emmylou Harris and many others. Sam Bush recorded a tribute, “Song for Roy”, with help from Jon Randall, Emmylou Harris, and Byron House after Roy’s death. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy\_Huskey,\_Jr](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Huskey,_Jr)… ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/5 "2014-11-02T22:32:20Z")
Tal Wilkenfeld is making a name for herself. [Here with Beck.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLmCLYojNGI) Obligatory wiki: [Tal Wilkenfeld - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tal_Wilkenfeld) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/6 "2014-11-02T22:37:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve often wondered why they use an electric bass in the studio. Seems like a big stand up bass gives such a richer tone. It should consider how big a wooden resonating cavity they have. I know they aren’t practical for gigging. But storing one in a studio’s instrument room wouldn’t be a big deal. Because while the upright provides a nice tone, it doesn’t have much in the way of attack. Even when you have upright players in the early days, their part is often being doubled by an electric bass player or a baritone guitar. Plus, as you mentioned, an upright isn’t very loud. In the early days, the recording mix is determined by how far each instrument is from the microphone. Getting an upright bass and a drum set balanced must have been a trial. Fender providing amplification was a godsend. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/7 "2014-11-02T22:37:48Z")
Jack Casady. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/8 "2014-11-02T22:43:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m chagrined that I didn’t know her name. This skinny blonde white gal did the funky Shaft bass lines. 😛 > > learn something new every day. :eek: :eek: Yeah that’s an impressive resume. 🆒 > [http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/](http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-18/music/ace-of-bass-carol-kaye/) > > [5 Unknown People Who Secretly Made All Your Favorite Music | Cracked.com](http://www.cracked.com/article_21660_5-unknown-people-who-secretly-made-all-your-favorite-music.html) The Shaft bass line isn’t particularly impressive, but her resume certainly is. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/9 "2014-11-02T22:44:14Z")
Victor Wooten. He teamed with Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller to form the SMV band, and toured as three lead bassists. Fascinating concert. Carol Kaye was part of the [Wrecking Crew](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_%28music%29), and they all need to be recognized as greats. I recommend the documentary about them, called, what else, [The Wrecking Crew](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_%282008_film%29). But let’s not pretend that Kaye was the only Doors bassist. A two-second search shows that Jerry Scheff, Doug Lubahn, Harvey Brooks, Kerry Magness, Lonnie Mack, Larry Knechtel, Leroy Vinnegar, and Ray Neapolitan did session work for them. Don’t use Cracked as a source. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/10 "2014-11-02T22:48:47Z")
Jack Casady Duck Dunn Stanley Clarke Jon Camp John Entwistle John McVie She gets points for being female and being prolific, but no way is she the best of all time. Not even close. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/11 "2014-11-02T22:51:42Z")
I’d also like to add: all of the claims I’ve seen of Carol Kaye being the greatest are based (heh, bass) off of her being hired as a session player more often than any other. I don’t know of any other art form other than being a session bass player where being the most prolific would be presented as evidence of the greatest. As a counterexample: [Dame Barbara Carltand](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dame_Barbara_Cartland) has supposedly written more novels than any other author, but I have never heard anyone hold her up as the greatest author. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/12 "2014-11-02T22:54:13Z")
From the alternative era, let’s not forget Dave Allen of Gang of Four, Flea, or Les Claypool. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/13 "2014-11-02T22:58:51Z")
Session players greatest asset is being able to work fast. They can come in and do several songs in a day. I saw interviews with Glen Campbell and other Wrecking Crew members. They were going at it in 12 hour days. Producing an incredible amount of quality recordings. I agree that doesn’t necessarily mean they were the greatest ever at playing their instruments. They were really good considering the limited time they were allowed on each song. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/14 "2014-11-02T23:27:25Z")
Well, it does also give a stat to rate them by, even if it’s not necessarily useful. And I’d like to clarify, she’s very good, and important. But to claim that she’s the greatest really discounts the playing of a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/15 "2014-11-02T23:32:20Z")
The 49ers offensive line is really really bad at pass protection. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/16 "2014-11-02T23:41:47Z")
Yeah, its really hard to say anyone is the best. Different players have different strengths. glad I put the Carole Kaye? in my thread title. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/17 "2014-11-03T00:06:26Z")
Victor Wooten. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/18 "2014-11-03T00:38:24Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > The Shaft bass line isn’t particularly impressive, but her resume certainly is. It’s worth mentioning that in recent years Carol has credited herself for sessions she never took part in. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > But let’s not pretend that Kaye was the only Doors bassist. Case in point. Personally I think she’s just a little confused, as her resume hardly needs any padding. She was an amazing musician. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/19 "2014-11-03T01:15:39Z")
Carol Kaye probably did not play bass on any Doors recording, let alone “Light My Fire,” which featured Larry Knechtel. ---
**Author:** ![I-VI-ii-V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c89c15/32.png) [@I-VI-ii-V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I-VI-ii-V)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396/20 "2014-11-03T01:46:12Z")
I’ve taken a couple of bass lessons from Carol Kaye. This is just my opinion… CK could and can still play her ass off. Not just rock, but all styles, especially jazz. That is where she got her start. Her long list of credits is amazing, however I think some of her claims are clearly not true. She is a very hyperbolic person who tends to exaggerate. She is very dogmatic regarding her teaching and methods. Her way is the ONLY way. All other methods are simply wrong. To me, that is very off-putting. That being said, if I had time to devote to serious study she would be the first phone call I would make. She is generous with her time and really wants to pass on knowledge. Check out her forum at [www.carolkaye.com](http://www.carolkaye.com) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-electric-bassist-of-all-time-carol-kaye/703396.md?page=2)