Eric Clapton

James Jamerson of course is in a world of his own, although most of what he did was not strictly speaking "pop-rock."

 

Yet you IDed the person I listed. Might not be a fraction as lame as you think.

 

No love for Yngwie Malmsteen?

 

Only from himself.

 

Harrison and McCartney were outstanding. As a bass player, McCartney has been called one of the best in the business. I would agree. He's pretty damn good.

 

Google. I was hoping it would be a new talented guitarist for me to listen to.

 

Just read this thread for the first time. Sorry to see that so many posters with obviously a good ear for music limit themselves so narrowly in what they like to listen to.
Check out the first John Mayall and the Blues Breakers album sometime. Clapton was 17 when it was recorded, and if it was released today, he'd be an overnight sensation all over again.
Once my son when he was a teenager borrowed my car and listened to the CD that was in the player. "Gosh, Dad, that was really good. What was it?" It was with some pleasure I told him it was Derek and the Dominoes.
Good music lasts, and people who weren't around when it was first recorded like it too.

 

I now feel even better about my dislike of Clapton.

 

I love the Beatles. I love Harrison. I love McCartney's Beatles' stuff.
They just weren't outstanding players.
McCartney was a good bass player. He had an interesting melodic approach to the instrument that was unusual for a pop musician.
He was a good multi-instrumentalist and one of the biggest rock stars of all time.

But there's no 'Paul McCartney is to bass playing as Eric Clapton is to guitar playing' analogy.

 

Paul McCartney ranks in most top 10 lists for greatest rock bass guitarists.

 

I've seen his name on many lists. I just don't agree.
In most cases, as with the discussion here, people are unable to separate is his success as a rock musician from any technical excellence on the instrument.

As an example, I love Keith Richards. I love a lot of his material and I love his guitar playing.
However, I am able to distinguish that Richards doesn't have the superior technical playing abaility of Clapton, Hendrix, Beck, or many of the other people discussed on this thread.
I am a Keith Richards fan, but that doesn't mean I can't make that distinction. The distinction doesn't lessen my appreciation of Keith Richards.

However, many people will not or cannot make that distinction. That's why Keith Richards ends up on lists of great guitar players even though he is not a great guitar player.

McCartney falls into the same realm. People refuse to separate their love for his music and respect for his stature from any serious analysis of his playing.

 

McCartney's bass playing stands out because of its syncopation. He doesn't drown out other musicians like some other bass players, such as Flea, does. And I'm a big Flea fan. McCartney is basic and he does it extremely well. That's why many rank him so highly.