Their moniker was based on John Lennon’s “Bad Finger Boogie” working title for “With A Little Help from My Friends” – though I prefer George’s revelation that it was inspired by a stripper who worked the Hamburg music scene as Helga Fabdinger. A gifted composer/singer, the late Tom Evans anchored the brilliant yet doomed Badfinger. Originally a guitarist for The Iveys, his bass playing cemented the classic line-up with Pete Ham, Joey Molland, and Mike Gibbins.

Akin to their Apple bosses, Evans and Badfinger were exemplary song players – rendering exactly what the compositions and recordings required harmonically, rhythmically, and aesthetically.

Tom Evans Sound & Vision…

“Baby Blue” https://youtu.be/9k_aj6b2xsA

“No Matter What” https://youtu.be/9x1MZEDQbtA

“Come and Get It” https://youtu.be/9tOnbeNAxdU

“Day After Day” https://youtu.be/XonFZjuyc6E

By Thomas Semioli

A revered session bassist, sideman, band-member, composer, recording artist, blogger, and photographer, among other endeavors who prolifically doubles on the Chapman Stick: Tony Levin began his musical journey as a classical bassist and tuba player, has been a pillar in Peter Gabriel’s various genre defying ensembles since 1978.

Dig Tony with Peter Gabriel https://youtu.be/05TVDCWRBog

In addition to leading his own groundbreaking bands (Stick Men, Bruford Levin Upper Extremities), Tony was a member of King Crimson for their pioneering latter day studio albums Discipline, Beat, Three of a Perfect Pair, and Thrak and continues to tour with Fripp and company on various anniversary treks.

Dig Tony with King Crimson: https://youtu.be/FhKJgqxNDD8

You also know Tony from his outstanding work on over 500 albums with artists including John Lennon (Double Fantasy), Paul Simon (One Trick Pony) Robert Fripp (Exposure), Pink Floyd (A Momentary Lapse of Reason), Alice Cooper (Welcome to My Nightmare), Lou Reed (Berlin), Todd Rundgren, Seal, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, and Carly Simon to name a few.

Tony is also renowned for his “funk fingers” which are modified drum sticks attached to his finger-tips which essentially pound the bass strings a la slap style.

Dig Tony’s “funk fingers” https://youtu.be/aUjXvAPjO5g

In addition to his Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame-worthy career as a bassist, Mr. Levin was among the World Wide Web’s first bloggers wherein he published road diaries of the various tours he participated in – which you can access via his www.papabear.com.

Also be sure to check out Tony’s work on TonyLevin.Com

Everything that’s been written about Sir Paul has been written, everything that’s been said, has been said…so allow me to say something new…

Of James Paul McCartney’s marvelous feats as a bassist, the two which never fail to impress me are his passages for “Do You Want to Know a Secret,” and “Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds” – especially in the chorus of the latter.

“Do You Want to Know a Secret?” https://youtu.be/uRQ7ecvU56k

The parts are technically simple – I could teach them to an able beginner in a few lessons. However Paul’s bass playing on those songs characterizes this extraordinary man and his music. In every phase of his storied career, Macca’s bass magic springs from his exquisite voice leading.

“Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds” https://youtu.be/naoknj1ebqI

His note choices defy custom and thus weave conventional chord changes together into a grand, multi-colored musical tapestry. And Paul renders it all by way of his splendid rhythmic intuition – played purely from the heart. I don’t know dance nor ballet from bullocks, but to my ears, the totality of Sir Paul’s bass artistry moves akin to Nureyev, Alvin Ailey, Fred & Ginger, and Gene Kelly.

My advice to pop music bassists, when you’re asked to contribute bass to a new composition, the first question you ask yourself is “what would Paul McCartney do here?”