By Thomas Semioli

To my recollection, he was dubbed “Rick the Bass Player” on the Howard Stern Show during one of several raucous Joe Walsh appearances.*

 Among the top sidemen on the LA scene until his passing in 2014, Rick Rosas was an exemplary pocket / song player whose list of credits include several laudable slabs and tours with Neil Young (including CSN&Y, as a sub for Billy Talbot in Crazy Horse, and for a Buffalo Springfield reunion), Joe Walsh, Johnny Rivers, Terry Reid, Etta James, Ron Wood, and Johnny Rivers to cite a select few.

Rick appeared as “Buster” the bass player in Jonathan Demme’s final film Ricki and the Flash (2015).

*According to bassist Bill Cherensky Prior to Howard Stern, Joe Walsh had a show on FM radio (WPLJ, I think). He was Rick The Bass Player on there. The funniest thing I ever heard was his brilliant skewering of McCartney’s Silly Love Song. I mean, it takes talent to use bass playing as satire!

Rick Rosas Sound & Vision:

Joe Walsh “The Gamma Goochie” https://youtu.be/SVo8QQelhvU

Neil Young “Living With War” https://youtu.be/P5tNjdgLqws

Live with Terry Reid and Waddy Wachtel “You Don’t Know” https://youtu.be/C2OG7FXht6E

Among the heroes of the classic rock era, the James Gang brought attention to two bona-fide guitar heroes: founding member Joe Walsh, and the late Tommy Bolin.

Bassist Dale Peters, who came aboard for the band’s definitive platter Rides Again (1970), was a versatile player who also composed, sang, and doubled on keys, guitar, and percussion.

To my ears, Peters’ extended bass improve as heard on “Lost Woman” from Live In Concert (1971) proves that excess is not necessarily a bad thing!

From KYBP Readers:

Dale, thanks for all the great bass lines. I’m still learning from your playing 35 years later. Dan O’Brien

“My Door Is Open” has the best bass track of all time. Absolutely the most overlooked track in ROCK AND ROLL HISTORY! The drummer banged it out pretty good too. I imagine these guys had a lot of fun playing this song together. Loji

Dale Peters Sound & Vision…

“My Door Is Open” https://youtu.be/m5eV7SgoNIY

“Lost Woman” https://youtu.be/zcap1-J-V58

“Walk Away” https://youtu.be/zo0vBdlWQs0

By Thomas Semioli 

“He’s the baddest bass player in the U.S.A!” proclaimed the late, great Donny Hathaway from the stage of the Bitter End in New York City nearly 50 years ago (1971) – and that proclamation still holds true well into the 21st Century.

You know that jukebox that goes “doyt doyt” at Danny’s All-Star Joint? That’s Willie Weeks!

From the late 1960s to the present day, Willie Weeks continues to set the bar as a session player and sideman. A laid-back pocket player, Willie’s command of rhythm and blues, soul, country, jazz, and pop, and just about any permutation thereof has can be heard throughout the seminal recorded works of several artists including Stevie Wonder (“Misstra Know It All”), Rolling Stones (“It’s Only Rock n Roll), Chaka Kahn, Rickie Lee Jones, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, Vince Gill, Ron Wood , Etta James, John Scofield, Aretha Franklin, Joe Walsh, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Rod Stewart, Gregg Allman, Randy Newman, David Bowie (“Young Americans”), and Richard Thompson, to cite a very select few.

Willie’s weapons of choice include: Fender Precision and Fender Jazz basses, Kay, Alleva Coppolo, and his “WW” Willie Weeks signature bass by Bee Basses.

A giant of the instrument, Willie Weeks is long overdue for recognition in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Tom Semioli / Huffington Post “A Bass Player’s Rant: 33 Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” : https://bit.ly/2POxUJr

Willie Weeks Sound & Vision… (See Best Bass: Willie Weeks Know Your Bass Player Playlist – Spotify) 

Willie Weeks’ watershed solo on “Voices Inside (Everything is Everything)” https://youtu.be/3gpN-SJD-VY  from Donny’s iconic Live (1972) album remains a benchmark for bassists.

A rare Willie slap passage with  George Harrison “Woman Don’t You Cry for Me” https://youtu.be/47l0EzvjN4I

Willie and Eric Clapton on a live rendition of  “Motherless Children” https://youtu.be/h9d2ZeAvBgA

Rolling Stones “It’s Only Rock and Roll” https://youtu.be/DmgCy__eUa8

David Bowie “Young Americans”  https://youtu.be/iO6OvHxD_m8

Willie’s bass solo composition with Ron Wood “Crotch Music” https://youtu.be/KNAg8TVS2RY

Vince Gill “Never Alone” https://youtu.be/MtQvLF1ZKCg

James Taylor “I Was a Fool to Care” https://youtu.be/SnwZySCHyNw

Stevie Wonder “He’s Misstra Know It All” https://youtu.be/uivvYGyQiow

Rickie Lee Jones “Danny’s All Star Joint” https://youtu.be/T9dRLzd0sXU

Courtesy of Randy Meisner Com

His deceptively unadorned root-fifth-octave bass motif which defines his band’s signature “Hotel California” composition is among the most identifiable in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.

Following stints with Poco, Ricky Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band, and most notably Linda Ronstadt, bassist Randy Herman Meisner became a founding member of The Eagles along with Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Bernie Leadon.

Though classic rock audiences nowadays are more familiar with the fiery, latter day Joe Walsh version of the band – the original quartet, with their addition of guitarist Don Felder in 1974, was a potent, groundbreaking collective.

Meisner, an accomplished singer and writer (“Take It to the Limit,” “Is It True?” “Too Many Hands,” “Try and Love Again” among others) and his fellow Eagles were a major catalyst in bringing country-rock to the pop charts in what is now commonly referred to as Americana. 

As a bassist who rendered brilliant harmony vocals, Meisner primarily worked the pocket to fortify the singers and their chart-topping songs. Among Randy’s weapons of choice were Fender Precision, and the Rickenbacker 4001.

After splitting from The Eagles (coincidentally, his replacement Timothy B. Schmit also followed Randy in Poco), Meisner waxed a few under-appreciated solo albums, worked as a session player along with many of his famous friends, and played in various projects including the World Class Rockers with former members of Toto, the Moody Blues, Spencer Davis, Steppenwolf, and Santana.

Randy Meisner Sound & Vision…

The Eagles

“Hotel California” https://youtu.be/gj69BuobTzM

 “Take It to the Limit” https://youtu.be/bhowXKEjjZ8

Poco

“What A Day” https://youtu.be/Q5ex4HkR24w

Solo

“Hearts on Fire” https://youtu.be/k3jFaDmC1t0

Courtesy of The Eagles Com