The 21st to 40th greatest rock bass lines. This time in chronological order - from Ben E. King to Tool. Hear how bass playing, production and musical styles have evolved over the decades.

This show picks up were Basscast 20 left off. As before the criteria for selection are a subjective mix of enduring appeal, originality, complexity and influence. Some are technically difficult - but many more are relatively simple lines that serve the song superbly.

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Feature CD: Live at the Tonic by Christian McBride.

Step Back in Time: Jimmy Johnson.

Co-host: Leon Gaer.

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Feature CD: Standards by Stanley Clarke.

Step Back in Time: Live at the Blue Note by Dave Valentin (Lincoln Goines, bass).

Co-host: Emile Nelson.

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Feature CD: "As We Speak" by Mark Egan, who also co-hosts this show.

Step Back in Time: "Live at the Fillmore" by Miles Davis (Dave Holland, bass).

With this show we are pleased to announce Lakland as our new sponsor.

Mark, our co-host, toured with the Pointer Sisters and David Sanborn before joining the Pat Metheny Group (1977-1980) where he recorded and toured extensively. Since leaving Metheny, he has worked in many situations, including with Stan Getz, Jim Hall, the Gil Evans Orchestra (1983-1985), and John McLaughlin. He also leads Elements, which usually also features Bill Evans on reeds and keyboardist Clifford Carter.

"As We Speak" is Mark's first trio recording as band leader.

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Feature CD: "Morph the Cat" by Donald Fagen (Freddie Washington, bass).

Step Back in Time: Bass players of Steely Dan - Walter Becker, Ray Brown, Anthony Jackson, Chuck Rainey.

Co-host: Duncan Brown, bass player with The Bodacious Cowboys, a shifting collection of top session players dedicated to the performance of the music of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

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Photo by David Stennett.

This show is co-hosted by not one, but two bass legends!

The feature CD is "Surprise" by Paul Simon (Pino Palladino, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Al, Leo Abrahams: bass). This album features "Sonic Landscape" by Brian Eno and cameos by Herbie Hancock and Bill Frisell.

Step Back In Time is an overview of the work of legendary studio bassist Joe Osborn - who also joins us as a co-host. Joe has played on over 200 top 40 hits, including 20 no. 1s!

The show is also co-hosted by Dan Lakin, the founder of Lakland.

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Feature CD: "Decade: 1996 - 2005" by Joseph Patrick Moore.

Step Back In Time: "Stanley Clarke" by Stanley Clarke.

We also catch up on a stack of great bass oriented new releases.

The co-host is Joseph Patrick Moore.

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Feature CD: "10,000 Days" by Tool (Justin Chancellor, bass).

Step Back in Time: "Thonk" by Michael Manring.

This show is a progressive bass special - co-hosted by Jay Terrien. We also check out Jay's new CD, "All The Dolls in the Same Place".

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Feature CD: 3121 by Prince (Prince, synth bass; Sonny Thompson, bass).

Step Back In Time: Andy Rourke (The Smiths).

Co-host: Milica Stefanovic.

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Feature CD: "Stadium Arcadium" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers (Flea, bass).

In vinyl days this would have been a triple album. Not many (any?) artists pulled that off successfully. Will the Chillis?

Step Back In Time: "Fire and Water" by Free (Andy Fraser, bass).

Co-host: Pete Imbesi (aka Petebass).

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What are the twenty greatest rock bass lines of all time?

Some of them are complex - but many are simple yet have had enduring appeal. There are a number of virtuoso performances - but many more that just serve the song superbly. Some ARE the song.

Which three bass players appear twice on the list?

Which three composers also appear twice on the list? (Hint: They are all guitarists.)

Which decades produced the most classic bass lines?

Join me as we count down.

If your favourite bass line isn't here - let me know on the official Basscast forum: talkbass.com/basscast

Feature CD: "Wood II" by Brian Bromberg.
  
Step Back In Time: "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" by Bill Evans Trio (Scott LaFaro, bass).
 
Co-host: Steve Morrison.
 
Picture of Scott LaFaro at the Newport Jazz Festival (2 July 1961) by Ed Dephoure.
 
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Feature CD: "The Hidden Land" by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (Victor Wooten, bass).

Step back in time: Jean-Luc Ponty (Ralph Armstrong, bass), Miles Davis (Richard Patterson, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson, Bo Stief, Alex Windfel, bass).

Co-host: Aussie-Chilean bass and guitar wunderkind Dauno Martinez.

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We skim the surface of some great bass albums released in 2005 that we didn't get around to featuring on other shows.

David Dyson: "The Dawning".

Kai Eckhardt: "Visions of an inner mounting apocalyse" - a fusion guitar tribute to Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Andy Fraser: "Naked...and finally free".

Michael Manring: "Outerspaces" by Sadhappy.

Joseph Patrick Moore: "Live in 05" and "Wherever we go" by EMP Project.

Charlie Moreno: "So lonely".

Brian Mulholland: "Deco".

Jay Terrien: "All the dolls in the same place".

Rob Wasserman: "Cosmic Farm".

Bill Wyman: "Just for a thrill".

Step back in time: "Musical Massage" by Leon Ware (Chuck Rainey, bass).

Discuss this show at the official Basscast forum: talkbass.com/basscast.

Feature CD: "Soliloquy" by Michael Manring.

Step back in time: "The Nightfly" by Donald Fagen. This is a Super Sidemen show in one CD with very tasty bass contributions from Anthony Jackson, Abe Laboriel, Will Lee, Marcus Miller and Chuck Rainey.

Co-host: Steve Hunter.

To discuss this show, go to the official Basscast forum: www.talkbass.com/basscast

Feature CD: "Shades of Jade" by Marc Johnson.

Step back in time: "Transformer" by Lou Reed (Herbie Flowers: bass, double bass, tuba; Klaus Voormann: bass).

Co-host: Jonathan Zwartz.

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Feature CD: "A Time for Love" by Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder: keyboard bass; Alex Al, Nathan Watts, Nathan East: bass).

Step Back in Time: "Greenwich Mean" by The Wayne Krantz Trio (Tim Lefebvre, Will Lee: bass).

Co-host: Brett Hirst.

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Feature CD: "Octavarium" by Dream Theater (John Myung, bass).

Step Back in Time: Cliff Burton.

Co-host: Richard Greenup.

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Feature CD: "Possibilities" by Herbie Hancock (Willie Weeks, Benny Rietveld, Nathan East, Pino Paladino, Steve Lewinson, John Patitucci, Reggie McBride, Shane Fitzsimons: bass).

Step Back in Time: Super sidemen, featuring Anthony Jackson, Abraham Laboriel, Will Lee and Nathan East.

Co-host: One of Australia's super sidemen, Mark Costa.

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Feature CD: "Chaos and Creation In The Backyard" by Paul McCartney.

Step Back in Time: "Moving Pictures" by Rush (Geddy Lee, bass).

Sydney Bass Get Together review.

New releases: "Metal" by Brian Bromberg, "Lightyears" by Kathy Velentine.

Co-hosts: Pete Imbesi, Mark Latimour.

Discuss this Basscast at the official Basscast forum: www.talkbass.com/basscast