Most underrated sideman

[acoustic rob]

Mike Mills of REM. Bass, keyboards, and those unmistakable counterpoint vocals.

Roy Bittan of the E Street Band. Whenever I look in an album's liner notes and see him on keys I know I'm going to enjoy it.

 

[Flip G]

Gabby Hayes.

I love Gabby Hayes, but as a lifelong Hopalong Cassidy fan, I would have to choose Andy Clyde over him.

 

[Tommy Biggs]

Bruce Thomas, bass player for Elvis Costello.

Billy Bremner, guitarist

+1 for Bremner, the Stiff Records secret weapon!

 

[buster poser]

Waddy Wachtel. You probably know him as "that curly-haired dude with the glasses."

First saw him backing up James Taylor live and then he'd show up in video after video (Stevie Nicks, notably) in the 80s.

Here he is with some guy in a scarf:

 

[Greggorios]

Benmont Tench. Tom Petty Band. Keys, guitars and #1 backing vocals. Great sideman.

And in the same band, Scott Thurston ain't no slouch either!

(edit, sorry, @Turtleneck beat me to it!)

 

[Dano-caster]

+1 for Jesse ED Davis with Taj and Jackson Browne.It's not that they are underrated, they're sidemen.Thats why they call them sidemen...

 

[Jay Jernigan]

I vote "Yes" to all of the aforementioned and submit Festus Haggen for your consideration.

 

[Jim W]

Spooner Oldham

 

[Tommy Biggs]

Mike Mills of REM. Bass, keyboards, and those unmistakable counterpoint vocals.

Roy Bittan of the E Street Band. Whenever I look in an album's liner notes and see him on keys I know I'm going to enjoy it.

true, like whenever I see Mike Campbell filling on an album I’m interested!

 

[Fuelish]

Bruce Thomas, bass player for Elvis Costello.

Billy Bremner, guitarist

Bruce Thomas.....like, my favorite bass player ever.

 

[ndcaster]

anthem

 

[Siamese]

me

 

[Greggorios]

Larry Campbell

 

[charlie chitlin]

Awwww....dang... that dude....I forget his name...he's awesome.

 

[TokyoPortrait]

Hi.

Here in Japan, on Amazon Prime, I just watched Sidemen:Long Road to Glory. It's available in some regions for free on Vimeo too I see (not here).




Also on Amazon Prime here, I'm about to watch Take Me to the River, a documentary about Memphis music. I believe this is on Netflix in some regions.




And on Netflix here, I'm in the middle of Hitsville: the Making of Motown. I think this is also available for premium YouTube members, maybe.




Sidemen/women in all.

Oh, and if I recall correctly, Waddy Wachtel and others are in parts of the Keith Richards documentary, Under the Influence, which is on Netflix here.



Pax/
Dean

 

[brookdalebill]

Audley Freed, Peter Stroud, Dan Dugmore, Barry "Byrd" Burton, Dangerous Dan Toler, Chuck Leavell, Buddy Whittington, Joe Osborne, Larry Knechtel, and Kenny Edwards.

 

[willie ray]

Paul Jackson-Blackberry Smoke...great sideman.

 

[warrent]

My vote goes to Alex Lifeson from Rush

How can you be a sideman in your band? Rush was Alex's band to begin with both Geddy and Neil were later additions.

 

[Marc Morfei]

Scotty Moore
David Lindley

And I agree with the previous comment. Hate to get picky, but if you are a founding core member of the band, you are not a sideman. You wouldn't call Keith Richards a sideman.

 

[buster poser]

Oh, and if I recall correctly, Waddy Wachtel and others are in parts of the Keith Richards documentary, Under the Influence, which is on Netflix here.



Pax/
Dean

Nice thanks!