As early as The Beatles' 1963 debut LP Please Please Me, it was apparent that Paul McCartney was a talented bass player with ambition way beyond root notes. At his creative peak just a few short years later, Macca was not only writing some of the greatest songs in history, but influenced by the likes of James Jamerson, he was also contributing wonderfully imaginative basslines to the most important catalogue of recordings ever committed to tape. Everyone in this top 60 is a gifted musician, but Paul McCartney changed the world.

Listen: The Beatles - Rain

• The greatest bassists of all time brought to you in conjunction with Orange Amps
• Bass Expo 2013 brought to you in conjunction with The Institute