Bryan Bassett of Foghat: 10 Albums That Changed My Life

Feature Photo: Bryan Bassett – by Kimberly Granger

These days, Bryan Basset lends his bluesy licks to Foghat, having served as the band’s lead guitarist since the departure of Rod Price in 1999, and he became even more integral after the death of “Lonesome” Dave Peverett in 2000. But before then, Bassett was best known as a member of the ‘70s cult group Wild Cherry, who you might recall for their enduring funk-rock hit, “Play That Funky Music.” As for Bassett, he plays the uber-recognizable guitar figure that opens the track—Bassett’s time with Wild Cherry continued through the ‘70s before he moved into the producer’s chain in the ‘80s before a chance meeting changed his life forever.

In 1989, Bryan Bassett formed a friendship with Foghat’s “Lonesome” Dave Peverett and soon joined Peverett’s band, Lonesome Dave’s Foghat. The friendship was fruitful, and Bassett served four years in Peverett’s alternate version of Foghat, which toured simultaneously but separately from Roger Earl’s version of Foghat.

These two divergent versions of Foghat came together in 1993 when Peverett and Earl joined forced once more alongside their fellow original Foghatters, Rod Price and Tony Stevens, which sadly didn’t last, leading to Basset, who knew the music of Foghat well dating back to his days alongside Peverett, to join Foghat, remaining ever since.

In addition to Wild Cherry and Foghat, Bassett also served in Molly Hatchet for a spell in the ‘90s, further showing his versatility and ability. It’s been a long and eventful career for Bassett, which dates to his earliest hours as a youngster in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, learning guitar for the first time.

Looking back on how it all began, Foghat’s Bryan Bassett beamed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to recount the ten albums that changed his life. Can you spot any of your favorites?

# 10 – Blues from Laurel Canyon – John Mayall (1968)

I became a big John Mayall fan as I started exploring the blues. He always had the greatest guitarists [Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor]. Listening to his records and learning those songs was like a master class–especially for me, striving to be a better player.

# 9 – Second Winter – Johnny Winter (1969)

Another excellent record by Johnny Winter, and overall, that early on, started my lifelong foray into the blues.

# 8 – Live at Leeds – The Who (1970)

Live at Leeds 25th Anniversary Edit by Who (2006-12-26)

By the time I heard this record by The Who for the first time, my band was starting to get better. Live at Leeds was a record we could really sink our teeth into at that time. And we did by trying to play it once we’d heard it.

# 7 – In the Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson (1969)

In The Court Of The Crimson King (Remixed By Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp) (Ltd 200gm Vinyl)

The first time I heard In the Court of the Crimson King, it totally blew my mind. I remember thinking to myself, ‘What is this music?’ But regardless, I became an instant fan of both Robert Fripp and Greg Lake.

# 6 – The Kinks Greatest Hits! – The Kinks (1966)

Once I got this record, I really wore it out. It became my first genuine appreciation for the art of songwriting. By this point in my life, I was all about guitar playing, but The Kinks Greatest Hits! got me to think beyond that and look toward song construction.

# 5 – Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) – The Rolling Stones (1966)

After hearing the stuff on Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass), one of my first basement bands tried to play all the songs on there. I have so many fond memories of being in my aunt’s basement, with my cousin on drums and my little practice amp perched on her washing machine while we tried to play this stuff.

# 4 – Goodbye – Cream (1969)

I can’t begin to count the hours I spent learning songs from Cream’s Goodbye. I tried my very best to emulate Eric Clapton’s tone, which led to more fond memories of getting better on guitar and hours in my aunt’s basement with my cousin.

# 3 – Atom Heart Mother – Pink Floyd (1970)

Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother was just mesmerizing to me when I first heard it. And after hearing it, my lifelong love of Pink Floyd and David Gilmour’s playing, in particular, was kicked off.

# 2 – The Allman Brothers Band – The Allman Brothers Band (1969)

I can still remember, as if it were yesterday, standing in the record department of a local retail store when the music from The Allman Brothers started playing in the background. I was immediately drawn to the harmony guitars and thought, ‘Wow.’ I stopped dead in my tracks and just listened. It was so inspiring.

# 1 – Beck-Ola – The Jeff Beck Group (1969)

Beck-Ola was Jeff’s [The Jeff Beck Group] second album, which I received as a Christmas present, along with my first-ever guitar. I mean… talk about setting the bar extremely high, right? I can only say thanks, Mom and Dad; I mean, Santa [laughs]. To this day, Beck-Ola is the first album I add to any new phone or iPad.

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