Paul Goddard

Paul Goddard was an American bass player. He was a bass player in Atlanta Rhythm Section on two occasions: 1971 to 1983, then 2011 until his 2014 death. Rolling Stone magazine voted Paul's bass solo in the song "Another Man's Woman" from their 1979 live album "Are You Ready!" as one of the top five bass guitar solos of all time.

Career

Goddard was a native of Rome, Georgia.

In the years circa 1965-1968 Goddard played lead guitar for the Atlanta group St. John & the Cardinals. Among the other members of the group was another future Atlanta Rhythm Section member, guitarist Barry Bailey.

In 1970, Goddard played bass on Mylon LeFevre's album "Mylon, We Believe". That same year he joined Atlanta Rhythm Section, who originally served as the session band for Studio One in Georgia. Their biggest single was "Imaginary Lover" which became popular when a radio station accidentally played the song from a 33 rpm album on a 45 rpm mode, speeding up the song and fans likening the pitched vocals to Stevie Nicks.

Goddard's favored instrument was the Rickenbacker 4001 bass. He had poor eyesight, so all his guitars were modified as he wouldn't worry about putting the plug into the wrong output.

A bass solo Goddard performed in the song "Another Man's Woman" that was on ARS' live album "Are You Ready!" in 1979 was voted in the top five of the best bass guitar solos of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.