What is your favorite bassline?

[aliendawg]

That's right my fellow OSGers... what is your favorite bassline?

I actually started in music by playing bass. But when I got into guitars my bass (and interest in it) was put aside for a while. I was just playing in when I needed to record something.

Well I realized that was very wrong on my part... To have a bass collecting dust on the corner of my room just seems wrong. I sent it to a tech recently and now it is a fine bass again

So now I'm searching for inspiration! I can't really just keep playing RHCP like I was 10 years ago because I want something new haha

Post your recommendations!!

(A pic of my bass just because threads with pics are way more pleasant to look at)

[Larry Mal]

The bass line on Primal Scream's version of "Slip Inside This House" is one of my favorites.

[Larry Mal]

Also, Chris Hillman's playing on the Byrds' "So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star" is great.

[Larry Mal]

Shit, I could do this all day. Here's another favorite of mine, James Jamerson on Marvin Gaye's "Right On". Jamerson weaves an ever-changing bass line throughout the song, it's contrapuntal, driving, percussive, all at the same time, he drives the song and dances around it... fucking amazing.

[Larry Mal]

And here will be my last one, I'm laying in bed with a sick kid, but he's going to sleep soon. This one has a bass solo in it, and one of my favorite bassists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqfqVDHNW6c

[aliendawg]

Thanks, Larry! I'm listening to them right now! Hope your kid gets better (I find it very cool that you are a proud father online btw!!)

[Embenny]

Deeper Underground is hella fun to play bass to. Clean, dirty, auto wah, synth pedal - it all works.

[Plumerai]

cascade - siouxsie & the banshees

[brucer]

Pump It Up - Elvis Costello: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KI9eN-AY1s

The Letter - Joe Cocker (Mad Dogs & Englishmen): https://youtu.be/xhlvQen4mWw

Green Onions - Booker T & the MGs: https://youtu.be/_bpS-cOBK6Q

Lust for Life - Iggy Pop: https://youtu.be/jQvUBf5l7Vw

I Feel Good - James Brown: https://youtu.be/B1wOK9yGUYM

Long Train Running - The Doobie Brothers: https://youtu.be/m4tJSn0QtME

Masterful stuff.

[timtam]

cascade - siouxsie & the banshees

^^ Yes, Steve Severin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78PsGr5KGg8

Also pretty much anything from Barry Adamson, esp with Magazine ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05_lyzgzWw

Also Peter Hook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnM9X0IgUmg

Basically the guys that defied rock and roll 'wisdom' and re-defined the bass as a lead instrument IMHO.

[countertext]

Shit, I could do this all day. Here's another favorite of mine, James Jamerson on Marvin Gaye's "Right On". Jamerson weaves an ever-changing bass line throughout the song, it's contrapuntal, driving, percussive, all at the same time, he drives the song and dances around it... fucking amazing.

That whole album is filthy with tasty bass.

[UlricvonCatalyst]

There are lots of great bass lines out there, but few come close to the joie de vivre and danceability of I Want You Back - The Jackson 5.

Pop perfection!

[windmill]

Sometimes its not the bass line but the bass sound that gets me in

The Flaming Stars - You don't always want what you get

from a long while ago
The Master's Apprentices - Hot Gully Wind

and then there is always this

Alannah Myles - Black Velvet

and lets not forget

Sonny and Cher -The beat goes on

[Kent]

https://youtu.be/ZmPcC3WMZUQ
Lazaretto

https://youtu.be/4_iC0MyIykM
Cissy Strut. I think that this is the 2nd thing that I learned on bass and it is probably the first thing that I play when trying out a bass!

[UlricvonCatalyst]

And then there's Rain.

With so many compelling elements competing for attention, McCartney's bass still shines enough to warrant a listen where you follow its journey through the song. In isolation, the looseness of his playing jumps out at you; this wasn't a studied, carefully rehearsed performance, but a player at the top of his game, doing it on the fly, as he felt it.