I was wondering what everyone's favorite bass solos are? A solo that you listened to over and over in amazement. (I know it's really hard to narrow it down!)

I like Jaco's solo on "Havona." In terms of melody, composition, and feeling, I think it's amazing. It sings.

I also remember hearing Victor Wooten's solo on "Monkey See" (on Three Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and I couldn't believe what I heard!!! Some serious up & down slapping that Victor's famous for. I remember that I couldn't even comprehend what Victor was doing physically, let alone the notes!

Willie Weeks' solo on "Everything Is Everything" from the Donny Hathaway Live album is awesome. Funky as hell. And the best part about it is, it's within the reach of most of us mortals.
My other favorite bass solo is.. don't laugh.. there's a song called "No One Knows" on Green Day's "Kerplunk" album. The song opens with a bass solo of about 45 seconds or so. It ain't punk.. compositionally, it's gorgeous. Check it out.

I must say that I like a lot of Stanley Clarke's electric bass solos - even "Vertu" had some really nice melodic bass solos. So it seems a shame that he's giving up electric bass and selling all his bass guitars.

I have to throw in my two cents here. "Tommy the Cat" live from Suck on This by Primus. OR off "Highball with Devil" by Les Claypool and the Holy Mackeral song #9. It is a three and a half minute solo.

-MCE

I agree with your opinion of Jaco's solo on "Havona", it sounds fresh (to me) every time I listen to it. Another fretless soloist who really blows me away is Gary Willis. Check out "Self Defense" and "The Necessary Blonde". As far as slapping goes, I really like Marcus Miller's solo in "Run for Cover".

Hmm... I guess I'd say Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth) by Cliff Burton.

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Never trust a man who doesn't drink - Winston Churchill

i don't care for soling bassists personally. but the bass run that dave ellefson does on megadeth's 'rattlehead' is impressive. or the intro riff to axehammer's 'princess'. and especially sacred rite's 'wing's of pegasus'

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Chris Squires' "Fish" at the end of Long Distance Runaround from Fragile, and Muzz Skillings solo in the song Broken Hearts from the Living Colour album Vivid.

Dave ~

Is Willie Weeks the same W.W. that played on a Junior Wells record I have? If it is, please, please tell me more 'cause he's fantastic.

Jaco's solo on Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light video still works for me, as does about a half dozen other Jaco solo's I have of him. It may be passe for the more jaded hree but 'Teen Town' still works for me.

In it's day, Enwhistle's solo on 'My Generation' certainly shock my world when I first heard it.

Michael Manrings performance of 'Sugar'on the Bass Day 98 video is pretty fantastic, IMO.

>Pedro -- to be honest with you I don't know, but it probably is, I doubt there's more than one Willie Weeks. Anyway, if you haven't heard that solo he does on "Everything is Everything", you must! That Donny Hathaway Live album is kinda hard to find, took me almost a year.. it's an import. I think it's from 1971 or so. W.W. was heavily influenced by Jamerson, but he definitely had his own thing going on. I learned most of that solo over the course of a couple of days, but there are some parts I still can't get, and of course the hardest thing to nail is not the actual notes but the VIBE! It's just too cool. Willie Weeks also contributed to "Standing in the Shadows of Motown."

Dave,

On the Junior Wells record I have, Willie sounds much more like Jerry Jemmott to me than Jamerson. He's fabulous. I'll have to look around for the Don Hathaway record but do yourself and find the Junior Wells record 'Everybody's Gettin Some'. I think you'll like it.

Actually, I have a couple, and one of them is from a band that I'm not a big fan of.
When I heard Paul Goddard's (Atlanta Rhythm Section) solo on "Another Man's Woman", I was completely blown away.
Another one is the opening strains of "Handy" from Martin Turner of Wishbone Ash

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pedro:
Dave ~

Is Willie Weeks the same W.W. that played on a Junior Wells record I have? If it is, please, please tell me more 'cause he's fantastic.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Pedro -- to be honest with you I don't know, but it probably is, I doubt there's more than one Willie Weeks. Anyway, if you haven't heard that solo he does on "Everything is Everything", you must! That Donny Hathaway Live album is kinda hard to find, took me almost a year.. it's an import. I think it's from 1971 or so. W.W. was heavily influenced by Jamerson, but he definitely had his own thing going on. I learned most of that solo over the course of a couple of days, but there are some parts I still can't get, and of course the hardest thing to nail is not the actual notes but the VIBE! It's just too cool. Willie Weeks also contributed to "Standing in the Shadows of Motown."

What no Sheehan??! That's what he was known for, was soloing. I guess I was spoiled watching him all those years here in Buffalo, playing for Talas. My former band even opened up for those guys back in the early 80's.

Yeah Doug, NV43345 is pretty awesome!

Here's a little tidbit of useless info.. Did ya know it spells Sheehan backwards?

I think you mean upside down. I just wrote it out, flipped it over and VOILA! Thanks for the tip, Doug.
True story: eight years ago, I was doing a cable-TV access show with a friend of mine, it was about two steps above "Wayne's World." Anyway, we got to interview quite a few big-time musicians. Mr. Big came through town and we did a shoot with them. We met their road manager beforehand, and he said he had just found out that "To Be With You" had hit #1, but the band didn't know yet. He said "Why don't you guys tell them?" So, we did! They were flabbergasted! It was pretty cool. I got to meet Billy and ask him a few bass-related questions. Later, we shot some footage of the show, and MTV wound up buying it off us for $250.

I would have to say Victor Wooten's solo in "Sinister Minister" (especially if you have ever seen it live, which I have twice).

-KB

If you can catch Entwistle's solos on 5:15 from any of the recent Who live albums or Shakin' All Over from his solo live effort, those will pretty much answer this question.

Also, I really like Havona. Jeff Berlin did a really awesome number while playing with Kazumi Watanabe. I don't even know this guy's name, but on Yanni's "Live at the Acropolis"-4th song I think...that bass solo is INTENSE!!! Geddy Lee has taken so many solos, but the two of his that I think are pretty cool are in La Villa Strangiato and Show Don't Tell...this last one is so syncopated I can't help but appreciate it's rythmic interplay!

The aforementioned Teen Town by Jaco is basically one long solo, and it still does it for me.. also, anything by Jamerson is basically one long solo..

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the fabric of reality is woven from the threads of our dreams...
bill longshort

Dave, cool story.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KB:
I would have to say Victor Wooten's solo in "Sinister Minister" (especially if you have ever seen it live, which I have twice).

-KB<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

for me its a toss up between that and "Amazing Grace." Vic is INSAINE!!!!!!!!

&gt;Willie Weeks' solo on "Everything Is Everything" from the Donny Hathaway Live album is awesome.

Dave is this the one that has a picture of him (Donny Hathaway) playing with some kids on the cover?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pedro:
Dave is this the one that has a picture of him (Donny Hathaway) playing with some kids on the cover?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
No, the one I have just has a headshot of Donny Hathaway singing on the cover. It's really hard to find. Took me like a year. It's an import. Worth tracking down though.

Dave check this out and let me know if this CD contains some of the same tunes - repackaged, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/music-glance/B0000033OT/qid=962974484/sr=1-6/002-0840984-6347267

Pedro, this is the one you want: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000005S6W/ref=sim_music/002-5010513-8418403
That other one you pointed out does have "Everything is Everything" on it, but that Willie Weeks solo is on the live version.

it's not too long but i like louis johnson's solo on the brothers johnson's "stomp"

1)John Entwistle-My Generation by the Who--the earliest real bass solo in rock
2)Steve Swallow-Last Week-from Out Like a Light by John Scofield-the most sensitive, lyrically gorgeous bass solo I've ever heard--and it's played with a pick, no less! Take that, all you whining anti-plectrists!
3)Les Claypool-Tommy the Cat-Sailing the Seas of Cheese by Primus--IMO the Suck on This version sucks--it's long, wanky, and doesn't really go anywhere. The studio version, on the other hand, is one of the funniest things I've ever heard-I crack up every time I hear it. And-it's short.

Jaco - Hovana and Jason Newsted - Tower of Strength.

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The Only Mask I Wear is the One I was Born With..

My favourite bass solo piece is 'The San Fransisco Bay Blues' by Colin Hodgkinson. It's certainly the most innovative use of a Fender Precision I've ever heard, and Colin's singing is great!

David

Oh man, I thought of another one.. Michael Manring's solo on the tune "Oyasumi Nasai" on his "Drastic Measures" CD. Track #4.

I agree with Homer_J.

Chris Squire's solo in "The Fish" is AMAZING!



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...Must...Make...Calluses...Harder!!!

i just bought kill them all today, and anethasia is great, i can play the beginning (who cant?), but i listen to the rest in astonishment, i got the tabs for it, i dont even know where to begin.

&gt;&gt;&gt;I don't even know this guy's name, but on Yanni's "Live at the Acropolis"-4th song I think&lt;&lt;&lt;

That'll be Ric Fierabracci - he's a monster player working in LA. I've seen him a few times with Frnk Gambale's trio, and also with Otmaro Ruis, at the Baked Potato - if he's playing anywhere near you, and and see. He's a fine soloist and a great bass player as well...

as for my fave bass solos, I'd go for 'Jaco' by Pat Metheny, played by Marc Egan, and 'Bright Sized Life' by Metheny, played by Jaco!

cheers

Steve
ww.steve-lawson.co.uk

I liked Alain Caron's playing on "Intuitions" from the Rhythm & Jazz disc. Soaring fretless, squeaky clean, and brains besides. I may wanna be him when I grow up...

All of the above and add Scott Thunes bass solo on Zappa's "Valley Girl". Also, anything by Entwistle.

I'm young, Please don't blame me for what i'm about to put. I may have missed the classics but this is what i like:-

The 2 solo's on 'coffee shop' by Flea. Especially the one with the wah wah. I like the last one because it is very aggressive.

The solo by flea from before 'aeroplane' live. (off napster)

'Tommy the cat' off suck on this by les claypool.

Sorry, I had to include Flea in here!!!
Read my signature and you'll understand!!

From Russ

meatpuppets, maidens milk live is amazing

I have three in mind right now:
The O.C. Supertones: Supertones Strike Back
Track 8 (I think): Tonight
Awesome bass part that I've just recently learned to play.

No Doubt: Return of Saturn
The really deep bass part near the end of the song is just awesome (through good speakers and a sub). It seems that a lot of people solo in the mid to upper range of the bass (not always true but holds true a lot of times from my experience) so it's cool to hear one near the bottom end of the bass.

The background music on the Gallien-Krueger product CD (played by "Trip"), come now: if you've hear it you know what I mean; that's awesome!

There's more, but that's just the parts that I have in my mind right now.

I'd have to say that I like, in no particular order.

Geddy Lee - the middle of Freewill
Chris Squire - the live version of Fish from Yessongs
Stu Hamm - the solo from Country Music a Night in Hell
Mike Gordon - the solo towards the end of the song Contact
Geezer Butler - the intro to NIB

Jaco....."Slang"

Sorry to resurrect this topic - I know there's a similar one floating around somewhere, but I thought some people might be interested to see this:

http://www.forevernow.com/realvideo/basssolocopenhagen.ram

Yes, I know I once called Mark King the most-overrated bass player ever, but boy, can the man slap! :) If anyone out there likes Wooten, then they'll like this.

David

Did anyone ever listen to Mark King's Bass Solo Live at Wembley?

You can get it on Napster.

It's awesome because you must realize how fast he's slapping!

BTW, Jaco ---> da good bassman!

You can see the video of that solo by clicking:

http://www.forevernow.com/realvideo/Wembleysolo.ram

David

[Edited by David Benyahia on 09-07-2000 at 12:42 PM]

David, thanks for those links!
What a wanker, though..

Ah the beauty of NAPSTER...I found a Primus solo on there that is INCREDIBLE. It starts out with a drippingly distorted open A. Then he cuts that, and on with the slapping and 16th notes at blistering speed. Wicked!!! Look for it.

Originally posted by rmp5s
Ah the beauty of NAPSTER...I found a Primus solo on there that is INCREDIBLE. It starts out with a drippingly distorted open A. Then he cuts that, and on with the slapping and 16th notes at blistering speed. Wicked!!! Look for it.

is it the one with 2.9 MBs? Where Mark starts together with a silent snare drum noise then goes over to slap complete blues chords?

I can say I like all of the solos of Stanley Clarke, but especially: Mothership Connection(the version from the Bass-ic Collection), the start of Wild Dog, and Is Love Enough.
I like Chris Squire's at the and of the great Yes number Fish.

Hary

Originally posted by 5156246
Originally posted by rmp5s
Ah the beauty of NAPSTER...I found a Primus solo on there that is INCREDIBLE. It starts out with a drippingly distorted open A. Then he cuts that, and on with the slapping and 16th notes at blistering speed. Wicked!!! Look for it.

is it the one with 2.9 MBs? Where Mark starts together with a silent snare drum noise then goes over to slap complete blues chords?
Probably not, since it's a Primus solo!

I was at school last week, and a couple of guys were listening to an uncomprehensible jaco solo from some teaching book or something. they were following along with the music. it was beyond any other bass solo. sheer musicality, no slapping popping tricks. lots of 16th notes

anything by john entwhistle of The Who. he does some freakin awesome solos live and any of the songs he plays on sound like bass solos anyway.

anything by flea

anything by geddy lee like that one part in la villa Strangiato