Bass Guitar Magazine Top 40 Bass Lines

[Ezbass]

The UK's Bass Guitar Magazine has just published a top 40 bass lines feature compiled by their editorial team and contributors and I thought you might like to see their results.

40. Riders On The Storm - The Doors
39. Lovecats - The Cure
38. Digital Man - Rush
37. Hair - Graham Central Station
36. Give It Away - RHCP
35. Town Called Malice - The Jam
34. Express Yourself - Cahrles Wright And The 103rd Street Rhythm Band
33. Lovely Day - Bill Withers
32. White Lines - Grandmaster Flash
31. Crossroads - Cream
30. Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
29. Bullet In The Head - RATM
28. Teen Town - Jaco
27. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
26. Phantom Of The Opera - Iron Maiden
25. The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
24. I Wish - Stevie Wonder
23. London Calling - The Clash
22. Thank You - Sly & The Family Stone
21. Stand By Me - Ben E King
20. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
19. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury & The Blockheads
18. Orion - Metallica
17. All Right Now - Free
16. Walk On The Wild Side - Lou Reed
15. So What - Miles Davis
14. Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
13. My Generation - The Who
12. Politician - Cream
11. Hysteria - Muse
10. Come On Come Over - Jaco
9. Roundabout - Yes
8. Come Together - The Beatles
7. Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
6. Ramble On - Led Zep
5. Money - Pink Floyd
4. Good Times - Chic
3. School Days - Stanley Clarke
2. Sex Machine - James Brown
1. Peaches - The Stranglers

Well I know that this is a British mag, but so am I and I say "What The Hell"!!!!

My Generation? What about The Real Me or 5:15 where JE really lets rip.

All Right Now? Fair enough, but Mr Big has a better line throughout and a better solo, what about The Stealer?

No Steely Dan songs at all? Surely Peg rates at least top 20.

And given that there is a decidedly Brit flavour to the poll, where's Pino on '80s Paul Young, or Bruce Thomas on The Attractions? Poor show BGM, poor show

[Ampeg SVT]

As with most Top whatever lists, its a bunch of crap.

I agree that Peg should have been on there and My Generation is only on there because of the bass solo, 5:15 has a much (IMO, mind you) better bassline.

However I am surprised that none of Flea's slaptastic songs made it on the list and the absence of Claypools lines is a bit surprising since a lot of people like those dudes a lot.

Hysteria is a load of crap, its a cool bassline but #11?!

[metalbass777]

^Agreed. It's a load of crap.

[VroomVroom]

Typical poll. At first glance I see three "bass lines" that are actually the melody of each respective tune. Oh well - take it at face value with a positive slant...the list offers a reminder of some really great tunes.

[Surprise Panda!]

stupid poll


Peaches #1?

[perfektspace6]

I have never heard the number #1 bassline or band for that matter . I listened to it. Not sure I understand why anyone else would give it #1. Interesting rankings.

I can see where about 1/3 of them are no-brainers but the rest I don't get. Fun to read anyhow. Thanks for posting.

[Disappear]

Then again, this is one magazines opinion. Instead of being the "best" bass lines shouldn't we all celebrate them for being a testament to OUR instrument? Maybe they should write about bass lines to check out. Do a section every issue.

[Nilpf]

Fairport Convention - Sir William Gower.


(If you like that sort of thing...)

Always nice to have a list to study.

[Ezbass]

Originally Posted by Disappear

Maybe they should write about bass lines to check out. Do a section every issue.

Now that's a good idea. A huge list just washes over you sometimes, but an essential listening list of maybe 5 songs every month or so would be far more appropriate and give you the chance to learn them if you liked them.

[tareh]

where's Matt Freeman?

[debassr]

Where the HELL is "I'll take You There" by the Staple Singers?

David Hood KILLED it on that track.

[deaf pea]

Originally Posted by debassr

Where the HELL is "I'll take You There" by the Staple Singers?

David Hood KILLED it on that track.

Yeah, what HE said!

[MirageBass]

Top 40 lists always blow.

[Spaldo]

Originally Posted by MirageBass

Top 40 lists always blow.

too true....

you always look at these things and end up scratching your head, asking why they missed some REALLY good ones. Remember, this stuff is always 'subjective', not 'objective'

on the other hand, if there's any basslines there you're not familiar with, check 'em out. you may discover the reason they were added

[gahpg]

I think they're just aiming at songs that the general populace would be aware of.

Besides that...notably absent: ANY Jackson 5 lines (Darling Dear! how'd they miss that?)
For Once In My Life, I Was Made To Love Her and most of the classic Jamerson lines are missing.
Again Bruce Thomas didn't get any recognition.
No tool? I thought I would've seen schism.
Surprised I didn't see any rancid on there...no time bomb, maxwell murder or anything.

[Jumpno]

pfft riders of the storm... at least get the right instrament

[chroma601]

No prog? "Three Friends" by Gentle Giant has the most awesome bass line ever. In My Humble Opinion. Your Mileage May Vary. Laughing Out Loud.

[MakiSupaStar]

Pfft. Although I'm pretty stoked to see London Calling on there. I play that song and it's a fun bassline to play.

[NWB]

No Victor?

Complete failure.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by chroma601

No prog? "Three Friends" by Gentle Giant has the most awesome bass line ever. In My Humble Opinion. Your Mileage May Vary. Laughing Out Loud.

LOL indeed! I'm a prog nut and a huge Gentle Giant fan, love Ray Schulman's playing...and yet it would never occur to me to cite "Three Friends" as a stellar example of his work! It's a great tune, but just seems like there are so many other GG tunes where the bass part is more acrobatic, bizarre, in-your-face, integral to the tune, or demonstrative of Ray's chops and/or imagination.


As to the poll listed...there are actually 3 or 4 tunes on that list that I've never even heard of, & I've been a professional bassist since 1974. I'm willing to believe that I'm out of the loop on real contemporary pop, but if a tune's that new then what's their definition of "Top" and how relevant is it to bass playing in general?