The Best POP bass lines from a band?

[burk48237]

We did one of these before where we picked great pop bass lines and included a poll after we took "nominations" from the TB expert music critics. The difference with this one is NO studio bass players, or solo artist who have long time backing bands. We want to limit this one to great lines from band players. And lets try to keep it confined to hit single tunes, not "b sides". Here are a few nominees to get the ball rolling:

Saturday in the Park, Peter Cetera Chicago
Every little thing she does is magic: Sting, Police
Lady Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney, Beatles
Shining Star, Verdine White, EW & Fire
Slide, Mark Adams, Slave
La Freak, Bernard Edwards, Chic
Taking it to the streets, Tyrone Porter, Doobie Brothers
I'll be good to you, Louis Johnson, Brothers Johnson
Sweet Emotion, Tom Hamilton, Aerosmith

I know there's plenty more out there. We'll try to narrow it down to a dozen or so for the poll. I know we need some JPJ, but not being an expert on Zepplin, I'll let you guys have at it

[tZer]

I'll play:

• Something in the way - Paul McCartney (Beatles)
• Christmas Wrapping - Tracy Wormworth (the Waitresses)
• Senses Working Overtime - Colin Moulding (XTC)
• Too Shy - Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo)
• Girls Of Film - John Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Rio - John Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Add it Up - Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes)

Not sure if these count, but:

• Sunday Papers - Graham Maby (Joe Jackson)
• Pump it up - Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Attractions)
• (What's so funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Attractions)

That's all I can pull offa the top of my head for now...

[thedude77md]

Barbarism Begins at Home- Andy Rourke (The Smiths)
Down In The Tube Station at Midnight- Bruce Foxton (The Jam)
Paperback Writer- Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Love Will Tear Us Apart- Peter Hook (Joy Division)

[burk48237]

Two things, looks like it's going to be hard to pick one Beatles tune. Three posters, three nominations. Second, I've got to check out that Kogagogo thing. That tune came up a lot in the other thread where we had studio players too. I'm ecpescially glad to see some 80's stuff. Because if there's an era I put pop music on "ignore" it was the 80's.

[Modo74]

Originally Posted by tZer

I'll play:
[*]Too Shy - Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo)[*]Girls On Film - John Taylor (Duran Duran) [*]Rio - John Taylor (Duran Duran)[/list]

I'll second you for these three. The 80s has some of the best pop basslines IMO.

I'll also throw in :-
This Charming Man - The Smiths
Atomic - Blondie

[colorblindbass]

anything from the funk brothers. (Motown for those who dont know)

technically speaking, in the 60's-70's they were pop

[Double Agent]

Anything off of Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt. Tony Kanal is one of the more underrated bass players out there IMO.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by Modo74

The 80s has some of the best pop basslines IMO.

..and I'll add-
"Give" by Missing Persons (Patrick O'Hearn)
"Do You Really Want To Hurt Me"-Culture Club (Mikey Craig)

From a different time frame-
"You've Made Me So Very Happy"-BS&T (Jimmy Fielder)
"One Man Band"-Three Dog Night (Joe Schermie)
"Stay With Me"-The Faces (Ronnie Lane)

"That's The Way Of The World" is my EW&F nomination; granted "Shining Star" has a lot of info packed into a tune that's less than 3 minutes in length...personally, I got a lot of mileage out of "That's The Way Of The World" (chromatic approach notes, etc).

[JimK]

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

anything from the funk brothers. (Motown for those who dont know)

technically speaking, in the 60's-70's they were pop

Of course, they wrote the book...Burk, though, wanted "bands" not studio cats...that KOs Chuck Rainey's great Pop bassin', too.

[Blackbird]

Originally Posted by JimK

Of course, they wrote the book...Burk, though, wanted "bands" not studio cats...that KOs Chuck Rainey's great Pop bassin', too.

Thank you, Jim.

The OP clearly stated NO Studio musicians. Let's try to stay on track.

In that spirit...

One of the Millions - Colin Moulding (XTC)
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - Andy Rourke (The Smiths)
Running in the Family - Mark King (Level 42)
Rain - Paul McCartney (The Beatles)

[Vin_MM_Sabre_79]

I nominate:
Violent Femmes: Blister in the Sun (Brian Ritchie)
Ian Dury: Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (Norman Watt-Roy)

[jollygiantchris]

how about
my generation - john entwistle
ramble on - JPJ

i dont particularly consider zeppelin pop but the OP mentioned JPJ and had aerosmith so i figured id throw em down and i've seen interviews with pete townshend where he referred to the who as a pop band

ill throw RHCP soul to squeeze as a great pop line as well =x or the clash - london calling even though i personally enjoy the song train in the vain to london calling by a large margin the bass is a bit more prominent on london calling

[papajune]

Anything off of Michael Jacksons Off the wall and Thriller, especially billy jean

[Hemitom]

Penny Lane - The Beatles
Makes me smile everytime

[73jbass]

Rio/Duran Duran.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by papajune

Anything off of Michael Jacksons Off the wall and Thriller, especially billy jean

Studio cat...

(There's no need to SHOUT)...

MM

[MysticMichael]

I'll second the nominations for Graham Maby, Bruce Thomas, and of course, McCartney...

Just a few additions of my own:

• Steppin' Out - Graham Maby (Joe Jackson Band) (even better than Sunday Papers)
• Cherry Pie - Paul Denman (Sade)
• Does It Really Happen - Chris Squire (Yes) (definitely a "pop" side of Yes)
• Something About You - Mark King (Level 42)

MM

[Infernal Affair]

"Glamour Boys" by Living Colour (Doug Wimbish)

Sure the band is beyond just pop songs, but I like to think of "Glamour Boys" as a great pop song.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

"Glamour Boys" by Living Colour (Doug Wimbish)

Sure the band is beyond just pop songs, but I like to think of "Glamour Boys" as a great pop song.

Doug Wimbish = !

MM

[lunarpollen]

Just about anything from Bow Wow Wow (Leigh Gorman)