The Greatest Bassline Ever....

[Lord Fluff]

Sorry if this has been done to death - I'll delete the thread if everyone groans....

In the meantime - your nominations please for the best bassline of all time. Not the fanciest, not the hardest, just the plain best in terms of how the bass fits the song.

I'll get us going - Good Times by Chic. An all time dance classic, but without the bass there is nothing - neither the drums nor rhythm guitar are doing anything much; it's all in them bass notes.

Let's hear the other greats....

[nandj]

The Real Me - The Who.
IMO, Entwistle at his cleverist. Its not a fast or difficult bass line. Its not a constant line at all, varies throughout the song, even on verses. The bass line offers a "question / answer" arrangement with Townshends simple chords.Townshends strums are answered each time by Johns thunderous melody, varying from high registers with low.
Also, I suppose, the fact that we do it in our set makes me biased, it's the only time I get to shove the guitarist out the way.!!

[BassGod]

I think that the bass line for Soul To Squeeze by RHCP is absolutely perfect for the song.

And then just about everything Geddy Lee has touched.

Graeme

[Infernal Affair]

There's just too many great ones to be the greatest, but I would say probably the most well known would be either Chic's "Good Times," Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust," or "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. Either of those would be recognized/revered by even the most ignorant of music lovers.

[nandj]

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

There's just too many great ones to be the greatest, but I would say probably the most well known would be either Chic's "Good Times," Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust," or "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. Either of those would be recognized/revered by even the most ignorant of music lovers.

I think he means the "best" in your opinion...not the most recogniseable.

[kevin_lindsay]

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHQItmEunOM

[Infernal Affair]

Originally Posted by nandj

I think he means the "best" in your opinion...not the most recogniseable.

Yup. And I stated that in my opinion there's too many that I can't decide. There's a reason why people recognize the ones I chose, though.

[nandj]

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

Yup. And I stated that in my opinion there's too many that I can't decide. There's a reason why people recognize the ones I chose, though.

Ah, I see. OK.

[Kevinlane]

"What's Goin' On?" Marvin Gaye , played by Jamerson (actually ANYTHING by Jamerson could classify)

"The Lemon Song" Zep - John Paul Jones

"IF You Want Me Stay" - Sly and the Family Stone - Larry Grahmn

"What is Hip" ToP - Rocco Prestia's calling card

awe, crap

this is too hard to nail down one . . .

[ibnzneksrul]

Badge - Cream

Classic Jack Bruce

[dblbass]

Stevie Wonder-I wish
Bob marley- Stir it up
Paul simon-Graceland

[powellmacaque]

come on come over - jaco
money - roger waters
maxwell murder - matt freeman

[lug]

A few more
Riders On The Storm - Doors (what a mood setter!)
Billie Jean -MJ (makes the whole song and instantly recognized)
Radar Love - Golden Earing (maybe the simplest mover ever)
RHCP's Higher Ground (I know your tired of it but just remember the first time you heard it)
Would - AIC

[Jimbob Jones]

Hyper music by muse. Especially during the verse. Truly amazing.

[Chili]

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

There's just too many great ones to be the greatest, but I would say probably the most well known would be either Chic's "Good Times," Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust," or "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. Either of those would be recognized/revered by even the most ignorant of music lovers.

+1 on all of these

i cant choose the greatest bassline, theres way to many to choose from, but heres a few i really like:

I want you - The Brothers johnson

If you want me to stay - Sly and the family stone

soul to squeeze - RHCP

Theres loads more by all the bands i just mentioned and loads more from people i havnt mentioned, and i also agree with alot of the above

[Steelpulz]

James jamerson's lines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND-iW51idC0

and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND-iW51idC0

[acleex38]

Haitian Fight Song by Charles Mingus.

[Fo' Shizzle]

Something............Beatles.

[stingray69]

The Brothers Johnson - Stomp

Grooving all the way through, plus classic Louis Johnson slap breakdown & funk/solo outro!

Awesome.

[moogboy]

anything by the Who with John Entwistle
anything by Yes
anything by Cream
there are others, but those are the tops for me.