pop songs with walking basslines?

[visa]

i play in an alternative pop-rock band where we try to do pop with different approaches, and one thing i've been wanting to do is to write a pop rock song with a very distinct walking bassline.

one example i can think of would be colorado bulldog by mr big -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNe6QaqVTqU

can you guys guide me to more examples if you know any? I have trouble preventing my lines from sounding like 12-bar-blues or elvis-y lines

[TeeMartin]

I am terrified that vid was is 1999 and not 1989.

[Vandelay]

This is a real oldie, but my band does Chicago's "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", and most of that song uses a walking bass line. I wasn't a big fan of the song or the band, but I'll admit that I really enjoy playing it. The song definitely has a "swing" feel, so the bass line works well. Not sure how well a walking line would work with a straight-ahead beat.

[tempo2112]

"The Trees" by Rush. Not all the way through, but the intro and the section before the breakdown.
I think the way to stop the line sounding "bluesy" or "elvisy" is to use a chord base other than i-iv-v.

[phxlbrmpf]

I can't really think of any good song examples of what you're looking for right now but I've found that adding more passing notes and chromatic motion tends to make your lines sound more "jazzy". Also make sure to include those neat little embellishments (triplets, etc.) that can be found in most advanced walking lines.

[burk48237]

The Walking bass line is a lost art in todays pop music. When I grew up if you couldn't walk you didn't play. Now a days, mastering the whole note is the most important skill for a bass player.

[Eric Perry]

Originally Posted by burk48237

The Walking bass line is a lost art in todays pop music. When I grew up if you couldn't walk you didn't play. Now a days, mastering the whole note is the most important skill for a bass player.

Sad, ain't it??? I'm quite a bit younger than you, and I still recognize the sin in that!

[caligula]

Stevie Wonder's "I wish"
Mike Stern's "Mood Swings"
Of course Stern is not really pop-rock but the line Jaco plays could be a good starting point.

[Possu jam]

(Love is like a) Heat Wave by Martha and the Vandellas. Can also be found onthe Standing in the shadows of motown CD or DVD. Great song.

[Yvon]

the ocean/ led zeppelin

[Marley's Ghost]

Penny Lane - The Beatles. A Macca gem!

[dhampshire]

Smoke from a Distant Fire - Sanford-Townsend Band

[Mr.Phil]

Mack the Knife, after the first verse. Milt Hinton, I think?

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Probably not the direction you wanted to go in, but the first song that came to mind was James Taylors version of "How sweet it is"

Bad Company?
Not really walking bass lines, but he played pretty bluesy and used a lot of passing tones in-between chord changes.

David Lee Roth did a version of Tobacco Road and That's Life.

[Blackbird]

"This Charming Man" - The Smiths

Great walking line on that one.

[visa]

thanks guys! keep them coming!

=)

[esoxhntr]

Moondance - Van Morrison
All My Lovin' - The Beatles
Just A Gigolo - The Honey Drippers (David Lee Roth)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Rock This Town - Stray Cats

There also tons of blues things you should listen to; Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Brian Sezter to name a few.

[LeftyDan]

Your lost little girl -the Doors

[LeftyDan]

Originally Posted by dhampshire

Smoke from a Distant Fire - Sanford-Townsend Band

Thank you !!! I can't tell you how long that melody has haunted me and I was never able to find out the song name or the band no matter who I asked . I would go through the radio dial and just miss the intro to the song or the DJ wouldn't announce the performer afterward . Just seeing the title made me realize THAT is the song . What a great song .

[Matt Till]

A cheesy example but

MxPx (I think that's the band) - Chick Magnet


I'm pretty sure they're the ones who do it. Super pop punk type vibe, the line is repetitive but it's a very "jazzy" riff.