Good examples of songs with "groove"? And being "groovy" yourself?

[LotusCarsLtd52]

I'm trying to make my basslines more interesting and "groovy" for lack of a better word. One example is that I took a four measure bassline in 4/4 timing that I wrote (consisting of a quarter note and six 8th notes) that was nothing but root notes and changing it to consist of four quarter notes playing "root-octave-fifth-root" over and over during the course of the 11 minute song.

For me making more interesting basslines means making them more complex (more than the typical "nothing but roots" basslines that I hear in music today) but I don't necessarily know how to make them "groovy" or catchy.

What examples do people have of songs with groovy basslines, particularly ones that are very simple?

[jwalin]

Groovy? ANYTHING by Stax from the beginning of the label to the mid seventies. Mostly in the 60's. Think Booker T and the MG's, The Bar Kays, Sam and Dave.

Some Songs...

Hold On, I'm Coming
Soul Man
Knock On Wood
I'll take You there
Green Onions
Soul Finger

Simple bass lines played with TONS of Groove. Really the best of the 60's, if you ask me....

Jeff

[Jones_Stuff]

What about something like 'Riders on the storm' by The Doors? I know its played by Ray's left hand but its so groovy man.

[Godfather]

Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
Memphis in the Meantime - John Hiatt

not necessarily the greatest bass lines, but powerful grooves

I'll just stop there.....

[PastorofMuppets]

all tower of power records

[colcifer]

http://jemmott.com/disco.html

[John Wentzien]

"Just Kissed My Baby" by the Meters....

[Phalex]

"Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye.

First song to pop into my head when I read the thread title.

[Nashrakh]

James Jamerson. Nuff said.

[johnboy65]

jungle boogie....nasty

[pbass337]

Originally Posted by LotusCarsLtd52

Thank you all for your help.

Now let me take a impromptu poll: is it just me or is a lot of modern music (especially alt rock) lacking in "groove"?

modern alt rock is too electronic to have human groove in it.

rappers delight by the sugar hill gang. thats groovey

[DBTOYS]

Originally Posted by LotusCarsLtd52

I'm trying to make my basslines more interesting and "groovy" for lack of a better word. One example is that I took a four measure bassline in 4/4 timing that I wrote (consisting of a quarter note and six 8th notes) that was nothing but root notes and changing it to consist of four quarter notes playing "root-octave-fifth-root" over and over during the course of the 11 minute song.

For me making more interesting basslines means making them more complex (more than the typical "nothing but roots" basslines that I hear in music today) but I don't necessarily know how to make them "groovy" or catchy.

What examples do people have of songs with groovy basslines, particularly ones that are very simple?

here is one with a good blues grove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32GZ3suxRn4

[LotusCarsLtd52]

Originally Posted by DBTOYS

here is one with a good blues grove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32GZ3suxRn4

While I'm not a fan of Mayer I must admit he's an excellent musician and does an amazing job at what he does. This is indeed a very groovy song.

Have you seen some of his videos with Pino?

[DBTOYS]

no i will check it out this one also groves

i shot the sheriff Clapton the newest version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10qLYy6hiFQ

[Eminentbass]

Come on over - Jaco Pastorius. Ok, not simple but the chorus is an example of how little subtleties like ghosting and note lengths add to the groovy feel of a song. Another one for me is Superstition by Stevie Wonder. The bass is simple most of the time but the song is an example of the whole band grooving as a unit.

[BassChuck]

Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
How Sweet It Is - James Taylor

[AwkwardBass]

I guess pretty much everything by Bootsy Collins, or The James Brown Band when Bootsy Collins was in it. or, for that matter, after Bootsy Collins was kicked out of it, because their next bass player was equally as groovy.

[ThudThudThud]

Pick up the pieces by The Average White Band.

Groovy.

[blues.bass]

Papa Was A Rolling Stone.
The Temptations.

1 chord. Bass line consistent of 3 notes.... but pure gut-bucket funk right there.

[LotusCarsLtd52]

Originally Posted by blues.bass

Papa Was A Rolling Stone.
The Temptations.

1 chord. Bass line consistent of 3 notes.... but pure gut-bucket funk right there.

That's a nice groove there.

Let me shift this in another direction: What bands should I try listening to to get an idea of what groove is?