What 70's/80's covers shall I learn first?

[JBW]

I haven't been playing long, but am making decent progress. I am working on the usual music theory and finger exercises, etc. But, I want to also start work on learning the bass lines of key 70's and 80's rock, with the hope that I can eventually sit in with others and not embarass myself too much. So the question is, "What do you recommend are the first five songs I should learn?" I know everyone will have different opinions, so if you only give me your top five, I'll quickly wind up with a list of 50 titles (maybe way more). I am looking for songs that are both popular with audiences, and aren't overly complicated given my skill level. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

P.S.- I played in a garage band as a keyboardist when in high school (6 years of weekly piano lessons-pretty decent at classical piano), but years later in my 40's have taken up the bass as my "mid-life crisis".

[oldcatfish]

1) Closer To The Heart, by Rush
2) Fly By Night, by Rush
3) Over The Hills And Far Away, by Led Zeppelin
4) Paranoid, by Black Sabbath
5) Behind Blue Eyes by the Who

**All of these songs are likely to be known by audiences and aren't too difficult--but are fun to play on bass.

[Richland123]

This all depends on what type of band you are looking to play with. For frequently requested 70s & 80s rock dance type tunes, here are a few.

Sweet Home Alabama
Gimme Three Steps
Jessie's Girl
867-5309 Jenny
Summer of '69
Also, almost anything by ZZ Top

[plankspanker13]

Let's not forget the following either:

Bad Case of Lovin' You
Brick House
Play That Funky Music
something from Duran Duran's "Rio" album
almost anything by the Police

Of course, the above are just off the top of my head, and in response to the OP's question. IMHO, it is time to really dial in learning 90's material, since the nostalgia out there in coverbandland usually runs about 2 decades behind reality. The 90's were all about the 70's retro fad, even in unlikely places, like Star Wars movies. You can't tell me that Jarjar Binks' style was not a reaction to 70's retro cool. The aughts saw a lot of 80's retro, and we are still in the latter throes of that (if I hear Human League in another ad, I may shoot my TV). With the 'teens upon us, the 90's nostalgia wave will begin to crest soon. Prepare for a lot of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, AIC and other such things, if you are a smart coverband businessman who follows the rule of 8/23.

The rule of 8/23 is as follows: For most people, music matters the most when you are around the age of 17. That's usually coincident with the last year of high school for people, so the reasoning is obvious, and sound. If you take a look at who's out there in the audience in covergigland, it's mostly 25-40-year-olds. The rule of 8/23 thus becomes a mandate to populate your repetoire heavily with songs that range from 8 to 23 years in age (taking the aforementioned demographic back to when they were 17), although it is not an absolute rule. There will always be those who will clammor for Mustang Sally, Brown-Eyed Girl, Freebird, and the original Sweet Home Alabama (not Kid Rock's treatment). Yes, the 70's and 80's stuff is aging better than what has come after it. I think that this has more to do with the Baby Boomers' dominance of the market by sheer force of numbers, and the fact that you still had to have songcraft in that era. Much of the 90's and newer stuff is too reliant on production trickery, as opposed to real songwriting, although there are always exceptions to that general observation.

[mpdd]

just what i needed - the cars
welcome to the working week - elvis costello
tom sawyer - rush
taste the floor jesus and marychain
halloween - misfits

my new band plays a 30 minute cover set, then a 20 minute free form noise set

[Jhengsman]

I guess it comes down to your local community. Class of 79 for the 8/23 theory by the way. Aside from one poster's list I have only heard of two songs mentioned as must know covers. And neither would be in demand for my community.

[Deathblade Eric]

Fool For Your Loving - Whitesnake
Lemon Song - Led Zeppelin
Highway Star - Deep Purple
Heaven & Hell - Black Sabbath
Wishing Well - Free

Better yet... have a stab at entire albums... f'rinstance

Deep Purple - Made In Japan
Led Zep - II
AC/DC - If You Want Blood...
Status Quo - Live!

& if you want a quick-fire challenge round, find a classic rock radio station, plug in & jam along.

[JBW]

Great responses so far. I especially like the "Rule of 8/23" which helps narrow the focus. Thanks for the input.

[Mike19]

1. Bad Company by Bad Company

2. My Sharona by The Knack

3. Aint Talkin' Bout Love by Van Halen

4. Back In Black by AC/DC

5. Paradise City by Guns & Roses

[JimK]

The OP mentions "...the hope that I can eventually sit in with others".

If I hadda pick one(1) Bad Company tune for sitting in...it would be "Can't Get Enough".
Free? How about "Alright Now"...I have played in my share of '70s/'80s Rock/Pop/R&B cover bands...I don't recall ever hearing Free's "Heartbreaker" (& I still own that LP).

A '70s staple of Rock not mentioned-
The Doobie Brothers.
Now I could say learn "8th Ave. Shuffle" or "Wheels Of Fortune" or some other relatively obscure/cool Doobs' tune...but if you're looking to sit in, I would say "Long Train Running" or even "Listen To The Music".

[Richland123]

Two more 70s standards

Old Time Rock & Roll
Takin' Care Of Business

[cableguy]

ACDC-Shook me all night long.
LS-Sweet Home Alabama
Bad Co-Can't get enough
Bon Jovi-You give love a bad name

newer
Lenny Kravitz-Are you gonna go my way
Jet-are you gonna be my girl.

Also learn 12 bar blues. Most bands have guitarist who like to wank, just keep the groove and have fun.

[vkiing]

when i started i immediatly started to try and play Orion by metallica, a song with a hard bassline, but really fun. 5 months later i could play it perfectly! (except the basssolo) so you could try that, otherwise try some ramones stuff, chinese rocks has a fun bassline

[the general]

any CCR song
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak or The Boys Are Back in Town
AC/DC - TNT or Highway to Hell

thats all i can come up with off the top of my head. everyone else's suggestions are in the ballpark of most popular cover songs. but it has been awhile since i saw a cover band though

[Tituscrow]

Not a rock song, but rhythm stick is about as good as it gets for that era in any genre IMHO.

Not really suitable for beginners, but well worth sticking at, even if it takes a year.

Just try nailing those sixteenths on F all the way through without worrying about the fret work, and it's a nice simple octave based chorus.

In one song, you will learn more about timing, scales, patterns and most importantly GROOVE, than in most other entire bands back catalogues!

Other than that, can't fail with a bit of ACDC.

[JimK]

"Rhythm Stick" was Norman Watt-Roy doing his impression of Jaco...IIRC, Roy's tale of coming up with the groove for that tune. IIRC, Watt-Roy heard Jaco's percolating 16th note grooves on either his solo album & one of the Weather Report albums...and was able to cop that vibe (real quick, too) for "Rhythm Stick".

[jacostilllives]

Let's Work - Prince

[Vakmere]

White Punks on Dope - Tubes
Aqualung - Tull
All The Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople
Give it to me Baby - Rick James.....why not?

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

1) Closer To The Heart, by Rush
2) Fly By Night, by Rush
3) Over The Hills And Far Away, by Led Zeppelin
4) Paranoid, by Black Sabbath
5) Behind Blue Eyes by the Who

Sorry, but in my market anyway these songs won't get you in the door anywhere.

Sweet Home Alabama
Gimme Three Steps
Jessie's Girl
867-5309 Jenny
Summer of '69
Also, almost anything by ZZ Top

These songs will.

[GRAHAM SG1]

Where I live many of these songs would be unheard of in pubs and clubs, not sure how many average pub punters even know who Rush are ??
Over the last god knows how many years I have been gigging the most popular songs are songs like;

Should I stay or go or I fought the law
Sweet home alabama
20th century boy
Cant get enough
Freebird
Johnny b good
Alright now
Rocking all over the world
Whole lotta rosie
Rock n roll - Led Zep
Get back

and that all time crowd pleaser that I hate --
Mustang Sally