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BEST "POP" BASS LINES

burk48237

burk48237

Supporting Member
Nov 22, 2004
9,850
3,568
68
Oak Park, MI
#1
I'm going to put together a poll from this one. Remember, I'm looking for pop tunes not 17 minute prog jazz anthems. To me they should be from relatively short "catchy" type tunes, and the bass line needs to make the song. If they didn't get airplay in the top 40, they don't qualify. After this thread is up for a couple of weeks I'm going to come back with a poll.

Here are my Nominees:
Your Smiling Face-James Taylor (Lee Sklar)
For the Love of Money-O'Jays (Anthony Jackson)
I want you back- Jackson Five (Wilton Felder)
Money- Pink Floyd (Roger Waters)
Every Little thing She Does is Magic -The Police (Sting)
Peg-Steely Dan (Chuck Rainey)
If you want me to Stay-Sly and the Family Stone (Larry Graham)
Lady Madonna-The Beatles (Paul Mccartney)
Every Time you go Away-Paul Young (Pino Pallidino)
Saturday in the Park-Chicago (Peter Cetera)
Strawberry Letter 23-Brothers Johnson (Louis Johnson)
Higher Ground-RHCP (Flea)
What's Goin On- Marvin Gaye (James Jamerson) I could have listed hundreds of Jamerson tunes, If someone has a better suggestion, let's here it

I thought about some Zeppelin tunes but I'm just not sure I could ever call them a pop band. I'm sure theirs a few I missed, So have it guys. Like I said I'm probably going to take the six top choices and do a poll.
 
#2
"Scorpio"-Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band (Bob Babbitt)? It's only about 3:00+ minutes long & I think the bass line helps make the song. ;)

(This instrumental tune was a Top-40 hit back when the music listening public demanded more than the schmaltz that passes itself of as Pop today...blah).

Something a little more recent?
"Fell In Love With A Boy"-Joss Stone (I forget who played the line on her debut record; someone I'm not familar with).
 
#10


A Town Called Malice .................................... The Jam
Mayor of Simpleton ............................................ XTC
Are you Receiving Me? ........................................ XTC
Olivers Army .......................................... Elvis Costello
Pump it Up ............................................ Elvis Costello
Peace, Love & Understanding ................... Elvis Costello
Boys Don't Cry ............................................ The Cure
Add it Up ...................................... the Violent Femmes
Christmas Wrapping .............................. The Waitresses
Paperback Writer ...................................... The Beatles
Rain ....................................................... The Beatles
Dear Prudence .......................................... The Beatles
Have a Cigar ............................................... Pink Floyd
John I'm Only Dancing ................................ David Bowie
Young American ........................................ David Bowie
South-Central Rain ........................................... R.E.M.
Fall on Me ...................................................... R.E.M.
Change ............................................... Tears for Fears
Too Shy ................................................... Kajagoogoo
Love Plus 1 .............................................. Haircut 100
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? .................. Culture Club
Tears of a Clown ................................. The English Beat
Turning Japanese ...................................... The Vapors
​
 
#16
Shining Star - Earth Wind & Fire - Verdine White
What is Hip? - Tower of Power - Rocco Prestia
Chains - Fleetwood Mac - John McVie
Steal Your Kisses - Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals - (what's that bass player's name????? I'll probably remember right after I post this)

And the entire catalog of Peter Gabriel hits from the 80's with Tony Levin on bass.
 
#17
Hundreds of them, of course, but one guy I really liked played with the Steve Miller Band:

'Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash' - killer blues shuffle
'The Joker'
'Fly Like An Eagle'

even though I don't really like the tunes that much, the bass playing was exemplary.

Also:

'Summer In The City' by Quincy Jones - I believe it was Chuck Rainey. On a great album that I wish they would reissue in whole called 'You've Got It Bad, Girl'. They have done a partial reissue, but for some reason that song is missing. Also, it had Valerie Simpson (in her heyday) doing absolutely killer vocals.

C.
 

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