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Whatever happenend to the bass?? Or...I think I miss the 80's.

mmbongo

mmbongo

I have too many basses.
Inactive
Aug 5, 2009
25,372
30,975
54
Upstate, South Carolina
#1
What the heck happened?? I recently had a revelation. After hooking up with a band that wants to do a set of just 80's songs, I've been digging back through and finding some good songs for us to do.

Now I was 14 years old in 1984 just to give you an idea. I did not pay bass at that time, but I was certainly aware of it. I discovered Rush in 1987 and from there it was on.

But what I was looking for were great 80's songs that were somewhat popular. Songs most folks probably loved back then but haven't heard since then, and when we do them it will trigger something in their brain!

So here's what I discovered...there were some GREAT bass players in the 80's. Back then, bass was at the forefront. You could hear it. It drove the song. Nowadays (jeez I sound old) the bass is buried in the mix, you can't hear it, and it just sounds like they hired the first guy to show up with a P-Bass strung with flats so he could hide in the background and not stir up any trouble.

So whatever happened to bass parts like THESE? (I'm not including stuff like Rush or Iron Maiden...not popular enough for the general public, plus we already know these bands are led by bass monsters anyway!)

If you've never really sat down and listened to the bass in these songs, please do. And if you have similar songs to share, please do.

The Fixx - Red Skies
 
#2
Anytime people want me to teach them about bass and what it does in a song I show them "Rio"
they can pick it out right away and it teaches them about locking in with the kick drum and how to swing without me getting over wordy about it. A great tune.
 
#3
Not big on '80's music myself, but Save a Prayer by Duran Duran was a pretty cool bassline. And don't laugh - but Livin On A Prayer has a great Motown-ish element to it, especially compared to all of the pumping 8th notes most other rockers were doing back then.
 
#5
Missing Persons w/ Patrick O'Hearn...check out "Give".

The Producers w/ Kyle Henderson..."Certain Kind Of Girl", "Body Language", "Back To Basics", etc.

'80s Bands like Madness, Haircut 100, The Specials, The Beat, etc were cool for infusing Pop w/ Ska.

By now, most are familar with Kajagoogoo & Nick Beggs.

If you like Duran Duran, check out Japan w/ Mick Karn.
 
#6
mmbongo said:
What the heck happened?? I recently had a revelation. After hooking up with a band that wants to do a set of just 80's songs, I've been digging back through and finding some good songs for us to do.

Now I was 14 years old in 1984 just to give you an idea. I did not pay bass at that time, but I was certainly aware of it. I discovered Rush in 1987 and from there it was on.

But what I was looking for were great 80's songs that were somewhat popular. Songs most folks probably loved back then but haven't heard since then, and when we do them it will trigger something in their brain!

So here's what I discovered...there were some GREAT bass players in the 80's. Back then, bass was at the forefront. You could hear it. It drove the song. Nowadays (jeez I sound old) the bass is buried in the mix, you can't hear it, and it just sounds like they hired the first guy to show up with a P-Bass strung with flats so he could hide in the background and not stir up any trouble.

So whatever happened to bass parts like THESE? (I'm not including stuff like Rush or Iron Maiden...not popular enough for the general public, plus we already know these bands are led by bass monsters anyway!)

If you've never really sat down and listened to the bass in these songs, please do. And if you have similar songs to share, please do.

The Fixx - Red Skies
Click to expand...


Funny enough, I was 14 in 1984 and wasnt playing bass yet, but was definitely aware of it. And I discovered Rush in 86 and have been a huge fan ever since. But, it was the 80's music, notably the early stuff from John Taylor that made me want to play bass! The bass in DD's songs were so upfront and cool that I had to do that. I started playing in 86 and still love playing stuff like Rio for example.
 
#9
NineSpine said:
Sounds to me like you are just listening to the wrong music. Turn off the radio and look online.
Click to expand...

facepalm.gif
 
#10
You've got it all wrong. Rock has never really been a genre for technically skilled musicians, and it doesn't need to be. But, if there are skilled members, it's usually for the guitar though sometimes even that's not really that much needed (AC/DC for example).

Still, if you're looking for skilled rock musicians, check out Rush.
 
#13
Mr wiggl3s said:
You've got it all wrong. Rock has never really been a genre for technically skilled musicians, and it doesn't need to be. But, if there are skilled members, it's usually for the guitar though sometimes even that's not really that much needed (AC/DC for example).

Still, if you're looking for skilled rock musicians, check out Rush.
Click to expand...

I think you guys are missing the point...or didn't read the post. The OP is obvisouly already a Rush fan.

What you say about it being all about the guitar might be right, but to me the point was that during the 80's, lots of 'mainstream' music had great bass. The kind of bass you get from bands like Porcupine Tree, Umphrey's McGee, Coheed & Cambria, or Spock's Beard today. But outside of a comic book shop or jam band festival, where do you see those bands?

I agree. I think bass has regressed over the years. It's lost it's edge. It's no longer progressive. There, I said it! Outside of the bands mentioned above, and a handful of others, I'll bet most bass players today wouldn't be able to play Rio.
 
#14
Pearl Jam and Gogol Bordello are two good post-80's bands where the bass is not only noticeable, it usually carries the songs. Obviously, there are many more, but those are two that pop into my head where you can listen to just about any song and hear good bass.
 
#18
Darth Tater said:
I agree. I think bass has regressed over the years. It's lost it's edge. It's no longer progressive. There, I said it! Outside of the bands mentioned above, and a handful of others, I'll bet most bass players today wouldn't be able to play Rio.
Click to expand...

I doubt it, man... I've seen a good deal of really good bass players over the years. None of them are in the pop/rock realm unless you lump the Foo Fighters or Jane's Addiction in that group. Not to mention all of the ridiculous metal bass players around these days.
 
#19
Darth Tater said:
I think you guys are missing the point...or didn't read the post. The OP is obvisouly already a Rush fan.

What you say about it being all about the guitar might be right, but to me the point was that during the 80's, lots of 'mainstream' music had great bass. The kind of bass you get from bands like Porcupine Tree, Umphrey's McGee, Coheed & Cambria, or Spock's Beard today. But outside of a comic book shop or jam band festival, where do you see those bands?

I agree. I think bass has regressed over the years. It's lost it's edge. It's no longer progressive. There, I said it! Outside of the bands mentioned above, and a handful of others, I'll bet most bass players today wouldn't be able to play Rio.
Click to expand...
In the mainstream genre's, what instrument has excelled?

Auto-tune. Everything else is on the decline.
 

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