25 Songs every auditioning bass player should know

[HeadyVan Halen]

Flashlight--P-Funk

Thankufeletmebemicelf--Sly

Sexual Healing--M.Gaye

Love TKO--T.Pendergrass

Who's That Lady--Iseley's

So Fresh So Clean--Outkast

Always seem to please

 

[gumbynotpokey]

I liked the list by the OP actually. Nothing much to add.

My humor tells me that a 30 min Dazed & Confused, a medly of Sabbath tunes, Working Man, and...(you get the point)...

 

[PopaWoody]

Holy thread resurrection roscoelew.

 

[corinpills]

there should be a "can of worms" section to posts threads

I doubt anyone in an average audience would know (or care) unfortunately ...

Every bar band in the known universe plays the Black Crowes version, it's bound to come up eventually.

 

[DWBass]

Gimme Three Steps??? I don't ever want to hear that song again!

It depends on the type of band. Obviously that list is tailored to rock bands.

 

[Nev375]

I really don't want to hear any of those songs again. I guess I'll play them if I have to.

 

[WhiteNinja]

Freeeeeebiiiiiiiiird!!!!!

Oh wait, that's only really interesting for guitarists...

 

[whitefuneral]

No nirvana?
Best jam band.

 

[mellowinman]

Freeeeeebiiiiiiiiird!!!!!

Oh wait, that's only really interesting for guitarists...

The bass on Freebird is outstanding, and fun to play.

I hope you'll give it another listen.

 

[WhiteNinja]

The bass on Freebird is outstanding, and fun to play.

I hope you'll give it another listen.

Yeah I know, it was more of a joke, really. It's just that the whole song builds up to the epic guitar solo, which always takes the spotlight at every show.

 

[Gaius46]

The bass on Freebird is outstanding, and fun to play.

I hope you'll give it another listen.

It's a good song but after playing it 10,000 times I can do without. Same with Sweet Home Alabama. I guess we should play it since some kid invariably comes up to the bandstand and requests at least at every other gig.

 

[LiamPodmore]

Just want to add that i play in a weekend warrior cover band that have never played, let alone even considered playing ANY of the songs on that list.

Liam

Edit: We did actually attempt to jam Twist and Shout once, but thats as far as it went.

 

[nortonrider]

Brown eyed girl - Really?

I can't remember the last time I heard that song live, if ever.
That's ok though because I hate that song.

 

[nortonrider]

Blue on Black seems to be pretty popular lately.

Super freak-Can't touch this
Brickhouse
Crazy Bitch

Are sure bets to get the girls out on the dance floor.

 

[ctbass]

Crossroads is the only one I really give a damn about.
2112 anyone? EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW 2112
Seriously Though I think Limelight should be on that list.

YES!

 

[Stranger Danger]

Hard To Handle should be on the list

 

[c-ba55]

People like to hear songs that were popular when they were young. The songs on your list are 30-40 years old, so if your crowd is 100% in the 45-65 age group, that's the right list. If you have anyone younger than 45 you're hoping to entertain, you might want to freshen that up a wee bit.

 

[corinpills]

Brown eyed girl - Really?

I can't remember the last time I heard that song live, if ever.
That's ok though because I hate that song.

Oh man, you're lucky. I can't walk down the street in Boston without hearing a band butchering that one. It is by far the most requested song at every gig I have ever played in the last 20 years. On more than one occasion, I have actually been in the middle of singing "Brown Eyed Girl" and had someone walk onstage to request "Brown Eyed Girl"- no joke!

No judgement, people like what they like- but I have heard such awful, soulless hack jobs of that over the years.

 

[ksandvik]

This is a good list to know in order to stay away from bands that still insist on playing these worn-out songs (yes I played most of them...)

 

[Gaius46]

This is a good list to know in order to stay away from bands that still insist on playing these worn-out songs (yes I played most of them...)

For better or worse alot of that is stuff that typical bar crowds want to hear so the bands that play them tend to work more.

As I said before I'd rather not ever play Freebird again but if someone's putting down cash for me to entertain them then I gotta give them what they want. That is if I actually want to keep playing to rooms with more than a couple if drunks in them.