All-time greatest Geddy Lee bassline?

[L. L. Elwood]

Hands-down, Digital Man off of 1982's signals. Now I know a lot of you are going to be scratching your heads at this, but throw on some headphones and put this track on - it has everything - amazing improv, snarl, attitude, melody.. and that tone! oh my God! I'm pretty sure that's his jazz bass. Anyhow, if I'm wrong, please let me know why and let me know which track you think is the all-time greatest Geddy Lee bassline!

 

[pingvuiini]

Not a bassline per se, but rather an epic performance that I love playing along with 4-5 times a week. The entire side 3 of:

 

[Bob_Ross]

I have no business contributing to this thread, simply because I can barely stomach most Rush tunes...but I will admit that the bassline to "New World Man" is badass, so that gets my vote.

 

[2112]

Depends on what you consider "great". All of these are factors:

Popularity
Technicality
Sound, groove & fit

Across all three of these, probably YYZ. It's not their most popular song, and not the most technical of all his basslines, and not the strongest groove, but it probably represents the strongest combination of all three.

Alright... let the hatred begin!

 

[Thumpin6string]

The fact that he can play any of those bass lines and sing is amazing. I can't even chew gum and walk.

 

[alack]

This is the Geddy track for the time capsule. Everything about his unique approach is perfectly on display in this brilliantly written song.

 

[Les Fret]

The Big Money and YYZ

 

[McFarlin]

Roundaboot

 

[DWA2469]

I have no business contributing to this thread, simply because I can barely stomach most Rush tunes...but I will admit that the bassline to "New World Man" is badass, so that gets my vote.

I have never been a Rush fan but can recognize the great musicianship of all 3 members

 

[Smooth_bass88]

bro freaking loves Digital Man dang

 

[Root 5]

I can barely stomach most Rush tunes...

Back to re-education camp for you!

 

[Hues]

Davie504 just put this out yesterday,.... Seriously funny stuff and good.

 

[Root 5]

Xanadu
The Trees
Red Barchetta
All the other Rush tunes

 

[H Nighttrain]

Greatest? I dunno, maybe La Villa Strangiato, but my favorites:

Analog Kid
Freewill
Red Barchetta
Vital Signs

 

[thisheregiraffe]

Whenever I pick up a bass, I'm gonna play Fly By Night... so I guess that makes it my all-time favourite Rush bass line..?

Dark horse candidate: Prime Mover. I love playing along to this one.

My list of favourite Rush bass lines would be a very long list I'll just leave it at that for now.

 

[mdogs]

I think that I first saw Rush in 1978 on the Hemispheres tour and in nearly 50 years of being a huge fan, I don't believe that I have ever really thought about what my favorite bass line is. Seems weird, I know. There are so many great ones that I feel like coming up with a favorite at this point would be unfair to all the others. But I suppose if forced to pick, my favorite instrumental line would be La Villa Strangiato and my favorite line in a song with vocals would be Freewill.

 

[SC Bassboy]

Hands-down, Digital Man off of 1982's signals. Now I know a lot of you are going to be scratching your heads at this, but throw on some headphones and put this track on - it has everything - amazing improv, snarl, attitude, melody.. and that tone! oh my God! I'm pretty sure that's his jazz bass. Anyhow, if I'm wrong, please let me know why and let me know which track you think is the all-time greatest Geddy Lee bassline!

He has so many great basslines that it can be hard to pick one, but for me the best of the best will always be Red Barchetta. Specifically, the live version from R40. Geddy just lets it rip during the outro.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

My favorite is Red Barchetta.

 

[BigJohnAZ]

I think that I first saw Rush in 1978 on the Hemispheres tour an in nearly 50 years of being a huge fan, I don't believe that I have ever really thought about what my favorite bass line is. Seems weird, I know. There are so many great ones that I feel like coming up with a favorite at this point would be unfair to all the others. But I suppose if forced to pick, my favorite instrumental line would be La Villa Strangiato and my favorite line in a song with vocals would be Freewill.

That was my first tour I saw them as well, and only missed one after that, with multiples a handful of times. No way I can pick just one, or ten, for that matter. Cinderella Man would be in there, Natural Science,..........

 

[toastw]

I'll jump on the YYZ and Xanadu bandwagons.

Now that I've answered your question ... Thread steal alert!

Why is the bass so low in the mix in Closer to the Heart? To me, it stands out as very uncharacteristic of their usual mix/sound. I can't be the only one.