Best country bass recordings

[powderfinger]

A lot of country music is pretty basic (1..5.. 1.. 5, repeat).

But, there is a lot of country that has more interesting, intricate basslines. I've heard some old Waylon and Willie that I thought had pretty cool basslines. What are some good suggestions for country songs with cool basslines? I'm expanding my horizons here, so any help would be appreciated.

Also, not interested in any popular country from the past 15 years or so. No offense, but to me, that stuff is mass produced, polished, pop music from Nashville that gets labeled country. Im looking mainly for older, more authentic country artists here. Thanks all.

 

[waleross]

+1 its not all 15 51, the bass players are usually studio "monsters" and play everything. One song I like is Dweight Yokum's Thousand Miles to Nowhere, its just a basic I VI II V I but the way the bass lines weaves its way through the changes is great. Also Brent Mason Nashville's top guitarist is worth listening to.... Good topic

 

[DwaynieAD]

Jason Aldean has great basslines despite your multilevel condescending OP

 

[powderfinger]

Jason Aldean has great basslines despite your multilevel condescending OP

Hey hey... it's not condescending. Jason Aldean is talented. A lot of current Nashville stars have mucho talent. However, IMO, Aldean isn't "country" in the sense of classic, Bakersfield or Texas country.

 

[powderfinger]

+1 its not all 15 51, the bass players are usually studio "monsters" and play everything. One song I like is Dweight Yokum's Thousand Miles to Nowhere, its just a basic I VI II V I but the way the bass lines weaves its way through the changes is great. Also Brent Mason Nashville's top guitarist is worth listening to.... Good topic

I love Dwight Yoakem, and that song is great.

 

[Muzoid]

"Well it's 40 below and I don't give a ......."

 

[MrLenny1]

I heard Michael Rhoads backing Vince Gill and the bass lines he
was playing was really genius.

 

[kevmoga]

Most everything Michael Rhodes plays on smokes, IMO

 

[colliningram]

A little more on the bluegrass side but check out Randy Scruggs bass work on John Hartford's Areoplane album. Very rhythmically and melodically interesting. He has a lot of lines where 15 would seem to be the most logical line and yet he plays far more complex lines without distracting from the rest of whats going on.

 

[Barkless Dog]

Adventures Of Brer Rabbit And Tar Baby by Roy Buchanan & Stanley Clarke. Also any country song by the Dregs- Andy West kicks butt, always been my favorite Dregs bassist.

 

[The Mouse]

I dunno if you guys would consider it "country" but I really love the bass playing on The Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace Of Sin.

Merle Haggard's Workin' Man Blues.. Jerry Reeds stuff can be quite funky too. Theres great swing in a lot of country music. I wouldn't be a huge fan of modern country tho'. If anyone out there would like to recommend some, I'll certainly check it out. I'm always up for hearing quality new music..

 

[Aaron_D]

I would say MOST of the stuff coming out of Nashville right now is pretty damn amazing from a bass playing perspective. That being said, I know many wont/dont appreciate it because it isnt flashy.

+1 on T. Kennedy being a bad ass. I love that Aldean's band plays with him both live and on the recordings.

 

[powderfinger]

I dunno if you guys would consider it "country" but I really love the bass playing on The Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace Of Sin.

Merle Haggard's Workin' Man Blues.. Jerry Reeds stuff can be quite funky too. Theres great swing in a lot of country music. I wouldn't be a huge fan of modern country tho'. If anyone out there would like to recommend some, I'll certainly check it out. I'm always up for hearing quality new music..

I consider the Flying Burrito Bros. just as much country as I would Merle Haggard or George Jones or Buck Owens. Just because Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman didn't have short hair and wear tight jeans with big belt buckles doesn't exclude them from being REAL country. I love the bass playing on their cover of Buck Owen's "Close Up The Honky Tonks" and also of the version of "6 Days on the Road". Great stuff.

 

[powderfinger]

I would say MOST of the stuff coming out of Nashville right now is pretty damn amazing from a bass playing perspective. That being said, I know many wont/dont appreciate it because it isnt flashy.

+1 on T. Kennedy being a bad ass. I love that Aldean's band plays with him both live and on the recordings.

I do not disagree with that statement. I just dont consider most stuff coming out of Nashville these days to be "country"....

 

[powderfinger]

Also, I dont mean to "diss" new modern Nashville artists. I am not saying they can't sing, perform, and sound good... my only point of contention is that the stuff coming out of Nashville ain't REAL country. The stuff coming out of Nashville today is pop rock with a sprinkle of twang.

Real country is Merle Haggard, George Jones, Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams (Sr., Jr., and III), Johnny Cash, Flying Burritos Bros., early Poco, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dwight Yoakem, et al.

Pop country is Shania Twain, Glen Campbell, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Big and Rich, et al.

See the difference.... not a matter of talent whatsoever... it's just how you define country.

 

[keithbaynes]

If you want to hear how classic country bass is played...check out Jake Hooker and the outsiders on youTube. Jake is the Frontman and Upright player and a total traditionlist. He gets it.

 

[Aaron_D]

A lot of country music is pretty basic (1..5.. 1.. 5, repeat).

This was my point of contention.

 

[ManuelJG]

YouTube - Hot Apple Pie - Hillbillies

 

[powderfinger]

This was my point of contention.

And I admitted so much... but I know that *some* traditional country recordings DO have groovy basslines.

The reason I love "real" country isn't because of the basslines. I enjoy the sound of the pedal steel guitar, the chicken pickin', the fiddle, the honesty of the lyrics.... etc.

 

[Loel]

Also, I dont mean to "diss" new modern Nashville artists. I am not saying they can't sing, perform, and sound good... my only point of contention is that the stuff coming out of Nashville ain't REAL country. The stuff coming out of Nashville today is pop rock with a sprinkle of twang.

Real country is Merle Haggard, George Jones, Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams (Sr., Jr., and III), Johnny Cash, Flying Burritos Bros., early Poco, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dwight Yoakem, et al.

Pop country is Shania Twain, Glen Campbell, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Big and Rich, et al.

See the difference.... not a matter of talent whatsoever... it's just how you define country.

+1000 to this post,if you can find an mp3 of Lorrie Morgan
doin' a Billy Walker song,"Don't stop in my world"Killer,
totally agree on Twain,Swift,Underwood,et al.