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BEST "POP" BASS LINES

#43
Disclaimer
"Talking about music is like dancing about Architecture". That said, here goes....

REVISED list! I realize this thread is about "Best" Pop lines, so Inagoddadavida had to go!
I’m trying to keep the list short only focusing on either pure Top 40 HITS per BURK48237's request. Some songs may not have been true Top 40 but to my recollection were very close.

As I compile my list I notice that some songs simply contain bass lines that have stuck with me all these years and are not necessarily true “make or break the song” parts (whatever that means). Still, for any bass player I think they’re worth checking out. I learned my craft copping these things and I'm a damned good bass player (specially in my bedroom).

Questions arise….. “Pump It Up” from Elvis Costello is a signature chorus bass line that one could argue makes the song. Bruce Thomas had a ton of creativity with the Attractions but, I don’t believe they had many true Top 40 hits (ie. Billboard). McCartney on “Come Together” is an ultimate signature verse line. It makes the song. It’s on the list as is “Taxman”. Staying in BeatleLand “Old Brown Shoe” is an amazing bass line that I think George played. It’s chock full of licks and a tuff line to play, but, wasn’t Top 40. What about a hit like “The Tin Man” by America. The bass and its production is impeccable, maybe half the song, but, the melody is so strong even with a root bass line the tune would’ve hit Top 10. Alas it didn’t make my list.

It’s 2am. I’m tired. I’ve still got several folders of .mp3’s to go through so here’s my list for now.

Top 40
It’s A Shame -The Spinners (James Jamerson)
I Was Made To Love Her – Stevie Wonder (James Jamerson)
There are another 30+ songs with Jamerson. He leads the pack in my book.
Thankyoufalletinmebemiceself – Sly and the Family Stone (Larry Graham)
Come Together – The Beatles (Paul McCartney)
Taxman – The Beatles (Paul McCartney)
Graceland - Paul Simon (Bassist?)
Walk This Way – Aerosmith (Tom Hamilton?)
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart (Phil Chen)
Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey (Perry Kibble?)
My City Was gone – Pretenders (bassist?)
Clash – London Calling (Paul Simonon)
Sunshine of Your Love – Cream (Jack Bruce)
Ashes to Ashes – David Bowie (Bassist?)
Shapes of Things – Yardbirds (Bassist?)
Take a Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed (Herbie Flowers)
Missing You - Rolling Stones (Bill Wyman)
Sympathy For The Devil - Rolling Stones (Bill Wyman)
Under My Thumb - Rolling Stones (Bill Wyman)
Grey Seal – Elton John (Dee Murray)
Pump it Up – Elvis Costello (Bruce Thomas)
The Joker – Steve Miller Band (Gerald Johnson)
Midnight Confessions - Grass Roots (Rob Grill?)
Look Through Any Window - Hollies (Eric Haydok, Bernie Calvert??)
Watching The Wheels - John Lennon (Tony Levin)
Tighten Up – Archie Bell and the Drells (Bassist?)
Long Distance Runaround – Yes (Chris Squire)

question marks denote either I don’t know who the bassist is (eg. a simple Google search didn't yield anything) or I wonder if a session player may have played the part. Example: Peter Tork didn’t play on those Monkey’s Hits - not that I have any Monkey's on the list.

Not Top 40 but worth mention
Someday Man – Paul Williams (probably Joe Osborn)
Whipping Post – Allman Brothers Band (Berry Oakley?)
Hang on to Yourself – David Bowie (Trevor Bolder)
Panic in Detroit – David Bowie (Trevor Bolder)
Cross-Eyed Mary - Jethro Tull (Jeffrey Hammond)
Living in the Past - Jethro Tull (Jeffrey Hammond)
Who Knows - Jimi Hendrix and his Band of Gypsys (Billy Cox)
Mother of Pearl – Roxy Music (John Porter)
Beauty Queen – Roxy Music (Rik Kenton?)
Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren (must mention due to its Jamerson-like soulfulness)
Eminence Front – The Who (John Entwistle)
Entwistle IS Mr. Signature so too many to mention


OT: Burk, I'm from Southfield! Wassup brutha?
 
#44
Well. I can see I'm going to have to add "I'll take you there" and for Jamerson I'm leaning toward "I was made to love her" instead of "what's going on". Elvis Costellos "Pump it Up" has received multiple acclaim as has "Too shy" by Kajugogo. Any suggestions for the one top nominee from McCartney and the Beatles? Also I love Yes but I'm not sure "Long distance runaround " got enough top forty airplay to be considered a pop tune. Although I'm going to do some research on "Sunshine of your love". The bass certainly made the tune. "It's my Life" has made the cut, that may be a testimony to the mediocre slum of top forty low end after the turn of the century. Is their any consensus on the Joe Osborn submissions, What about some of Donald Duck dunns playing? And who played bass on Rock Steady (aretha franklin)? Also Who were the bass players for Kajagogo and Elvis Costello? Thanks guys, GREAT STUFF!
 
#46
right and wrong -joe jackson
smooth operator -sade
off the wall -michael jackson (billy jean too)
lonesome loser -little river band

a lot of hall and oates stuff have killer bass tracks, too many to name.
 
#49
I'm leaning toward "Come together" for the beatles on the strength of that first signature run. I CAN'T imagine that song performed without that signature lick. How about "Sweet Emotion" Areosmith, as another true signature line?
 
#52
DWBass said:
And The Beat Goes On - The Whispers
It's A Love Thang - The Whispers
The Second Time Around - Shalimar

All played by Leon Sylvers (or Foster Sylvers).
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks :) Always liked those bass parts and wondered who played them.

One that was big in England, but I don't know if it ever made to the USA was 'Hit me with your rhythm stick" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads (from about 1979). Bassist was Norman Watt-Roy and he really made a lot of people sit up and take notice with that line (there's a video of it on youtube if you search for the song title).
 
#53
Here is an updated list for the poll: It's still open to correction or addition all though I'd like to keep the poll choices to about a twenty:


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)
Thank You for letting me be Myself Again-Sly and the Family Stone (Larry Graham)
Come Together-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)
Too Shy-Kajugogo(Nick Bergs)
Sweet Emotion'Aerosmith (tom Hamilton)
Pump it up- Elvis Costello (Bruce Thomas)
I'll take you There"-Staples Singers (?)
It's My Life-No Doubt (Tony Kinnal)
I Was made to Love Her-Stevie Wonder (James Jamerson) I could have listed hundreds of Jamerson tunes, If someone has a better suggestion, let's here.

A few questions, Should Saturday in the Park (Chicago) stay? Who played bass on I'll take you there? What is the consensus Joe Jackson Pick? What about Smooth Operator by Sade?
 
#54
Chuck Rainey played on Aretha's "Rock Stready".

"I'll Take You There" by the Staples...David Hood.

...which kinda reminds: Tommy Cogbill's "Funky Broadway" by Wilson Pickett. I'm assuming that was a Top-40 hit back in the day.
 
#55
floopy said:
One that was big in England, but I don't know if it ever made to the USA was 'Hit me with your rhythm stick" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads (from about 1979). Bassist was Norman Watt-Roy and he really made a lot of people sit up and take notice with that line (there's a video of it on youtube if you search for the song title).
Click to expand...

Your UK Bass Guitar magazine had "Rhythm Stick" as one of the best 50 basslines in Punk...I read the description of Watt's bassline & hadda hear it so I bought it (from UK's Amazon site).
No doubt, the verses are right out of the Jaco school. That song is from, what, the mid-late '70s? Watt had that style of groove down pretty early, considering.
Nice job!
 
#56
I do think Tracy Wormworth's line on The Waitresses, "Christmas Wrapping" is a pure pop bass masterpiece and is probably overlooked because of the appearance (and reality) of the 'novelty' factor that the song and the group have surrounding them.

Everytime I hear that song I am re-amazed by how incredibly cool that bassline is. In a song where just about any bassline could have been done and would have worked, she did THAT! She is so cool!

Also - and I won't keep cluttering this thread with afterthoughts - there was a song by Bow Wow Wow called, "Do you want to hold me?" - which has a bassline for the ages.

I like your list! I cannot argue with a single song on there!
 
#57
I'm gonna go with Paul Simon and Diamonds on the Soles of her shoes.....awesome fretless by god knows who....annnd.....Soul Man from the man with one of the best white-man fro's ever....Duck Dunn. He's also prolly one of the coolest stage presences I've seen. peace
 
#58
...which reminds me-
UK's Bass Guitar(AKA Total Guitar) mag alsoi did a 20 Best basslines of Pop.

20-"Under Pressure"-Queen
19-"The Chinese Way"-Level 42
18-"The Lovecats"-The Cure
17-"Let's Dance"-David Bowie
16-"Billie Jean"-Michael Jackson
15-"Keep On Running"-The Spencer Davis Group
14-"Start"-The Jam
13-"Another One Bites The Dust"-Queen
12-"You Can't Hurry Love"-Ross & the Supremes
11-"Deeper Underground"=Jamiroquai
10-"Rio"-Duran Duran
09-"Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes"-Paul Simon
08-"Stand By Me"-Ben E. King
07-"Born To Run"-Springsteen
06-"My Generation"-The Who
05-"Groove Is In The Heart"-Deee-Lite
04-"Wherever I Lay My Hat"-Paul Young
03-"Come Together"-The Beatles
02-"What's Going On"-Marvin Gaye
01-"Good Times"-Chic

...some dubious choices, IMO.
 
#60
Hey, when this list if finished I would love to form a band and perform every song on it! And the really cool thing is that these songs are not only great for the bass players, they are really great songs, period! I think some really fortunate crowd at some club would be thrilled to have such great songs to dance to and enjoy for an evening!

I think I am going to do that - take the list generated here and use it as a foundation list to build a new cover band on. ;)
 

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