Busy, Roving Pop Basslines?

[phnord]

I'm looking for good examples of pop music (or other radio friendly genres) with busy basslines.

Specific qualities:

• Lines that draw the listeners ear, yet in a way that does not detract from the vocalist (but adds to it in a counterpuntal fashion)

• Lines that do not stick to a continual ostinado, but evolve, change, vary, deviate, are organically in flux

Some of my favorite examples so far:






















James Jamerson Bassline - "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" by Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder - I Was Made To Love Her (bass)

"Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" - Deon Estus transcribed bass line

Runaway by Jamiroquai, bass line

Note the common threads of lines that support the vocals and song structure, have melodic elements, have very different licks in between each vocal phrase, etc. etc.

Anyone have some input?

 

[phnord]

The reason for this search:

My natural voice on bass is fairly busy, organic, and melodic, but in a way that reinforces the groove and is counterpuntally sensitive to the melody rather than overshadowing it.

I want points of reference to refine my style, and also to present to a vocalist that I have been working with as to ways that my style can sit nicely in pop music.

 

[knumbskull]

Talk Talk - It's My Life



Great bassline that is very lively but also tasteful (I think). Maybe not in the same style as the examples you listed, but worth a listen

 

[phnord]

Thanks, @knumbskull

Anyone else have some ideas? I'm thinking of maybe some Jaco – perhaps when he was playing with Joni Mitchell?

 

[EastCoastThump]

Different genres have different flavors of busy.

Bruce Thomas w/ Elvis Costello. Busy, propulsive chord tones with just a couple passing notes.



Marcus Miller on Grover Washington's "Just the Two of Us." Busy tasteful counterpoint and support for the melody.

.

Graham Maby on early Joe Jackson, for example "Fools in Love"Busy chord tones, like Thomas, but here echoing reggae elements.



Squeeze's "Tempted" (Keith Wilkinson on bass, IIRC.) Busy, w/ nice tension and release. A lot of slash chords w/ bass under inversions in keys and guitars.

 

[EastCoastThump]

Thanks, @knumbskull

Anyone else have some ideas? I'm thinking of maybe some Jaco – perhaps when he was playing with Joni Mitchell?

Not Jaco, but check out Wilton Felder on Joni's "Free Man in Paris."

 

[EastCoastThump]

"Ramble On"

 

[EastCoastThump]

Rainey on Steely Dan's "Peg"

 

[emblymouse]

Mayor of Simpleton by XTC. It's a freekin'rollercoaster

 

[DWBass]

Talk Talk - It's My Life



Great bassline that is very lively but also tasteful (I think). Maybe not in the same style as the examples you listed, but worth a listen

Get out of my head. I was just about to post this!

 

[DWBass]

 

[phnord]

Thanks a lot for all of the replies, guys.

Here are my favorite examples so far of what I'm talking about:





















James Jamerson Bassline - "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" by Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder - I Was Made To Love Her (bass)

"Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" - Deon Estus transcribed bass line

Runaway by Jamiroquai, bass line

Note the common threads of lines that support the vocals and song structure, have melodic elements, have very different licks in between each vocal phrase, etc. etc.

 

[Icemanaroonie]

I'm on mobile so hopefully someone else can link it, but Cee Lo Green's shag You has a great bass line.

 

[bass12]

Pretty much anything by Level 42. For example:



"Penthouse And Pavement" by Heaven 17:

 

[squirefan]

Moondance - Van Morrison

 

[phillipkregg]

Ironically, "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd has a pretty busy bass line:



But it really works and helps drive the song.


If you're more into punk, Rancid's Matt Freeman is a good example:

 

[Ewo]

This one's quite a workout.

 

[Charlzm]

 

[Ewo]

Nice arpeggiation in this one. I especially dig the IVmin 9 chord in the verse.

 

[2manynotes]

Any pop songs with Carol Kaye or Joe Osborn on bass.