Busy, Roving Pop Basslines?

[Alkali Ike]

This one's quite a workout.

Norman Watt-Roy!

 

[Chrisk-K]

Silly Love Songs

 

[FerruleCat]

 

[jwilson67]

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

Great example! 80% of Colin's bass parts are like this to a varying degree.

 

[jwilson67]

Rio - Duran Duran.

 

[Finaks]

Everything by Jamerson.

 

[Mystic Michael]

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 examples that come to mind are Paul McCartney on Something, James Jamerson on What's Going On, Flea on You Oughta Know, etc.

Anyone have some input?

You bet! Your description has got Bruce Thomas' name written all over it:





MM

 

[bassmeknik]

One of my favorites;

 

[thomas-k]

Most anything by The Smiths

 

[s_wood]

James Jamerson was the king of that style of bass playing. For instance, check out his line on the Four Tops songs "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Bernadette.". Another guy in that style who isn't nearly as well known would be Norman Watt-Roy's line on "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" by Iam Dury & The Blockheads.

 

[bassfran]

I found myself down the Ute Oob rabbit hole late last night and, yeah- Bruce Thomas & Colin Moulding are both fine examples. Something in the water over there...

Also, you might look into some John Wetton- there's some ripping stuff in several bands he was in. Plus, he was a great singer, to boot!

Percy Jones on Eno's records, too.

 

[pacojas]

there's nothing more roving than Parliament-Funkadelic's basslines, lol.

 

[bassinplace]

Pretty much any of The Monkees hits (ignore the bad miming here).

 

[diegom]

Pretty much any of The Monkees hits

Was that Carol Kaye or Joe Osborn playing on those tracks?

 

[Janforth]

Green Flower Street - Chuck Rainey off Donald Fagen's The Nightfly album

 

[bassinplace]

Was that Carol Kaye or Joe Osborn playing on those tracks?

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it was the wrecking crew.

 

[darkblack99]

Anything from the 70's with Herbie Flowers on bass:

 

[Mystic Michael]

I found myself down the Ute Oob rabbit hole late last night and, yeah- Bruce Thomas & Colin Moulding are both fine examples. Something in the water over there...

Yep. I've thought for a long time now that the Brit bassists have got some special sort of je ne sais quoi. Several of them referenced in this very thread, i.e. Bruce Thomas, Colin Moulding, Graham Maby, Mark King, John Taylor, etc. made their bones starting in the late 70s / early 80s...though my personal favorites go back as far as Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Jack Bruce...and Chris Squire.

MM

 

[Sgt. Rock]

Third vote for Rio. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

 

[bassfran]

The Monkees- "Goin' Down".