Favorite "uncomplicated" basslines.

[Chatdawg]

I'll start this off by mentioning "Maneater" by Hall & Oates. T Bone Wolk's bassline is simplicity itself, but it literally IS the song. Next?

 

[Trayster2]

I love the bass line of most Jimi Hendrix songs, but especially Third Stone From the Sun and Fire.

 

[Midfour]

"Date With IKEA" by Pavement. Pretty much just arpegiated power chords with a tone so lo-fi and trebly it almost sounds like some sort of synth-bell.

"The Autopsy Garland"--the Mountain Goats. Mostly empty space, with some perfectly timed and ever-surprising dissonant stabs (like a scarier "Airbag", almost).

"Dogs Were Barking"-- Gogol Bordello. Simple and ridiculously danceable breakdown ("now dub it tovarisch, like tovarisch would...").

 

[MeLikeDaLowNote]

"Date With IKEA" by Pavement. Pretty much just arpegiated power chords with a tone so lo-fi and trebly it almost sounds like some sort of synth-bell.

"The Autopsy Garland"--the Mountain Goats. Mostly empty space, with some perfectly timed and ever-surprising dissonant stabs (like a scarier "Airbag", almost).

"Dogs Were Barking"-- Gogol Bordello. Simple and ridiculously danceable breakdown ("now dub it tovarisch, like tovarisch would...").

OMG Midfour, did you pick the most obscure music on this planet or what? J/K

My vote: Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust"

 

[Chatdawg]

"Talking In Your Sleep" by The Romantics. Another bassline that carries a tune.

 

[SirMjac28]

Roxanne -The Police
The Beatles- When I'm Sixty-Four

 

[BIG97BEN]

I've always thought P-Nuts line in Amber was the epitome of "less is more". It is a pretty simple line, but it grooves hard.

 

[kirkdickinson]

Tom Sawyer - Rush

 

[jorno]

Green Eyed Lady by Sugarloaf. If you've never heard it, check it out. You'll understand why.

 

[dreads311]

I've always thought P-Nuts line in Amber was the epitome of "less is more". It is a pretty simple line, but it grooves hard.

P-Nut was/is a HUGE influence on my playing (just look at my screen name ) As to the OP, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life by Indeep and Hot N Fun by NERD. Simple and funkay!

 

[petrus61]

Petits Machins from Miles Davis' Files de Kilimanjaro.

 

[abstractart06]

Inner City Blues - Marvin Gaye
Nobody Knows - Band of Gypsys
Hey Joe - Hendrix
Stir It Up - Marley
Lo Rider - War

 

[JimmyM]

Back In Black by AC/DC. I have heard more otherwise killer bassists expose themselves as weak in the feel department over that one.

 

[phillybass101]

I'm a FUNK guy so:

Are you Single by Aurra
Glide by Pleasure

and I'll add another since he seems to be in the news. Sexy Dancer by Prince. So simple but so damn effective.

 

[bassinplace]

If you haven't already, check out Andrew Levy with the Brand New Heavies (poetry unintended). He doesn't do anything too flashy, but he grooves so deep.

 

[Peace Cee]

It might be safe to say, paradoxically, that "simple" is actually more challenging. Some can vomit all over a song with complex lines, but to hold the line takes self-control. Some of these lines in the post are sometimes difficult to play, well.
My vote is "Keep Looking" by Sade
Paul S. Denman is a machine.

 

[BIG97BEN]

Chameleon is awesome and pretty simple yet grooving line. Best under the influence song ever.

 

[Einherjar]

As far as simple lines go lately I've really been digging "public witness program" by fugazi and "brand new Cadillac" by the clash.

 

[RxFunk]

"Dogs Were Barking"-- Gogol Bordello. Simple and ridiculously danceable breakdown ("now dub it tovarisch, like tovarisch would...").

I don't know that song, but everything Gogol Bordello is awesome, so I'll give it a shot.

 

[Spectrum]

Echoes by Pink Floyd.

(Take that, Roger haters!)