Great songs with underrated basslines.

[A. D. Fairhurst]

Lots of songs are great, and loads of people talk about them. But a lot of these songs have great basslines no-one mentions. I'll start:

The passenger is a fairly well known song, but I've never heard anyone mention the bassline. It's simple, but so cool! And that fill every fourth bar is just awesome.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Teena Marie. I Need Your Lovin' .

 

[Lionel Albert]

Jerry Scheff : Love Her Madly (The Doors)


Jery Scheff : The Changeling (The Doors)

 

[Kim Jong Funk]

We all know and love Pino Palladino, but nobody ever mentions his playing on Elton John's "The One" (the song specifically; it's also the name of the album).

It doesn't have a memorable bass line, but it has some of the tastiest note choices I've ever heard him play. Give it a listen and you'll see.

 

[tonemachine]

Lots of songs are great, and loads of people talk about them. But a lot of these songs have great basslines no-one mentions. I'll start:

The passenger is a fairly well known song, but I've never heard anyone mention the bassline. It's simple, but so cool! And that fill every fourth bar is just awesome.

Heard on the radio today. Corey Hart "I wear my sunglasses at night" good groove and nasty guitar solo. And this reminds me of the same era... Billy Idol "eyes without a face."

80's were full of great pop bass... Bowie- Modern Love, China Girl, Let's Dance. Madonna- Like a Prayer

 

[Kim Jong Funk]

Also going to throw in LeMarquis Jefferson's part on TLC's "Waterfalls." Super-popular tune and no one was listening to the bass.

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

Burnin' for You BOC

 

[vdbass]

"Silly Love Songs" Sir Paul & Wings is my #1bass song ever.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Ain't No Mountain High Enough or Mercy Mercy Me. Always amazes me that Motown was sold on the voices, yet the playing was so consistently off the charts fantastic.

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

Ain't No Mountain High Enough or Mercy Mercy Me. Always amazes me that Motown was sold on the voices, yet the playing was so consistently off the charts fantastic.

I thought loads of bassists talked about Ain't No mountain.

 

[bass12]

"Gimme Some Lovin'" by the Spencer Davis Group. Super simple bass line but it's one of my favourites.


"Taste Of You" by Towa Tei. Not very well known at all (TT used to be a member of Deee-Lite) but a really nice bass line.

"No Use" by Jazzanova:

 

[buldog5151bass]

HERE you get plenty of people who are into Jamerson, but in general, the Funk Brothers, Wrecking Crew etc. still are not known. Some of the songs have prominent basslines, but it's the less prominent ones that can really grab you.

 

[Robert B]

I don't think I've every seen anyone reference this song, but it's got a killer bass line!

 

[Hues]

On the same note.

 

[Lionel Albert]

 

[Jools4001]

This is not the sort of music I listen to, and this is sort of the wrong way round for this thread 'cos it's a great bass line in an unlikely song that only gets airtime a few weeks of the year, but it does get it every year. Can I be the first to wish everyone a Happy Christmas?

 

[Sharkman]

This has got to be one of them...

 

[fretlessguy]

Dave Hope of Kansas: Song For America

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

This has got to be one of them...

And Gimme three Steps...and Whiskey Rocka Rolla...and Freebird...damn, Leon Wilkeson was a bassline-writing wizard.

 

[Woodstockz]

My vote for most underrated bassline: Jim Croce - I Got a Name (Babbitt?).

I was taken aback while listening to this song on the radio one day. Subtle, yet dramatic. Major bass work. Similar to Darling Dear in that it hides in plain sight within the song. The song would loose a lot without it.