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Music tips for me, please.

jmjbassplayer

Justin Meldal-Johnsen
Gold Supporting Member
Mar 25, 2005
4,014
3,599
I'd like to open a thread in which I'd be very grateful if you can give me recommendations on your top three favorite bass "solo" compositions, and what artist and album each is from.

I'm on the road, with iTunes credit to burn and long flights for listening.

When I say "solo", I mean created and composed by a bassist primarily. It doesn't have to be a cappella bass, though it certainly can be.

Thanks in advance,
Justin
 
Check the incredible Steve Lawson on his duet EP with Lobelia or his Grace and Gratitude album. Both amazing.

EDIT: Epic fail for not reading post properly.

My favourite Lawson song is 'Happy' from the duet EP or the self titled track from Grace and Gratitude.

Another favourite is 'The Enormous Room' By Michael Manring on the album 'Thonk' I believe.

For what it's worth Steve is my teacher, and truly astounding bass player and human
 
"Animal Zoo" by Spirit, Mark Andes on bass, album: "12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus". Fat tone, nice groove.

"Slide Away" by The Verve, Simon Jones on bass; Album: "A Storm in Heaven". my all time favorite band.

"Natchez Trace" by Dusty Springfield; Tommy Cogbill on Bass; Album: "Dusty In Memphis"

Not sure if technically you consider these solos, but the all threes songs are built around the bass lines
 
Might as well get a couple classics while you're out there...

"Hello Jeff", Stanley Clarke, Journey To Love (everyone normally recommends "School Days," but "Hello Jeff" has some sick Jeff Beck guitar work as well as killer bass)

"Havona", Weather Report, Heavy Weather (Jaco at the top of his game)
 
Maybe check these:

Squire's "Fish Out of Water" certainly comes to mind---man there's some great playing and some really unusual tones on there (and I'm not a progger). Ricks and Marshalls! Underrated. "Hold Out Your Hand" I guess would be the track.

Mingus' "Tijuana Moods", "Los Mariachis"---my fave album of his.

Squarepusher " Music is Rotted One Note", track "Don't Go Plastic" Something tells me you like Squarepusher already . . .:) I like how unhinged he can sound. Wonder what the upcoming "Solo Electric Bass 1" will bring?

Cordovan's "Chop Soul Salad" title track--electronic funky soul, bass sounds old-school.

Steve Swallow "Duets" with Carla Bley, "Reactionary Tangos".
I just dig how individualistic he is, and his phrasing is like a great singer or horn player.
 
Death From Above 1979 - Your a Woman, I'm a Machine. Very catchy basslines on this one. Bass Drum duo.

Les Claypool - Of Fungi and Foe. Some good jams on this one, but great fun songs mostly. Bass Percussion Drums and Cello.

Om - Conference of the Birds. Mellow, with chanting throughout. Bass Drum duo.
 
Forgot Mingus.

Only three.......??

-Oh Yeah (Mingus plays only piano on this one, Doug Watkins plays bass. Rashaan Roland Kirk on sax. This is pure AWESOME!!!

-Antibes 1960 ( live mingus with his piano less quartet, bud powell sits in on a track.)pure energy

-Blues & Roots....name says it all

cheers
 
These are jazzy. Okay, very jazzy. BUT bass players none the less!

Fernando Huergo - "Living These Times" - has one tune that is a 7/4 samba at about 200bpm on it, like we all haven't heard THAT on a hundred records. geez. :)

Link Removed

And the Marc Johnson record with "Samurai Hee Haw" on it. Has cool guitar synth and Marc wrote several tunes. Very cool.

 
It's not solo stuff by any measure, but at the very least, very pronounced, and I've tried like hell to boost this/these guys here quite a few times, but check out The Challenger and Prehistoricisms by Intronaut. Joe Lester weaves these incredible lines making this progish-metalish band what it is. Or, a little closer to what you were looking for, anything from GHS, specifically Wrong and Strong from Show Me What You Can Do. Stu Hamm is my go-to as far as solo bassists go.


Edit: and apparently I like to say a lot of things with the same words...