James Jamerson - Ain't that peculiar
Paul Turner - Runaway
Larry Graham - Hair
I could go on for ages
Paul Turner - Runaway
Larry Graham - Hair
I could go on for ages
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Pick a bassist. Any bassist. Open this thread.
- Thread starter Hamlet7768
- Start date
When it comes to Steve Harris I would have to say Invaders or Infinite Dreams
Jeroen Paul Thesseling did a really good job in Orbital Elements
I'll let cliff speak for himself. (Master of Puppets is his favorite song).
Jeroen Paul Thesseling did a really good job in Orbital Elements
I'll let cliff speak for himself. (Master of Puppets is his favorite song).
Here are a few of my favorite bass guitarists (I am leaving out jazz acoustic bassists) and their 'best songs'. Now, the songs are going to be examples of great bassLINES rather than just showy-ness, so be aware of that:
Mike Rutherford (of Genesis) - "The Lady Lies" - this song, recorded with a Shergold four string bass (that has an attachable double neck 12 string guitar) with a pick, is a perfect example of Rutherford's amazing ability to weave together a very CATCHY bassline which is also perfectly fitted to the tune AND displays incredible technical prowess.
Paul McCartney (Beatles) - "A Little Help From My Friends" - this tune exemplifies his ability, like Rutherford, to create a 'sing-able' bassline that is also harmonically complex and technically interesting.
James Jamerson (Motown various) - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" - this tune is the ultimate P-bass, flatwound sound and really 'sums up' Jamerson's approach to bass guitar playing which opened the flood-gates for bassists of the late 60s and onward, to treat the electric bass as its own breed of instrument.
Mike Rutherford (of Genesis) - "The Lady Lies" - this song, recorded with a Shergold four string bass (that has an attachable double neck 12 string guitar) with a pick, is a perfect example of Rutherford's amazing ability to weave together a very CATCHY bassline which is also perfectly fitted to the tune AND displays incredible technical prowess.
Paul McCartney (Beatles) - "A Little Help From My Friends" - this tune exemplifies his ability, like Rutherford, to create a 'sing-able' bassline that is also harmonically complex and technically interesting.
James Jamerson (Motown various) - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" - this tune is the ultimate P-bass, flatwound sound and really 'sums up' Jamerson's approach to bass guitar playing which opened the flood-gates for bassists of the late 60s and onward, to treat the electric bass as its own breed of instrument.
JPJ- Man, Zep II was a huge album for bass. Ramble On and The Lemon Song both kick ass, but I always liked his playing best on What Is and What Should Never Be, just so much groove, quintessential bass playing.
Entwistle- The Live at Leeds album really showcases the full power of his bass playing. I especially like Young Man Blues, he and Keith Moon just so completely hold it down.
Jack Casady- Again, I find his live work is where he really shines. His tone and his playing are just so sublime and heavy. I guess if I had to pick one tune as quintessential Casady bass, I'd go with The Other Side of This Life. It's on Bless Its Pointed Little Head.
Phil Lesh- Once again, it's all about his live playing, but that should be a given considering the band he played in. It's hard to really pick a song that showcases his playing particularly as it varied so much from performance to performance. I guess a Dark Star from 1969 to 1974 or a Playing in the Band from 1972 to 1974 could be a good example of the breadth and depth of his playing when the Dead really went out there. I've heard everything from gentle melodies to heavy grooves to hard, proto-punk chords to wall-shaking feedback over the course of one of these jams. For his quicker playing, I'd say an Eyes of the World from '74 is a good place to look.
Entwistle- The Live at Leeds album really showcases the full power of his bass playing. I especially like Young Man Blues, he and Keith Moon just so completely hold it down.
Jack Casady- Again, I find his live work is where he really shines. His tone and his playing are just so sublime and heavy. I guess if I had to pick one tune as quintessential Casady bass, I'd go with The Other Side of This Life. It's on Bless Its Pointed Little Head.
Phil Lesh- Once again, it's all about his live playing, but that should be a given considering the band he played in. It's hard to really pick a song that showcases his playing particularly as it varied so much from performance to performance. I guess a Dark Star from 1969 to 1974 or a Playing in the Band from 1972 to 1974 could be a good example of the breadth and depth of his playing when the Dead really went out there. I've heard everything from gentle melodies to heavy grooves to hard, proto-punk chords to wall-shaking feedback over the course of one of these jams. For his quicker playing, I'd say an Eyes of the World from '74 is a good place to look.
In no particular order,
John Taylor (Duran Duran) - Girls on Film
Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) - What is Hip
Mel Schacher (Grand Funk) - Black Licorice
could go on & on
John Taylor (Duran Duran) - Girls on Film
Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) - What is Hip
Mel Schacher (Grand Funk) - Black Licorice
could go on & on
I have to agree with the Entwhistle Live At Leeds nominations.
His solo in "My Generation" definitely kicks A$$.
Theres no denying the skill and creativity of JPJ either.
I have to give the nod to Chris Squire as one of the most original sounding bassists. His work with the Ric is on of a kind. He really exploited the tone possibilities of that bass.
Is nobody going to mention Tim Bogert?????
(Everything-especially his solo on "Break Song" from "Near The Beginning")
I dont know who it was, but the bass on David Bowie's "Suffragette City" is what brought on my purchase of my Ric. Outstanding!
Prakash John on Lou Reed's "Rock and Roll Animal" is also worthy of mention. He wore that Ric out on that album.
Ive retired my Ric in favor of 5 stringers
(RICH RULEZ!)
I know, all those guys I mentioned only needed 4.
His solo in "My Generation" definitely kicks A$$.
Theres no denying the skill and creativity of JPJ either.
I have to give the nod to Chris Squire as one of the most original sounding bassists. His work with the Ric is on of a kind. He really exploited the tone possibilities of that bass.
Is nobody going to mention Tim Bogert?????
(Everything-especially his solo on "Break Song" from "Near The Beginning")
I dont know who it was, but the bass on David Bowie's "Suffragette City" is what brought on my purchase of my Ric. Outstanding!
Prakash John on Lou Reed's "Rock and Roll Animal" is also worthy of mention. He wore that Ric out on that album.
Ive retired my Ric in favor of 5 stringers
(RICH RULEZ!)
I know, all those guys I mentioned only needed 4.
- Feb 24, 2004
- 4,103
- 642
- 68
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
Rob Wright (NoMeansNo) - It's Catching Up
Dan Maines (Clutch) - Big News I
Justin Chancellor (Tool) - The Pot
Blacky (Voivod) - Into My Hypercube
Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) - My Last Words
Paul Barker (Ministry) - Golden Dawn (or Stainless Steel Providers from the RevCo album)
Mike Starr (AIC - RIP) - Would?
Klaus Fluoride (DK's) - California Über Alles
Dave Edwardson (Neurosis) - Lost
Dick Lovgren (Meshuggah) - Combustion
Colin Edward ( Porcupine Tree) - Bonnie The Cat.
Man, this list could go on...
Dan Maines (Clutch) - Big News I
Justin Chancellor (Tool) - The Pot
Blacky (Voivod) - Into My Hypercube
Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) - My Last Words
Paul Barker (Ministry) - Golden Dawn (or Stainless Steel Providers from the RevCo album)
Mike Starr (AIC - RIP) - Would?
Klaus Fluoride (DK's) - California Über Alles
Dave Edwardson (Neurosis) - Lost
Dick Lovgren (Meshuggah) - Combustion
Colin Edward ( Porcupine Tree) - Bonnie The Cat.
Man, this list could go on...
James Jamerson - Heard it Through The Grapevine (Gladys Knight version)
being used to the Slower, more subdued versions of grapevine, I was totally floored when I first heard this version. Probably my favorite bass line of all time.
being used to the Slower, more subdued versions of grapevine, I was totally floored when I first heard this version. Probably my favorite bass line of all time.
Billy Gould.
Song: My username.
He is that song...amazing lines that turn me on in a physical way.
Where's my Wife?
Song: My username.
He is that song...amazing lines that turn me on in a physical way.
Where's my Wife?
Erwin de Wit (Last Days of Humanity)
A Divine Proclamation of finishing the Present Existence
(yah you will hate it, just click it muah hah hah)
this is a better version Bert and Ernie go BRUTAL
A Divine Proclamation of finishing the Present Existence
(yah you will hate it, just click it muah hah hah)
this is a better version Bert and Ernie go BRUTAL
How about ...
Bootsy (Parliament): Flashlight
Nathan Watts (Stevie Wonder): Do I Do
Jaco (Solo): Continuum or (Weather Report) Havona
Wooten (Solo): Me and My Bass Guitar or (Bela Fleck) Big Country.. just love that Continuum quote near the end of the song and his great fretless work!
I'll leave out my favourite upright guys and ones that have already been mentioned
Bootsy (Parliament): Flashlight
Nathan Watts (Stevie Wonder): Do I Do
Jaco (Solo): Continuum or (Weather Report) Havona
Wooten (Solo): Me and My Bass Guitar or (Bela Fleck) Big Country.. just love that Continuum quote near the end of the song and his great fretless work!
I'll leave out my favourite upright guys and ones that have already been mentioned
WOW! I'm amazed! Not a single mention (so far as I can tell) of Jack Bruce! C'mon, bass players, how could you forget him? I like pretty much anything he did, but my favorites have to be Sunshine Of Your Love, White Room, Tales Of Brave Ulysses, and Deserted Cities Of The Heart.
Steve Harris - Killers
Lemmy - Overkill or Killed by Death
John Deacon - Dragon Attack, Liar, Millionaires Waltz
Chris Squire - Yours is no Disgrace
Flea - Show me Your Soul
Sting - St Augustine in Hell or When the World is Running Down
Geezer Butler - NIB or War Pigs
Tom Petersson - Ain't That a Shame
It was probably Trevor Bolder playing with David Bowie at that time to answer someone further up the thread.
Lemmy - Overkill or Killed by Death
John Deacon - Dragon Attack, Liar, Millionaires Waltz
Chris Squire - Yours is no Disgrace
Flea - Show me Your Soul
Sting - St Augustine in Hell or When the World is Running Down
Geezer Butler - NIB or War Pigs
Tom Petersson - Ain't That a Shame
It was probably Trevor Bolder playing with David Bowie at that time to answer someone further up the thread.
Kraken said:
I'm pretty sure the warmth was dirk. It was on 'make yourself', which was his second to last album with incubus.
Anyway, I'll put in Dan Briggs, with 'prequel to the sequel' and 'viridian'. Really excellent, tight playing. He is what the bass should be- the link between the guitars and drums. Melodic and rhythmic. Admittedly, Between the buried and me isn't going to appeal to everyone, but he's a monster player regardless.
