pop songs... tips for playing them?

This is not a song for a meek bass line. The bass line drives Motown. Try to listen to the original with James Jamerson and copy it! You can't go wrong.

 

Well, if you play jazz, listen to the recordings and do what the studio bassist did and use that as the starting point.

But on Aint No Mountain High Enough, that's a James Jamerson classic, and every bassist will have his mental arms folded waiting to hear what you do. I strongly suggest really learning his part and just put your all into it. It's a chromatic tour de force, and should be familiar to you if you've ever listened to Ray Brown.

Actually, since you play funk and jazz, you should adopt this song as your bible for awhile until it lives inside you.

 

My tip... Don't.