Simple Basslines that are incredibly important

[Matt Till]

I never really thought about it until I had to play it, but the bassline to Highway to Hell makes that song. The song would sound like crap without THAT bassline. Anything less (more) would be uncivilized. I was listening to the other parts to the song then I thought, "Man, if I stopped playing right now, this song would fall apart." Thought tempted, I didn't.

 

[Adam Barkley]

Simple Man
Walking on the Moon
What is and never should be
Hey Man Nice Shot
Another Brick In the Wall Pt 2

 

[fulcrum]

Day Tripper.
Blood And Roses.
Happy Jack.

and others.

 

[Kavorka]

While not a classic, like the songs above, I love the simple and vital bass line for the Black Eyed Peas, Let's Get ********.

 

[Matt Till]

All very good calls. Simple man's bassline is fairly complex though... sorta.

 

[Gia]

devo - mongoloid

 

[josh_m]

Two obvious ones:
Another one bites the dust
Under Pressure

Others:
My Girl
Me and Mrs. Jones


theres more but not coming to mind right this second.

 

[Adam Barkley]

Running with the Devil

 

[HiFi]

If You Want Me to Stay

 

[dirtgroove]

Highway to Hell

No man- you gotta play it with some swing to it. Confuse the hell out of everyone, cause a communal moment of embarrassment as everyone realises the devil they've just given into. Turn it into a dub version.

 

[Da_Niet]

How about Bob Marley's, "I Shot the Sheriff"?

I also have to add, "Paperback Writer", by the Fab Four.

"So What", by Miles Davis.

"Black Market", by Weather Report.

"Running Free", by Iron Maiden.

"Lullaby", by The Cure.

I know there are countless others, sure to be added to this list, but these are what I came up with this instant.

 

[charles21o7]

how about

Dazed and Confused
Mercy Mercy Me
anything by ELO

 

[CrazySean]

Another one bites the dust

Exactly what I was gonna say.

 

[CrazySean]

Running with the Devil

Can't beat that. Simple but effective.

 

[Woodchuck]

"Guns of Brixton" - The Clash

 

[Adam Barkley]

One of these Days - Pink Floyd
Children of the Grave - Sabbath

 

[rllefebv]

'Everyday People' - Sly & The Family Stone... One note, but what a groove! Go Mr. Graham!!

'I'll Take You There' - Staple Singers... David Hood, baby!

Like the man said, I'm sure that there are countless others...

-robert

 

[AllegroNonMolto]

Just about any song on U2's The Joshua Tree.

 

[SuperSluggard]

Alot of ska/reggae songs. A ska/reggae bassline that is VERY important to the song is the bassline in Mango Man by the Strangways. Its the same thing over and over again. With small changes.
Others:
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
Float On by Modest Mouse

Edit: I had to take some songs out because I realized they had to be simple basslines.

 

[GrooveMonkey]

Fascination Street by The Cure. Fun, simple, and without a doubt crucial to the feel of the whole song.