The Best Fretless Tunes

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Check out recordings featuring Argentinean bassist/singer/multi-instrumentalist Pedro Aznar, one of the most terrific musicians from Latin America in my opinion. Here's an example:

"Frecuencia Modulada" - From Serú Girán's "La Grasa De Las Capitales" (1979)

 

[basszillla]

Here's one i like - its by Glenda Rae(dont know the bassist tho). its from the album Another Day / track #4
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[basszillla]

. . . . or how about Love Cats by the Cure or We All Stand by NewOrder . . .?

 

[WILL WAHL]

Weather Report and the Yellow Jackets!!!! Haslip and Jaco!!!!

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Weather Report and the Yellow Jackets!!!! Haslip and Jaco!!!!

"A Remark You Made" is the first tune that came to my mind when I saw the thread title, but I didn't mention it because the way the OP worded his post made me think that he's not looking for jazz suggestions.

 

[bradjonesbass]

A little off the beaten path, but Scaterd Few featured Omar Domkus playing fretless on the albums Sin Disease and Jawbone of an Ass. One of the few punk bands I've seen with a fretless bass. Really musical stuff too.

 

[JetBlackJazz]

if anyone posts 'Teen Town' , i will die of boredom

But the intro to Smackdown by Sadus is sweet, the rest is dumb though............................ STEVE DiGIORGIO

 

[Skitch it!]

John Martyn - Grace and Danger.

Includes some of John Giblin's most lyrical and tasteful fretless work imo, really great album/songwriting/playing.

 

[jkumpula]

as far as easy to learn pop or rock tunes go.....hey you by pink floyd, new york minute by don henley is soild, alice in chains no excuses, why worry by dire straits......if our looking for something a little more complex- Big country and pineapple heart by the flecktones , a remark you made by weather report, and marcus millers cover of sophisticated lady.

 

[Roscoe East]

Mick Karn. /thread

 

[derg]

very great line - learning this one for my band right now as a matter of fact...

John Giblin on Kate bush's Babooshka. Great baseline from a great player.

 

[Mound of Sound]

Paul Simon - Graceland. Especially "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, Bakithi Kumalo is a monster.

this

 

[mixtapelove]

John Giblin on Kate bush's Babooshka. Great baseline from a great player.

+1

I'm a big fan of Pino on Gary Numan's "I Assassin" album and of Hansford Rowe's playing with Pierre Moerlen's Gong.

 

[chuck3]

Joni Mitchell singing "Coyote" with Jaco playing bass. Most amazing collaboration of a female singer and a fretless bass - quite a duo number.

 

[davidjbass]

Fernando Saunders on New Sensations by Lou Reed.

 

[Deathblade Eric]

Percy Jones

John Giblin

Both together simultaneously at the same time:

Brand X - Wal to Wal

I'd also recommend another Pino outing in the form of Paul Rodgers 'Muddy Waters Blues' album. Most of the tracks are fretless, but this one was the reason I took the pliers to my SB-1000:

She Moves Me

Those stopped harmonics towards the end (3:30 onwards)... Nurse! The Screens!

 

[Funkyvlad]

Hey!

totally non-flashy but still beautiful and pretty solid fretless stuff:

Duncan Sheik - Wishful Thinking - YouTube "Wishful thinking" from the Great Expectations' OST

air of december - edie brickell - YouTube "Air of December" from Eddie Brickell's

and India Arie's "Back to the Middle":

India Arie - Back To The Middle - YouTube

Pino's work here is obvious - I personally prefer his work with Oleta Adams

greetings!

 

[Phil Mastro]

Joni Mitchell singing "Coyote" with Jaco playing bass. Most amazing collaboration of a female singer and a fretless bass - quite a duo number.

Pretty much all of Joni's material with Jaco is great. Not just stuff from Hejira, but also Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and Mingus and Shadows and Light.
'Off Night Backstreet', Don Juan's title track, 'the Dry Cleaner from Des Moines', the live versions of 'In France They Kiss on Main Street' and 'Free Man in Paris', it's all great stuff.

Some of Joni's stuff from the 80's also has fretless, with Larry Klein. I don't know the recordings as well, but hey, it's Joni Mitchell.

 

[Skitch it!]

Check out Thomas Dolby's bassist Matthew Seligman. Similar to Pino. Check out the Flat Earth album. Songs like Screen Kiss, Mulu the Rain Forrest, I scare myself. The best nobody has ever heard of bassist I know of.

+1 Matthew Seligman defo deserves further recognition, methinks I'll have a go at uploading a version of Screen Kiss within a couple of weeks, cheers for the inspiration

 

[LanEvo]

'80s pop featuring fretless bass? Let's see...

"What I Am" by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians:
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - What I Am - YouTube

"Graceland" by Paul Simon (pretty much the whole album):
Paul Simon- Graceland - YouTube

"I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" by Paul Young:
Paul Young - I´m gonna tear your Playhouse down 1984 - YouTube

"Walking on the Moon" by The Police:
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"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel:
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