Songs defined by their bass lines

[FJ1200]

Sometimes it seems bass players are seen as inferior to guitarists and even drummers, especially in some music shops and by some equipment manufacturers, and yet some of the best and all-time classic songs are defined by their bass lines, songs like:

Money, Radar Love, Another One Bites the Dust, The Chain, Billy Idol's version of Mony Mony (I know, simple - but great to drive to played loud!) to name just a few.

So to arm ourselves against those who look down their noses at us - how many "bass-player's" tracks can we find - songs old and new that are immediately recognisable simply by the bass line?

[stingrayfan]

London Calling - The Clash
Town Called Malice - The Jam

....there's two!

[ZMech]

Throw away your telivision - Chili's
Are you gonna be my girl -Jet

thought i'd add a couple that're less than 10 years old! although they're in the midority since I think almost every silly indie-by-numbers bassist just plays picked root note basslines on a fender

Edited April 9, 2008 by Zach

[Maxcat]

Hysteria - Muse Still cant do it. Bastardo!!!!

[bassmandan]

[quote name='Maxcat' post='173566' date='Apr 10 2008, 12:54 AM']Muse Still cant do it.[/quote]

many would argue I'm sure Maxcat

[ahpook]

she's lost control - joy division

[thisnameistaken]

Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums
Moloko - The Time Is Now
Beastie Boys - Sabotage

[budget bassist]

red hot chilis aeroplane anyone?

[Buzz]

Spinal Tap - Big Bottom

[DirkThrust]

Down in the Tube Station at Midnight by The Jam or just about any Jam song from All Mod Cons onwards. Take away the bassline and there's not much song left.

Tha Guns of Brixton by The Clash

[sifi2112]

When the Going Gets Tough - Billy Ocean

[crez5150]

Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jnr.....

[simon1964]

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='173542' date='Apr 9 2008, 11:36 PM']London Calling - The Clash
Town Called Malice - The Jam

....there's two![/quote]

+1 - they would have been amongst my first suggestions!

And how about:

The Jam - Start (even though its a rip off of Taxman!)
RHCP - Soul to Squeeze, Dani California, By the Way,
Stone Roses - I am the Resurection
The Stranglers - Peaches
The Cure - Love Cats
Muse - Plug in Baby
Lou Reid - Walk on the Wild Side (Herbie Flowers playing bass?)

And a bit left field, but how about the bass intro to Sweet Child of Mine? We play it live, and although I'm no GnR fan, I have to admit its fun to play, and the bass intro really gets the song going.

Edited April 10, 2008 by simon1964

[alanbass1]

Peaches - Stranglers

[silverfoxnik]

Here's a few more..

Fever - Peggy lee
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - Righteous Brothers
Let's get It On - Marvin Gaye
Good Times - Chic
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Go Wild In The Country - Bow Wow Wow
Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
You're The One That I Want - from Grease

Can't think of any more modern ones because I'm too much of an old g*t

[Doc B]

[quote name='ahpook' post='173571' date='Apr 10 2008, 01:12 AM']she's lost control - joy division[/quote]

+1 for that - could say the same for a lot of Joy Division/New Order's output but I'd add:

Joy Division - Digital, Deal Souls and Atmosphere
New Order - Age of Consent, Regret, Sunrise

Apart from that:

Faith No More - Anne's Song, Land of Sunshine, Just a Man, King for a Day
Fishbone - Bonin in the Boneyard, Lemon Meringue
Neville Bros. - Hercules

And of course all of Oasis' songs

[FJ1200]

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='173624' date='Apr 10 2008, 08:04 AM']Can't think of any more modern ones because I'm too much of an old g*t [/quote]

I'm with you on that one... !

(Lou Reid - Walk on the Wild Side - one of my faves!)

Some great stuff here and tracks I'd forgotten about / don't know. Fun though.

Edited April 10, 2008 by FJ1200

[geilerbass]

Most early Chili Peppers songs are predominantly bass driven. (e.g. Get Up and Jump, Jungle Man, Fight Like a Brave, Backwoods, Nobody Weird Like Me etc, etc).

[Bass_In_Yer_Face]

[quote name='Doc B' post='173625' date='Apr 10 2008, 08:05 AM']+1 for that - could say the same for a lot of Joy Division/New Order's output but I'd add:

Joy Division - Digital, Deal Souls and Atmosphere
New Order - Age of Consent, Regret, Sunrise

Apart from that:

Faith No More - Anne's Song, Land of Sunshine, Just a Man, King for a Day
Fishbone - Bonin in the Boneyard, Lemon Meringue
Neville Bros. - Hercules

And of course all of Oasis' songs [/quote]

"Bonin in the Boneyard" has to be the greatest song title ever!

[Hot Tub]

Money - Pink Floyd
Sunshine Of My Love (think that's what it's called - dunno who did it)
Super Freak - Rick James
Sommat by Chic - can't remember what it's called

I'm sure there's more....

[warwickhunt]

U2 - New Years Day

[DirkThrust]

[quote name='Astronomer' post='173730' date='Apr 10 2008, 10:23 AM']Sommat by Chic - can't remember what it's called[/quote]

Just about anything by Chic. Bass is practically the lead instrument on most of their stuff.

[lowhand_mike]

tommy the cat - Primus (well actually anything by primus)
Hysteria is awesome (and finally got it down now )
Woodpecker from mars - faith no more
Got it at the Delmar - Senseless things
Its cool to hang out with your ex - Senseless things
My friend of misery - Metallica
Hyper music - Muse
i want you back - The Jacksons
Jamiroquai - Travelling without moving
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Crazy little thing called love - Queen
Jeremy - Pearl jam
Addicted to love - Robert palmer
Keep on running - Spencer Davis Group
Number of the beast - Iron maiden

[Lfalex v1.1]

I can't believe I'm the first to post;

[b]UNDER PRESSURE[/b] - Queen/Bowie

or was it that lovely Vanilla Ice man...

[sk8]

i'd have to go for With or Without you by U2
and Rime of the anciaent mariner by maiden

Edited April 10, 2008 by sk8