Examples of 'Less is More'?

[Annoying Twit]

Can anyone recommend some examples where a bass player has come up with a quite simple, or understated, bass line, but where it really suits the song and is played very well?

It doesn't have to be root notes only, but something that is simple, but where you can tell that someone really clever has played it, or perhaps where the phrasing and timing is really excellent and makes an otherwise simple line excellent.

[LukeFRC]

who ever did the two lines on walk on the wild side

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1389356370' post='2333185']
who ever did the two lines on walk on the wild side
[/quote]

Good example.

BTW:

[quote=Wikipedia]
[color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3]The song is also noted for its twin interlocking [/size][/font][/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_line"]bass lines[/url][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3] played by Herbie Flowers on [/size][/font][/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass"]double bass[/url][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3] and overdubbed [/size][/font][/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_guitar"]fretless bass guitar[/url][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3]. In an interview on [/size][/font][/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_4"]BBC Radio 4[/url][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3] ([/size][/font][/color][i]Playing Second Fiddle[/i][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3], aired July 2005), [b]Flowers claimed that the reason he came up with the twin bass line was that as a session musician he would be paid double for playing two instruments on the same track.[/b][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3][/quote][/size][/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3]Still works though!!!![/size][/font][/color]

But I'm also hoping for examples where without a careful listen you might think that it's bass business as usual, but if you listen careful, there's subtle timing/phrasing/grace notes that really do something.

I thought that some classic soul might have good examples. But when I listened carefully to the bass on Roberta Flack's version of "Killing Me Softly", I'm not sure that is the best possible bass line for that song. Although, looking up the track personnel, it's Ron Carter playing bass on that song, and he's a very, very, well respected bassist. So maybe I should re-listen and reconsider.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[operative451]

Qu'est que ce?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zFsy9VIdM

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='operative451' timestamp='1389357260' post='2333207']
Qu'est que ce?
[/quote]

Tina Weymouth comes up with interesting quirky lines. I've been listening to some of her work on the Tom Tom Club album "The Good The Bad And The Funky" (at least the parts of it which are available on youtube).

E.g. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnaw-LaVVvw[/media]

But it's not quite what I'm thinking of. I'm more thinking of classic ballad that might have a simple bass line, but where the genius of the bassline is in the detail.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[wateroftyne]

Ont he subject of Talking Heads, I nominate this marvellous piece of minimalism:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StoXNhrT_7M

(Sorry about the crappy version. YouTube have pulled the decent ones)

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1389357651' post='2333217']
Ont he subject of Talking Heads, I nominate this marvellous piece of minimalism:
[/quote]

I've been reading the story of how that album was recorded. In that David Byrne and Brian Eno would try to do the bass themselves, and Tina would be bought in to re-record the bassline.

Are there any soul ballads with a really subtle touch on the bass, but where what's played and how it's played is just perfect?

Edited January 13, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[chris_b]

Aston "Family Man" Barrett

Duck Dunn

John McVie

George Porter Jr

[Bilbo]

The collected works of Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group).

[Annoying Twit]

Thanks for the recommendations of bassists listen to. Which songs played by these bassists might be good ones to listen to first?

[Bilbo]

So many to choose from.

Try 'Are You Going With Me' (Travels), 'Slip Away' (Letter From Home), Last Train Home' (Still LIfe), 'Spring Ain't Here' (LFH)

[Bilbo]

Oh and my favourite simple is best line 'Ladies Night In Buffalo' by Dave Lee Roth (Billy Sheehan keeping his powder dry).

[PaulWarning]

we've been doing Fight for your Right to Party for a while, me just copying the guitar riff,( A C D) then I started just playing just the open A string on the verse, and everyone agrees it sounds better

[Annoying Twit]

I've listened to the two tracks from Letters From Home. I'm not familiar with Pat Metheny's music, and it was much more gentle and accessible than I expected.

The bass playing on Spring Ain't Here and Slip Away are exactly the kind of examples I'm looking for. The playing is simple and restrained, but there are little touches there which just make the lines work so well. Ladies Night in Buffalo didn't work so well for me. It's simple and well played, but fairly straightforward, even in the details (unless I missed something - I'll listen again).

Edited January 10, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[DaveFry]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9694K85Xc8[/media]

[yepmop]

Always thought Sting did very simple lines in the Police songs but they were so effective and catchy.

[foal30]

Jamerson on Four Tops "Still Waters"

Weeks on Bowie's "Young Americans"

[foal30]

Hood on Staples Singers "Respect Yourself"

Levin on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to leave your lover". (I think it was him)
that song has a great drum track too.

[foal30]

Thompson on Prince's "Come"

Markee on Joan Armatrading's "Love and Affection"

[Hobbayne]

John Mc Vie's simple two note line on 'Dreams' from Rumours is what makes the song. Anything more complex would ruin the song IMO.

[paul_5]

John Isley's low Es on 'Private Investigations'. The live version on Alchemy is a brilliant example of a disciplined bassist playing for the song.

[redstriper]

[media]http://youtu.be/pJV2pWFyfn4[/media]

[media]http://youtu.be/DwoELf7CTkw[/media]

[gjones]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1389357816' post='2333222']
I've been reading the story of how that album was recorded. In that David Byrne and Brian Eno would try to do the bass themselves, and Tine would be bought in to re-record the bassline.

Are there any soul ballads with a really subtle touch on the bass, but where what's played and how it's played is just perfect?
[/quote]

This one. The bass line is simple but perfect for the song. Played by David Hood I believe.

[media]http://youtu.be/u9sq3ME0JHQ[/media]

Edited January 11, 2014 by gjones

[bengreen49]

Some of Bill Gould's basslines are very simple but bloody hard to play right.

[Roland Rock]

I know this is is not bass guitar, but I love the line. It has a great pulsing rhythm which compliments the vocals and has plenty of space. Two notes.

http://youtu.be/eJVfPU87hws

Edited January 12, 2014 by Roland Rock