Barking Spiders Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 During lockdown I've spent quite a bit of time checking out what are claimed to be 'greatest' basslines to see which are worth adding to my repertoire. Some are right-on the money and deserve their reps. Others leave me thinking, 'really?!!' Among those leaving me a tad underwhelmed is 'Orion' by Metallica, which I believe is meant to have cemented Cliff Burton's place in basstory. I'm not saying there's owt wrong with it but I don't see why it often appears is best basslines lists. Another One Bites The Dust is also often mentioned yet it's derivative of Good Times. On the other hand I never see the lines to Party Fears 2 or Club Country by The Associates mentioned yet these are worthy of any greatest bassline list. Feel free to be outraged etc 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 Because like any popularity contest, the "greatest" basslines are, in the eyes of the public, the ones they most easily recognise, or the ones that feature at the forefront of their respective songs. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 I never pay much attention to the "greatest" X,Y, or Z polls/opinions. They are in the "ear of the beholder". For me, a "great" bass line is one that supplies exactly (no more or less) what the song requires. If it sounds great to you then it is... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 It’s like the greatest anything really, it’s down to personal taste, and to a great extent your experience too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 (edited) Does this make the list..? Edited May 11, 2020 by Dad3353 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 3 hours ago, Barking Spiders said: On the other hand I never see the lines to Party Fears 2 or Club Country by The Associates mentioned yet these are worthy of any greatest bassline list. Feel free to be outraged etc 😊 I guess the reason these don't get recognised for the great basslines they are is simply because they are largely impossible to cover (not just bass wise but Billy's vocals as well) So they don't get heard so often now, personally the two basslines fall squarely into the category of "I wouldn't even know where to begin" basslines so are not ones I have even thought about trying to decipher! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 6 hours ago, Barking Spiders said: ...On the other hand I never see the lines to Party Fears 2 or Club Country by The Associates mentioned... My curiosity got the better of me, so I gave these a listen (or, at least, tried to...). I must stop doing that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 21 hours ago, Dad3353 said: Does this make the list..? If it doesn't, my c***s a kipper! "Sublime" is a word that springs to mind🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 (edited) Great bass lines? Green Onions, Sex Machine. Mustang Sally, My Cherie Amour, the list is endless. Edited May 12, 2020 by chris_b spelling 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 16 minutes ago, chris_b said: Great bass lines? Green Onions, Sex Machine. Mustang Sally, My Cherie Amour, the lest is endless. Heavy, man; heavy. It's a question of balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 obviously it is down to taste but this list is interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dankology Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 The Associates are a sorely under-appreciated band IMHO. Really like Billy Mackenzie's Beyond the Sun lp too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 I have, for a long time, believed that so called 'great' bass lines do not automatically result in great songs any more than a 'boring' bass line makes a song boring. https://youtu.be/QPFVv6-umLs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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