Favourite songs where the bass line is the hook!

[Al Krow]

Just been having a bit of fun learning the bass line to Thriller for a Halloween gig coming up.

 

Loving how a relatively simple 7 note riff can become such a massive / iconic hook! Seems to me MJ was particularly good at doing that and Bruno Mars has taken a leaf or two out of his book.

 

What are your favourite song(s) where the bass line is the hook?

 

Please feel free to post a YT clip...I'm just feeling that posting a clip of the original Thriller ain't going to add to the sum human knowledge for any of us, haha! We did, however, have a look out for a version we could do with much more modest instrumentation and playing capability than MJ had at his disposal...and we really liked what this crew had come up with:

 

 

 

[Doctor J]

 

[Barking Spiders]

I can think of few but here's a couple of big faves. OK so the guy on bass isn't Anthony Jackson and it's played faster here than expected but it's live

 

and my 3rd fave New Order track

 

[tauzero]

I shan't bother posting the links - With or Without You by U2, and (if you allow synth bass) Killer by Seal and Adamski.

[Old Man Riva]

 

[Owen]

There are songs you listen to not because of the bass? Mods! Ban this sick filth. 

[chris_b]

Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert King.

 

Spanish Moon by Little Feat.

 

Sex Machine by James Brown.

 

ps

Sing A Simple Song by Sly and the Family Stone

Edited October 25, 2023 by chris_b

[miles'tone]

Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads

 

So simple, so good.

[JoeEvans]

If you want me to stay (Sly and the Family Stone) is also very bass led.

[Lozz196]

Too many to list but pretty much all by The Jam

 

Eton Rifles, Down in The Tube Station, Town Called Malice, Pretty Green, It’s Too Bad to name but a few

 

Edit - and New Years Day by U2, yes Adam Clayton riffing out for all the haters 🤣

Edited October 25, 2023 by Lozz196

[Reggaebass]

I’ve got hundreds of great reggae basslines but most here don’t like reggae so I’m going to go with one that I think makes the song 

 

[BigRedX]

I Feel Love by Donna Summer

 

Der Mussolini ny DAF

[Leonard Smalls]

Listen to just about any funk! Bass is the place etc...

Or Big Bad Bob and the Infectious Boys always have bass proper up-front.

 

 

[Barking Spiders]

3 hours ago, Reggaebass said:

I’ve got hundreds of great reggae basslines but most here don’t like reggae so I’m going to go with one that I think makes the song 

 

I likes me some 70s dub -Lee Scratch Perry, King Tubby and Scientist in particular -and like some regular reggae e.g Toots &b The Maytals, Black Uhuru. But you're right, within the BCverse, like electronica, it seems to be a niche thing with just a few followers.  Anyway, this guy sure isn't niche and this is one hell of a reggae-ish bassline 

 

[knirirr]

This piece has been stuck in my head recently, and I think it might meet the criteria:

 

 

[iconic]

 

 

[SamIAm]

Not sure it's truely a hook, tho these two always hook me in!

 

and

 

S'manth x

[itu]

Deee-lite - Groove is in the heart

Miles Davis - So what

Chic - Good times

James Brown - I feel good

Kajagoogoo - Too shy

The Trammps - Disco Inferno

Jeff Beck - Come dancing

Lee Ritenour - Rio funk

 

The library of Level 42, of course, and Jaco Pastorius' Teen town, which is a bass solo.

[PaulWarning]

I'm just learning this, our drummer wants to do it, definitely hypnotic

 

[Jackroadkill]

Sad old Goth I may be, but I challenge anyone not to dig the bass (riffs and sound) in this song:

 

 

[merello]

The Stranglers

or….

 

 

[Elfrasho]

Get the funk out - extreme

Faith - bon Jovi

 

I'm sure there's more

[Oopsdabassist]

Psycho Killer!

 

 

[TheGreek]

The Jackson 5's "I want you back" gets a lot of credit for the great bassline but I think that this is equally catchy

 

https://youtu.be/BIZWIJwHiaU?si=fZETcRT0BmirYJVC

[tauzero]

Thin Lizzy - Dancing in the moonlight

 

A bit left field - from Grease, both "Summer Nights" and "You're the one that I want". I'm not sure if the BC thought police will permit me to like them though.