Songs with great bass lines

[Renton]

And one of the few examples given thus far that actually constitutes a bass-line.

Actually all of them have a bass line (At least all the ones i've heard, which is a pretty good percent of the list thus far). Whether they have a bass solo, or solo on a electric bass guitar is another matter. Heck even the stuff I play on solo acoustic guitar - acoustic fingerstyle stuff - has a bass-line. Try telling me Mississippi John Hurt couldn't play a bassline and I'll have to get all Stack O' Lee on ya!

 

[SolitonMan]

Haven't seen it listed so I thought I'd throw in my vote for Deep Purple's Space Truckin'...simple line, but drives hard. Or at least I do, when it's playin' in the truck...

 

[GlassJaw]

Couple of things I've been listening to lately:

Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Cast) - the whole thing is just flat-out amazing. It gives me chills everytime I listen to it. Select highlights: What's the Buzz, Heaven On Their Minds, Superstar

Interpol - pretty much everything. Amazing band, especially live.

Guns N Roses - Rocket Queen, Mr Brownstone. I pretty much learned how to play bass because of this album.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I just heard Stevie Wonder's new joint "What the fuss"...that bass groove is old-school funky. Stevie's still got it!

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Has the O'Jay's "For the Love of Money" been mentioned??? Classic.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Fastway did a song back in the 1980's called Heft that killed.

Missing Persons had some really cool new-wave style stuff with a fat low end, like Walkin in LA

Billy Thorpe's Children of the Sun...

 

[Buzzardo]

Hmm. Only shout out to Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult.

Godzilla already cited.
Here are others:

Deadline
Monsters
White Flags
I am the one you warned me of


And probably the largest glaring omisson so far:

Chris Squire of Yes. Couldn't pick a single song. ALL of 'em.


Geddy Lee gets his proper credit but I would especially add:

Distant early warning
Cygnus X-1
----- The dude navigates the entire fretboard on both these tunes. Amazing.
Force 10
Prime Mover


Steve Harris of Maiden also got his proper credit. I would add the bass work on

Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner
Powerslave
and my all time maiden bass favorite by a mile... To Tame A Land.


And now for the most obscure bass line reference on the thread...

The bass line is from tune that is really a fusion of country/folk/rockabilly from the 1950's. The line is played using an upright bass, and still amazes me every time I hear it. It is at least 30 years ahead of its time, in terms of throwing the bass right up front to take the lead in the musical arrangement.

The song is... Sink the Bizmark by Johnny Horton.

That is all.

 

[Torm]

The song is... Sink the Bizmark by Johnny Horton.

I'm pretty sure the vessel he is referring to is spelled Bismarck, but you're right - that IS obscure.

I always preferred The Battle of New Orleans by him, though.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Hey...I mentioned Squire! I picked Heart of the Sunrise!!!!

But yeah..he rocks. I even have a solo album of his.

 

[BOZ]

Ginger Baker Trio Al Amut
Retarded Elf Thelonius Punk

i couldn't find these.