For reference, here's Scott's list: "Good Times", Chic (Bernard Edwards) "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (James Jamerson) "Cissy Strut", The Meters (George Porter Jr.) "What is Hip?", Tower of Power (Rocco Prestia) "Hair", Graham Central Station (Larry Graham) "Runaway", Jamiroquai (Paul Turner) "I Wish", Stevie Wonder (Nate Watts) "Another One Bites the Dust", Queen (John Deacon) "Come On Come Over", Jaco Pastorius "Come Together", The Beatles (Paul McCartney) "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick", Ian Dury & the Blockheads (Norman Watt-Roy) "I Want You Back", The Jackson 5 (Wilton Felder) "Give It Away", Red Hot Chili Peppers (Flea) "Master Blaster", Stevie Wonder (Nate Watts) "Never Too Much", Luther Vandross (Marcus Mller) "Take the Power Back", Rage Against the Machine (Tim Commerford) "Billie Jean", Michael Jackson (Louis Johnson) "Power", Marcus Miller "Wherever I Lay My Hat", Paul Young (Pino Palladino) "Hysteria", Muse (Chris Wolstenholme)
Some good shouts Scott. Money - Pink Floyd - Roger Waters, cracking 7/4 line Manifest Destiny - Jamiroquai - Zender ( If you're gonna have Paul Turner, you gotta have Zender in there somewhere; one of many great lines he wrote ;) )
@@diogenessantana 😂 I can understand that. Like 'Good Times' it's an instantly recognisable Line, particularly noteable being a groove that doesn't sit in a popular 4/4 groove.
I totally agree: the both are worth to mention. Money is simply the classic riff without a doubt. And Zender is a modern grooviest bass player who adopted that old school funk in the best way and also was the foundation of Jamiroquai sound.
Jamerson is great and all, but Bob Babbit's line on "Inner City Blues" has to rank up there as a "beautiful" bass lines .I just don't think Bob ever got the props he deserves.
You can't include James Jamerson in this list. He is in a league of his own . Although the term 'bass line' probably came into existence because of his style, it has been abused to describe stuff that are a million miles inferior to his music just because they have dance value. Maybe we change the phrase to 'story telling baselines'. This is the type of music not meant for mad limb/head shaking through enthusiasm or any physical reaction. Jamerson's music is cerebral meaning you are meant to sit still in your living room with no interruptions while listening intently to music of the highest standard humanity has ever produced, much as you would do if you were listening to classical music. There is no sensuality of any sort in James's music most of it is pure cerebral like the example you have produced of Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life incredible 'bass story'. All great musicians hold all exterior aspects 'still' thereby pointing you directly to the music. In Jamerson's case there are no crazy slaps (he hated slap bass), Basses with sharp tones or anything fancy leaving just the musical notes to carry his message. The single finger technique might have been a decision born out of that line of thought as multiple fingers add an extra expressive dimension not necessary for what he wanted to say musically. In Mozart's case he instructed that his piano music should not be played with any dynamics (velocity variations) thereby again pointing you to the fact that the notes by themselves are enough to tell the complete story.
(in no particular order) 1. Walking on the Moon // The Police 2. Roundabout // Yes 3. Dear Prudence // The Beatles 4. Listen // Chicago 5. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) // The Temptations 6. Too Rolling Stoned // Robin Trower 7. Detroit Rock City // KISS 8. Hotel California // Eagles 9. Schism // Tool 10. September // Earth, Wind and Fire 11. Tell Me Something Good // Rufus featuring Chaka Khan 12. Psycho Killer // Talking Heads 13. Dazed and Confused // Led Zeppelin 14. The Real Me // The Who 15. Jungle Boogie // Kool and the Gang 16. Sweet Emotion // Aerosmith 17. Longview // Green Day 18. Master of Ceremony // Bad Company 19. Jailbreak // Thin Lizzy 20. Hejira // Joni Mitchell
Samoa Solidarity! Don't worry about your ancient race. We know all about you, as Scottish people. I was thinking of a song but couldn't remember "Level 42". That bassist, Mark, was promoted as the best bassist in the world at the time, even if I wished they hired a vocalist because he sounded to slow and tired singing while he played a very complicated bass style. Billy Sheehan used to play a bar in our city when he was in Pegasus, and I jammed with him at a Saturday matinee, but I wouldn't put him on a top ten list because I never heard him get funky.
Knee Deep by Funkadelic? Bootsy Collins? Ohio Players? The masters got left out? Swing down sweet chariot, Mothership Connection? Can’t get any funkier on the bass. The list goes on.
Hope you'll enjoy Scott's Top 20 Best Basslines Ever (the order below is the song's order in the video): 1) 0:40 Chic - Good Times (bass: Bernard Edwards) 2) 1:27 Marvin Gaye - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (bass: James Jamerson) 3) 1:58 The Meters - Cissy Strut (bass: George Porter Jr) 4) 2:53 Tower of Power - What is Hip? (bass: Rocco Prestia) 5) 3:32 Graham Central Station - Hair (bass: Larry Graham) 6) 4:06 Jamiroquai - Runaway (bass: Paul Turner) 7) 5:07 Stevie Wonder - I Wish (bass: Nate Watts) 8) 5:57 Queen - Another One Bites The Dust (bass: John Deacon) 9) 6:19 Jaco Pastorius - Come On Come Over (bass: Jaco Pastorius) 10) 6:58 The Beatles - Come Together (bass: Paul McCartney) 11) 7:14 Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (bass: Norman Watt-Roy) 12) 7:56 Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (bass: Wilton Felder) 13) 8:21 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away (bass: Flea) 14) 8:53 Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (bass: Nate Watts) 15) 9:02 Luther Wandross - Never Too Much (bass: Marcus Miller) 16) 9:43 Rage Against The Machine - Take The Power Back (bass: Tim Commeford) 17) 9:56 Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (bass: Louis Johnson) 18) 10:37 Marcus Miller - Power (bass: Marcus Miller) 19) 11:23 Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (bass: Pino Palladino) 20) 11:46 Muse - Hysteria (bass: Chris Wolstenholme)
Solid list my friend but how does a guy with you accent leave Cream's Badge off this list. I am a huge Tower of Power guy, but the opening on Badge is instantly identified in the name that tune world. Sometimes simple is better when the other two dudes in the band are Ginger Baker and Clapton. Just the same you hit on a lot of great tunes here.
Ah, Man, that's taking me way back to when I got to play with her when she came to LBCC... Must have been end of 70s more like maybe beginning 80s? She was a super sweet person, and just a monster of a player, singer, writer, arranger... Man she can probably rebuild carburetors, fly rockets and heal the sick...
gegloff1 No it’s not snyth bass. I’ve seen Tom Browne live at the Orpheus in San Francisco and there was no snyth bass used. Maybe in the studio for the recorded version. Maybe. Nice try though. If you get proof there was a synth bass used for the recording hit me up.
Please allow me to give some of my fav's. Tighten Up. - Archie bell and the drells.- A MUST! Scopio - Denis coffey - (the solo) I want you to be my girl - the Teenagers - (walking bass) Bernadette - The four tops - (very tricky) Will we ever come together - Black Ivory Super R&B Bass ballad Misdemeanor - Foster Sylvers - A must! If you practice to these you will be super!
I would add for consideration: - Chuck Rainey on Steely Dan's "Peg" - James Jamerson on Gladys Knight's "Heard It Through The Grapvine" - Tommy Cogbill on Wilson Picket's Funky Broadway
Bob Babbitt on Super Natural Thing -Ben E King-, Bob Babbitt on Ball Of Confusion -Temptations-, Babbitt on Mercy Mercy Me -Marvin Gaye, just to name a few.
Steve Arrington with group Slave, Bass Player of the group Aurra "Are You Single," John Pattatucci, Fred Hammond (Commissioned), Lady from the Group Taste of Honey, Abraham Laboriel, Andrew Gouche, Joel Smith (drummer and Bass player), Nathan East (Four Play),
He’s right as Mark Adams didn’t play for Aurra or Steve Arrington. Steve Arrington was the drummer/vocalist. Buddy Hankerson played bass for Aurra & Steve Arrington Hall of Fame. Steve Washington played rhythm guitar for those two bands and Slave( Mark Hicks was Slaves main guitarist).
Just take any 20 James Jamerson songs and voila!!! Shoo-be-do-be-doo-da-de by Stevie Wonder is no 1 of all time!!! But then again Alphonso Johnson on Lusitanos with Weather Report.....but then again Teen Town Jaco Pastorius with Weather Report on the album Heavy Weather.....but then again Nate Phillips He Had a Hat Live with Jeff Lorber on RUclips!!!!.......but then again
Shaun Stokes. Your bassist from Taste of Honey is Janice Marie-Johnson. She was ahead of her time She's the only surviving member of her band now. Her co-writer & lead guitarist have passed away, unfortunately... But she, among others, had a huge impact on me as a 70's kid. Here was a classy lady that allowed no fixed gender role, nor her lead guitar partner, and man could they GROOVE! So I'm grateful to be a 70's "boogie child." It's doubtful I would've ever picked up a bass guitar were it not for artists like her, Rita Cooledge, The Brothers Johnson, Freddie Washington (Bassist for Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, and many others), and a handful of other artists
Louis Johnson on M.J's, GET ON THE FLOOR / James Jamerson on Four Tops, SAME OLD SONG / Marshall Jones on Ohio Players, SKIN TIGHT / Bootsy Collins on STRETCHING OUT
Kevin Parker. Since you're mentioning Patrice Rushen & "Forget Me Nots," might as well add another classy soul woman: Anita Baker. Freddie Washington also played bass on her "Same 'Ol Love" & "Sweet Love." And for whatever reason that it comes to mind, I don't remember the bassist's name just now, but Ray Parker Jr's "You Can't Change That," from 1979. And finally the fretless bass part from The Commodores "Night Shift" in 1985... the list goes on & on Long live the 70's, man. Just keep on groovin' ;o) !
The bass player for the funk group Lakeside was nasty. The song was " It is all the way live". Parliment Funkadelic's bass player should have been included too. Paul Macarthy of the Beetles had a few great bass lines too. You missed some great ones in your list.
Randy Krank. I know this is totally disparite, but with a user-handle like that, I can only wonder if you were ever a high performance car stereo nut like me, when I was in my 20's: "Crank It or YANK IT." They'd have these Crank-it-or-yank it contests at the local swap meet, (Vikon Village in Garland TX, & the "Swap Meet Grounds" of Mountain View Lake, in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas) and they weren't kidding around. I really enjoyed it though, 'cause the contest winner almost always was someone who'd built his own "systems," and it almost became customary for the winner to use the prize money to build a new system in the "loser's" car, right there on the spot Well, thank you for the suggestions. I'll have to hunt down Lakeside's "It Is All the Way," live. This is the first I've ever heard of them. And ANY hit by Parliament- - right on. Or FUNK ON, rather! I'm practically in euphoria, thanks to this particular comment chain... Looks like Scott's sparked a Funk Revival :) ;) !
I only learned recently that it was Anthony Jackson on The O Jays albums. I only came to know of him ... 30 years later? ... through his work with Michel Camilo, Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez, and Giovanni Hidalgo. I'm going to go back and listen to the O'Jays. They played in Albuquerque just a couple weeks ago. Of course, Anthony would not have been with them. :D
@Brendan Mather "Pigs", "Sheep", and "Young Lust" were all David Gilmour. Gilmour also contributed bass (with Waters) to "One of these Days" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
These lists are impossible to make Lol. So many great bass lines and musicians out there. John Entwistle from the Who, talking bout my generation is iconic. Chris Squire from Yes wrote some amazing bass lines as well. Geddy Lee , Nelson Braxton, Victor Wooten, Donald Dunn……… ❤
One of my favorite bass players of all time is the criminally underrated Simon Gallup from The Cure. Pick just about any Cure song and it's going to have a killer bass track. His bass lines are beautifully melodic and as rock solid as they come. He brings craftsmanship to every bass part he writes.
This is probably one of the hardest to play as the slapping is relentless. For anybody interested, the song was based on the chord progression of Vera Lynn's "We'll meet again"
@@produza111 There's a band from back in the day called *_The T Connection._* That bassist is one of the most unheralded players imo. Check on RUclips songs like: *.* Do what you wanna do. *.* Everything is cool *.* Saturday night *.* At Midnight.. Just to name a few. Enjoy...
Nice list, but missing almost all of my favorites. Starting with the first funk I ever heard coming from my uncle's collection: Larry Graham-Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) John Simpson-Just be good to me Roger waters-Young Lust Rock Jones-Skin Tight Dennis Belfield-Tell Me Something Good Marcus Miller-Just The Two Of Us Wow, I could keep going forever, Good Luck with this Pandora's box.
You can't include James Jamerson in this list. He is in a league of his own . Although the term 'bass line' probably came into existence because of his style, it has been abused to describe stuff that are a million miles inferior to his music just because they have dance value. Maybe we change the phrase to 'story telling baselines'. This is the type of music not meant for mad limb/head shaking through enthusiasm or any physical reaction. Jamerson's music is cerebral meaning you are meant to sit still in your living room with no interruptions while listening intently to music of the highest standard humanity has ever produced, much as you would do if you were listening to classical music. There is no sensuality of any sort in James's music most of it is pure cerebral like the example you have produced of 'What Going On' incredible 'bass story'. All great musicians hold all exterior aspects 'still' thereby pointing you directly to the music. In Jamerson's case there are no crazy slaps (he hated slap bass), Basses with sharp tones or anything fancy leaving just the musical notes to carry his message. The single finger technique might have been a decision born out of that line of thought as multiple fingers add an extra expressive dimension not necessary for what he wanted to say musically. In Mozart's case he instructed that his piano music should not be played with any dynamics (velocity variations) thereby again pointing you to the fact that the notes by themselves are enough to tell the complete story.
And also James Jameson comes for jazz house of jazz that's why he was able to do all that stuff most of the Motown musician came from the house of jazz that's why they couldn't be stopped. It was mainly the band that put Motown on top yes good good
1. Bob Babbitt..Inner City Blues Marvin Gaye 2. Verdine White...Running Earth Wind & Fire 3. Jamerson...I was Made to Love Her Stevie Wonder 4. Nate Watts...Do I Do Stevie Wonder 5. Sly or the Bass player on 'If you want me to Stay' Sly and the Family Stone 6. The Bass player on Suit and Tie Justin Timberlake 7. Bernard Edwards...He's the Greatest Dancer... and all of CHIC Chic 8. The Bass player on 24K Magic Bruno Mars 9. The Bass player on Hotel California The Eagles 10. Nathan East...After the Dance Fourplay I humbly recommend these Bass lines...Babbitt and Edwards are 1a and 1b to Jamerson...White, Watts, and East in my top ten along with Bootsy, LGraham, Marcus Miller, Michael Henderson
@@rhythmcdr I'm familiar with Bob Babbitts music didn't he also do living for the city and sign sealed delivered I'm yours and many other songs that I like. They also forgot one of my favorites which is RAY BROWN I'M MAINLY INTO JAZZ ARTIST. BUT BOB BABBITT IS ALSO A MONSTER ON THE BASS THAT'S VERY TRUE. THANKS FOR THE REMINDER AND THE RUNDOWN OF BASS PLAYER'S IT'S APPRECIATED
Orion by Metallica, the bass riff has so many layers. It's calm, it's hyper, it's laid back, it's in your face, it's deep, it's fat. The bass in Orion does a lot of the stuff you can do on bass
i would call give it away RHCP’s most recognizable baseline but goddamn, Mellowship Slinky in B Major is one of their most underrated and funky songs. i can’t wait for the day i see a list with that song on it.
If we're going to mention Bernard Edwards---"I Want Your Love" has some of the tastiest lines and fills I've ever heard a bassist play without disrupting the tune
Papa Was A Rolling Stone! The first two notes are a semitone shift (a lot of bassists miss this). Pure genius figure against an offbeat bass drum which later shifts to the onbeat. Doesn't get simpler or funkier than this!
Martin Heath So true!! Shout out to my uncle the late Wah Wah Watson! He did all of the guitar work on that song! RIP Melvin Ragin!!!!!!! The greatest ever!!!!!
So glad I was not the only person feeling Papa Was A Rolling Stone as an amazing bass line! It's what made me fall in love with the bass long before I knew I wanted to learn the bass. And so right about..."You have to wait for it!" Great call! Thanks...
Unparallelled certainly is the word. FTLOM has one of the greatest bass lines in modern music to this day. A playing style way ahead of its time and along with those drum smashes, absolutely KILLER music. One of my all time top 5.
Rock On by David Essex, Crossroads by Cream, Turn To Stone by Joe Walsh, Miss You by The Rolling Stones, Tom Sawyer by Rush, 2112 Overture by Rush, Limelight by Rush, Whipping Post by The Allman Brothers Band
@@danfairchild-noaaaffiliate9689 Dan, thanks for the support on that suggestion. There are so many. Narrowing down to 20 will leave out many deserving bass lines!
You can't include James Jamerson in this list. He is in a league of his own . Although the term 'bass line' probably came into existence because of his style, it has been abused to describe stuff that are a million miles inferior to his music just because they have dance value. Maybe we change the phrase to 'story telling baselines'. This is the type of music not meant for mad limb/head shaking through enthusiasm or any physical reaction. Jamerson's music is cerebral meaning you are meant to sit still in your living room with no interruptions while listening intently to music of the highest standard humanity has ever produced, much as you would do if you were listening to classical music. There is no sensuality of any sort in James's music most of it is pure cerebral like the example you have produced of Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life incredible 'bass story'. All great musicians hold all exterior aspects 'still' thereby pointing you directly to the music. In Jamerson's case there are no crazy slaps (he hated slap bass), Basses with sharp tones or anything fancy leaving just the musical notes to carry his message. The single finger technique might have been a decision born out of that line of thought as multiple fingers add an extra expressive dimension not necessary for what he wanted to say musically. In Mozart's case he instructed that his piano music should not be played with any dynamics (velocity variations) thereby again pointing you to the fact that the notes by themselves are enough to tell the complete story.
If you're going to mention John Deacon for "Another One Bites The Dust," then you must include Carol Kaye for "The Beat Goes On." Word is she saved that song from potential oblivion by making up the opening bass line the day of recording.
You got it, that song is in the toilet without Carol Kaye's bassline. When I'm on explaining to someone older than 50 how a bass sounds and what makes it important, I use that song, Come Together, and The Chain. You don't have to know much about music to understand the role of the bass using those three songs. Anybody have other simple songs with an easy to hear bass for teaching the musically clueless? My other option is to stop being clueless myself, and observe which friends run away anytime I start talking about the bass, or really anything about music that goes beyond whether they like a song or not.
Here's a few that I like: James Jamerson - on What's Going On Chris Squire - Roundabout & Heart Of The Sunrise Peter Cetera - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is Bob Babitt - on Scorpio Geddy Lee - YYZ
Just take any 20 James Jamerson songs and voila!!! Shoo-be-do-be-doo-da-de by Stevie Wonder is no 1 of all time!!! But then again Alphonso Johnson on Lusitanos with Weather Report.....but then again Teen Town Jaco Pastorius with Weather Report on the album Heavy Weather.....but then again Nate Phillips He Had a Hat Live with Jeff Lorber on RUclips!!!!.......but then again
AND...if Prince played bass on Sheila E "A Love Bizarre" then that's one of the best all time bass lines and very over looked. Listen to the 12 minute version. No way that the SBL list is taken seriously without that bass line.
L8NYTESMOOVES. Maurice White, Verdine White, Earth Wind & Fire; ABSOLUTELY right. I just needed someone to whack me with a frying pan, that's all... So Thank You for correcting me "That's the Way of the World," 1975 "September," 1978
I was thinking the same thing. How could such a compilation exist that doesn't include Verdine let alone Stanley. But, what do you choose? School Days/ Shining Star? That is one big pond!
Entwhistle - Real Me...Behind Blue Eyes Squire - Heart of the Sunrise...Roundabout Other players like Tony Levin, Greg Lake, Geddy Lee, Haslip, Manring, etc. Yup, need it broken into genres
One of the most recognizable and best bass lines of all times starts off as a synth bass line before being picked up by the bass - Chameleon by Herbie Hancock
Knut Henriksen. I second, third, & fourth that motion: "I Was Made To Love Her," & "Uptight (Everything Is Alright)," both by Stevie Wonder in 1967 if memory serves, & both by James Jamerson! Songs that MADE you go buy a bass guitar & start learning! !
My all time favourite basslines are: Orion - Metallica Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder Defenestration - Crytpopsy Panic Attack - Dream Theater Dark Necessities - RHCP Tom Sawyer - Rush (RIP Neil Peart) I'm first and foremost a metalhead and there sadly aren't that many memorable basslines, but the ones that are are amazing. There are definitely more than the ones I included but these are just my favourite ones. Also all of Sir Duke is amazing
Just watched this for the first time...great list. I’d personally add Willie Weeks’ genius bass line on “Little Ghetto Boy”, Mark King’s greatness on “Something About You”, and Louis Johnson’s brilliance on “Strawberry Letter 23”. 👊🏽💪🏽
For reference, here's Scott's list:
"Good Times", Chic (Bernard Edwards)
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (James Jamerson)
"Cissy Strut", The Meters (George Porter Jr.)
"What is Hip?", Tower of Power (Rocco Prestia)
"Hair", Graham Central Station (Larry Graham)
"Runaway", Jamiroquai (Paul Turner)
"I Wish", Stevie Wonder (Nate Watts)
"Another One Bites the Dust", Queen (John Deacon)
"Come On Come Over", Jaco Pastorius
"Come Together", The Beatles (Paul McCartney)
"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick", Ian Dury & the Blockheads (Norman Watt-Roy)
"I Want You Back", The Jackson 5 (Wilton Felder)
"Give It Away", Red Hot Chili Peppers (Flea)
"Master Blaster", Stevie Wonder (Nate Watts)
"Never Too Much", Luther Vandross (Marcus Mller)
"Take the Power Back", Rage Against the Machine (Tim Commerford)
"Billie Jean", Michael Jackson (Louis Johnson)
"Power", Marcus Miller
"Wherever I Lay My Hat", Paul Young (Pino Palladino)
"Hysteria", Muse (Chris Wolstenholme)
@ Louis Rios: Thanks for that!
Thanks a lot :)
We dont deserve heroes like you! THX!!!
Hysteria bassline was created by Matt, not by Chris
Thanks so much!
Some good shouts Scott.
Money - Pink Floyd - Roger Waters, cracking 7/4 line
Manifest Destiny - Jamiroquai - Zender ( If you're gonna have Paul Turner, you gotta have Zender in there somewhere; one of many great lines he wrote ;) )
Jimmy Mack manifest Destiny 🙌🏾 Traveling without Moving as well
Jimmy Mack money annoys me in a way that i cant explain. god how i hate that song...
@@diogenessantana 😂 I can understand that. Like 'Good Times' it's an instantly recognisable Line, particularly noteable being a groove that doesn't sit in a popular 4/4 groove.
I totally agree: the both are worth to mention. Money is simply the classic riff without a doubt. And Zender is a modern grooviest bass player who adopted that old school funk in the best way and also was the foundation of Jamiroquai sound.
One of these days. Pink Floyd
Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life with Jamerson on the bass. The most beautiful bass line i have ever heard!
Jamerson is great and all, but Bob Babbit's line on "Inner City Blues" has to rank up there as a "beautiful" bass lines .I just don't think Bob ever got the props he deserves.
Have to add "I Was Made To Love Her" JJ putting it down.
You can't include James Jamerson in this list. He is in a league of his own . Although the term 'bass line' probably came into existence because of his style, it has been abused to describe stuff that are a million miles inferior to his music just because they have dance value. Maybe we change the phrase to 'story telling baselines'. This is the type of music not meant for mad limb/head shaking through enthusiasm or any physical reaction. Jamerson's music is cerebral meaning you are meant to sit still in your living room with no interruptions while listening intently to music of the highest standard humanity has ever produced, much as you would do if you were listening to classical music. There is no sensuality of any sort in James's music most of it is pure cerebral like the example you have produced of Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life incredible 'bass story'. All great musicians hold all exterior aspects 'still' thereby pointing you directly to the music. In Jamerson's case there are no crazy slaps (he hated slap bass), Basses with sharp tones or anything fancy leaving just the musical notes to carry his message. The single finger technique might have been a decision born out of that line of thought as multiple fingers add an extra expressive dimension not necessary for what he wanted to say musically. In Mozart's case he instructed that his piano music should not be played with any dynamics (velocity variations) thereby again pointing you to the fact that the notes by themselves are enough to tell the complete story.
I prefer I was made to love her
(in no particular order)
1. Walking on the Moon // The Police
2. Roundabout // Yes
3. Dear Prudence // The Beatles
4. Listen // Chicago
5. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) // The Temptations
6. Too Rolling Stoned // Robin Trower
7. Detroit Rock City // KISS
8. Hotel California // Eagles
9. Schism // Tool
10. September // Earth, Wind and Fire
11. Tell Me Something Good // Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
12. Psycho Killer // Talking Heads
13. Dazed and Confused // Led Zeppelin
14. The Real Me // The Who
15. Jungle Boogie // Kool and the Gang
16. Sweet Emotion // Aerosmith
17. Longview // Green Day
18. Master of Ceremony // Bad Company
19. Jailbreak // Thin Lizzy
20. Hejira // Joni Mitchell
hot list!!
Without a doubt, Eagles Hotel California...KISS DRC also has iconic basslines
1 tool
2 sweet emotion
Only ones I know really good
There is not walking on the moon
Roundabout for sure but siberian khatru
"Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside, Level 42 had a couple good songs, "Something about you" and "Lessons in love", Hall and Oates, "I cant go for that."
Samoa Solidarity! Don't worry about your ancient race. We know all about you, as Scottish people.
I was thinking of a song but couldn't remember "Level 42". That bassist, Mark, was promoted
as the best bassist in the world at the time, even if I wished they hired a vocalist because he
sounded to slow and tired singing while he played a very complicated bass style.
Billy Sheehan used to play a bar in our city when he was in Pegasus, and I jammed with him
at a Saturday matinee, but I wouldn't put him on a top ten list because I never heard him get funky.
Knee Deep by Funkadelic? Bootsy Collins? Ohio Players? The masters got left out? Swing down sweet chariot, Mothership Connection? Can’t get any funkier on the bass. The list goes on.
No mention of William 'Bootsy" Collins is unforgiveable.
Great list Scott but I'd add Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots" care of "Ready" Freddie Washington.
Hope you'll enjoy Scott's Top 20 Best Basslines Ever (the order below is the song's order in the video):
1) 0:40 Chic - Good Times (bass: Bernard Edwards)
2) 1:27 Marvin Gaye - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (bass: James Jamerson)
3) 1:58 The Meters - Cissy Strut (bass: George Porter Jr)
4) 2:53 Tower of Power - What is Hip? (bass: Rocco Prestia)
5) 3:32 Graham Central Station - Hair (bass: Larry Graham)
6) 4:06 Jamiroquai - Runaway (bass: Paul Turner)
7) 5:07 Stevie Wonder - I Wish (bass: Nate Watts)
8) 5:57 Queen - Another One Bites The Dust (bass: John Deacon)
9) 6:19 Jaco Pastorius - Come On Come Over (bass: Jaco Pastorius)
10) 6:58 The Beatles - Come Together (bass: Paul McCartney)
11) 7:14 Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (bass: Norman Watt-Roy)
12) 7:56 Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (bass: Wilton Felder)
13) 8:21 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away (bass: Flea)
14) 8:53 Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (bass: Nate Watts)
15) 9:02 Luther Wandross - Never Too Much (bass: Marcus Miller)
16) 9:43 Rage Against The Machine - Take The Power Back (bass: Tim Commeford)
17) 9:56 Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (bass: Louis Johnson)
18) 10:37 Marcus Miller - Power (bass: Marcus Miller)
19) 11:23 Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (bass: Pino Palladino)
20) 11:46 Muse - Hysteria (bass: Chris Wolstenholme)
Thanks a bunch!
Thank you!!!
You won a subscriber. Thanks ! Shame the uploader didn't have the class to include timestamps in the description box.
Let's Work - Prince
Solid list my friend but how does a guy with you accent leave Cream's Badge off this list. I am a huge Tower of Power guy, but the opening on Badge is instantly identified in the name that tune world. Sometimes simple is better when the other two dudes in the band are Ginger Baker and Clapton.
Just the same you hit on a lot of great tunes here.
A few of my faves:
-Rush - Digital Man
-Duran Duran - Rio
-The Police - Spirits in the Material World
-Jethro Tull - Bouree
Digital Man is Geddy's best bass line in my opinion
I agree, Digital Man is amazing!
John Taylor is one of the best Bass players ever! Massively underrated
Fantastic choices
Can’t forget “Yes” “close to the edge” !!!🙏🙏🙏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Freddie Washington on Patrice Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots” is a classic.
Defenitly
I'm surprised it wasn't on his list!
I think it is Theee best bass line ever!
Agree
Ah, Man, that's taking me way back to when I got to play with her when she came to LBCC... Must have been end of 70s more like maybe beginning 80s? She was a super sweet person, and just a monster of a player, singer, writer, arranger... Man she can probably rebuild carburetors, fly rockets and heal the sick...
Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica definitely should be on the list!
Another power house bass line.
That baseline is epic!!
synth bass though, right?
gegloff1 No it’s not snyth bass. I’ve seen Tom Browne live at the Orpheus in San Francisco and there was no snyth bass used. Maybe in the studio for the recorded version. Maybe. Nice try though. If you get proof there was a synth bass used for the recording hit me up.
Marcus is credited as playing bass. But listen to the recording. They def doubled with piano in places.
Please allow me to give some of my fav's.
Tighten Up. - Archie bell and the drells.- A MUST!
Scopio - Denis coffey - (the solo)
I want you to be my girl - the Teenagers - (walking bass)
Bernadette - The four tops - (very tricky)
Will we ever come together - Black Ivory Super R&B Bass ballad
Misdemeanor - Foster Sylvers - A must!
If you practice to these you will be super!
I like the bass lines "regular" people actually hum:
"Under pressure"-Queen
"Money"-Pink Floyd
"Stayin' Alive"-Bee Gees
I would add for consideration:
- Chuck Rainey on Steely Dan's "Peg"
- James Jamerson on Gladys Knight's "Heard It Through The Grapvine"
- Tommy Cogbill on Wilson Picket's Funky Broadway
Ain't no stopping us now - McFadden and Whitehead. That's the only one I can think of right now that needed to be included
More bounce to the ounce...…………………………………………………………...Zapp!
Great!
Ramble on led zeppelin has the most glorious bass line in rock
Are you a jpj lover?
Maybe my favorite LZ tune, yes
Agree. So cool.
And, according to JPJ, he struggled to get that one right. Fortunately for us, he nailed it.
Nothing unusual about that, of course.
@@seahawkjoe4038 who tf isn’t?
Bob Babbitt on Super Natural Thing -Ben E King-, Bob Babbitt on Ball Of Confusion -Temptations-, Babbitt on Mercy Mercy Me -Marvin Gaye, just to name a few.
Sly family stone I wanna thank for let me be myself Larry Graham on bass
Hearts of Stone version was even better. Not sure who played bass but I have my suspicions.
Fabulous. Outstanding.
I was just going to suggest this one.
Larry Graham on this song is the ORIGIN of that string-slapping that became so prevalent in Funk and Jazz-Fusion, definitely a huge innovator.
YESSSSS!
Steve Arrington with group Slave, Bass Player of the group Aurra "Are You Single," John Pattatucci, Fred Hammond (Commissioned), Lady from the Group Taste of Honey, Abraham Laboriel, Andrew Gouche, Joel Smith (drummer and Bass player), Nathan East (Four Play),
The bass player of the group Slave was Mark Adams
He’s right as Mark Adams didn’t play for Aurra or Steve Arrington. Steve Arrington was the drummer/vocalist. Buddy Hankerson played bass for Aurra & Steve Arrington Hall of Fame. Steve Washington played rhythm guitar for those two bands and Slave( Mark Hicks was Slaves main guitarist).
Just take any 20 James Jamerson songs and voila!!! Shoo-be-do-be-doo-da-de by Stevie Wonder is no 1 of all time!!! But then again Alphonso Johnson on Lusitanos with Weather Report.....but then again Teen Town Jaco Pastorius with Weather Report on the album Heavy Weather.....but then again Nate Phillips He Had a Hat Live with Jeff Lorber on RUclips!!!!.......but then again
You're absolutely right to cite Slave. The bloke in this video has a wretched list.
Shaun Stokes. Your bassist from Taste of Honey is Janice Marie-Johnson. She was ahead of her time
She's the only surviving member of her band now. Her co-writer & lead guitarist have passed away, unfortunately... But she, among others, had a huge impact on me as a 70's kid. Here was a classy lady that allowed no fixed gender role, nor her lead guitar partner, and man could they GROOVE!
So I'm grateful to be a 70's "boogie child." It's doubtful I would've ever picked up a bass guitar were it not for artists like her, Rita Cooledge, The Brothers Johnson, Freddie Washington (Bassist for Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, and many others), and a handful of other artists
I've always read that one of the most recognized bass lines in music history is the bass line in Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain'
John wrote so many great bass lines.
Also quite memorable ‘Go Your Own Way’
I like his playing on Sara and Gold dust woman
I can see that!!!!!
Louis Johnson on M.J's, GET ON THE FLOOR / James Jamerson on Four Tops, SAME OLD SONG / Marshall Jones on Ohio Players, SKIN TIGHT / Bootsy Collins on STRETCHING OUT
Patrice Rushen - forget me nots
Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
Kevin Parker Those same two were the first to come to my mind.
@@Loanme5 great taste! 😁
Kevin Parker. Since you're mentioning Patrice Rushen & "Forget Me Nots," might as well add another classy soul woman: Anita Baker. Freddie Washington also played bass on her "Same 'Ol Love" & "Sweet Love."
And for whatever reason that it comes to mind, I don't remember the bassist's name just now, but Ray Parker Jr's "You Can't Change That," from 1979. And finally the fretless bass part from The Commodores "Night Shift" in 1985... the list goes on & on
Long live the 70's, man. Just keep on groovin' ;o) !
The bass player for the funk group
Lakeside was nasty. The song was " It is all the way live".
Parliment Funkadelic's bass player should have been included too.
Paul Macarthy of the Beetles had a few great bass lines too.
You missed some great ones in your list.
Randy Krank. I know this is totally disparite, but with a user-handle like that, I can only wonder if you were ever a high performance car stereo nut like me, when I was in my 20's: "Crank It or YANK IT."
They'd have these Crank-it-or-yank it contests at the local swap meet, (Vikon Village in Garland TX, & the "Swap Meet Grounds" of Mountain View Lake, in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas) and they weren't kidding around. I really enjoyed it though, 'cause the contest winner almost always was someone who'd built his own "systems," and it almost became customary for the winner to use the prize money to build a new system in the "loser's" car, right there on the spot
Well, thank you for the suggestions. I'll have to hunt down Lakeside's "It Is All the Way," live. This is the first I've ever heard of them. And ANY hit by Parliament- - right on. Or FUNK ON, rather!
I'm practically in euphoria, thanks to this particular comment chain... Looks like Scott's sparked a Funk Revival :) ;) !
“For the Love of Money” by Anthony Jackson for The O Jays
“Money” by Roger Waters (I think) for Pink Floyd
Airik Luna yeah, that’s a great line!
@Brendan Mather Didn't know that.
I only learned recently that it was Anthony Jackson on The O Jays albums. I only came to know of him ... 30 years later? ... through his work with Michel Camilo, Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez, and Giovanni Hidalgo. I'm going to go back and listen to the O'Jays. They played in Albuquerque just a couple weeks ago. Of course, Anthony would not have been with them. :D
@Brendan Mather Pigs and Young Lust also were Gilmour I'm pretty sure
@Brendan Mather "Pigs", "Sheep", and "Young Lust" were all David Gilmour. Gilmour also contributed bass (with Waters) to "One of these Days" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
If anyone was wondering, Cissy strut appears in Jackie Brown
Good job
Kinda figured. Just seems like the right movie for a song like that.
I knew rhat!
Thank you, didn’t want to tab out to google
"Rock With You" Michael Jackson - and Willie Weeks "Fame" David Bowie !
Brothers Johnson- Strawberry Letter 23
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
Fosters- Misdemeanor
Misdemeanor - was the first bass line I thought of...pure genius.
"Papa was a rolling stone" by The Temptations, that's a classic.
Not really a bass line.
@@willembass curious why that’s not a bass line?
These lists are impossible to make Lol. So many great bass lines and musicians out there. John Entwistle from the Who, talking bout my generation is iconic. Chris Squire from Yes wrote some amazing bass lines as well. Geddy Lee , Nelson Braxton, Victor Wooten, Donald Dunn……… ❤
Lets GROOVE Tonite/BOOGIE WONDERLAND: earth wind and fire
Cameo: skin im in
Most definitely...
Paul Simon's "You Can Call me Al" That flow of Bakhiti Kumalo! Whooosh
That solo break? It was pieced together in the studio. Kumalo never played it.
“I’ll Take You There” bass line, David Hood gotta be one of the best of all time
DEFINITELY
Thank you! I was gonna bring that one up
Really good bass line.
Love this!! Honorable mention to The Brothers Johnson's "Strawberry Letter 23"!😁❤️
One of my all-time favorites.
Few of my personal favorites:
Justin Chancellor of Tool on 46 and 2, Schism, 10000 Days, and Reflection.
Cory Flanagan he’s my favorite bassist.
he's incredible. LOVE tool!!!
One of my favorite bass players of all time is the criminally underrated Simon Gallup from The Cure. Pick just about any Cure song and it's going to have a killer bass track. His bass lines are beautifully melodic and as rock solid as they come. He brings craftsmanship to every bass part he writes.
For example, Fascination street 👌🏻👍🏻
Other Voices by The Cure has a killer bass line.
Great call. Forgot about him. Just goes to show that a bass line doesn’t have to be super hard to play to be impactful and catchy.
@@MUSICSEARCH1200 yessss!
one word: Disintegration
Mark King Level 42 Lessons in Love....was my challenge as a teen on bass.
This is probably one of the hardest to play as the slapping is relentless. For anybody interested, the song was based on the chord progression of Vera Lynn's "We'll meet again"
Love that song bro!!...
"We Supply" Stanley Clarke. & Louis Johnson. Rocks, pebbles and Sand album.
@@intrepidmercenary_1
Mannnnn, you just brought back some memories with that one.!
@@produza111 There's a band from back in the day called *_The T Connection._*
That bassist is one of the most unheralded players imo.
Check on RUclips songs like:
*.* Do what you wanna do.
*.* Everything is cool
*.* Saturday night
*.* At Midnight..
Just to name a few.
Enjoy...
Talk Talk- It’s My Life. This is how bass is supposed to sound. Not flashy, but solid and moving and interesting.
Nice list, but missing almost all of my favorites. Starting with the first funk I ever heard coming from my uncle's collection:
Larry Graham-Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
John Simpson-Just be good to me
Roger waters-Young Lust
Rock Jones-Skin Tight
Dennis Belfield-Tell Me Something Good
Marcus Miller-Just The Two Of Us
Wow, I could keep going forever, Good Luck with this Pandora's box.
James Jamerson bass line for Marvin Gaye's "What Going On". Intricate and hard to repeat.
You can't include James Jamerson in this list. He is in a league of his own . Although the term 'bass line' probably came into existence because of his style, it has been abused to describe stuff that are a million miles inferior to his music just because they have dance value. Maybe we change the phrase to 'story telling baselines'. This is the type of music not meant for mad limb/head shaking through enthusiasm or any physical reaction. Jamerson's music is cerebral meaning you are meant to sit still in your living room with no interruptions while listening intently to music of the highest standard humanity has ever produced, much as you would do if you were listening to classical music. There is no sensuality of any sort in James's music most of it is pure cerebral like the example you have produced of 'What Going On' incredible 'bass story'. All great musicians hold all exterior aspects 'still' thereby pointing you directly to the music. In Jamerson's case there are no crazy slaps (he hated slap bass), Basses with sharp tones or anything fancy leaving just the musical notes to carry his message. The single finger technique might have been a decision born out of that line of thought as multiple fingers add an extra expressive dimension not necessary for what he wanted to say musically. In Mozart's case he instructed that his piano music should not be played with any dynamics (velocity variations) thereby again pointing you to the fact that the notes by themselves are enough to tell the complete story.
He improvised that line , too drunk to stand, lying on his back, & reading the chord charts!
And also James Jameson comes for jazz house of jazz that's why he was able to do all that stuff most of the Motown musician came from the house of jazz that's why they couldn't be stopped. It was mainly the band that put Motown on top yes good good
1. Bob Babbitt..Inner City Blues Marvin Gaye
2. Verdine White...Running
Earth Wind & Fire
3. Jamerson...I was Made to Love Her
Stevie Wonder
4. Nate Watts...Do I Do
Stevie Wonder
5. Sly or the Bass player on 'If you want me to Stay'
Sly and the Family Stone
6. The Bass player on Suit and Tie
Justin Timberlake
7. Bernard Edwards...He's the Greatest Dancer... and all of CHIC
Chic
8. The Bass player on 24K Magic
Bruno Mars
9. The Bass player on Hotel California
The Eagles
10. Nathan East...After the Dance
Fourplay
I humbly recommend these Bass lines...Babbitt and Edwards are 1a and 1b to Jamerson...White, Watts, and East in my top ten along with Bootsy, LGraham, Marcus Miller, Michael Henderson
@@rhythmcdr I'm familiar with Bob Babbitts music didn't he also do living for the city and sign sealed delivered I'm yours and many other songs that I like. They also forgot one of my favorites which is RAY BROWN I'M MAINLY INTO JAZZ ARTIST. BUT BOB BABBITT IS ALSO A MONSTER ON THE BASS THAT'S VERY TRUE. THANKS FOR THE REMINDER AND THE RUNDOWN OF BASS PLAYER'S IT'S APPRECIATED
Paul Simon's "Call me Al", played by Bakithi Kumalo..... GREAT track
Every line he played on that album and on Rhythm of the Saints is gold. I think every note Bakithi Kumalo has ever played has been gold.
Indeed
Orion by Metallica, the bass riff has so many layers. It's calm, it's hyper, it's laid back, it's in your face, it's deep, it's fat. The bass in Orion does a lot of the stuff you can do on bass
Cliff Burton was by far the best Metallica bass player and Orion was one of the best. along with For Whom The Bell Tolls.
Rio, Duran Duran, John Taylor, one of my favs.
John Taylor is a really underrated bass player.
@@aprilkurtz1589 I agree!
I really love this bassline. So underrated! Melodic
I agree..totally underrated!
Ron Hochhalter John Taylor was a beast
Chuck Rainy on Steely Dan's Peg is a worthy mention.
Lovely Day by Bill Withers is one of my favorites, but great list
i would call give it away RHCP’s most recognizable baseline but goddamn, Mellowship Slinky in B Major is one of their most underrated and funky songs. i can’t wait for the day i see a list with that song on it.
it really is, one of my favourite tracks of blood sugar sex magik
John Entwistle - The Real Me.
Roger Waters - Money
Geddy Lee - Spirit of Radio or YYZ
Money by Floyd has to time signatures.
David Battaglia The Real Me #1 - ridiculous bassline.
RIP John Entwhistle
Smooth Operator check out TheBassManOnTheHill cover of the song. Freaking amazing.
ruclips.net/video/AOXPbpzn9vo/видео.html&feature=share
Ya man.... The Real Me. whew man... ~`:+o
The Real me! As soon as I saw the title of this video. I thought of this first.
I love the bass line on Maxwell's "Ascension". Smooth, catchy, and prominent in the track. Also fun to play.
Stomp...Brothers Johnson. Hook's me everytime.
Billy sheeham solo
Yes roundabout
If we're going to mention Bernard Edwards---"I Want Your Love" has some of the tastiest lines and fills I've ever heard a bassist play without disrupting the tune
True
Everybody dance!!!
Tony Levin on Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" !!! Such an amazing one !
I love Tony Levin. He makes every note count, and he doesn't step on anyone else.
Love watching him dancing concert too!
Yes!!! Ian mentioned that one tho so it’s not unnoticed!!!
That is a brillint piece of bass.....played on a very special set-up.
Dean Town by Vulfpeck
ALL of Vulfpeck
Tee time
Taste of Honey’s Boogie Oogie Oogie should have been in the top three along with Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone.
BeeGees Stayin' Alive is always overlooked.
Rush's Limelight, YYZ, and Spirit of Radio and Rufus/Chaka Khan's Tell Me Somethin' Good
freewill
How can you include Rush without including 2112 Overture?
Papa Was A Rolling Stone! The first two notes are a semitone shift (a lot of bassists miss this). Pure genius figure against an offbeat bass drum which later shifts to the onbeat. Doesn't get simpler or funkier than this!
Martin Heath: Marcus Miller said this is his favorite bass line of all time because...you have to wait for it!
@@nancyhopp4173 Yes! And so delicious when it enters. Never gets old!
Martin Heath So true!! Shout out to my uncle the late Wah Wah Watson! He did all of the guitar work on that song! RIP Melvin Ragin!!!!!!! The greatest ever!!!!!
@@djcoolcliff And much more, divine musical expression, richly blessed! RIP Funk Brother Melvin.
So glad I was not the only person feeling Papa Was A Rolling Stone as an amazing bass line! It's what made me fall in love with the bass long before I knew I wanted to learn the bass. And so right about..."You have to wait for it!" Great call! Thanks...
An obvious choice, but Anthony Jackson on the O'Jays' For the Love of Money is unparalleled.
Good pull.
I wish I’d thought of that!!
Absolutely!!!!
Yes you have to do this over How could you Miss Anthony Jackson Money Money Money also Check out Barry White Esctasy
Unparallelled certainly is the word. FTLOM has one of the greatest bass lines in modern music to this day. A playing style way ahead of its time and along with those drum smashes, absolutely KILLER music. One of my all time top 5.
So damn glad Chris with “Hysteria” is on here
Matt Bellamy actually wrote that bassline.
Les Claypool, Cliff Burton, Geddy Lee, John Entwistle, Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, Matt Freeman...
I was about to say the same...
Las Claypool indeed!
Harris is an unforgivable omission.
Tommy the cat! My name is mud. Really pick a random Primus song and it’ll have an awesome bass line.
DMV was the first one I heard that I'd keep asking my friend, "What is the one with that goes ( *imitates line with mouth* ) beginning?" :P
Mud??? Not Puppies or Pudding?
Spaghetti Western, Defy The Laws Of Tradition, Tommy, American Life, Mud. Les and Primus are definitely in the top 5 of all times.
Buckethead's _Stick Pit_ is also a great Claypool song, played with the Whamola, though.
Alowicious Devedander Abecrombe, that's long for Mud. So I've been told.
Rock On by David Essex,
Crossroads by Cream,
Turn To Stone by Joe Walsh,
Miss You by The Rolling Stones,
Tom Sawyer by Rush,
2112 Overture by Rush,
Limelight by Rush,
Whipping Post by The Allman Brothers Band
Honorable mentions:
The Beatles - Taxman
Metallica - For Whom The Bell Tolls
They based there careers on stealing soul (black) music, like most white musicians.... so "no" have several seats.
Fantastic list, I would've limited it to one bass player.
Also no John Paul Jones? :(
Ramble On has to be right at the top of the list. And I don't even like Zeppelin.
Louis Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23, actually anything by The Brothers Johnson
Yep!
At least Louis was in there for Billy Jean.
I learned to play bass because of Brothers Johnson. Too dope!!!
So very true my brotha
You have to include the bass line from,"I'll Take You There" The Staple Singers!!! FUNKY
@@danfairchild-noaaaffiliate9689 Dan, thanks for the support on that suggestion. There are so many. Narrowing down to 20 will leave out many deserving bass lines!
I agree
Very cool Bass line... The swamp Bassist!
Which is a cover of liquidator, an even more awesome tune:
m.ruclips.net/video/OTn01jjEFfY/видео.html
Yes sir that is a popular one
Some cool stuff. I would have expected "Money" and "Roundabout" on this list, but I definitely need to check out some of these songs.
Mark Adams from the group SLAVE... "Slide"
Mr. Mark!
Thought I was the only one who knew that.. A fellow purist..
The Hansolar...
James Brown, Sex Machine..."BOOOT'-Sehhh!". The bass line that started the 70s Funk Revolution!🎸
ruclips.net/video/hnZ3TcZs1iU/видео.html
And The Beat Goes On by The Whispers
@James StarrYou are so right.
YES! Leon Sylvers sounds like no other, you know it's him on so many tunes, like with Shalamar.
"Darling Dear" - by The Jackson 5 is one of my favorites. Jamerson really was greatest to ever do it.
Jamersons Bernadette by four tops is my favorite as well as what's going on
You can't include James Jamerson in this list. He is in a league of his own . Although the term 'bass line' probably came into existence because of his style, it has been abused to describe stuff that are a million miles inferior to his music just because they have dance value. Maybe we change the phrase to 'story telling baselines'. This is the type of music not meant for mad limb/head shaking through enthusiasm or any physical reaction. Jamerson's music is cerebral meaning you are meant to sit still in your living room with no interruptions while listening intently to music of the highest standard humanity has ever produced, much as you would do if you were listening to classical music. There is no sensuality of any sort in James's music most of it is pure cerebral like the example you have produced of Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life incredible 'bass story'. All great musicians hold all exterior aspects 'still' thereby pointing you directly to the music. In Jamerson's case there are no crazy slaps (he hated slap bass), Basses with sharp tones or anything fancy leaving just the musical notes to carry his message. The single finger technique might have been a decision born out of that line of thought as multiple fingers add an extra expressive dimension not necessary for what he wanted to say musically. In Mozart's case he instructed that his piano music should not be played with any dynamics (velocity variations) thereby again pointing you to the fact that the notes by themselves are enough to tell the complete story.
Brothers Johnson - Ain't We Funkin' Now!, Heat Wave - Boogie Nights
Yep.... almost anything bi Louis Johnson!
oh yea brothers j was really funkin
Stomp!!!
I should be ashamed of myself because I forgot about the Great Lois Johnson.
If you're going to mention John Deacon for "Another One Bites The Dust," then you must include Carol Kaye for "The Beat Goes On." Word is she saved that song from potential oblivion by making up the opening bass line the day of recording.
You got it, that song is in the toilet without Carol Kaye's bassline.
When I'm on explaining to someone older than 50 how a bass sounds and what makes it important, I use that song, Come Together, and The Chain. You don't have to know much about music to understand the role of the bass using those three songs.
Anybody have other simple songs with an easy to hear bass for teaching the musically clueless?
My other option is to stop being clueless myself, and observe which friends run away anytime I start talking about the bass, or really anything about music that goes beyond whether they like a song or not.
“Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick” definitely has the best bass line ever, Norman Watt-Roy is a bass beast!! 😀👍
Here's a few that I like:
James Jamerson - on What's Going On
Chris Squire - Roundabout & Heart Of The Sunrise
Peter Cetera - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is
Bob Babitt - on Scorpio
Geddy Lee - YYZ
YYZ-Rush and Roundabout-Yes are my picks and I'd replace come together with Rain-The Beatles
Henry E. Davis = Back in Love Again by LTD and the best bass line of the era: Love Hangover by Diana Ross.
Just take any 20 James Jamerson songs and voila!!! Shoo-be-do-be-doo-da-de by Stevie Wonder is no 1 of all time!!! But then again Alphonso Johnson on Lusitanos with Weather Report.....but then again Teen Town Jaco Pastorius with Weather Report on the album Heavy Weather.....but then again Nate Phillips He Had a Hat Live with Jeff Lorber on RUclips!!!!.......but then again
I was gonna say where's hysteria BUT THANK GOD YOU PUT IT IN THERE, such a powerfull bassline!!
What about "Ramble on" by Led Zep/John Paul Jones.
Prince has amazing bass lines as well... His bass skills were mad underrated...
You could do a 20 best bass lines with nothing but Prince records.
@@mjolden I couldn't agree more. As a long time fan, I have every album, & I've always been a fan of his bass work...
@@timothyboles2521
Great baas line from Prince include "Lets work", Pop Life" Lady Cab Driver"...... the list goes on and on!
AND...if Prince played bass on Sheila E "A Love Bizarre" then that's one of the best all time bass lines and very over looked. Listen to the 12 minute version. No way that the SBL list is taken seriously without that bass line.
My Fav is "Pop Life" and " Do Me Baby"
Sly and the family Stone: IF You Want Me To Stay & Boogie Oogie
Lory Lozano sly, my favorite.
OMG can't belive YES's Chris Squire playing Roundabout is not in that list… All your picks were great so you need a top 21... lol ;-)
Aurra - Why don’t you make up your mind
Aurra - Are you single
Vaughn Mason & Crew - Bounce, Rock, Slate, Roll
Tom Browne - Funkin for Jamaica
Dynasty "I've just begun to love you"
"the chicken" Jaco Pastorius
"Panic Station" Muse
"Aeroplane" RHCP
"Chameleon" Herbie Hancock
"Longview" Greenday
"Disco Inferno" The Trammps
Arijit Mazumdar aeroplane’s bass line is nasty
Aeroplane is one of my favorite songs of all times.
Well, technically Herbie is playing an ARP Odyssey KEYBOARD. for the main bass line.
GreenDay’s song “Longview” destroyed my college roommates floor speakers!
Good list. “Watching You” by Slave( Mark Adams on bass!!- r.i.p.) is a favorite of mines!
Reevesbeatz1 Damm, how could I forget that one! Everything by Slave is the joint!
@@Loanme5 Aurra, "Are You Single?" bad bass line in that one too. LOL
Yeah that watching you a classic
I like slide bass line as well by slave
Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel is a killer bassline. Steve Harris, John Entwhistle, John Muyang, Billy Shehan should be included on the list
Hmmmm, no Earth, Wind, and Fire (Verdine White) nor Stanley Clarke...ijs
L8NYTESMOOVES I would like to hear “Heaven Sent” by Stanley Clarke !!!
L8NYTESMOOVES. Maurice White, Verdine White, Earth Wind & Fire; ABSOLUTELY right. I just needed someone to whack me with a frying pan, that's all... So Thank You for correcting me
"That's the Way of the World," 1975
"September," 1978
I was thinking the same thing. How could such a compilation exist that doesn't include Verdine let alone Stanley. But, what do you choose? School Days/ Shining Star? That is one big pond!
Verdine on Sun Goddess (with Ramsey Lewis).
@@mattfoley6082 I saw the Way Of The World tour. That track changed my life
Yes - Tempus Fugit - Chris Squire in all his glory. A Rick with a pick.
Yeeeaah...Squire and that Rickenbacker...man...wow
Entwhistle - Real Me...Behind Blue Eyes
Squire - Heart of the Sunrise...Roundabout
Other players like Tony Levin, Greg Lake, Geddy Lee, Haslip, Manring, etc.
Yup, need it broken into genres
Danny Buetow Greg lake was fantastic and super underrated
Yes!
Oh yesh.... Levin ...Sledgehammer is a beast! Proper stinkface Line 😎
Les>>>
One of the most recognizable and best bass lines of all times starts off as a synth bass line before being picked up by the bass - Chameleon by Herbie Hancock
I Was Made To Love Her - James Jamerson! The reason why I picked up the bass!
I was about to post that! Glad I read down.
Knut Henriksen. I second, third, & fourth that motion: "I Was Made To Love Her," & "Uptight (Everything Is Alright)," both by Stevie Wonder in 1967 if memory serves, & both by James Jamerson!
Songs that MADE you go buy a bass guitar & start learning! !
Jamerson on Grapevine Gladys Knight.
Live version of Paul Simon's Diamonds on the soles of her feet, recorded in South Africa. Great bass track.
All bass players are badass!
Different styles and technique from the same instrument!!
@Whip Lash I hear ya!!
My all time favourite basslines are:
Orion - Metallica
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Defenestration - Crytpopsy
Panic Attack - Dream Theater
Dark Necessities - RHCP
Tom Sawyer - Rush (RIP Neil Peart)
I'm first and foremost a metalhead and there sadly aren't that many memorable basslines, but the ones that are are amazing. There are definitely more than the ones I included but these are just my favourite ones. Also all of Sir Duke is amazing
OMG! "Glide" by Pleasure! "Let's Work", DMSR, Prince!
Take A Chance by Pleasure is a bass excursion. The vamp at the end?? Man...
That bass line is banging ( glide)
Sexy Dancer
Holy shit somebody mentioned DMSR!!!! 🤪 Classic!
"Ain't No Stopping Us Now" by McFadden and Whitehead
yes sir
"Aint No Stopping Us Now" Mcfadden and Whitehead
Just watched this for the first time...great list. I’d personally add Willie Weeks’ genius bass line on “Little Ghetto Boy”, Mark King’s greatness on “Something About You”, and Louis Johnson’s brilliance on “Strawberry Letter 23”. 👊🏽💪🏽
"The Pot" by Tool. The bassline is just dirty! "Schism" is another obvious choice.
"Let's Work" by Prince is one of my favorite bass lines!!
Yes that base line is the best! And land cab driver 😆
Righteous!!!
@@TOJralpheal what about signs of the times
And what about "What's My Name ?" ruclips.net/video/HblSBDUC_Us/видео.html
Poppa was a rolling stone Temp Tations
Obviously!
how about stanley clark
Da Wolf!
ruclips.net/video/3NjXs_nXB5U/видео.html
The Lemon Song - John Paul Jones.... genius!