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Topic: Rock's Greatest Bass Riffs Return to archive Page: 1 2 3
13th February 2007 07:23 AM
Ten Thousand Motels Rock's Greatest Bass Riffs
Written by Jon Sobel
Published February 12, 2007
blogcritics.com

It's time to give the bass its due.

You may not know this, but your intrepid reviewer is also a bass player, and he's tired of reading about the greatest guitar riffs of all time. With very few exceptions, rock just wouldn't be possible without the electric bass. So let's investigate some of the greatest bass parts of all time. These are lines, or riffs, that made a hit a hit, or that inspired thousands of kids to pick up the instrument, or both.

Here, in chronological order, are my picks for the greatest rock bass riffs of all time.

The Animals, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" (1965)

Bass doesn't get more fundamental, and fundamentally important, than this. The bass line pretty much defines the song, and the song (along with the band's famous version of "House of the Rising Sun") pretty much sums up The Animals. And the Animals pretty much sum up the British Invasion, which in turn inspired the expansion and longevity of rock music worldwide. See where I'm going here? It's all about the bass.

Cream "Sunshine of Your Love" (1967)

Sure, Clapton doubles this famous part on guitar when he's not soloing, but really, who needs 'im? This is Jack Bruce all the way. I was too young to ever see Cream, but when I eventually did see Bruce play live - with Ringo's All-Stars - I realized that I'd copped more bass tricks from him than anyone else. And speaking of Ringo...

The Beatles, "Come Together" (1969)

Paul McCartney, the father of melodic rock bass playing. 'Nuff said. Except I'll note that this song received the 1969 Grammy for best-engineered recording. George Martin and the band were inspired to studio greatness by Paul's bass part. Obviously.

Jethro Tull/J. S. Bach, "Bourée" (1969)

"Lead bass" came into its own with Tull's arrangement of this well-known Bach tune. Of all the jazzy "walking" bass lines that have been put in the service of a classical piece played by a blues-based rock band that would go on to win a heavy metal Grammy, this was the finest. And the chordal solo near the end blew my mind when I first heard it.

Sugarloaf, "Green-Eyed Lady" (1970)

Sugarloaf got a couple of other songs on the charts, but only this psychedelic gem had real staying power. Why? The kick-ass bass part, of course. It's so much fun to play that bass players often kick into it during jam sessions. And thus is the greatness that is this bass line passed down from generation to generation of unsung four-string heroes.

Lou Reed, "Walk on the Wild Side" (1971)

Bass chords: drug-fueled New York City multitasking at its best.

Bob Marley, "Stir It Up" (1972)

The quintessential reggae bass line, this one turned a simple, happy three-chord pop tune into an anthem for the ages that went way beyond the specificities of its national character.

Pink Floyd, "Money" (1973)

Psychedelic bass heaven, in 7/4 time.

Barney Miller theme (1975)

The opening bars of this jazzy number (written by Jack Elliott, who also composed the bass-heavy theme for Night Court) inspired many a fledgling bottom feeder. Thanks to the bass, this TV theme song was hip in an era when TV theme songs usually weren't.

Fleetwood Mac, "The Chain" (1977)

Sure, classic disco music had a lot of excellent, prominent bass playing, but it wasn't till decades later that we could look back and admit that disco - the real stuff, played by actual musicians - was pretty damn good. No, for kids growing up in the late seventies it was this haunting anthem that made the bass a full citizen of the musical universe. The exposed bass line at the end, with the drums and electric guitar creeping in over it, symbolized as well as anything the rumbling angst that seemed to define this band's very existence.

Elvis Costello, "Pump It Up" (1978)

This one did exactly that for many bass players, proving that you could drive a great pop song with a fast, original and extremely active bass line that no one had ever heard before.

The Police, "Walking On the Moon" (1979)

Sure, the song is only pseudo-reggae, but the bass line helped make it an instant classic. All hail the Stingster!

Pete Townshend, "Gonna Get Ya" (1980)

To most bass players who admire him, John Entwhistle is more of a god than an actual influence - and that's a good thing. It also partly explains why there are no Who songs on this list. (Entwhistle's famous fills on "My Generation" are a solo, not a riff.) But Pete Townshend makes his mark anyway with the bass-driven jam at the center of this 1980 classic of over-the-top, theatrical, non-syncopated rock, inconceivable without the bass line.

Interregnum: The 1980s. Musically, I missed most of the 80s. In college, in the first half of the decade, my friends and I weren't listening to the radio, and in any case, Journey, Van Halen and the like didn't float my boat. Then, in the late 80s, I was too busy learning to play the bass - or something. I really don't remember. If there are important rock bass parts from the 80s, feel free to fill me in in the comments section below. Just don't call me late for dinner.

Green Day, "Longview" (1994)

This one inspired a new generation of bass players, and it's a helluva lot of fun to play even if you can't quite get Mike Dirnt's sharp, clangy sound.

Beck, "Devil's Haircut" (1996)

The fuzzed-out guitar insists on playing along, but the unforgettable four-note bass line is what makes this song a hit. Four strings. Four notes. Kozmic, man. OK, it's Beck - probably used a synth bass. It's still cool.

White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army" (2003)

Goofy and raucous, this song had the first unforgettable rock bass line of the twenty-first century - from a band without a bass player (one other major rock band didn't have a bass player: the Doors. But that was because Ray Manzarek played organ, including the bass line. Jazz organ trios don't have bass players either, for the same reason.). Local H was another two-person band that managed without a bottom-ender, but the White Stripes are the only one that became huge. And this bass line is the reason they're not a flash in the pan.

And there you have it - my non-definitive, incomplete, subjective, but staggeringly brilliant list of great bass parts. Think about how empty and meaningless your favorite music would be without the bass. And never forget the immortal words of Spinal Tap:

Big bottom
Big bottom
Talk about bum cakes
My girl's got 'em

See? You gotta have that bottom end.

Jon Sobel is a computer professional, musician, and small-time concert promoter in New York City. He reviews music and theater on a regular basis for Blogcritics, and occasionally comments on politics, world affairs, and life in New York City. His band, Whisperado, can be criticized at will.

[Edited by Ten Thousand Motels]
13th February 2007 07:28 AM
glencar What a homo. He skipped over Wyman & Co.'s best efforts.
13th February 2007 07:32 AM
Ten Thousand Motels
quote:
glencar wrote:
What a homo. He skipped over Wyman & Co.'s best efforts.



What they call a Glaring Omission,..or something like that.
13th February 2007 07:32 AM
Nellcote Any writer with the line "All Hail The Stingster" has issues...TTM, please delete this rubbish.
Thank you for your continued support & cooperation.
13th February 2007 07:37 AM
Ten Thousand Motels
quote:
Nellcote wrote:
"All Hail The Stingster"




13th February 2007 07:45 AM
mrhipfl Iggy Pop - lust for life
The Jam - town called Malice
The Rolling Stones - shattered
The Rolling Stones - miss you
[Edited by mrhipfl]
13th February 2007 08:50 AM
Jumacfly where is "Miss you"??
that list sucks big time.
Bill did a great job for 30 years and was an amazing groovy player...
as a young bass player I can tell you the guy got a great feeling.
13th February 2007 08:57 AM
M.O.W.A.T. And who could forget this little ditty...

13th February 2007 09:00 AM
Jumacfly Keith 's bass on sympathy rules too....and don't forget the one on winning ugly
13th February 2007 09:04 AM
Lil Brian "Fingerprint File" has freaky bass. Lots of the live versions are great too.
13th February 2007 09:52 AM
Highwire Rob Queen's Under Pressure? Another One Bites the Dust? (with due credit to the funk band, Chic)

Wyman on She's So Cold?
13th February 2007 09:58 AM
Nellcote JJF is the most notable omission.
For this, the writer has zero cred.
13th February 2007 10:17 AM
lotsajizz leaving out Lesh is just ignorant
13th February 2007 10:18 AM
Paranoid_Android RAPPERS DELITE!!! ala Chic!!!

I'll Wait.....Fugazi

Public Image....PiL

Dark Star...Grateful Dead
13th February 2007 10:19 AM
mojoman the fish
13th February 2007 10:28 AM
Riffhard How in living hell could this moron leave out so many great Stones' tunes? However,the lack of Stones' material is just one example of this idiot's idiocy. His biggest,most glaring,unbelieveably stupid,unforgivable mistake is leaving out The Ox!! Hello? Where the fuck is My Generation? He's got the fucking Barney Miller theme,but he leaves out My Generation?!?!?! What about Entwistles' bass line on The Real Me?!?!?!


I know all lists are subjective,but this guy has no business even picking up a pencil. I know that Bill Wyman,and Keith deserve major props,but their ommision is still more understandable than Entwistles'. Oh hell,who am I kidding this guy's just fucking tool all the way around. There is not a bass player in rock and roll alive that could touch The Ox!


Stir It Up?? Great tune for sure,but listen to next to Boris The Spider and tell me that it has a better bass line! Asshat!!



Riffy
13th February 2007 10:49 AM
Spru Live With Me?
13th February 2007 10:57 AM
The Wick
quote:
Highwire Rob wrote:
Queen's Under Pressure?


Actually that would be Ice Ice Baby- Vanilla Ice because in his own words "it's different."
13th February 2007 11:39 AM
Saint Sway
quote:
Spru wrote:
Live With Me?



Hell Yeah!!

Live With Me! And Slave too!



[Edited by Saint Sway]
13th February 2007 11:44 AM
Highwire Rob
quote:
The Wick wrote:


Actually that would be Ice Ice Baby- Vanilla Ice because in his own words "it's different."



Ya! No one better be dissin' Vanilla MAN!

Gunshots ranged out like a bell, I grabbed my nine -- All I heard were shells

LOL! That guy wouldn't know a 9mm from an ice lolly.
I'd like to see Bowie come back as Ziggy and kick his ass!
13th February 2007 12:58 PM
M.O.W.A.T. How about Rick James -- BEE-YATCH?!?

13th February 2007 01:00 PM
Jumacfly
quote:
M.O.W.A.T. wrote:
How about Rick James -- BEE-YATCH?!?





Hell yeah!!!!
13th February 2007 01:03 PM
Ten Thousand Motels Rock this Town - Stray Cats
13th February 2007 01:05 PM
Ten Thousand Motels


[Edited by Ten Thousand Motels]
13th February 2007 01:21 PM
Some Guy Remedy- hot bass.
13th February 2007 01:49 PM
Paranoid_Android Not one mention of Tony Levin...SLEEPLESS...

or Les Claypool...My Name Is Mud...D.M.V....Professor Nutbutter...hell...any PRIMUS...

Levin...Claypool...Pelletier...all amazing with the stick!!!
13th February 2007 02:17 PM
guitarman53 How about John Paul Jones? lots of classic rock Bass on Led Zeppelin, Geddy Lee? Jack Bruce? Chris Squire?
13th February 2007 03:00 PM
M.O.W.A.T. Isaac Hayes "Theme from Shaft" --- check out Rev. Jesse Jackson's 'Fro!

13th February 2007 03:02 PM
Ten Thousand Motels
quote:
guitarman53 wrote:
How about John Paul Jones?



13th February 2007 03:06 PM
mojoman
quote:
Ten Thousand Motels wrote:






dazed and confused
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