Sky Arts ,Worlds greatest Basslines .28/11/25

[LawrenceH]

Think this fits what I was saying about our bubbles - I could do the 'Good Times' one as could probably millions who've heard 'Rappers' Delight' (137 million Spotify plays) but no clue about the Thin Lizzy one (106 million plays), though I know I've heard it - don't even remember it being bass-led! Edit to add I haven't a clue about Brown Eyed Girl bassline despite knowing the song! Is that iconic?!

 

Isn't the Zep one guitar and bass in unison? Presumably that still counts.

 

Meanwhile 'So What' played by Paul Chambers is probably the most iconic jazz bassline of all time (125 million plays), the whole song hinges round it and it led off the album that transformed jazz for the next 70 years... Different bubble again though!

Edited Wednesday at 13:13 by LawrenceH

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

I couldn't bum-bum the bassline to Good Times or any Motown stuff, and I am a bassist. Sort of. Whole lotta love is a guitar riff. I'll give you Another one bites the dust.

 

If you know another one bites the dust you probably could get Good Times as it was inspired by that (John Deacon was in the studio when good times was made), or rappers delight, same bassline, or many many other songs. In fact, on whosampled, 254 other songs. So whatever bucket you are in, you probably have heard it somewhere!

[visog]

On 16/11/2025 at 21:44, itu said:

These cats are alive. 

fretless: Bunny Brunel and Gary Willis 

4-string frets: Jeff Berlin and Jonas Hellborg 

5-string frets: Tom Kennedy and Jimmy Haslip 

6-string frets: John Patitucci 

DB: Edgar Meyer and Steve Rodby and Marc Johnson 

 

(Where are all excellent European players, my list is too Americain.) 

 

Stewart Copeland should be here, because I would like to learn more about drummers' rhythmic approach to songs. 

 

I admire you faith in the producer's intent in finding the objectively-best players. I'm confident none of these players will be mentioned. The criteria will almost certainly be 'World's Greatest Basslines (your Mum would recognise)'

[chris_b]

39 minutes ago, visog said:

 

I admire you faith in the producer's intent in finding the objectively-best players. I'm confident none of these players will be mentioned. The criteria will almost certainly be 'World's Greatest Basslines (your Mum would recognise)'

 

Won't be the best bass lines. It'll be the bass lines from the producers favourite songs!!

[Stub Mandrel]

On 19/11/2025 at 12:10, tauzero said:

I can think of very few genuinely iconic basslines, as in basslines that would be recognised and sung (or gone bum-bum-bum to) by people who aren't bassists. The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, Dancing in the moonlight by Thin Lizzy, Brown eyed girl by Van Morrison, Peaches by The Stranglers.

 

Just thought of a few more songs defined by their basslines:

 

My Sharona

Let's Dance

Gimme Some Loving

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place

 

I think most ordinary folk who know those songs would recognise them from the bass alone.

Edited 1 hour ago by Stub Mandrel

[Woodinblack]

47 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Gimme Some Loving

 

I think most ordinary folk who know those songs would recognise them from the bass alone.

 

Would they? Gimmie all your loving is pretty well one note all the way through (ok, yes, its 3 one note riffs)

I would imagine almost noone who wasn't a bass player could recognise that song from the bass line.

 

Maybe 'Take a walk on the wild side'. 

[Geek99]

By the late herbie flowers.
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