# Best Bass Line in a Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099 "2016-04-25T16:32:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/41 "2016-04-25T22:37:00Z")
The real me doesn’t have lead guitar, it only has the bass line that is like a lead guitar line [The Who - The Real Me - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2h1MY70uag) ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/42 "2016-04-25T22:38:24Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > CAKE - Short Skirt Long Jacket Right band. Right album. [Wrong song.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPGKR_mLouQ) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/43 "2016-04-25T22:57:43Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > This is so hard! **Lowrider** by War, **Brick House** by The Commodore’s, **Another One Bites The Dust** by Queen… all greats. Mama Told me not to Come by Three Dog Night. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKaQzQAlNn4) ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/44 "2016-04-25T23:20:57Z")
I don’t know if I’d say “best of all time”, and I know it’s a cliche non-answer around these parts, but seriously… I’ve always loved the bass line on Duran Duran’s “Rio”. All the way through, but especially during the sax solo, [after it kicks into double-time](https://youtu.be/e3W6yf6c-FA?t=3m09s). ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/45 "2016-04-25T23:42:21Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I can’t possibly say it’s the best–there’s just so many to choose from–but I love John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” and that’s the first one to come to mind for me. Same here. Lots of great bass playing being mentioned but I’d nominate Jones’ work on “[Ramble On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvQ2oKSLIGQ)” as the most artistic. Most people have no idea what an incredibly gifted musician and multi-instrumentalist Jones really is. A lot of Led Zeppelin’s more majestic songs would lose their majesty if not for Jones’ input. Take a look/listen to this live performance of [_Kashmir_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD-MdiUm1_Y) and imagine how it would sound without Jones’ keyboard work. (Jimmy Page is fun to watch in this video too.) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/46 "2016-04-25T23:49:19Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You can count me in, too, but I’m not surprised, as Scott 4 is held in pretty high regard in music circles. ETA: At least the music circles I run in. It’s one of the standards, I’d say. Well you and i we run in hipster circles, dont’ya know. You can say that, but I went a little over the line one time and put on Scott 2 in the car with three people and they all said “get it off!” Now I’d be too scared. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/47 "2016-04-26T00:08:19Z")
Easy choice: [- YouTube](https://youtu.be/o1cRTW9AGVo?t=129)🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/48 "2016-04-26T00:13:09Z")
Almost 50 posts (and I am going to show my age here) and nobody had mentioned [Jack Bruce](https://youtu.be/w3KBEq95N5U)? My vote is for “Sunshine”. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/49 "2016-04-26T00:40:55Z")
Just want to let everyone know, I have followed all suggestions. I broke out my guitars and keyboard (don’t have a bass) and played along until the neighbors came over and was wondering what I was drinking. Great thread. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/50 "2016-04-26T00:41:58Z")
Two variants: [http://www.fascinately.com/feel-good/2016/03/peter-hollens-and-tim-foust-perform-misty-mountains-from-the-hobbit/](http://www.fascinately.com/feel-good/2016/03/peter-hollens-and-tim-foust-perform-misty-mountains-from-the-hobbit/) ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/51 "2016-04-26T00:45:08Z")
OK Last post. ZZ Top. [Sharp Dressed Man.](https://youtu.be/7wRHBLwpASw) I will bow out now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/52 "2016-04-26T01:03:02Z")
I’m just gonna go with parts instead of songs: Geddy’s bass just before the guitar solo in “Freewill” the bridge in the Beatles’ “Old Brown Shoe” the simple but catchy-as-shit verses in “Once on a Lifetime” by the Talking Heads “Politician” - Cream ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/53 "2016-04-26T01:23:05Z")
Entwhistle had a lot of them, beginning with “My Generation”. “Who Are You?” has a great one as well. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/54 "2016-04-26T02:36:52Z")
If you want parts, the wonderful bass solo on “[Hush Hush](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgWBjKdlH88&t=6m10s)” by the Siegel-Schwall Band (link goes directly to solo, but you owe it to yourself to listen to the entire song). ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/55 "2016-04-26T03:22:46Z")
the one and only Steve Harvey-allowed post script: 1:40 - 1:53 you can sorta see his fingering grew up in a nearby neighbourhood, drove their “mama” crazy ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/56 "2016-04-26T03:42:24Z")
The answer is of course Big Bottom by Spinal Tap. Honorable mention to Question by the Moody Blues. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/57 "2016-04-26T03:59:25Z")
I Want You Back by the Jackson 5 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DGDyAb6pePo/maxresdefault.jpg "7. Jackson 5 - I Want You Back") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGDyAb6pePo) Here’s Wilton Felder’s isolated baseline from that song: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z91l_lPz1oc/hqdefault.jpg "Wilton Felder's isolated bass on "I Want You Back"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z91l_lPz1oc) I love it. It’s not too difficult to play and it’s a catchy tune. I’m not a modern slappin’ bass player, so this tune is just my style. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/58 "2016-04-26T04:12:28Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > I don’t know if I’d say “best of all time”, and I know it’s a cliche non-answer around these parts, but seriously… I’ve always loved the bass line on Duran Duran’s “Rio”. All the way through, but especially during the sax solo, [after it kicks into double-time](https://youtu.be/e3W6yf6c-FA?t=3m09s). That’s the one I was thinking of - trying to play the bass part on Guitar Hero is a lost cause. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/59 "2016-04-26T04:18:49Z")
“When Doves Cry” by Prince 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/60 "2016-04-26T04:56:36Z")
Barney Miller theme. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099.md?page=4)