# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/101 "2016-04-28T18:25:10Z")
> [@NVME702-redux](#): > > White Lines- Grandmaster Flash… > > the base line after he would say “Base” was my notification ringtone for years… > > granted, it was the Shawn of the Dead version, right after the night at the pub! This is the correct answer. But Grandmaster Flash stole this from Liquid Liquid’s [Cavern.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGncWGLHdQwhttp://) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/102 "2016-04-29T03:37:19Z")
King Crimson’s “Elephant Talk” is the winner for me, but since I didn’t see it mentioned yet, I’ll throw in for Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed and Painless”. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY3tHQJegOM) ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/103 "2016-04-29T07:32:42Z")
_studies thread_ Hmmmm…needs jazz. **[Buddy Rich’s take on Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIjeVdPUTZY)** **[“La Femme D’Argent” by Air.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4U19zwFENs)** ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/104 "2016-04-29T08:04:32Z")
_gently smacks her head_ And how could I forget these equally superb pieces of jazz bass? **[“The Morning Side Of Love”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOhpjxejVlY)** and **[“The Baron” (a live and supremely mucho better version than the studio one)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMFomjIt0WY)** by Chico Hamilton. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/105 "2016-04-29T14:28:31Z")
Theme from Twin Peaks [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pXrjMaVoTy0/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGFwgZShCMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAIpKBjhfbbFnx-yiIuuGz7kr4oCw "Angelo Badalamenti Twin Peaks Theme ( Instrumental) 1990") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXrjMaVoTy0) ---
**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 29, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/106 "2016-04-29T14:33:43Z")
> [@TheInimitableMaven](#): > > **[Buddy Rich’s take on Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIjeVdPUTZY)** Yes, Anthony Jackson is indeed a fine bassist. Never heard this version - cool! ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/107 "2016-04-29T16:29:26Z")
Billy Cobham - Stratos - the bass line starts at 3 minutes in. IIRC this jazz piece has an unusual time signature, and the bass line basically holds the whole thing together. There is quite a lot of other virtuoso playing on this track [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aw2rM0w-pc) Propaganda - Duel. some pretty good synth bass, also sounds like a fretless slap bass in there somewhere Shucks, I had to take out Chameleon ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/108 "2016-04-29T19:23:42Z")
I was listening to [Stuck in the Middle with You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DohRa9lsx0Q) the other day; it’s got a pretty groovy bass line. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/109 "2016-05-01T20:36:44Z")
Dang, why am I always late to see these threads? There are some great ones already taken, but here are some of my favorites if anyone’s still reading. You’ll see I don’t care about technical difficulty, I just care about _ **funky** _. Digable Planets - [Rebirth of Slick](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM4kqL13jGM) Charles Wright & Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - [Express Yourself](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW4VZ5J0fNQ) Fatback Band - [Wicky Wacky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czdcjphhBHA) , [Backstrokin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIOTV_ZtIwg) Queen - [Dragon Attack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spm5-SXo4Do) Rick James - [Give It To Me Baby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dNIQVYGXbM) Mary Jane Girls - [All Night Long](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_XP0EXsT_4) Isley Brothers - [It’s Your Thing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD-9eOWsp8o) Cake - [Hem Of Your Garment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs6Q7L9reWc) (so pretty much every Cake song qualifies?) Brand New Heavies - [Dream Come True](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH5lEIhjOHY) Beastie Boys - [Root Down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf1YF_MH1xc) Carl Carlton - [She’s A Bad Mama Jama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QIw1BQIvT4) Blackbyrds - [Do It Fluid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJDmAlRx8gk) ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/110 "2016-05-03T01:44:17Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > Well, my first thought was “Anything by RUSH” simply because Geddy Lee was originally a lead guitarist who got pushed into the Bass role by a former band so his bass work seems very lead-inspired. \*Limelight \*comes to mind. But, then again, there’s a lot of songs where Geddy doesn’t dominate with his bass while leading with his voice. They really do balance a lot of material quite nicely. > > But while I was thinking “bass playing like a lead” I thought, > > [ul] > [li]Yes: \*Long Distance Runaround \*(that’s a fretless bass, by the way)[/li][li]Boston: _Rock N Roll Band_[/li][li]Boston: _Cool The Engines_[/li][/ul] > > and before I close my contribution, the one that really grabbed my attention on first airplay was > > [ul] > [li]Smithereens: _Blood and Roses_[/li][/ul] > …which seemed prescient to the Grunge turn > > –G! I just had to revisit this thread because it’s been on my mind all weekend. Since someone mentioned Queen… [ul] [li]Flash (from the soundtrack). Not complex in the least, but it was just right for that particular song.[/li][li]Pressure (with David Bowie) and it surprised me that nobody else mentioned it.[/li][li]Invisible Man off the Miracles album.[/li][/ul] Since someone mentioned Alan Parsons… Breakdown[COLOR=Black] (like the three above, they’re signature lines that are recognizable as soon as they start).[/COLOR] But the ones I’ve been thinking of all weekend (partly because I forgot to include them in my earlier response… [ul] [li]Styx[COLOR=#000099][FONT="] [COLOR=Black](Chuck Panozzo)[/COLOR]: \*Too Much Time on My Hands \*Paradise Theater.[/FONT][/COLOR][/li][li]Journey: _Blue Skies_ [COLOR=Navy]Arrival[/COLOR][/li][li]Fleetwood Mac [COLOR=Black](Stevie Nicks): Rhiannon[/COLOR][/li][/ul] …and for some reason thinking about that song reminded me of… Rita Coolidge: (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher …except that when I found it on YouTube it sounded more like a lead/rhythm guitar and in my memory it’s a much deeper bass backing all the way through the song. And last, but not least UFO: Godzilla —G! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/111 "2017-04-07T11:55:57Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > Well, my first thought was “Anything by RUSH” simply because Geddy Lee was originally a lead guitarist who got pushed into the Bass role by a former band so his bass work seems very lead-inspired. \*Limelight \*comes to mind. But, then again, there’s a lot of songs where Geddy doesn’t dominate with his bass while leading with his voice. They really do balance a lot of material quite nicely. > … Sorry, do you have a cite for that? I’ve listening to Rush since the early days and I’ve never heard Geddy state that he ever played lead guitar and he formed Rush with Alex in 1968 when he was 15. Limelight!? Sorry, but if you’re talking Rush basslines, that one is not even on the list. Try something like Red Barchetta, Big Money, Red Sector A, Subdivisions, etc… etc… > [@Grestarian](#): > > And last, but not least > UFO: Godzilla Did you mean Blue Oyster Club? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/112 "2017-04-07T11:59:24Z")
“Blue Oyster Club” 🙂 Did I just get whooshed? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/113 "2017-04-07T14:25:54Z")
Green Eyed Lady Great bass line [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i_i7PKdQJU4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHiAoAC6AKKAgwIABABGE8gZShIMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBD0IwBQZYrXu8Oai5Z3TSjELvW_g "Sugarloaf - Green-Eyed Lady (Original Song HQ) 1970") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_i7PKdQJU4) ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/114 "2017-04-07T15:11:02Z")
Just to add something different: Serú Girán: [Autos, Jets, Aviones, Barcos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0YV3zm04MY). Pedro Aznar just kills it with the fretless bass. The blue-screen video is really bad, though. Gilberto Santa Rosa: [La Agarro Bajando](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1usbkfcoaD8). I think Ramón Irizarry is playing bass and he’s all over the fretboard. Even for a good salsa bass player, he’s really somthing else. ---
**Author:** ![fstbk1968](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@fstbk1968](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fstbk1968)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/115 "2017-04-07T16:07:24Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Sorry, do you have a cite for that? I’ve listening to Rush since the early days and I’ve never heard Geddy state that he ever played lead guitar and he formed Rush with Alex in 1968 when he was 15. > > Limelight!? Sorry, but if you’re talking Rush basslines, that one is not even on the list. > Try something like Red Barchetta, Big Money, Red Sector A, Subdivisions, etc… etc… > > Did you mean Blue Oyster Club? Did you mean Blue Oyster Cult? ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/116 "2017-04-07T16:21:19Z")
I like the bass line from the song [“Absolutely Right”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJUReTLNNYA) by the Five Man Electrical Band. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/117 "2017-04-07T16:24:11Z")
Speaking of Blue Oyster Cult, I always liked the bass line for [Transmaniacon MC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0yNndiQMVk) ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/118 "2017-04-07T16:27:01Z")
Caught in the Crossfire - Stevie Ray Vaughn ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/119 "2017-04-07T16:35:53Z")
My favorite bass performance for 49 years: Jack Casady w/Jefferson Airplane, **The Other Side Of This Life.** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ltyjNjsz8UU/hqdefault.jpg "Jefferson Airplane - The Other Side Of This Life") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltyjNjsz8UU) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/120 "2017-04-07T18:33:52Z")
I love the bass in Sonny Rollins’ Blue 7. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099.md?page=7)