What are (in your opinion) the best bass lines in rock songs ever? (Funk is also included, I guess.) I’m primarily talking about mainstream songs, but feel free to include any songs that are extremely obscure as well. I’m going to list my top five here:
Peg by Steely Dan. Bass played by Chuck Rainey.
Introduction by Chicago (called Chicago Transit Authority on their first album.) Bass played by Peter Cetera.
The whole Abbey Road medley by the Beatles (which I’m counting as one song - feel free to debate this if you want.) Bass played, obviously, by Sir Paul McCartney.
Take A Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed. Bass line played by Herbie Flowers. Features two overlapped bass lines, one by double bass and one by electric. The lines get more and more complicated as the song goes on, slowly adding little runs and flourishes. This is my choice for second best bass line of all time.
Talk To Me by Joni Mitchell. Bass played by Jaco Pastorius. It’s just the two of them, no drummer or guitarists, but Jaco manages to sound like 3 instruments all at once. He completely carries the song melodically, and also plays deep percussive bass lines and runs at the same time. This is my choice for best bass line of all time.
I like to feel the bass line in “Soul to Squeeze” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It goes through you, the rest of the music is so mellow, the bass has always stood out to me.
My instinctive reaction was Jaco’s Teen Town, but then I tought that (a) it’s not really a rock song, and (b) it’s not really a “line” as much as a melody.
I love Jaco on Joni Mitchell’s Coyote as well… maybe that one qualifies?
I’ve always been impressed by Rush’s Geddy Lee’s bass work on “Moving Pictures”.
Yes’ Chris Squire also does some great bass playing that I’ve never heard anyone replicate.
Jack Casady’s playing on “Plastic Fantastic Lover” from Bless Its Pointed Little Head by Jefferson Airplane.
Likewise Casady’s playing throughout the first Hot Tuna album. It’s all so good, but “Hesitation Blues,” Know You Rider," and “New Song for the Morning” are particularly tasty.
Since the OP specifies “rock,” I’m assuming soul - and therefore any mention of James Jamerson - is specifically excluded.
Oh no, definitely not. I was going to mention Jamerson but couldn’t think of a specific song that stands out - all of his playing is amazing, but very consistent.
Saw that on preview - time expired before I could add the following:
On preview, I see the OP allows “funk.” Therefore, James Jamerson of the Funk Brothers (Motown) deserves special recognition. “Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, and “My World is Empty Without You” by the Supremes are just a few examples of the man’s genius.
Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith was an understated gem of basswork.
Also, the bass line from Duran Duran’s Rio was fucking smoking hot, even though I have been called a mousse-headed euro-fag for saying so. Actually the more I think of it, Duran Duran had quite a bit of creative basswork in their heyday. (For the record, I am from Georgia and I have not used any hair care products since the 80’s).
Best? Who knows. Who can even hear the bass line to a lot of songs?
But I’ve always loved John Entwhistle. And I remember some tribute to Pete Townshend and his music (with a NYC orchestra, I believe) that had Ox come in for a song that featured the most jaw-droppingingly delicious rock bass I can remember. Perhaps some Who fan knows what the name of the concert was.