The bass lines in the cover version by Nina Hagen are even more prominent in the mix and thus easier to learn (if that’s your goal).
Two songs by The Clash have great and well-known bass lines that really drive the songs forward:
**The Guns of Brixton
The Magnificent Seven**
G’z and Hustlas by Snoop Dogg. Bassline probably put together by Dre. (and, it might be sampled, but I don’t know the original)
There’s a couple CCR basslines that are pretty sweet. Something like Who’ll Stop the Rain is pretty simple, but it really exemplifies how to play perfect rock bass without being showy.
“Bonin’ In the Boneyard” by Fishbone, especially the solos in the bridge.
Anything Bruce Thomas of the Attractions does is usually mind-boggling and tasteful.
The Clash might own this thread.
“The Call Up”
“Pressure Drop” (a cover)
“Bankrobber” (another cover methinks)
“This Is Radio Clash”
“Rock The Casbah”
Hell, tons of my favorites are in here, but for re-emphasis:
Andy Rourke’s bassline in The Smiths’ “This Charming Man,” “Barbarism Begins at Home”
Peter Hook’s basslines in New Order’s “Dreams Never End,” “Age of Consent”
Hooky again with Joy Division - “Digital,” “Atmosphere,” “Transmission”
Mark King’s basslines for Level 42’s “Something About You,” and Nik Kershaw’s “Easy”
Kim Deal on The Breeders’ “Cannonball”
Mike Mills on R.E.M.‘s “Wolves, Lower”
Bernie Edwards on every damn thing he played - especially Chic’s “Good Times,” “Everybody Dance,” and Diana Ross’ “Love Hangover.”
Dean Dinning on Toad the Wet Sprocket’s “Walk on the Ocean.”
Lot’s of Tower of Power.
Here’s Rocco Prestia working on What is Hip? with Gov’t Mule: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBncfHNOXoA (choses because the bass track is exposed on this version–not because the overall version of the song is good).
Here’s the same song played live with T.O.P. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj8ZTdZiUtY
Jerry Jemmott:
Memphis Soul Stew: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WHcWu-1iUg
Jaco’s swunk bass lines (e.g., with Joni Mitchell on Dry Cleaner from Des Moines): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9uIJ343js0 and the line from Come On Come Over (he plays the same line in several other songs).
And Scott LaFaro’s work on the album, “The Arrival of Victor Feldman”
Schoenbeck also played in Pele, an instrumental post-rock band whose songs have really great bass lines underneath the sparse, minimalist guitar riffs.
Chuck Rainey on the Sanford and Son theme: Sanford & Son Online (you can download or listen to the theme song in various formats–links at far right).
Some you can have a lot of fun with, with having to be super brilliant:
Beatles, Ballad Of John & Yoko
Police, Rehumanize Yourself (from The Ghost In The Machine)
Yes, Going For The One (the original contains some amazing bass work by Chris Squire)
A few more:
Peter Gabriel, I Go Swimming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ0Q6QVxB2g
Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ88oTITMoM&mode=related&search=
Thomas Dolby, Hyperactive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5XVd5mwBZM
And don’t forget Won’t Get Fooled Again. Isolated bass sound feed. I could watch this over and over.
Heh. I was reminded of that by the mention of the theme to Conan O’Brien. One day in the mid-90s I heard just the bassline on the radio and I wondered when the rock station had changed to talk! 
As a High Numbers geek, I hate to jump in on threads like this to post a Who song. I don’t mind piggybacking on other mentions, though.
In concert, “5:15” was always a spotlight moment for John…check out the song from the Royal Albert Hall DVD.
Pete has acknowledged Entwistle as the supreme instrumentalist of The Who. Every time I saw them live, Townshend stood back and shook his head when John stepped up and showed his stuff.
Huh. Surprised not to see the first song that popped into my mind mentioned: the Police’s “We Are Spirits in the Material World.”
But my favorite bassline experience will always be John Paul Jones’s amazing work on Diamanda Galas’s The Sporting Life. Her unhinged shrieking, laid against the darkly bubbling background of his insane bass–with occasional Hammond orgasms and some highly tight drumming–make this album a permanent entry on my DID10 list.
Others from Cream with great basslines:
Badge
Born Under a Bad Sign
Strange Brew
Spoonful
White Room
If “Clapton was God”, then Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker were at least minor deities.
However, for a true wall-shaking[sup]*[/sup] bassline, I’d go with Apocalypse in 9/8 from Supper’s Ready by Genesis .
[[sup][/sup] My immediate neighbors used to occasionally play Norteño a little too loud and a little too late, despite reasonable protestations. So, one afternoon, I turned my speakers to the common wall, and (in concert with other neighbors with whom I share a WiFi network) started “Apocalypse in 9/8” at the first strains from next door. The slight delays due to network streaming only added to the effect, and the day was won within a few minutes. Since then, neighborhood peace has reigned.]*
The Police have several – not surprisingly, considering Sting’s a bass player. Glad to see a few mentioned already! My own favorites are:
Driven to Tears
Message in a Bottle, of course
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Can’t Stand Losing You - minimalist awesomeness.
O My God
Demolition Man
Bed’s Too Big Without You
Spirits in the Material World
Also Fortress Around Your Heart - from Sting’s first solo album.
In the non-Stingy world, I think the Beatles had some kickass bass lines. First one that leaps to mind is Day Tripper.
I’m throwing this one out there, coz I don’t think anyone else will–whoever played bass on the ABBA albums was tremendous. The parts were very under-stated, but perfect for their songs. As cheezy as they could sound, Abba was great for learning how to play the perfect pop song.
Anything from John Deacon of Queen–never stepped on anyone’s toes, musically, but his parts were very complex and tasteful.
Muse is a great band to listen for bass. “Hysteria,” from Absolution , and “New Born” from Origin of Symmetry, are fun to play but will toughen up your fingering.
Is there any bassline better than Spinal Tap’s Big Bottom?
I agree! Although Born Under a Bad Sign, which is one of my favorites to play, and Spoonful are covers of classic blues songs.