# I'm looking for songs with really good basslines **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234 "2004-12-11T01:01:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/21 "2004-12-11T03:51:29Z")
Most anything off Hawkwind’s _Space Ritual_ album. It was recorded back when Lemmy was still in the band. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/22 "2004-12-11T03:55:47Z")
_Perfect Kiss_ by New Order ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/23 "2004-12-11T04:30:46Z")
Black Flag’s “Six Pack” starts off with a long stretch of nice, driving bass accompanied by nothing but some skeletal drums. And it’s a song about DRINKING! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/24 "2004-12-11T05:12:44Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > \*\*Walking on the Moon \*\* by the Police Beat me to it. Actually, the Police had a lot of songs with good bass lines, including “Spirits in the Material World,” “Every Breath You Take,” and “Synchronicity II.” ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/25 "2004-12-11T05:36:41Z")
_Blood and Roses_ by The Smithereens. Not flashy, but catchy as all hell. Also, several Jane’s Addiction songs - particularly _Ted, Just Admit It…_ and _Three Days._ ---
**Author:** ![davmilasav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@davmilasav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davmilasav)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/26 "2004-12-11T05:41:29Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > “Ice, Ice, Baby” by Vanilla Ice. > > It’s a nice “duh duh duh duh duh DUH duh.” Which is a direct ripoff of Queen & David Bowie’s “Under Pressure.” How’s about “Boris the Spider” by The Who? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/27 "2004-12-11T05:45:09Z")
> [@davmilasav](#): > > Which is a direct ripoff of Queen & David Bowie’s “Under Pressure.” No no no no no, cuz, y’see, it’s, like “duh duh duh duh duh DUH duh”. Y’see? It’s, like, totally different. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/28 "2004-12-11T06:22:49Z")
Anything by **311** , especially “What was I thinking?” for a good bass-driven track and “Feels So Good” for a good solo. Anything by Rancid or Operation Ivy (same bass player), especially “Hoboken” and track 16 on Rancid’s self-titled album (don’t know the name.) Anything by Primus. “Here Come the Bastards” comes to mind, but that whole album is great (Sailing the Seas of Cheese.) As has been mentioned in this thread, Les Claypool is a bass god. “5446 (That Was My Number)” by Toots and the Maytals has a very good, very simple, very catchy bassline. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/29 "2004-12-11T07:06:10Z")
Every song by **Dream Theater** has kickass bass. Of course, the other four instruments are even _more_ kickass, so it’s hard to notice. 😉 But sometimes I’ll tune out every other instrument in “Under A Glass Moon” or “Only A Matter Of Time” and just hum along with John Myung’s bass line. **Iron Maiden** has some of the most unique bass work in heavy metal. Real chugga-chugga. Steve Harris plays bass like a rhythm guitar. Of course, for sheer no-frills in-your-face brutality, nothing beats **Motorhead**. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/30 "2004-12-11T07:12:16Z")
The Pixies have a ton of good songs with good basslines, as do Echo and the Bunnymen. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/31 "2004-12-11T07:41:13Z")
“Mystery Achievement” by the Pretenders. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/32 "2004-12-11T08:04:24Z")
Somewhat obscure, but I will emphatically recommend _Snowbound_, from Donald Fagen’s solo album _Kamakiriad_. It’s a Steely Dan tune in all but name, and Walter Becker’s bass track is the centerpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/33 "2004-12-11T09:03:26Z")
A simple but really catchy bassline is in Bowie’s “John, I’m Only Dancing”. An utterly fiddly but very cool bassline is the intro to the Faces’ “Three-Button Hand Me Down”. - the ability to play this at audition won Glenn Matlock his place in the Sex Pistols. And of course Herbie Flower’s bass in Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side” pretty much makes the song. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/34 "2004-12-11T09:32:30Z")
“What They Say” from Redd Kross has one of the best. “Badge” by Cream “Slip it in” By Black Flag leads in with the bass, then everyone joins in. “So What” by Ministry ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/35 "2004-12-11T10:23:35Z")
Some of the coolest bass parts can be found on the first three songs on _Can’t Stand The Rezillos_ by **The Rezillos** , of course. \*Flying Saucer Attack, No, \* and _Sombody’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight_. Another cool line is in _Taxman_ by **The Beatles** , also appropriated for _Start_ by **The Jam**. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/36 "2004-12-11T10:28:11Z")
Chic - just about anything - but Le Freak and Good Times are special - John Deacon admits to ripping off ‘good times’ for Another One Bites The Dust; I like Bruce Thomas’ playing with the Attractions; I Dont Want to go to Chelsea, Party Girl, 13 Steps Lead Down, many others. Can’t recall his name (Leon something?) but George Michael’s bass player is the dog’s bollocks. Listen to the song ‘Faith’ purely for the bass; awesome. I was listening to Joni M’s Shadows and Light yesterday - Jaco Pastorius could play a bit too. MiM ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/37 "2004-12-11T10:34:34Z")
However, re-reading your OP you could be looking for catchy lines rather than great playing so; Peaches by the Stranglers Dancing in the Moonlight by Thin Lizzy Superstition by Stevie Wonder Good Times by Chic (again) Tempted by Squeeze Pump it Up by Elvis Costello Sustitute by The Who MiM ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/38 "2004-12-11T12:32:27Z")
Whole World is Africa - Black Uhuru ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/39 "2004-12-11T16:43:34Z")
> [@Made in Macau](#): > > Peaches by the Stranglers Excellent choice. I always found the bass line from “Superfreak” by Rick James (biotch!) to be pretty catchy, in the simple-but-fun catagory. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/40 "2004-12-11T16:45:55Z")
Joy Division and the original goth bands often treated the bass as a rhythm guitar. Both albums proper (\*Unknown Pleasures \* and _Closer_) have excellent basslines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234.md?page=3)