# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/41 "2004-12-11T16:58:59Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > “Ice, Ice, Baby” by Vanilla Ice. > > It’s a nice “duh duh duh duh duh DUH duh.” Yeah, that would be Under Pressure, by Queen and David Bowie. Unfortunately not everyone realizes that. Monster Magnet has some awesome bass lines, most notabley Space Lord. And I’d recommend Queens of the Stone Age as well. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/42 "2004-12-11T17:00:50Z")
Following **Made In Macau’s** lead … I think Devo did 'em with keyboards, but their “Satisfaction” and “Whip It” have amazing bass parts. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/43 "2004-12-11T17:07:17Z")
Forgot one – Boz Scagg’s “Lido Shuffle”. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/44 "2004-12-11T17:24:12Z")
The best funky bass line ever: **War’s** _Low Rider_ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/45 "2004-12-11T17:27:58Z")
R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe The Pretenders - the Wait (off the first album) Elvis Costello - Pump it Up These are all basslines my bassist loves to play… ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/46 "2004-12-11T17:46:45Z")
“White Boys and Heroes” by Gary Numan has a funky fretless bass line. Complex, but it gets you moving. Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/47 "2004-12-11T17:59:28Z")
Stanley Clarke is my personal favorite bass player of all time. Check out the album School Days. Rage Against the Machine has some amazing bass. Try “Killing in the Name” “Bombtrack” and “Know Your Enemy” Rush has long been known for Geddy Lee’s singing, but also for his incredible bass playing. “Freewill” and “Tom Sawyer” are always winners. ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/48 "2004-12-11T20:18:43Z")
I’d like to chime in with “Whores” by **Jane’s Addiction** Especially the version on the “Kettle Whistle” album. I’ve been to several JA concerts and they always bring a good show but the show that they got that recording from sounded frickin AWESOME. ---
**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, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/49 "2004-12-11T21:52:10Z")
Also… \*Valley Girl \* by Frank Zappa. I was in grade school when it came out and I just thought it was an amusing novelty song. Not until recently did I realize what a kick-ass bass line it has. And then of course there’s \*Big Bottom \* by Spinal Tap 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/50 "2004-12-11T21:53:17Z")
> [@neofishboy](#): > > And then of course there’s \*Big Bottom \* by Spinal Tap 🙂 Would that be lead bass, rhythm bass, or bass bass? ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/51 "2004-12-11T21:56:11Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Would that be lead bass, rhythm bass, or bass bass? IIRC, that’s the one which requires a double-neck bass. Tricky thing that. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/52 "2004-12-11T21:59:33Z")
> [@Murcielago](#): > > IIRC, that’s the one which requires a double-neck bass. Tricky thing that. That’s a cool looking bass, btw. I think it’s a BC Rich. ---
**Author:** ![iggy\_popov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@iggy\_popov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iggy_popov)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/53 "2004-12-12T00:04:46Z")
The reggae stuff the Clash did has some pretty nice basslines. Maybe not the most complex but you should check out Police & Thieves White Man (in hammersmith palais) Armagideion Times Bankrobber Guns of Brixton Rudie Can’t Fail ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/54 "2004-12-12T01:45:04Z")
**Word Man** beat me to it, but _Radio Free Europe_ by R.E.M. has a great bassline - the melody is entirely played on the bass, more or less. In fact any early R.E.M. has strong basslines, mostly because Peter Buck hadn’t actually learned to play guitar by that point, so Mike Mills had to carry the melody a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/55 "2004-12-12T01:49:04Z")
**Teen Town** by Weather Report (on _Heavy Weather_) helped make Jaco Pastorius’ reputation as a bass god. **Sleepless** by King Crimson (on _Three of a Perfect Pair_) features Tony Levin’s strongest use of “Funk Fingers” on bass. **Song for America** by Kansas has several songs with kick-ass bass. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/56 "2004-12-12T01:52:58Z")
‘Cannonball’ by The Breeders comes to mind ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/57 "2004-12-12T01:56:50Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > **Word Man** beat me to it, but _Radio Free Europe_ by R.E.M. has a great bassline - the melody is entirely played on the bass, more or less. And I believe that the odd sounds that kick off the song are the bass being run through some effects machines. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/58 "2004-12-12T02:16:14Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > 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_. F\*cking A. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/59 "2004-12-12T04:00:29Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned this one yet, but how about Ronnie Baker’s bassline in [“For the Love of Money”](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781BDE4BAF7420E8B30869E89A26AB5BFE66C2AD37146F1BFF9A1C54942C5DF85EFB9D88FDFB77AB78AEE02CA45A0B9FCBEE5CF9D96C39389D8EDB&sql=33:5ju0683h71t0) by the O’ Jays? ---
**Author:** ![iggy\_popov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@iggy\_popov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iggy_popov)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234/60 "2004-12-12T05:26:24Z")
I just remembered this Victor Wooten Its all him playing bass. dig it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-songs-with-really-good-basslines/279234.md?page=4)