# Mainstream pop songs that have bass solos **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691 "2008-08-12T01:02:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/1 "2008-08-12T01:02:26Z")
I can only think of two **mainstream** - meaning, played frequently enough on the radio that they’re not obscure to the majority of people - songs that contain a bass solo. _Steal My Kisses_ by Ben Harper _Hot Legs_ by Rod Stewart Are there any others? ---
**Author:** ![Octalcode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Octalcode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octalcode)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/2 "2008-08-12T01:16:05Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] I can only think of two **mainstream** - meaning, played frequently enough on the radio that they’re not obscure to the majority of people - songs that contain a bass solo. _Steal My Kisses_ by Ben Harper _Hot Legs_ by Rod Stewart Are there any others? [/QUOTE] My Generation - The Who ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/3 "2008-08-12T01:44:20Z")
There’s a great joke, best told by stringing it out with lots of detail, but the basic joke is of an anthropologist being guided through the jungle by a “native”. They camp out the first night and hear the sound of “native drums”. Anthropologist says, “I don’t like the sound of those drums.” Native guide assures him, “Drums not bad. When drums stop: _very_ bad.” The second night they camp out, the drums again. Anthropologist says, “I don’t like the sound of those drums.” Native guide again assures him, “Drums not bad. When drums stop: _very_ bad.” The third night they camp out, the drums again. Anthropologist says, “I still don’t like the sound of those drums.” Native guide once more assures him, “Drums not bad. When drums stop: _very_ bad.” Then the drums STOP! The anthropologist, absolutely terrified, cries, “The drums have stopped! The drums have stopped! What happens when the drums stop!?!?!?” The native guide plugs his fingers into his ears and yells in response “Bass solo!!!” ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/4 "2008-08-12T01:52:48Z")
It’s short, but You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon has one. ---
**Author:** ![deanc2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@deanc2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deanc2000)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/5 "2008-08-12T04:04:33Z")
“Silly Love Songs” by McCartney and any of the Smiths great songs had excellent Bass parts, particularly “Heaven Knows”, “Suffer Little Children”, “Panic”, “This Night has Opened my eyes”, “There is a Light that never goes out”, and “Reel Around the Fountain”. And Morrissey if you’re reading this, please make music with Johnny again. Your songs are nothing compared to the Smiths songs. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/6 "2008-08-12T13:01:39Z")
I count _Le Freak_ by **Chic**. ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/7 "2008-08-12T13:17:35Z")
[QUOTE=hawthorne] I count _Le Freak_ by **Chic**. [/QUOTE] Oh, you took the one I was going to say. In that case, from the same stable, “Spacer” by Sheila B. Devotion. More astonishingly funky bass from the late, much missed, Bernard Edwards. ---
**Author:** ![OatmealB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc79bd/32.png) [@OatmealB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OatmealB)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/8 "2008-08-12T16:58:31Z")
Aeroplane by the Red Hot Chili Peppers got some airplay ten or so years ago. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/9 "2008-08-12T19:51:06Z")
Several songs by Level 42 contained bass solos, or featured the bass more prominently than any other instrument. The lead singer, Mark King, was a very proficient bassist, and tended to include a ‘flashy bit’ on each song. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/10 "2008-08-13T07:08:38Z")
Geddy Lee does some really impressive bass playing in “Tom Sawyer” (not a _pop_ song, per se, but it does get regular radio play). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/11 "2008-08-13T13:54:16Z")
“Green Eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf has some great bass riffs. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/12 "2008-08-13T15:18:51Z")
[QUOTE=psycat90] It’s short, but You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon has one. [/QUOTE] Damn…just what I came in to say! ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/13 "2008-08-13T15:30:00Z")
“I Will Follow” by U2 has a nice bass solo at the bridge. And, sort of related, “Big Bottom” by Spinal Tap is played _entirely_ on bass guitars. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/14 "2008-08-13T15:31:22Z")
“The Way” by Fastball. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/15 "2008-08-13T16:20:05Z")
I always found it fun in an ironic sort of way that “I Don’t Wanna Work (I just wanna bang on de drums all day)” by Todd Rundgren has a bass–not a drum–solo. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/16 "2008-08-14T05:17:48Z")
“Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell ---
**Author:** ![Octalcode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Octalcode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octalcode)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/17 "2008-08-14T13:31:21Z")
[QUOTE=installLSC] “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell [/QUOTE] Ummm, I don’t think so. Here’s the You Tube link. He’s clearly playing the lead on 6 string. (not on bass) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4qoymGCDYzU/hqdefault.jpg "Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoymGCDYzU) ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/18 "2008-08-14T13:43:31Z")
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/19 "2008-08-14T13:55:18Z")
There’s also [N.I.B.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6sViZZjiZE) by Black Sabbath. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691/20 "2008-08-14T15:17:29Z")
I think 99 Luftballoons/Red Balloons by Nena qualifies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mainstream-pop-songs-that-have-bass-solos/459691.md?page=2)