# Songs that make you play air bass **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 8, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611 "2007-11-08T00:52:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/81 "2021-07-14T18:12:16Z")
Most stuff, really ! Already mentioned, Mark King, Jaco etc … But also, Loads of great Ian Dury Bass lines (w Norman Wattroy on bass) [Hit me with your rhythm stick](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WGVgfjnLqc) [What a waste.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beCMefqOi3w) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/82 "2021-07-14T18:19:42Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > [So What](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylXk1LBvIqU) (Miles Davis, and that’s Paul Chambers on bass) Bingo. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/83 "2021-07-15T03:46:46Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Zu9a29UR2dU/maxresdefault.jpg "Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9a29UR2dU) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/84 "2021-07-15T04:58:33Z")
“Big Noise From Winnetka”. Because you’re not really playing air bass unless you’re playing an upright air bass. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/M4vlmYd9KYY/hqdefault.jpg "Bob Haggart & Ray Bauduc - Big Noise From Winnetka") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4vlmYd9KYY) ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/85 "2021-07-15T15:07:47Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9a29UR2dU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9a29UR2dU) - If I am ever in need of a walk up song, this will be it. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/86 "2021-07-15T15:21:01Z")
The Who- “Success Story”. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/87 "2021-07-21T20:10:03Z")
Messed up quoting. Nars - The first time I read that as “wake up” song, which was good. But, _Shining Star_ as your “walk up song” is awesome! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IMI5KJF5RxE/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC6AKKAgwIABABGEIgRShyMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA0hcod3XodIOngKGc3nzbMQO0l6Q "Marvin Gaye / Got to Give It Up") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMI5KJF5RxE) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/88 "2021-07-21T23:05:07Z")
Paul McCartney and Wings’ performance of “Silly Love Songs”, especially the one from the film _Give My Regards to Broad Street_, where at one point they do the bass line in double-time. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RN6lWjN0ups/hqdefault.jpg "Paul McCartney - Silly Love Songs (Broad Street) [HQ]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN6lWjN0ups) ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/89 "2021-07-21T23:38:28Z")
24 Hours at a Time from the Where We All Belong album - Marshall Tucker Band. The whole song is one of my favorites and is worth a listen. The bass starts at 8:00. https://www.youtube.com/embed/QP5vx8MytS8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLdCzHSDd0DisnEr0tnXMEFYJqwvBYuCr9 Frank Zappa - Apostrophe 18 seconds in https://www.youtube.com/embed/CSeFLrJdXq0?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=OLAK5uy_mug91Ew3YKUFXp5wOeFKayvtsdrg82U8s ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/90 "2021-07-22T01:51:34Z")
Jack Bruce on bass there, right? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/91 "2021-07-22T10:33:56Z")
I kinda like the bass riff during the last minute of The Hu’s “Wolf Totem”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jM8dCGIm6yc/maxresdefault.jpg "The HU - Wolf Totem (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM8dCGIm6yc) ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/92 "2021-07-22T19:07:00Z")
From Wikipedia -" Also in 1974 he featured on the title track of [Frank Zappa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa)’s album _[Apostrophe (')](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe_(%27))_ , recorded in November 1972. Bruce was credited with bass and co-authorship on the improvised track. When asked about Zappa in a 1992 interview, Bruce tried to change the subject and jokingly insisted that he had played only cello parts." ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/93 "2021-07-22T19:56:09Z")
From the excellent album “…And Out Come the Wolves”, Rancid bass-player Matt Freeman ripping it up around the 0:50 mark of Maxwell Murder: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uE1zgrMdxBE/hqdefault.jpg "Rancid - Maxwell Murder (Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE1zgrMdxBE) Lots of other tasty bass licks and parts throughout the album. There are live versions of Maxwell Murder with extended bass soloing. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/94 "2021-07-22T19:59:27Z")
Primus/Les Claypool was the first thing I thought of when I read the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/95 "2021-07-23T06:19:07Z")
For all the Who fans in this thread (heh, a lot of them maybe no longer around) - there was a _Louie_ episode where he plays air-bass (and odd guitar strum) to “Who Are You”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AhAn6ZB5Vg0/maxresdefault.jpg "Louis C.K. sings The Who - Louie Season 2") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhAn6ZB5Vg0&t=117) > [@blondebear](#): > > **“Sleepless”** by King Crimson: Tony Levin on 4-string for a change. I was gonna offer the [funk fingers,](https://youtu.be/AhAn6ZB5Vg0?t=117) but apparently he didn’t use them with KC until later. Guess he just slapped away. Get a kick out of his “Industry” line from that album. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m ashamed to admit I have only one album with **Jeff Berlin** ’s participation in my catalog, but _DAMN!_ This guy can play. Nastiest (not even close to the right word, but all I can come up with right now) grooves and runs I’ve ever heard. I really should get off my but and get more of his stuff. I got him playing with _Bruford. Gradually Going Tornado._ Amazing stuff. You’ll tear down your Jaco posters. Check it out if you don’t care for your socks. Heh yeah I was geekiest Bill Bruford geek. I thought _Bruford Tapes_ was one of the most splunge live recordings, especially the small but raucous audience. Mr. Berlin’s fantastic playing notwithstanding, I’ll wager most folk might have an issue with his, um, vocals: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vKRaaXHSYds/maxresdefault.jpg "The Sliding Floor") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKRaaXHSYds) Sure - awesome, mesmerizing, chops-coming-out-the-yin-yang level of playing, but I would’ve preferred the totally hot Annette Peacock (off _Feels Good to Me_, the first Bruford album) (get it, **Gato**!) doing the vocal chores instead. Berlin’s playing is solid, (and awesomely a Jack Bruce freak, with a live nod, here, to [Sunshine of Your Love,](https://youtu.be/wn0yvH_HDds?t=116) and then at end of next measure - “Politician”), and on the four Bruford albums he played on - an embarrassment of riches. There’s a lot of very air-bassable David Wm Sims grooves I could throw down, like: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/boUZqysP5go/hqdefault.jpg "Jesus Lizard - Monkey Trick") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boUZqysP5go) Opening and closing to “Siberian Khatru” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r0HnIr6jYWU/hqdefault.jpg "Yes - Siberian Khatru") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0HnIr6jYWU) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/96 "2021-07-23T06:42:58Z")
**Primus** ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/97 "2021-07-23T22:06:11Z")
^ Mooooooooooooooo! ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/98 "2021-07-24T00:24:23Z")
If you _paid me,_ I couldn’t elucidate exactly why, but … [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uY3vgBzgYn4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHUBoAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgaiggMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBRuiCExs1YQmqKEflNEPJGGRFJCg "The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There [Full Length Version]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vgBzgYn4) ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/99 "2021-07-24T02:58:19Z")
Is Queen Another One Bites the Dust to obvious? So simple yet so iconic. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/giNV4b0WoOA/maxresdefault.jpg "Queen - Another One Bites The Dust (Bass Cover) (Play Along Tabs In Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giNV4b0WoOA) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-play-air-bass/425611/100 "2021-07-24T03:00:36Z")
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