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What's the most famous bass line?


Mike19

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What is the most famous bass line? Can be from a song, movie, TV series, national anthem, Mozart . . . whatever.

 

Let's exclude lines played by bass and guitar together (ie, Sunshine Of Your Love or Whole Lotta Love).

 

My candidates:

 

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (1966) sung by Nancy Sinatra, double bass played by Chuck Berghofer (Carol Kaye played bass guitar on the track, but not the famous bass line)

 

My Girl 1964 by The Temptations. The track was recorded by the Motown "Funk Brothers" so the bass guitar player was probably James Jamerson.

 

Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys - Carol Kaye played bass guitar on the recording.

 

 

"99 And 1/2 Just Won't Do"
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A few maybe lesser-known great bass lines. You didn't say it had to be world-famous. :)

 

"Closer to Home" by Grand Funk Railroad

 

"The Emerald" or "Cowboy Song" by Thin Lizzy

 

"Green Grass and High Tides Forever" or "There Goes Another Love Song" by the Outlaws

 

"Rock and Roll All Night" by Kiss

 

Just to add fuel to the fire.............

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do not be deceived by, nor take lightly, this particular bit of musicianship one simply describes as "bass". - Lowell George

 

"The music moves me, it just moves me ugly." William H. Macy in "Wild Hogs"

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Lee Dorman's opening riff on "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."

 

John Entwhitle's line in "My Generation."

 

Berry Oakley's opening riff in "Whipping Post"

 

 

 

 

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

 

 

 

 

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Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith

Boris the Spider -Who

Under Pressure -Queen

Money -Pink Floyd

Mario Brothers theme

Stand By Me

 

Aerodyne Jazz Deluxe

Pod X3 Live

Roland Bolt-60 (modified)

Genz Benz GBE250-C 2x10

Acoustic 2x12 cab

 

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Chic - "good times".

 

Sample used for "Rappers Delight" by the Sugarhill gang.

 

And of course the classic scene in the Wedding Singer.

 

Feel like its been a while since i have posted.

 

Hows things everybody?

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I don't know how 'famous' they are, but my candidates (aside of many that have been mentioned)

 

The theme from Law & Order SVU

One of These Days- Pink Floyd

Crazy Little Thing Called Love- Queen

Hey You- Pink Floyd

Most anything by Jaco

Vic Wooten's "Amazing Grace" using harmonics

Who's Crying Now- Journey

Come Together- the Beatles

Wouldn't Want to Be Like You- Alan Parsons Project

Stayin' Alive- BeeGees

 

Those are some that came to me. There are more, but this is a good start

"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind"- George Orwell
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There are some pretty off-the-wall suggestions in some of the posts.

 

How about a song that someone who is not a musician and certainly not a bass player will recognize immediately from the bass line?

 

Come Together is certainly one of those.

 

Definately the Peter Gunn theme.

Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it.

http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband

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When Doves Cry - Prince

You can stop now -jeremyc

STOP QUOTING EVERY THING I SAY!!! -Bass_god_offspring

lug, you should add that statement to you signature.-Tenstrum

I'm not sure any argument can top lug's. - Sweet Willie

 

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How about a song that someone who is not a musician and certainly not a bass player will recognize immediately from the bass line?

 

 

Good criterion for selection. My thoughts, including some already mentioned. In no particular order, at that.

 

"Money" by Pink Floyd

"I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5

"Walking on the Moon" by The Police

"Glide" by Pleasure

"Walk on the Wildside" by Lou Reed ("Can I Kick It? Yes, you can...")

"Good Times" by Chic

"Express Yourself" by Charles Watts et all

"So What" by Miles Davis

 

Peace.

--s to the u to the u

 

 

 

spreadluv

 

Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars.

Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk.

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When Doves Cry - Prince

 

Wise ass. There's no bass on that song. Nice try.

\m/

Erik

"To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."

--Sun Tzu

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There are some pretty off-the-wall suggestions in some of the posts.

 

How about a song that someone who is not a musician and certainly not a bass player will recognize immediately from the bass line?

 

 

Another Brick in the Wall P.2

 

Dreams- Fleetwood Mac (I think it would be recognizeable to a non- bass player. If not, "The Chain" most likely would.)

 

Come as you are- Nirvana ( I've played it while noodling and people recognize it)

 

 

"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind"- George Orwell
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Among other things, I am the OP.

 

Lots of great bass lines posted. I think the problem is how to define "famous". I did mean famous among the general US population. But there is a big generational factor. I am over 60 years old, so I was around for The Peter Gun TV series and Nancy Sinatra, and Money (man, that is great and famous line). But, would someone who is 20 years old today even know any of this music? Isn't this the MP3, Lady GaGa, Britney Spears and Kanye West generation?

 

If the opening of B's 5th can be called a bass line (and I would argue that it is a bass line that the whole orchestra is playing - read the sheet music), then without doubt it is the most famous ever. I would bet that even Ms Spears knows the 5th (well, maybe not). :rolleyes:

"99 And 1/2 Just Won't Do"
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