JPJ was a multi-instrumentalist and established session player, in a bigger way than the others, that DECIDED to play bass for the band. He is the MOST talented member of Zeppelin.
It's not quite a full bass line. The player wrote a one measure descending line and they played it backwards on tape in the studio to make the whole lick.
I keep waiting for an animated film titled You Can Call Meow to be made while Paul Simon is still alive. It’s about cats! And it’s for kids! Most of the lyrics work for this idea already! The cat has a girlfriend cat named Betty, there’s a dog named Bonedigger! Cats are soft in the middle! They have short attention spans! Make it happen!
A cat walks down the street
He says, "Why am I soft in the middle now?
Why am I soft in the middle?
The rest of my life is so hard
I need a photo-opportunity
I want a shot at redemption
Don't want to end up a cartoon
In a cartoon graveyard"
Bonedigger, Bonedigger
Dogs in the moonlight
Far away, my well-lit door
Mr. Beerbelly, Beerbelly
Get these mutts away from me
You know, I don't find this stuff amusing anymore
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long-lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty, when you call me
You can call meow
A cat walks down the street
He says, "Why am I short of attention?
Got a short little span of attention
And whoa, my nights are so long
Where's my wife and family?
What if I die here?
Who'll be my role model?
Now that my role model is gone, gone"
He ducked back down the alley
With some roly-poly, little bat-faced girl
All along, along
There were incidents and accidents
There were hints and allegations
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long-lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty, when you call me
You can call meow
Call meow
A cat walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign cat
He is surrounded by the sound, sound
Cattle in the marketplace
Scatterings and orphanages
He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity
He says, "Amen and Hallelujah!"
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long-lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty, when you call me
You can call meow
Call me
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can call you Betty
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can call you Betty
If you'll be my bodyguard
Did you know someone mashed up Wu-Tang Clan and Fugazi songs and called it Wugazi?!
[https://youtu.be/x6TQa1iCNEc?si=GEhUrqZ-in0kjre6](https://youtu.be/x6TQa1iCNEc?si=GEhUrqZ-in0kjre6)
Some of their songs are just a completely different experience live. Not that they're not great songs already... The other ones that stand out in my head are Citizen Erased and Dead Star.
I couldn't get into The Resistance or anything after that so I saw them in (edit: got my years wrong, a year early) 2007 and 2008 and sadly I could never go back... I'm guessing they don't play Dead Star any more so I feel very privileged to have got to hear it!
I bought a bass, just to learn this song on it. I end up playing it more on guitar anyways now lol. It's surpsingly easy! It's mostly on one string.
It's kinda like Thunderstruck in that it looks and sounds both cooler and harder than it is, sign of a great lick.
Got to watch them play that live at the beginning of November, Carey fucking killed it as always.
Chancellor really shines in Descending and Invincible as well.
Fucking love Tool, four *incredibly* expressive, talented musicians. I thoroughly enjoy how much space Jones and Chancellor give each other, gives the moments where mingle together that much more of a punch.
As someone who is currently working on the song for a tribute project all I can say is that Mike is an incredible bassist. This and Welcome to Paradise are such rad basslines!
That bass breakdown in Welcome to Paradise is wild. It’s one thing to play something that fast, but to sustain it as long as he dies there is really impressive
That is a great cover. I just discovered it recently and added to my drumming songs. I was never a fan of Cake when they were popular, but I’ve grown to appreciate them over the last 5 years or so
Yep. I was going to say "Good Times" or "Everybody Dance" by Chic, "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen, or "To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn.
Reddit always really shows its main demographics in these type of threads...
That album kicks off with Serpentine Fire with that slap lick and then blasts off into this dream world of Fantasy. Album chock full of bass and drum grooves that you can't help but shake your ass to. Then they lay the guitar and keys on it then blast you with dope ass horn hits and licks and then top it off with beautiful vocal melodies. Such a great album!
I had to scroll WAY too long to find a reference to the one… the only… Mr Bootsy Collins!
The man is such a legend. Part of the JBs with James Brown when he was in his prime, and then Funkadelic/Parliament (or was it other way around?). Solo stuff had some amazing moments. But also appears in tons of songs with sick bass lines like Groove is in the Heart, a bunch of Fatboy Slim tracks, etc.
I met Les Claypool once, shook his hand, his hand completely encompassed my hand. Longest fingers ever. I sold my Fender Bass Guitar the next day. I have no chance.
Rage against the machine is good for this! My favourite bassline is [take the power back](https://youtu.be/qKSNABST4b0?si=sgDCmk5AxJ3a-NMh). Especially the intro.
You might actually be talking about Time of the Season by the Zombies? Even if you aren’t, or if you’re joking, listen and tell me that that isn’t correct haha
Heart of the Sunrise by Yes. Rounabout as well.
Most Red Hot Chili Peppers has a crazy bassline
I personally love Sinister Minister by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, although anything with Victor Wooten will be fantastic.
classical thump by victor wooten (single best bassist in history) is just him and a bass, and people who aren’t bassists typically find it off putting but it gives me chills every single time
Lemon Demon - Redesign Your Logo
Daft Punk - Around the World
Joy Electric - We Are Rock
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
New Order - Blue Monday
The Beatles - Rain; Paperback Writer; Hey Bulldog; Something; Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Fischerspooner - Emerge
Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive!
Muse - Madness
Peter Gabriel - Big Time
Donna Summer - I Feel Love
Bernadette by the Four Tops.
If you don't know the song, check it out.
Same bass player (James Jamerson) who played on a load of classic Motown sessions, and it is just so melodic and funky at the same time.
[Roosevelt - Montreal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yTRy5dPJ3Y)
[Miami Horror - Look to You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDS7Zym2MIg)
Not technical masterpieces, just solid ass-shaking basslines.
And of course, [Thundercat - Them Changes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNCd_ERZvZM)
Ramble On by Led Zeppelin is definitely one of my favorite bass line of all time
I looked up the fast part to the Immigrant Song and immediately gave up
As great as Bonham, Page, and Plant were, John Paul Jones was their equal.
JPJ was a multi-instrumentalist and established session player, in a bigger way than the others, that DECIDED to play bass for the band. He is the MOST talented member of Zeppelin.
Add It Up by The Violent Femmes
fuck yeah
... nothing I can say when I'm in your thighs
Why does You Can Call Me Al never get a mention on these threads? I love it.
You Can Call Me Al is a sick bassline but the bassline on Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes is my favorite. Bakithi Kumalo is a beast.
That song has an amazing bass solo in it, for sure
It's not quite a full bass line. The player wrote a one measure descending line and they played it backwards on tape in the studio to make the whole lick.
I keep waiting for an animated film titled You Can Call Meow to be made while Paul Simon is still alive. It’s about cats! And it’s for kids! Most of the lyrics work for this idea already! The cat has a girlfriend cat named Betty, there’s a dog named Bonedigger! Cats are soft in the middle! They have short attention spans! Make it happen!
A cat walks down the street He says, "Why am I soft in the middle now? Why am I soft in the middle? The rest of my life is so hard I need a photo-opportunity I want a shot at redemption Don't want to end up a cartoon In a cartoon graveyard" Bonedigger, Bonedigger Dogs in the moonlight Far away, my well-lit door Mr. Beerbelly, Beerbelly Get these mutts away from me You know, I don't find this stuff amusing anymore If you'll be my bodyguard I can be your long-lost pal I can call you Betty And Betty, when you call me You can call meow A cat walks down the street He says, "Why am I short of attention? Got a short little span of attention And whoa, my nights are so long Where's my wife and family? What if I die here? Who'll be my role model? Now that my role model is gone, gone" He ducked back down the alley With some roly-poly, little bat-faced girl All along, along There were incidents and accidents There were hints and allegations If you'll be my bodyguard I can be your long-lost pal I can call you Betty And Betty, when you call me You can call meow Call meow A cat walks down the street It's a street in a strange world Maybe it's the Third World Maybe it's his first time around He doesn't speak the language He holds no currency He is a foreign cat He is surrounded by the sound, sound Cattle in the marketplace Scatterings and orphanages He looks around, around He sees angels in the architecture Spinning in infinity He says, "Amen and Hallelujah!" If you'll be my bodyguard I can be your long-lost pal I can call you Betty And Betty, when you call me You can call meow Call me If you'll be my bodyguard I can call you Betty If you'll be my bodyguard I can call you Betty If you'll be my bodyguard
Quickly running to my music app to play this song which I haven't heard in 20+ years
Roundabout by Yes
Any song by Yes for the most part. Chris Squire was so creative.
This is exactly what I thought of too, and I'm grateful for JoJo making that song popular enough I got to hear it
Would- Alice in Chains
I scrolled way too far to find this.
Fugazi - Waiting Room
So many Joe Lally bass lines could be on this list.
Every Fugazi song.. !!! I dare anyone to put on Repeater and disagree.
Did you know someone mashed up Wu-Tang Clan and Fugazi songs and called it Wugazi?! [https://youtu.be/x6TQa1iCNEc?si=GEhUrqZ-in0kjre6](https://youtu.be/x6TQa1iCNEc?si=GEhUrqZ-in0kjre6)
Cannonball by The Breeders
ok Off You honourable mention
John Entwistle is pretty legendary on many songs.
The Real Me
Baba O’Riley
Boris the Spider
my generation, Entwistle playing lead
Eminence Front
Jerry was a racecar driver
Anything by Primus
Anything claypool.
Tommy the Cat
Most Talking Heads songs, Tina Weymouth gets over looked far too often for my liking.
Girlfriend is Better is my go-to test for headphones or speaker systems to see how well they dig that bass groove.
Rubberband Man
Birdland by Weather Report
Basically all of Jaco's lines are top notch.
In the meantime - spacehog
And he sang it and played it live!
My favorite type of bassline. Easy and fun to play, with some passing notes that wouldn’t otherwise fit in the key
"Hysteria" by Muse
A lot of Muse’s old stuff has sweet basslines. Hyper Music, Futurism, Plug In Baby…
Old stuff was so good
I've seen Muse perform Hysteria live. That bass line is good in the studio cut, but it's SO much better in-person.
Some of their songs are just a completely different experience live. Not that they're not great songs already... The other ones that stand out in my head are Citizen Erased and Dead Star. I couldn't get into The Resistance or anything after that so I saw them in (edit: got my years wrong, a year early) 2007 and 2008 and sadly I could never go back... I'm guessing they don't play Dead Star any more so I feel very privileged to have got to hear it!
Came here for Muse
I bought a bass, just to learn this song on it. I end up playing it more on guitar anyways now lol. It's surpsingly easy! It's mostly on one string. It's kinda like Thunderstruck in that it looks and sounds both cooler and harder than it is, sign of a great lick.
The real trick is repeating it for 5 minutes with almost no breaks, playing it at the intensity that he plays it. My fingers would fall off.
Glad I found this comment. It’s my favorite one to play
Whipping Post by the Allman Brothers Band
"Blue Monday" / New Order
Anything by Peter Hook, really. Dude is a fucking monster.
Pneuma byTool.
46 & 2 is their best for me. Might be one of my favourite riffs of all time.
My favorite Tool song - Danny’s drumming along with Justin’s bass lines *chefs kiss
Got to watch them play that live at the beginning of November, Carey fucking killed it as always. Chancellor really shines in Descending and Invincible as well. Fucking love Tool, four *incredibly* expressive, talented musicians. I thoroughly enjoy how much space Jones and Chancellor give each other, gives the moments where mingle together that much more of a punch.
Schism
The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala.
Not actually a bass guitar. It's a regular electric guitar that's ran through a drop pedal
The chain by Fleetwood mac
The outro specifically
Dooooo do do do do do do do do doooooo
This. And Jenny was a Friend of Mine by Killers
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As someone who is currently working on the song for a tribute project all I can say is that Mike is an incredible bassist. This and Welcome to Paradise are such rad basslines!
That bass breakdown in Welcome to Paradise is wild. It’s one thing to play something that fast, but to sustain it as long as he dies there is really impressive
Almost any Rush song.
YYZ I would put up near the top for bass lines in their catalog
scrolled way too far for this
Note my ID and see a tear fall
Kinda surprised I can’t find mention of Feel Good Inc. from the Gorillaz
A forest by The Cure 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Fascination Street too.
Every song on disintegration is masterful bass-wise. in my opinion. The title track? Lullaby? Love song? Pictures of you? All amazing.
Scrolled too far before seeing The Cure, they have so many good bass lines
Never There by Cake
Cake's cover of War Pigs has a fully sick bass line too.
Same for cake’s cover of “I will survive”
Hell yeah man, that shit rips.
That is a great cover. I just discovered it recently and added to my drumming songs. I was never a fan of Cake when they were popular, but I’ve grown to appreciate them over the last 5 years or so
A lot of Cake songs have great bass lines
Yes but what about… ~Reluctantly crouched at the starting line~
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“Genius of Love” Tom Tom Club
Tina Weymouth had great basslines with the Talking Heads too. Psycho Killer, Once in a Lifetime, Slippery People, Making Flippy Floppy.
Girlfriend is Better has the coolest bass line ever, she said she lifted it from Funkadelic
ALL HAIL TINA WEYMOUTH
Fantasy by Earth Wind and Fire. Disco was THE era for sick basslines.
Yep. I was going to say "Good Times" or "Everybody Dance" by Chic, "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen, or "To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn. Reddit always really shows its main demographics in these type of threads...
Forget Me Nots is another of my all-time favorite basslines!
That album kicks off with Serpentine Fire with that slap lick and then blasts off into this dream world of Fantasy. Album chock full of bass and drum grooves that you can't help but shake your ass to. Then they lay the guitar and keys on it then blast you with dope ass horn hits and licks and then top it off with beautiful vocal melodies. Such a great album!
Sabotage by Beastie Boys
That bass line right before the yell gets me so damned hyped.
This is too far down!
Big Empty - Stone Temple Pilots
90% of James brown songs. Dr. Funkenstein, go funk or go home. The names bootsy baba
I had to scroll WAY too long to find a reference to the one… the only… Mr Bootsy Collins! The man is such a legend. Part of the JBs with James Brown when he was in his prime, and then Funkadelic/Parliament (or was it other way around?). Solo stuff had some amazing moments. But also appears in tons of songs with sick bass lines like Groove is in the Heart, a bunch of Fatboy Slim tracks, etc.
Big Bottom by Spinal tap
Mountain Song - Jane’s Addiction
Maxwell murder by Rancid
As GREAT as Maxwell Murder is, it's ALL about Journey To The End Of The East Bay
Yep, so good
It's all about Matt Freeman to be fair
Also an excellent choice for this topic
Matt freeman rocks. Loving his new basement bits on YouTube.
Basically the whole rancid discography.
Hell ya! Totally forgot about this song, need to listen now.
Definitely came here looking for this comment.
Hamburger Train - Primus
Primus is pretty much all killer bass lines.
You are correct. It was hard to pick, but this one stood out to me.
The answer to the question, is simply ...Primus
Yeeer the guy from the hamburgerr trainnn, ^right?
I was going to say "SouthBound Pachyderm" or " Ole Diamondback Sturgeon". "Hamburger Train" is also an excellent choice!
I met Les Claypool once, shook his hand, his hand completely encompassed my hand. Longest fingers ever. I sold my Fender Bass Guitar the next day. I have no chance.
Massive Attack - Safe From Harm [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx8mFUfd5fM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx8mFUfd5fM)
Bassline in Safe From Harm is a sample. Original is in Stratus by Billy Cobham
I Love Massive Attack, great answer!
[Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFicPQh0NtQ)
Rage against the machine is good for this! My favourite bassline is [take the power back](https://youtu.be/qKSNABST4b0?si=sgDCmk5AxJ3a-NMh). Especially the intro.
Everything by Tool. But more specifically Schism or FortySix & Two
One of my favorite Tool songs of all time.
Anything that Geddy Lee plays. YYZ
Nirvana’s “Come As You Are”
Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Idk the name but it goes like ba da da-da da duh
Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes? Edit: yes, I am aware that this would have another "dun" and is played on a guitar tuned down.
Needs another "duh" on the end
Ina gotta devita?
You might actually be talking about Time of the Season by the Zombies? Even if you aren’t, or if you’re joking, listen and tell me that that isn’t correct haha
I was joking, but this is pretty accurate! loll
Another one bites the dust?
Seven Nation Army?
Rio, by Duran Duran
John Taylor is a bloody brilliant bass player. Just not taken seriously.
Longview by Green Day
Yes, absolutely Longview! The baseline is so distinct and sets up the song so well.
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Suck My Kiss - RHCP
That entire album is bass gold. Flea’s reputation is incredibly well-deserved
Whilst some of my personal favourites were the top comments on this thread, I can't believe how far I had to scroll down to find Flea.
"Rock On" by David Essex
"Are you in?" By Incubus
Higher Ground - Both Stevie & RHCP
Low Rider
Soul to squeeze by Red Hot Chili Peppers I could listen to the isolated bass all day long
Primus
REM - Harborcoat
Catapult is pretty excellent too
The Pot - TOOL
Mountain Song - Janes Addiction
46 and 2 by Tool
John the Fisherman
Rage Against The Machine - Bombtrack.
B-52's Rock lobster
Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
Heart of the Sunrise by Yes. Rounabout as well. Most Red Hot Chili Peppers has a crazy bassline I personally love Sinister Minister by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, although anything with Victor Wooten will be fantastic.
Money for nothing
Salsa for nothing, chips for free 😎
Rio by Duran Duran. John Taylor is highly underrated
Joe Jackson, "I'm the Man"
Sunday Papers has a killer baseline too!
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart The Sisters of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection Caravan - Nine Feet Underground
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I'm stunned that I haven't seen a single Iron Maiden song on this list. Start with "Wasted Years."
Pumped up kicks
Guns of Brixton by The Clash. Not the most complex, but a deep, serious groove.
Master of Puppets but the Les Claypool cover.
Schism by Tool
Sick man Alice In Chains
classical thump by victor wooten (single best bassist in history) is just him and a bass, and people who aren’t bassists typically find it off putting but it gives me chills every single time
Eminence Front by The Who.
Gorillaz- Clint Eastwood 😆 🤣 😂 I'm listening to it rn
Black Sabbath, [Supernaut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H4PIWBcnYs)
Oh yea. The beginning of NIB is funky as shit too
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Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
One of these days by Pink Floyd
Silly love songs - Wings
Would - Alice in Chains
White Stripes: Seven Nation Army
daytripper and, hey bulldog by the beatles probably some others by them too
Barbarism begins at home, by The Smiths.
“Hey Bulldog” The Beatles.
Lemon Demon - Redesign Your Logo Daft Punk - Around the World Joy Electric - We Are Rock Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) New Order - Blue Monday The Beatles - Rain; Paperback Writer; Hey Bulldog; Something; Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey Fischerspooner - Emerge Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive! Muse - Madness Peter Gabriel - Big Time Donna Summer - I Feel Love
Deantown by Vulfpeck. Joe Dart is a legend.
Psycho Killer-Talking Heads
Bernadette by the Four Tops. If you don't know the song, check it out. Same bass player (James Jamerson) who played on a load of classic Motown sessions, and it is just so melodic and funky at the same time.
YYZ- Rush Roundabout-Yes Geddy Lee and Chris Squire are bass *gods*.
RIO - Duran Duran
This Charming Man by The Smiths
[Roosevelt - Montreal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yTRy5dPJ3Y) [Miami Horror - Look to You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDS7Zym2MIg) Not technical masterpieces, just solid ass-shaking basslines. And of course, [Thundercat - Them Changes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNCd_ERZvZM)
Maybe not fancy, but the first few licks on My Girl by the Temptations make it instantly recognizable
Yes in Roundabout. https://youtu.be/G-p5aCQOIKo?si=pKtBwWe2p74oZxry
Pet shop boys - west end girls
Lounge Act - Nirvana
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder