Songs that are infinitely better b/c of a great bassline

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

"Heroes" - David Bowie
"The Modern Dance" - Pere Ubu
"The Back of Love" - Echo & the Bunnymen

― PB, Sunday, 29 May 2005 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Define terms. Songs that would not be good without the bassline?

― slightly more subdued (kenan), Sunday, 29 May 2005 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never much considered the bassline of "heroes." It's pretty trebly, overall. Great song, I agree.

― slightly more subdued (kenan), Sunday, 29 May 2005 00:58 (twenty-one years ago)

it's the vocal that makes 'back of love' isn't it?

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:01 (twenty-one years ago)

the walkmen- rue the day

― t0dd swiss (immobilisme), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

As in, you don't know if you would particularly like the song as much w/out the bassline. Eg, "Heroes" I think is an amazing song....but when that one band (Wallflowers?) covered it, it was completely devoid of a hooky bass and what we were left w/ was just that synthy theremin-like sound in the background and emotive singing. But that chugging bass in the original...classic, and makes the song classic.

― PB, Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:04 (twenty-one years ago)

The Strokes - "Is This It"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Radiohead - No Surprises
Interpol - Say Hello to the Angels

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:35 (twenty-one years ago)

"Freaky Bitches" - andrea parker

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Paid In Full

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:41 (twenty-one years ago)

anything with fretless

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Every New Order song, obv.

Soft Boys: Insanely Jealous

― mrjosh (mrjosh), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:52 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sleepless" by King Crimson

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 29 May 2005 01:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Ice Ice Baby

― JonH (JonH), Sunday, 29 May 2005 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Joy Division - Disorder
Broken Social Scene - Stars and Sons

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Sunday, 29 May 2005 03:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The Church - Reptile (notably for the verses)

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 29 May 2005 04:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Bomb The Bass - Bug Powder Dust
Elvis Costello - Accidents Will Happen/Party Girl (loads more)
Joni Mitchell - Cotton Avenue

Most June of 44/Dazzling Killmen/Jesus Lizard/Bitch Magnet etc:

― mzui (mzui), Sunday, 29 May 2005 04:12 (twenty-one years ago)

"Last Goodbye", Jeff Buckley

― shanecavanaugh (shanecavanaugh), Sunday, 29 May 2005 05:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Every song by Shriekback right up to (but not including) Jam Science.

― moley, Sunday, 29 May 2005 05:26 (twenty-one years ago)

chic "le freak"
omd " enola gay"
kiss "she"
new order"round and round"

― bat penetar, Sunday, 29 May 2005 06:40 (twenty-one years ago)

"Them Changes" - Buddy Miles (take away the bass and you got no song)

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Sunday, 29 May 2005 07:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think songs like "Le Freak" should count.. I mean, the bassline practically is the entire song.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Sunday, 29 May 2005 07:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Mantronix - "Got To Have Your Love"

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Sunday, 29 May 2005 07:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think songs like "Le Freak" should count.. I mean, the bassline practically is the entire song.
-- The Brainwasher (bornliveddie...), May 29th, 2005.
good call and then mel and kim used it for "showing out"

― flm, Sunday, 29 May 2005 11:14 (twenty-one years ago)

The Byrds, So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n Roll Star

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Sunday, 29 May 2005 11:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Elvis Costello "Pary Girl" good call.

Cream - "Badge."

― Ken L (Ken L), Sunday, 29 May 2005 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, unless you stick to song songs rather than dance tracks, then this question kind of ends up damning basslines with faint praise.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 29 May 2005 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Led Zeppelin, Ramble On

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Sunday, 29 May 2005 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

... I take that back, it's not made infinitely better because it's great anyway

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Sunday, 29 May 2005 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Spencer Davis Group, Gimme Some Lovin'

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Sunday, 29 May 2005 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

queen "under pressure"

― jazz boy, Sunday, 29 May 2005 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Talking Heads: Found A Job

― tonyD (noiseyrock), Sunday, 29 May 2005 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Wings "Silly Love Songs"

― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Sunday, 29 May 2005 15:05 (twenty-one years ago)

OTM. Although that weird "chain gang" opening is great too, but I don't suppose that disqualifies it.

― Ken L (Ken L), Sunday, 29 May 2005 15:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Interpol - "Say Hello to the Angels"

Right, except it's the bassline from "Walking On Sunshine!"

I submit... the Cure - Lovesong. Mentally replace the bass riff with the default Cure bassline (a la "A Forest") and it dies.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Laurie Anderson - "Ramon"

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Aerodynamic OTM with "Disorder."

U2, "I will follow" -- really, there's just one note in the bassline that's extremely great, the one that's not in the same key as the rest of the song.

R.E.M., "Radio Free Europe," the walk-up-walk-down bass thing that happens while Stipe sings "Straight off the boat...."

― Guayaquil, Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

breeders' "cannonball"
led zeppelin's "how many more times" and "ramble on" and "dazed and confused"

― Robin Samples, Sunday, 29 May 2005 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

arcade fire - haiti
belle sebastian - like dylan in the movies

― dogonwheels (dogonwheels), Sunday, 29 May 2005 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

A ton of Janes Addiction songs...

― Matt Likens (greentypewriter), Sunday, 29 May 2005 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

"Paid In Full" and "Cannonball" were the ones that immdeiately sprang to mind.

― Nick H (Nick H), Sunday, 29 May 2005 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Michael Jackson to thread here: "Thriller", "Billie Jean", "Off The Wall", "Bad". All among the greatest basslines ever.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 29 May 2005 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

totally matt. eric avery was the unsung hero of those records.

― rajeev (rajeev), Monday, 30 May 2005 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

led zeppelin's "how many more times" and "ramble on" and "dazed and confused"

jpj is the unsung hero of led zeppelin.

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 30 May 2005 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

amen cutty. that's why page/plant couldn't get away with calling their reunion 'led zeppelin'. plus, who can hammer like john bonham? i sometimes wonder if i'm his reincarnation (born in 81), and that's why i'm so messed up in the head, and get so frustrated when my rhythm is off, though i'm not primarily a drummer. (that was way too personal and off the subject)

oh yeah- most of the songs on flaming lips' 'yoshimi..' rely on the bassline
also the kill the vultures' song 'good intentions'

― Robin Samples, Monday, 30 May 2005 04:01 (twenty-one years ago)

hall and oates, 'i can't go for that'.

― derrick (derrick), Monday, 30 May 2005 05:11 (twenty-one years ago)

sympathy for the strawberry - sonic youth

― Palpatean Mists, Monday, 30 May 2005 05:34 (twenty-one years ago)

So many Talking Heads songs ...

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Monday, 30 May 2005 06:36 (twenty-one years ago)

"boogie oogie oogie"

― The Pinup Girls of YANK (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 30 May 2005 06:38 (twenty-one years ago)

yes - roundabout

― jake b. (cerybut), Monday, 30 May 2005 09:03 (twenty-one years ago)

what about golden oldie "Day Tripper"? Not a MaCa fan, but that bass line is so simple and solid.

― Erik The Mainer (EZSnappin), Monday, 30 May 2005 10:29 (twenty-one years ago)

The opening bassline from Weezer's "Only In Dreams" is lovely and sets the rest of the song up beautifully.

― Nick H (Nick H), Monday, 30 May 2005 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Many Smiths songs, but I'll go with "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out."

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:37 (twenty-one years ago)

When I think bass, I think Elvis Costello's "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea." So good.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I think of just about anything from that second and third album of his.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

the breeders - cannonball

― AaronK (AaronK), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Mantronix - "Got To Have Your Love"

I heard this for the first time in ages the other day and just about lost my mind.

More classic basslines:

"Evil" - Interpol
"Lonesome Tonight" - New Order (arguably, the former cribs from the latter)
"Little Green Bag" - George Baker Selection
"Round & Round" - Hi-Tek & Jonell

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Mystery Achievement: The Pretenders

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Marvin Gaye - Got to Give it Up

I don't think songs like "Le Freak" should count.. I mean, the bassline practically is the entire song.

I retract my answer.

Queen - Another One Bites the Dust

I don't think songs like "Le Freak" should count.. I mean, the bassline practically is the entire song.

I retract my answer.

Beatles - Something

(ducks)

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The Clash, "London Calling." The bassline is Wagnerian, reminds me of "The Ride Of The Valkyries" maybe.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Cure "Other Voices"

― The Emancipation of Baaderonixx (KERERU 4 LIFE!) (Fabfunk), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Gang of Four - Call me Up (OK, all Gang of Four songs.)
X - White Girl
Everything Mike Watt ever touched.

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

and Behind the Counter - The Fall

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

The Beatles "Come Together"

― darin (darin), Friday, 3 June 2005 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Doobie Brothers, "Long Train Running"

― xhuxk, Friday, 3 June 2005 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Every New Order song, obv.

OTM, especially "Regret"

Morrissey, "Everyday is like Sunday"

― daavid (daavid), Friday, 3 June 2005 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Radiohead - How To Disappear Completely!!!!!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 3 June 2005 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

The Flaming Lips "What Is The Light?"! I mean, in particular, the bit during the chorus.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 3 June 2005 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Can "Empress and the Ukraine King"

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Friday, 3 June 2005 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Pale Saints - "Sight of You" (possibly my favorite bassline ever)
Sugarcubes - "Birthday"
Swervedriver - "Rave Down"

― Steve Gertz (sgertz), Friday, 3 June 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Wait, wait - the answer is obviously "Stranglehold" by the 'Nuge

― Steve Gertz (sgertz), Friday, 3 June 2005 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

fuckin' A.

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Friday, 3 June 2005 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Beats International - Blame It On The Bassline

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Friday, 3 June 2005 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Butthole Surfers - Graveyard

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Friday, 3 June 2005 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

pretty much all of Can't Stand the Rezillos

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 3 June 2005 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

seven years pass...

Throwing Muses - I Hate My Way (I love Kristin's voice of course, but the bass as the song changes direction after she sings "I hate my way.." almost makes me cry..)

― Mule, Friday, 24 August 2012 23:54 (thirteen years ago)

paul simon - diamonds on the soles of her shoes

― livethedream, Saturday, 25 August 2012 01:38 (thirteen years ago)

Guns of Brixton and Lovely Rita

― Moka, Saturday, 25 August 2012 01:55 (thirteen years ago)

Pretty much all of late Beatles, but Fixing a Hole in particular

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 25 August 2012 14:56 (thirteen years ago)

yeah lots of beatles and radiohead IMO

also "lounge act" & "stay away"

― billstevejim, Monday, 27 August 2012 02:57 (thirteen years ago)

"Rock Lobster"

― Lee626, Monday, 27 August 2012 03:08 (thirteen years ago)

"With a Little Help From My Friends"

― Lee626, Monday, 27 August 2012 03:09 (thirteen years ago)

everything on sgt pepper?

― billstevejim, Monday, 27 August 2012 03:22 (thirteen years ago)

sonic youth - "sugar kane"
big dipper - "lunar module"

― i know your nuts hurt! who's laughing? (contenderizer), Friday, 31 August 2012 04:15 (thirteen years ago)

interpol's obstacle 1, for sure.

― phantompenguin, Friday, 31 August 2012 04:49 (thirteen years ago)

stevie wonder - "boogie on reggae woman"

most stevie, i guess. most funk, dub, disco, etc.

― i know your nuts hurt! who's laughing? (contenderizer), Friday, 31 August 2012 05:03 (thirteen years ago)

assuming synth bass counts

― i know your nuts hurt! who's laughing? (contenderizer), Friday, 31 August 2012 05:03 (thirteen years ago)

"Shoot You Down" - apb

― john. a resident of chicago., Sunday, 2 September 2012 19:00 (thirteen years ago)

The Beatles "The Word"

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 2 September 2012 19:37 (thirteen years ago)

i get goosebumps when the bassline thumps

― the late great, Sunday, 2 September 2012 19:52 (thirteen years ago)

i don't get this thread though since there is no such thing as a good song w/o a great bassline

― the late great, Sunday, 2 September 2012 19:53 (thirteen years ago)

otm

― ayonanas (Matt P), Sunday, 2 September 2012 19:59 (thirteen years ago)

I kind see it as, take out the bassline, and play the song as is. Some songs still hold up, some songs are way worse.

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 2 September 2012 20:04 (thirteen years ago)

Like "Walk on the Wide Side", you could play that on acoustic or something, sliding from D to G, but without that bassline it'd be a way lesser song.

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 2 September 2012 20:06 (thirteen years ago)

Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots

― Tuomas, Sunday, 2 September 2012 20:53 (thirteen years ago)

two years pass...

sister sledge - "he's the greatest dancer"

― brimstead, Tuesday, 10 February 2015 00:03 (eleven years ago)

the high flicky bassline specifically

― brimstead, Tuesday, 10 February 2015 00:05 (eleven years ago)

soooo many interpol songs
"credit" - ariel pink
"you make loving fun" - fleetwood mac
"i found out" - john lennon
"congratulations" - mgmt
"josie" - steely dan

― when is the new Jim O'Rourke album coming out (spazzmatazz), Tuesday, 10 February 2015 00:33 (eleven years ago)

"i found out" - john lennon

It's not the bassline that makes this great; it's Ringo.

(But yeah, Klaus certainly doesn't detract.)

― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 10 February 2015 00:49 (eleven years ago)

The Bent Scepters - "Stand In Line"

― Lee626, Thursday, 12 February 2015 11:43 (eleven years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.