I'm part of a collective blog called Star Maker Machine .
Each week there's a theme and we post songs according to the theme.
This week's theme : Bass lines.

I've already picked "We've gotta Get Out Of This Place" by the Animals, but I'd love to hear your suggestions.
I'll probably do it again for future themes.

So : what are your favorite bass lines ? Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need a bass guitar for that (What'd I Say by R Charles)

Another One Bites the Dust.

ice ice baby

ok...

I like the first one.

Any other suggestions ?

I would say :

Billie Jean (killer bass line and i already thought that before MJ's death)

Money

Melody (opening track of Gainsbourg's "Melody Nelson")

No matter how many times I hear it, it still sends shock waves through my body: Debaser, off my favorite album of all time. Easy ones are Come as you Are and Seven Nation Army, right? The bass line on Astral Weeks is amazing too. Very subtle.

Oh, and I think there was a thread about this a short time ago. I remember someone actually made the point that Jack White didn't play bass, but by these rules...

it was a joke!
(apparently it wasn't that funny)

by that i meant "under pressure" since it's the same baseline.

A few for you:

THE WHO - MY GENERATION
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
The Temptations - My Girl
Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
Anything from Parliament/Funkadelic

and of course, When Doves Cry.

Every Joy Division song. Dear Prudence and Come Together are fantastic beatles bass lines.

Michael, I have to admit I had doubts about your post being a joke or not

I don(t know you very well, and I didn't know what to think...

But yeah, it is funny.

and I hadn't seen that other thread...
thank you all

Does the thing Manzarek plays on "Light My Fire" count as a bass-line?

two from tubular bells. the one at the end and the one that comes in after about a minute.

Now here's a band you don't come across very often on this forum: Level 42 - Love Games.

Others:
Chic - Good Times
Rick James - Super Freak
The Commodores - Brick House

Jaco Pastorious: Coyote (Joni Mitchell - Hejira, 1976)
Tina Weymouth: Heaven (Talking Heads - Fear of Music, 1979)
Richard Davies: Astral Weeks (Van Morrison - Astral Weeks, 1968)
Paul McCartney: Get Back (The Beatles - Let It Be, 1970)
Dickie Peterson: Summertime Blues (Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum, 1968)

Speaking of Ice Ice Baby how about Under Pressure

down in the tube station at midnight- The Jam
Maybe?

1. ELO “Last Train to London” (1979), bass player Kelly Groucutt (died 2009)


2. MICHAEL JACKSON (died 2009) “Billie Jean” (1982), bass player Louis Johnson


3. THE JAM “A Town Called Malice” (1982), bass player Bruce Foxton (fortunately still alive)

Thanks for your suggestions guys

i finally posted a song that no one mentionned and that suddenly came to my mind : the great "guns of Brixton" by the Clash

see here

i'll keep asking you for future themes

I'm Only Sleeping off Revolver.

"Revolution Blues" by Neil Young
"The Way Young Lovers Do" by Van Morrison
"Sister Ray" by The Velvet Underground
"Come Together" by The Beatles

Madonna - 'Holiday'. Good enough to be sampled for the 'Since I Left You' album...

Anything by Carol Kaye. She was part of the Wrecking Crew, the most accomplished session outfit of all, playing on at least half of the classic 60s songs that came out of L.A. Remember those Phil Spector and mid-60's Beach Boys songs, with those tricky time signatures ? That's Carol, playing the pompompom lines on bass. And she was a girl. Girls sang, girls danced, but a chick playing the bass guitar ?! Unheard of in those days.

You bet, SR. Oh yeah, favorite Carol Kaye riff: her bass intro in Nancy Sinatra's 'These boots are made for walkin'.

Minutemen - Vietnam
Minutemen - Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs
The Breeders - Cannonball
Pixies - Gigantic

Non Watt/Deal Bass lines:

Gang of Four - Damaged Goods
Pavement - Stereo
Nirvana - Breed
Jane's Addiction - Ted Just Admit It

This bass line actually sometimes brings me to tears.

A few that come to mind:

(I don't want to go to)Chelsea - Elvis Costello
A Touching Display - Wire
Vitamin C - Can
Obstacle 1 - Interpol
Wild Night - Van Morrison