Best bass solos

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Blondie - Atomic, of course.

― David Allen (David Allen), Saturday, 17 April 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there a good Tim Bogert one on a Vanilla Fudge record???

― Tim Ellison, Saturday, 17 April 2004 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris Squire "The Fish" on Yessongs.

― otto, Saturday, 17 April 2004 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

any scott lafaro solo is pure gold

― hlsk, Saturday, 17 April 2004 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Victor Wooten - "U Can't Hold No Groove"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 17 April 2004 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Anaesthesia-Pulling Teeth

― 57 7th (calstars), Saturday, 17 April 2004 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Ry Cooder bass solo on aba zaba by captain beefheart and the magic band
good without being a hambone like most bass solos

― jb, Saturday, 17 April 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I gotta say, I think "The Fish" is waaay overrated.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Saturday, 17 April 2004 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

If there is space in a song for a bass solo, the band needs to re-evaluate the composition and structure of the song. I don't mean solo basslines - those can be brilliant if placed right - but opening it up for the bassist to wank away just wastes everyone's time.

― DougD, Saturday, 17 April 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, if it's a bad bass player

― Aja (aja), Saturday, 17 April 2004 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

first thought upon reading thread title: oxymoron

but perhaps...

― amateur!st (amateurist), Saturday, 17 April 2004 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"C&D" -- Ornette Coleman (solo by Scott LaFaro)
"Shadow Dance" -- Dave Holland Big Band (Dave Holland, of course)
"Haitian Fight Song" -- Charles Mingus (both a solo and a riff)

The albums "Was Da Ist" by Peter Kowald and "Testimony" by William Parker -- both entirely solo bass

Need a bass solo be a "lead" line, or is it a "solo" if it's the most interesting/essential thing going on in a given piece of music? If the latter, check out Ashley Hutchings' bass part on Fairport Convention's "Tam Lin", as well as numerous Danny Thompson bass parts (esp. w/Pentangle).

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Saturday, 17 April 2004 21:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Fish" live, though? Does anyone rate it all?

― otto, Saturday, 17 April 2004 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"My Generation"

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 17 April 2004 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Jimmy Garrison's 10+ minute solo that opens up "My Favorite Things" from Coltrane's Live in Japan set.

― hwthr (dialecticbricks), Saturday, 17 April 2004 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

that groovy little "plink plonk" thingy at the very end of astral weeks (the song)

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 17 April 2004 22:58 (twenty-two years ago)

percy heath's bowed solo on "billy boy" is like the best thing ever

― brains (cerybut), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:06 (twenty-two years ago)

i agree on the mingus - his breakdwons were always stunning..

― chris andrews (fraew), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Fish" is boring as all fuck. Try Jannick Top's solo on "KMX - B XII - opus 7" (yeah I know) by Magma instead for a real arse ripper.

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, if you're counting Jazz as well as rock there are tons of good ones, but bass or drum solos in rock just irritate me... they're usually nothing more than a bid for respect and "look at me, I can play really fast"... useful time to get a drink I suppose.

― DougD, Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"look at me, I can play really fast"

Well isn't that what 90% of all jazz music is about? I'm not trying to be a dick here, you understand. I'm just asking. I don't know shit about jazz.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Intro to "Another one Bites the Dust"—Queen

― Dante-Cubed (Sean3), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

intro to "if you want me to stay" - sly and the family stone
..i've always had a fondness for the bass riff in eric b. and rakim's 'paid in full'.. anyone know what the original is?

― chris andrews (fraew), Sunday, 18 April 2004 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Yep. It's from the song "Don't Look Any Further", a minor mid-80s hit for ex-Temptations vocalist Dennis Edwards.

― Broheems (diamond), Sunday, 18 April 2004 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the simple bass lead on New Order's 12" single "Ceremony". It's not really a solo in the sense of noodling all over the place to prove you know where the notes are, but it is centrally featured, and carries the song.

― Orbit (Orbit), Sunday, 18 April 2004 04:11 (twenty-two years ago)

oops - I meant to link to the AMG review of the Edwards album from which that song originates. I guess I did italics by mistake.

― Broheems (diamond), Sunday, 18 April 2004 04:12 (twenty-two years ago)

snrub,

"'look at me, I can play really fast'
'Well isn't that what 90% of all jazz music is about?'"

no, it's more like "look at me i have such control over my instrument that i can play any phrase that enters my head, be it fast or slow"

granted sometimes it does just degenerate into just running the changes, but that's the ideal as i see it.

― brains (cerybut), Sunday, 18 April 2004 08:17 (twenty-two years ago)

although i should add that it really just boils down to personal expression i.e. miles, or monk who wasn't "good" like oscar peterson but was of course a far better pianist. so yes expression is sometimes sacrificed for virtuosity in jazz, but any artist can be restricted by the conventions of a genre

― brains (cerybut), Sunday, 18 April 2004 08:22 (twenty-two years ago)

The final huge bass note on Soundgarden's Jesus Christ Pose.

A single note, played once.

― mei (mei), Sunday, 18 April 2004 09:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Kasim Sulton's solo on Utopia's "Singring and the Glass Guitar" starts well, but degenerates pretty quickly. I'm trying hard to think of any more, but I ph34r that bass solos suck ass inherently.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Sunday, 18 April 2004 10:47 (twenty-two years ago)

o man i think chris is right.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 18 April 2004 10:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Intro to "Big Bottom" by Spinal Tap

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Sunday, 18 April 2004 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Jaco - every solo he ever played

― bahtology, Sunday, 18 April 2004 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I've gotta say I really don't like bass solos in rock either. I like breakdowns where its just the bassist/drummer for a bit, but solos? meh.

― Elliot (Elliot), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

can any one point me to something that might change my mind?

― Elliot (Elliot), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Does funk count as rock in this case?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

If so, as I said before - Victor Wooten's "U Can't Hold No Groove." It's phenomenal.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

No. but only if it's dancey funk and not noodly funk. (I'm not that familiar with funk so those classifications might sound ridiculous, but thats how I think of it.)

― Elliot (Elliot), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:22 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks!

― Elliot (Elliot), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I should add stylistically im a "less is more" guy, so no "booobbiddbodiidbboodbdidibdiidbbooobdiddlleedbood" type stuff please.

― Elliot (Elliot), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

haha, whoops.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

In that case, Mission of Burma - "That's When I Reach For My Revolver"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Three words: New Model Army.

― John 2, Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael Rutherford's unaccompanied bass pedal solo on the first live Genesis record should do it.

― jazz odysseus, Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood's version of 'Born To Run' has a great bass solo. And their version is better than Bruce's too.

― mzui, Monday, 19 April 2004 09:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Wire - A Touching Display

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 19 April 2004 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Moon in June-Soft Machine
Kate-Sonny Sharrock(tho he dont play it idont think)

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Monday, 19 April 2004 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Great as fuck bass solos from Medeski Martin and Wood songs:

- bowed upright on "Rebirth" (Notes from the Underground)
- plucked upright on "Last Chance to Dance Trance" (Friday Afternoon In the Universe)
- plucked upright on "Think" (Shack Man)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 19 April 2004 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I once saw Chris Wood (of afforementioned MMW) bow his bass with a 2'x4'. It sounded fucking GNARLY.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 19 April 2004 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, non-noodely funk tracks with seriously great bass solos = Sly and the Family Stone's "Sex Machine", Fishbone's "Bonin' In the Boneyard".

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 19 April 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Bernard Edwards on At Last I Am Free.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 19 April 2004 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Siege - "Armageddon".

― Broheems (diamond), Monday, 19 April 2004 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

oh and i'd say eric b. and rakim didn't sample dennis edwards, it sounds like a totally different recording.. though they DID steal the riff

― chris andrews (fraew), Monday, 19 April 2004 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with Doug that most rock bass solos (and, sorry, Jimmy Garrison solos) are boring. But you can find examples of great "lead bass" playing that aren't necessarily solos: John Entwistle ("The Real Me"), Paul McCartney ("Rain"), Bootsy Collins ("Chocolate City") and anything at all by Nomeansno or Chic.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 22 April 2004 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael Rutherford's unaccompanied bass pedal solo on the first live Genesis record should do it.

LOL! I hate Genesis but useta own that record & liked that bit anyways.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 22 April 2004 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

A special mention of some kind should be made for the 10-minute, single-note bass solo on that Godheadsilo song.

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Thursday, 22 April 2004 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Stanley Clarke has produced a fair amount of shit, but I do love his bass playing. Check out "School Days" from the "School Days" or the live version of "Hot Fun" from "I Wanna Play For You", for example. Clarke was perhaps overshadowed by Jaco, and I rate Jaco higher myself too, but that's only because he was a better composer/arranger.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 22 April 2004 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"please do not go" by the femmes.

― devon (popmatters devon), Thursday, 22 April 2004 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

On the Alex Blake Quintet featuring Pharoah Sanders record Blake's solo bass arrangement of "With A Little Help From My Friends" is delovely.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 22 April 2004 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

nine years pass...

Couldn't find a thread on bass lines and wanted to post this, so put it here. Nice list, though hardly authoritative.

http://us.pointblankonline.net/top-10-basslines-of-all-time/

― Mule, Sunday, 29 December 2013 18:47 (twelve years ago)

Happy to see Alex Blake get a mention on ilx.

― Can One Hear the Shape of a Ron Decline Bottle? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 30 December 2013 04:13 (twelve years ago)

No love for Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath? I guess NIB is the one getting referenced as one of his signature bass solos so that one.

― Moka, Monday, 30 December 2013 07:51 (twelve years ago)

Throbbing Gristle, Six Six Sixties

― Eats like Elvis, shits like De Niro (Tom D.), Monday, 30 December 2013 10:03 (twelve years ago)

Frank Zappa, "Dupree's Paradise" from the 1974 Helsinki concert, bass by Tom Fowler. I couldn't find it on Youtube, but here's Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3ZQM7KgYoJvS3BxjwF0EwG starting at 9:30

― oldbowie (WilliamC), Monday, 30 December 2013 13:29 (twelve years ago)

Orgone Accumulator - Hawkwind

― CANONICAL artists, etc., etc. (contenderizer), Monday, 30 December 2013 15:08 (twelve years ago)

makes me feel greater

― Trip Maker, Monday, 30 December 2013 15:31 (twelve years ago)

firehose: "it matters" ( this song is 1:36 long and has verse, chorus, a guitar solo, bass solo & drum solo and is todally radiku )

― massaman gai, Monday, 30 December 2013 17:06 (twelve years ago)

seven years pass...

Way shorter than a couple lists but arguably more important because in band I was taught bass ain't guitar.

― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 24 June 2021 17:55 (four years ago)

Graham Gouldman/10cc, "I'm Not In Love" - the 'big boys don't cry' part.

― Are Animated Dads Getting Hotter? (Tom D.), Thursday, 24 June 2021 18:04 (four years ago)

On "Song for Sharon" it's Max Bennett on bass, were you thinking of another song?

― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 24 June 2021 18:13 (four years ago)

I said elsewhere that the Hejira album would be too much if Pastorius played bass throughout, the straightforward approach of the other players provides a necessary contrast, which should be appreciated even if it's less showy.

― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 25 June 2021 01:44 (four years ago)

Lemme's solo on Motorhead's "Stay Clean" is pretty cool and works well in the tune.

― earlnash, Friday, 25 June 2021 02:40 (four years ago)

one year passes...

It's been mentioned already, but I was just reminded how essential Brian Ritchie's solo in "Please Do Not Go" is. It made me want to learn to play bass instead of guitar when i was a kid.

― BrianB, Thursday, 25 August 2022 20:49 (three years ago)

Oh damn, thanks for reminding me how much he made me want an acoustic bass when I was a kid.

― peace, man, Thursday, 25 August 2022 20:58 (three years ago)

Not sure whether this qualifies as a "solo," but the bass run in "You Can Call Me Al" is badass.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Thursday, 25 August 2022 21:01 (three years ago)

from wiki

The song features a bass run performed by Bakithi Kumalo; the solo is palindromic as only the first half was recorded, and was then played backwards for the second half.

― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Thursday, 25 August 2022 21:11 (three years ago)

Huh. I'll be damned. Still a great bassline all the way through.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Thursday, 25 August 2022 21:15 (three years ago)

fun fact, Brian Ritchie lives about a mile from me in Hobart, Tasmania

― assert (matttkkkk), Thursday, 25 August 2022 22:15 (three years ago)

two years pass...

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life' (supporting Stéphane Grappelli in 1984):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WegpRB1AjI
@2:42

― ozempic tentacles (unregistered), Sunday, 15 June 2025 19:39 (eleven months ago)

“Galveston” (iykyk)

― assert (matttkkkk), Sunday, 15 June 2025 20:23 (eleven months ago)

I'm not sure if it fits the brief but I immediately thought of the Seinfeld theme music.

― giraffe, Monday, 16 June 2025 08:13 (eleven months ago)

Played on sampling keyboard!

― assert (matttkkkk), Monday, 16 June 2025 12:20 (eleven months ago)

I didn't know that! The grip on 'fitting the brief' is getting even more tenuous :)

― giraffe, Monday, 16 June 2025 12:44 (eleven months ago)

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