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All Time Great Bass Lines

By Adrian Martin

When thinking of great rock performances, often as not it’s the guitarist or the vocalist who get the plaudits – typically with a band situation they tend to have the more in-your-face personalities – the pyrotechnics – the flashiest gear or technique – often it’s left to the drummer and bass player to hold the fort making sure everything hangs together. However when it comes to the music – bassists more than hold our own – we’re renowned for inventing some of the most compelling hooks and melodies in music as this list of all time great bass lines shows.

1/ New Years Day – U2

Adam Clayton tour-de-force – simple pounding riff – the key element to an all time classic taken from U2’s 1983’s War album

2/ The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

Classic Fleetwood Mac – all burning guitars and energy – but there in the middle eight – building up for the finale - John McVie’s simple but incredible hook.

3/ Walk on the Wildside – Lou Reed

Over 30 years old but still has that incredible sliding bass hook that everyone knows – produced by Bowie – Perhaps Lou Reed’s finest – and underpinned by that fabulous Herbie Flowers riff.

4/ Pink Floyd – Money

Roger Waters in his prime – great riff to start the song – again – an all time classic that everyone remembers for the bass part.a

5/ Stand by me – Ben E King

Originally a hit in 1961 – this soul classic with it’s repetitious (but instantly recognizable) 1–6-4 5 note bass riff is a lesson in creating a simple but great groove.

6/ Give it away – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Flea – cut loose – loads of punk slap and slide – a single brilliant take on why Flea is one the best bassists ever

7/ Penny Lane – The Beatles

Brilliant walking melody from Paul McCartney – released in 1967 – a fantastic lesson in how the melody and song structure can be derived from a brilliant bass line.

8/ Sunshine of your Love - Cream

Jack Bruce – repetitious thundering bass line – from one of heavy rocks first great anthems – Cream’s finest hour.

9/ Under Pressure - Queen

John Deacon’s finest – pulsating riff – sampled often but never beaten

10/ Don’t give up – Peter Gabriel

Tony Levin showing that Bass parts aren’t just about storming riff’s - Levin uses a repeating hook to create the mood of the piece – a lesson in delicate playing!

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