One of my favorite things about Apple Music is the abundance of curated playlists. Inspired, I decided to create (and share) my own playlist of songs with great bass parts.
Listen to Amazing Bass.
Amazing Bass
Dear Prudence - The Beatles
Leading off this playlist is one of the more underrated bass players around: Paul McCartney. He is such an excellent songwriter that people often forget how creative a bass player he is. Here he plays a countermelody that fits and suits the song wonderfully, while being interesting on its own.
Funk #49 - James Gang
As a trio, the members of James Gang had a lot of sound to make - and Dale Peters did it by playing all over the neck in this 1969 classic. Featuring a young Joe Walsh on guitar and vocals.
Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin - Sly and the Family Stone
One of the all-time great songs starts out with Larry Graham inventing a new way to play the bass, influencing generations of players who would be popping and slapping for decades to come.
The Real Me - The Who
Is there a bass player alive today who was not in some way influenced by John Entwistle? I don't think so. This is one of the more spectacular displays of his kinetic style.
Heart of the Sunrise - Yes
The late, great Chris Squire had a tone that was unrivaled, and it never sounded better than it does here. By the way: you’re going to hear a lot of Rickenbacker 4001 basses on this playlist, and there’s no better place to start than this song.
Silly Love Songs - Wings
In Paul McCartney’s hands, the Rick 4001 sounded completely different from that of Chris Squire: tight, punchy, yet still with a little bit of midrange crunch. As somebody once said of his songwriting, “melodies just tumble out of him”. Luckily that also applies to his bass lines.
All American Alien Boy - Ian Hunter
For each of his solo albums in the seventies, Ian Hunter assembled a group of musicians with a certain feel or style. For this album, he gathered together some of the best young jazz musicians working in NYC at the time, including the remarkable Jaco Pastorius. Here he plays what amounts to a tenor sax solo, and does it with near-perfect intonation on his fretless bass—and also with balls to spare.
Pump It Up - Elvis Costello and The Attractions
One of Elvis Costello’s best songs showcases the melodic style of bassist Bruce Thomas, who created a remarkable part for himself, providing an abundance motion to a song that is otherwise pretty steady.
(I Got Everything I Need) Almost - The Blues Brothers
When it comes to great meat & potatoes bass, you need look no further than Donald “Duck” Dunn. Here he lays it down thick with his trademark '59 Precision bass with flatwound strings, played through an enormous Ampeg rig that shakes the floorboards.
My Sharona - The Knack
I have always loved Berton Averre’s tone in this song. He cranked up the mids, turned down the treble, and let his Rick growl right through the mix.
Baby Loves to Rock - Cheap Trick
Tom Petersson’s bass work in Cheap Trick has always taken a backseat to the songs. Here, however, is a rare (albeit short) solo right in the middle of the song. Best of all, it showcases the awesome tone of the instrument he developed, the 12-string bass.
YYZ - Rush
It’s an obvious choice, I know. Sue me. This is just such an exceedingly great song that I had to include it. And Geddy Lee is playing a Rick, so there’s that.
Soul Intro/The Chicken - Jaco Pastorius Big Band
Jaco makes another appearance here as part of the band he assembled in 1981. While not a featured player in this song, his part is still amazingly great. Besides, how can you resist a song where the bandleader gives a shoutout to his mother? Also amazingly great is Michael Brecker’s tenor sax solo. It’s easy to see why he claimed to have been influenced as much by Jimi Hendrix as by Charlie Parker.
Tonight - Ozzy Osbourne
Even though he was so thoroughly overshadowed by the late, great Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley still left his indelible mark on Ozzy’s first two LPs. His simple melodic line introduces the song, then later it returns us gently from the fire of Rhoads’ solo back to the last verse.
Murder - David Gilmour
I still remember hearing this song for the first time and marveling at Piño Palladino’s tone, melodic line, and fluid playing style. Fretless bass never sounded better - except perhaps in Jaco’s hands. (Sorry, Piño.)
Blood and Roses - The Smithereens
Mike Mesaros wrote a killer bass line to open this song. It also helps that he plays it on a Rick.
Country Music (A Night In Hell) - Stuart Hamm
A gifted player showing off some of his versatility—and a wicked sense of humor.
Mayor of Simpleton - XTC
Colin Moulding was always overshadowed as a songwriter by Andy Partridge, but he was always a very interesting bassist. Here he plays a very bouncy part in the service of an irresistible pop song.
Give It Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Another obvious pick, perhaps, but Flea is just tearing up the groove in this song. Remember Larry Graham from earlier in this list? Here’s one of his disciples who took it to a whole other level.
Jeremy - Pearl Jam
Another song featuring the otherworldly sound of the 12-string bass. Here Jeff Ament showcases it in the song’s iconic opening riff.
Steam - Peter Gabriel
It’s a rare bassist who can be identified solely by his subtly unique tone and understated approach, but Tony Levin is just such a player. He has made a 50+ year career as a sideman for everyone from Chuck Mangione to Paul Simon and as a regular bassist for Peter Gabriel and King Crimson. Here he displays so much of what makes him great: amazing tone and exquisitely tasteful lines. The man is a real treasure.
Never There - Cake
One of the more unique bands of the nineties sported the equally unique Gabe Nelson on bass. His bass line on this track is irresistible and will stick with you long after the track ends.
The Clarinet Polka - Stu Hamm
Twenty years later the man recorded a sequel to “Country Music (A Night In Hell)” and it’s amazing. Picks up right where the former left off—literally. His facility on the instrument is breathtaking.
Dean Town - Vulfpeck
Featuring the new kid on the block, Joe Dart. He’s technically brilliant, very tasteful, and—most importantly—he’s as funky as the day is long. Vulfpeck’s keyboard player Woody Goss wrote the tune for Dart, who knocks it way out of the park.
Epilog
So there you have it! Not a comprehensive list by any means; just some of the best I could think of over the course of a few days. Hopefully I'll find enough for a follow-up!
NOTE: When I originally put this playlist together, I included the song “Cruise Missile” from the Steve Morse Band’s album The Introduction. For reasons unknown it has since been pulled from Apple Music, but I’m keeping it in the playlist in case it ever pops up again, or if you decide that you’d like to look for it elsewhere. (It’d be well worth it.)
