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Most recognizable bass lines of all time

Holy shit: This album is amazing. A must listen.
  • Under Pressure – Queen/Bowie
  • Pink Floyd – Money
  • Rappers Delight – Sugarhill Gang
  • Come Together – The Beatles
  • Psycho Killer – The Talking Heads: Simple, but effective.
  • Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana: The Pixies formula played to perfection
  • Give It Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Honorable Mention:

  • Pass the Mic – Beastie Boys: Not one of their more popular songs, but MCA pulls out the stops here.
  • The Distance - Cake: Working that octave for all it’s worth.
  • The Meantime – Spacehog: The list was getting a bit ’90s heavy, but this one still holds a respectable place.
  • Jeremy – Pearl Jam: I’m somewhat embarrassed about my Pearl Jam fanship of the past. Still, these opening notes are unmistakable.

Comments welcome.



5 Comments

  1.   mnorland wrote:

    I personally have always wanted to decapitate Vanilla Ice for sullying the lead in to Under Pressure with his bile. Despite him (thankfully) getting no radio play ever anymore, I still always do a double take and brace myself for pain.

    Monday, December 29, 2008 at 2:10 am | Permalink
  2.   Frank wrote:

    Here are some more songs with instantly recognizable bass lines in them.

    My Generation – The Who (Entwistle’s trademark)
    Boris The Spider – The Who
    Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
    Should I Stay Or Should I Go – The Clash
    Limelight – Rush
    Freewill – Rush
    Tom Sawyer – Rush
    With Or Without You – U2
    New Year’s Day – U2
    Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
    Under My Thumb – The Rolling Stones
    It’s All Over Now – The Rolling Stones
    Another Brick In The Wall – Pink Floyd
    Peace Sells – Megadeth
    N.I.B. – Black Sabbath

    A few others that I didn’t list by The Who, Rush, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Black Sabbath are also instantly recognizable.

    Oh, and

    Ice, Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice

    (just kidding)

    Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 9:36 pm | Permalink
  3.   Kirsty wrote:

    What about the White Stripes…Seven Nation Army?

    Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 7:48 am | Permalink
  4.   Chris wrote:

    Guys. Come on.

    I Want You Back.

    Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 10:11 pm | Permalink
  5.   Bucho wrote:

    I’d like to throw in, Longview by Greenday. (Off the only Greenday album worth listening to, in my opinion)

    Friday, December 16, 2011 at 11:53 am | Permalink

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