The best basslines in Soul and Funk music
Fender Jazz, Fender Precision, Musicman StingRay, Alembic, Oberheim, Moog all mean anything? If they do, then you’ll know what i’m talking about. Bass for your face!
On ‘Down 4 Whateva’ Saturday 8th Feb show, we had the ‘baddest basslines’ show, great fun! Played ‘Good Times’ from Chic of course and received an email from Pele Raymond in Austin, Texas who said that was the best bassline ever. So that got me thinking, what makes a great bassline?
I’d find it real tough picking out my favourite bassline some are short and to the point, others span a couple of bars with as many notes. On the show we got through about thirty songs and I still had some left in the bag but I made sure I got my top 30 in there. Here they are for all you bass connoisseurs or students of the bass – in no particular order of badness:
- Brothers Johnson – Ain’t We Funkin Now
- Fat Larry’s Band – Act Like You Know
- Narada Michael Walden – I Should Loved Ya
- Teena Marie – I Need Your Lovin’
- Gwen McCrae – All This Love That I’m Giving
- One Way – Cutie Pie
- I Level – Give Me
- Carrie Lucas – Show Me Where You’re Coming From
- Don Blackman – Heart’s Desire
- Chic – Good Times
- Vaughan Mason & Crew – Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
- Mary Jane Girls – All Night Long
- Keni Burke – Risin’ To The Top
- Fonda Rae – Over Like A Fat Rat
- Parliament – Flashlights
- Rat Parker Jr & Raydio – For Those Who Like To Groove
- Bernard Wright – Haboglabotribin
- LJ Reynolds – Don’t Let Nobody Hold You Down
- Michael Jackson – Get On The Floor
- Pleasure – Glide
- Curtis Hairston – Chillin’ Out
- Vernon Burch – Fun City
- Jean Carne – Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
- Cameo – Throw It Down
- Tom Brown – Funkin’ For Jamaica
- Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity
- Lakeside – fantastic Voyage
- Slave – Just A Touch Of Love
- James Brown – Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine)
- Yarbrough & People – Don’t Stop The Music
So there you go, my top 30 basslines, don’t ask to me pick the best, it’s just not possible. Bass! How low can you go?
Shack E
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Beautiful list. Intimate Connection-Kleer & There It Is-Shalamar should be in the list. Honestly you can’t make such a list. The music is just too much!
Aaron Neville – Hercules
( sampled by Young MC – I Come Off (Southern Comfort Mix) )
Marvin Gaye – Inner City Blues
Where in the heck is Boogie Ooogie Ooogie?
Good call!
I’m a seasoned guitar player who’s always been more into the groove than lead guitar. Finally made the switch to bass after 30 years and wanted to find all the lines to inspire me. This list was great. Need more! Awesome work man!!!!
What about skin tight and ecstasy by the Ohio players
I’m a big Slave fan while Just a Touch of Love is good. Slide is better followed by Stellar Funk.
Aurra – Are You Single?
Lightning Rod-Sport