Bass Backbone

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

What songs have bass as the backbone, the core of the music?
One I'm really LOVIN' these days is Humble Pie~ Stone Cold Fever!
Ironically, there's not much to it lyrically besides:
"I've got trouble in my backbone"
There's nothin' wrong with the backbone of the song tho'!
The bass is EXCELLENT! Great work by Greg Ridley.
He seems to dictate the structure of the music.
Frampton plays a great jazzy solo too!

[Barklessdog]

That whole heavy classic rock thing seems to be long forgotten now.

I loved Free & James Gang as well.

Wolfmother I think tapped into the sound

[gweimer]

Check out Wolfgang's Vault for some really good live Humble Pie concerts.  They're available for purchase, too.  I tell you what - I've got some later Steve Marriott stuff that he did with Steve Marriott and the Original Receivers.   Even messed up, that man had a voice that killed.

[shadowcastaz]

thjanx for reminding about the vault. Im listening to Rory Gallager at the moment. Great site.M

[chromium]

One of the guitarists in my band saw Humble Pie around the early 70s.  He told me that Marriott walked onstage while the rest of the band was playing, and started singing - without PA support - and his voice projected over the volume of the band.  Now that's a set of pipes!

I liked Ridley's playing too.  I was just listening to Spooky Tooth's "Spooky Two" a couple weeks back.  Some great "backbone" playing on there.

...and I can actually stand (and in fact rather like) Frampton in Humble Pie! 

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Spooky Two's a CLASSIC! I guess I oughta get Spooky Tooth 1 too!!

[SKATE RAT]

That whole heavy classic rock thing seems to be long forgotten now.

I loved Free & James Gang as well.

Wolfmother I think tapped into the sound

i shocked how few people know of the james gang.so good.

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Yeah~ Look!  James Gang on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=24SOBX4PIx8&feature=related

I always liked 'em but I didn't know they were just a trio!!! Cooool

Jimmy Vox on Drums & Dale Peters on bass!! GREAT Rhythm Section!!

....& of course as everyone should know....the amazing Joe Walsh.
I'll have to study Walk Away & Funk #49 to see if Dale's the backbone or Joe. haha

Looks like I've got s'more Classic Rock to buy on cd....

[SKATE RAT]

they were also a 4 piece and for while a 5 piece also 6.can't forget Tommy Bolin?

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

So...what other songs revolve around the bass line?
Sunshine of Your Love, Politician~ CREAM

Tired Angels~ MOUNTAIN

C'mon~ Help me out!

I'm studying the Armored Saint catalog....a friend sent me their best.
Joey Vera is a great bassplayer & leader of the band.

[gweimer]

"Rock On" - David Essex
"Bang on the Drum" - Todd Rundgren
"Hyperactive" - Thomas Dolby
"Blood of the Sun" - Leslie West (pre-Mountain...geez, R&B, you missed this one?)
"Roundabout"  and "Parallels" - Yes
"Green-Eyed Lady" - Sugarloaf
"Feel Good, Inc." - Gorillaz

[Dave W]

PLEASE NOTE: the following may be strange or bewildering to those of you who only know classic rock. 

Some 60s garage/psych:

Love with Arthur Lee, My Little Red Book: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tXEAWlIe2sQ

The Mickey Finn, Garden of My Mind: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lo-2lTUDHF0


Some pre- and post-New Wave:

Devo, Satisfaction: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4IYrJxodsm0

Violent Femmes, Prove My Love: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7Abzjte3Je0


Some modern (alt) rock:

The Pixies, Gigantic: http://youtube.com/watch?v=LK0CJqMK6f0
(Have I mentioned that I love Kim Deal?)

The Breeders, Cannonball: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7AsId-qVIb4
(I love Kim Deal even on acoustic guitar)


And then there's this guy, I think this qualifies as backbone: http://youtube.com/watch?v=vQu91gvb0CY

[Dave W]

I just remembered this one from my favorites: First Edition (live), Ruby: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_ZYcqlEZxGQ

Excellent bassline by Kenny.

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

PLEASE NOTE: the following may be strange or bewildering to those of you who only know classic rock. 


Love with Arthur Lee, My Little Red Book: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tXEAWlIe2sQ


And then there's this guy, I think this qualifies as backbone: http://youtube.com/watch?v=vQu91gvb0CY

LOVE~Forever Changes was one of my first records. I painted the album cover with poster paints & it turned out real good. I was about 13.
I was just playin' My Little Red Book recently & wondering who the bassplayer
was...only other band member besides Arthur Lee I whose name I remembered was Bryan Maclean.
Wikipedia says the bassman was Ken Forrsi RIP:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Lee_(musician)

Shocking to read that My Little Red Book was written by Burt Bacharach! hahaa
Burt was just honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.
I didn't know he was Marlene Dietrich's conductor either!! Verrry Cooool!!
My Dutch/German ex spoke Dutch & German & used to sing along with Marlene.
Verrrry sexy!!!

Sad that Bryan & Ken both died while Lee was in prison!!
Cool that Arthur got out & got his sh*t together & regained some of his former glory!!!
LOVE is CLASSIC ROCK in my opinion.
MOTORHEAD is CLASSIC METAL!

[Dave W]

LOVE~Forever Changes was one of my first records. I painted the album cover with poster paints & it turned out real good. I was about 13.
I was just playin' My Little Red Book recently & wondering who the bassplayer
was...only other band member besides Arthur Lee I whose name I remembered was Bryan Maclean.
Wikipedia says the bassman was Ken Forrsi RIP:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Lee_(musician)

Shocking to read that My Little Red Book was written by Burt Bacharach! hahaa
Burt was just honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.

He and Hal David wrote it for the "What's New Pussycat" soundtrack, of all things, and it was sung by Manfred Mann. The Arthur Lee version is quite a bit different from the original, as I'm sure you can guess. Burt probably still has nightmares.