The most memorable Eighties basslines.

[Blazer]

Let's be honest, the eighties were not really a good time for bass players because of synthesizers being used on many hit pop records in the place of Bassplayers and most of the time the bass was just pushed in the back, buried under the production standards of the day.

Be that as it may, there also were artists that went the opposite direction and pushed the "Bass back in your face" let's name those players and the songs that were the saving grace for eighties pop music.


Talk Talk has always been a band that stood from the crowd and Mark Hollis in my opinion is a genius. The bassline of this song IS the song. Here we have Bassplayer Paul Webb and Mark Hollis play the bassline in unison on both a grand piano and Webb's bass guitar, the resulting sound is nothing short of devastating.


Nick Beggs also is one of those underrated players, this bassline in particular shows what a monster he was


Many people hate this song because of the horn section Phil Collins brought in, stating that this was the moment that Genesis really jumped the shark. Regardless of that though this must be Micheal Rutherford finest work on bass yet.


One name: Curt Smith. And a very funky bassline.

[MikeyB5]

Paul Young's "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" with Pino Palladino on bass.

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

How 'bout the AWESOME intro to Sweet Child of Mine:


Teh winner!

[Dave W]

How 'bout the AWESOME intro to Sweet Child of Mine:


Teh winner!

The intro is very good, but then that old blond woman with the nasal voice starts singing and spoils it all. 

[leftybass]

The intro is very good, but then that old blond woman with the nasal voice starts singing and spoils it all. 

But she has a nice blue Easter bonnet!

[leftybass]

Is there a better example of the topic than...

[gweimer]

Pretty simple, yet nicely out front, and certainly one we all remember:



Although doubled on synth, the verse is something recognizable over time:



And the Genesis song that was nearly all bass:

[Barklessdog]

Let's be honest, the eighties were not really a good time for bass players because of synthesizers being used on many hit pop records in the place of Bassplayers

I have to disagree, in the 80's bass guitar became very upfront & prominent in the Mix in top 40 music, influenced by fusion (Dave's fav). A bass player was not in the shadows anymore (Duran Duran)

Example-
Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry solo stuff
Duran Duran
Martha & The Muffins
Japan
Men At Work
Talking Heads
The Cars
New Order
Level 42
Simple Minds

Bands seem to use a lot of Fretless, flangers & chorus pedal effects. I think in "Alternative" the guitar became less prominent and the bass guitar more so.

Yeah Synth Bass & electric Drum Kits was big as well, but bass took on a bigger role in my opinion.

[Rocker949]

I had almost forgotten about T-Bone Wolk.  I think that must be him playing on "Maneater" by Hall and Oates.  He was definitely an inspiration, not so much on Hall and Oates but on later stuff. 

[Denis]

Here's one I always liked: "Sausolito Summer Nights" from Diesel.



N. B. Just put in the regular URL, not the embed code -- Dave