Great, simple bass lines!

[Pilgrim]

I really enjoy bass lines that are simple and easy to play, but which are compelling and carry the music. I thought I'd start a thread to see what bass lines you enjoy that are really simple but part of a great musical number.

I will start with two of my favorites:

First is Crossfire with Double Trouble and Tommy Shannon backing Stevie Ray Vaughn.  This bass line is nearly as simple as it gets, but it's a pile driver for this number:



Second, a real classic - the Peter Gunn Theme. Although written for a 1950's TV show by Henry Mancini, this is still one of the most rockin' numbers around when played well - and it gives everyone a chance for a solo.  This is a version with Jeff Beck leading a band which includes Trombone Shorty and Lou Marini!

[ack1961]

Nice.

I absolutely love the simple, smooth bass-line in Chris Rea's Road to Hell Pt.2.



..and Roadrunner - something about this song makes me really happy when I'm playing bass.


These two songs were probably 2 of first 10 songs I ever learned to play.
It's just an odd coincidence that the videos I just found for them are both from a driver's POV

[jumbodbassman]

couple of Bill Wyman parts come to mind

Satisfaction
Paint it Black

[Dave W]

A couple of garage rockers, one very old, one fairly new.

The Romancers, from East L.A.; Lead singer Max Uballez also produced Cannibal & the Headhunters, who opened for The Beatles on their second US tour.



The Greenhornes, from Cincinnati, 2003. Little Jack Lawrence playing a Fender Coronado I.

[Highlander]

The Road To Hell... otherwise known as the M25 - 125 mile round trip of London... I know that road and often do the trip

They should be simple if you are learning them but also should be just one step up from your comfort zone when you are learning something and stretching out...
I learnt to play these ones fairly early on and always enjoyed playing them...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU1Xd_SnGYM

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvwQmxLaknc

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGVGFfj7POA

[gweimer]

The elegance of one note glorified.  Even Chris Squire recognizes that thump-thump-thump works from time to time.

[leftybass]

couple of Bill Wyman parts come to mind

Satisfaction
Paint it Black

Ya ever PLAYED Paint It Black? It ain't THAT simple. Lots of cool slides.

[slinkp]

Every now and then you need a good one-note song... this is one of my favorites that we cover.
(I actually find it to be one of the harder songs we play. The feel's gotta be right on and there's nowhere to hide!)

http://www.youtube.com/embed/AWijlCfZat8

[Pilgrim]

CCR's Fortunate Son!!  YES!!

That's another of my favorites.

[gearHed289]

first things that came to mind were a few gems from the mid/late 70s.

[OldManC]

When I got my first bass this was either the first or one of the first things I sat down to learn:



Another one I played over and over:



Lost of UFO, Scorpions, Judas Priest, Beatles, and this:

[Highlander]

The Chain... now that's a nice one to play...

This one I even used to sing during rehearsals but never got to do it live...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpkDdLZGg30

[ack1961]

Yeah! The Lido Shuffle - another great one that I tried to master early on.
For some inexplicable reason, my family and the neighbors hate it...

[jumbodbassman]

Ya ever PLAYED Paint It Black? It ain't THAT simple. Lots of cool slides.

sure have/do.   one of the coolest parts bill ever played.  

[Pilgrim]

Another bass line that's really powerful but easy to play: Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World...I really like pounding out this one. We do a medley starting with O-H-I-O and go straight into this number.  Nice combination.