Top 10 Songs with the Most Iconic Basslines Not Written by Bassists
I hear you asking, "What? Is it possible?"Yes, it is.
And this list proves it.
- written by Daryl Hall & John Oats (American duo)
- adopted by Michael Jackson from their song 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)', 1981
- played by bassist Louis Johnson
According to Daryl Hall, during the recording of "We Are the World", Michael Jackson approached him and admitted to lifting the bass line for "Billie Jean".
It's so damn catchy. I can play this in my head.
- written by guitarist Jack White
- also played by him... using GUITAR!
Wow!
It sounds and functions as bass but it's guitar. The "bassline" was recorded on guitar, most probably with an octave pedal (or something that could do pitch shifting).
Too bad it's a pretty crap song.
Written by guitarist David Gilmour who also played it on fretless bass with a pick (haha, guitarists tend to play bass with a pick). David Gilmour even created two short bass solos on fretless.
Bassist Roger Waters played a rhythm guitar track instead.
Written and originally recorded by guitarist Joe Perry.
Joe wrote the main bass piece and recorded it. Hamilton played a back up bass.
Written and recorded by singer Thom Yorke and not bassist Colin Greenwood. Thom Yorke wrote the song's bassline when he was 16.
The guitarists for the Stones played bass more often than most people realize. Keith played on "Street Fighting Man", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Happy", and "Let's Spend the Night Together" (among many others). Mick Taylor played bass on "Tumbling Dice", "Fingerprint File", "Dancing With Mr. D", and "Torn and Frayed", while Ronnie Wood played bass on "Shattered", "Emotional Rescue", and "Hang Fire" (just a few examples). Having said that, Sympathy for the Devil is still probably the most iconic of the bunch.
Composed and played in the studio by guitarist Keith Richards, not Bill Wyman
- written by Joe Lynn Turner (lead singer for Rainbow and Deep Purple)
- adopted by Bon Jovi's keyboardist/pianist David Bryan from Joe Lynn Turner's song 'Get Tough' (1985)
- probably played by bassist Hugh McDonald although Alec John Such was credited
Written and played on fretless bass by guitarist David Gilmour rather than usual bassist Roger Waters.
I'm glad you put this one on there. The bass fills in the intro always get me every time.
- written by guitarist Jeff Waters
- played by him because Annihilator had no bassist at the time of its recording in 1988
- for the same reason, Jeff Waters actually wrote and played all basslines to this iconic thrash metal album (Alice In Hell, 1989)
- After the recording, Annihilator recruited a bassist who was credited but actually didn't play on the album.
This bass line was a masterpiece!
- written by guitarist and lead singer James Hetfield
- played by bassist Jason Newsted
Written and performed by guitarist Jeff Waters. This song is fast as hell.
A song of 2003 where the bassline was:
- written by drummer Nicko McBrain
- played by bassist Steve Harris
Fun fact: this was Nicko's only songwriting credit in the entire Iron Maiden discography and Maiden's only song co-written by him (except for 3 insignificant reissue bonus tracks).
The original bass line was written by singer Mike Patton (the guy with 6+ octave vocal range, I am not kidding)
The bassline was written and recorded by The Edge (their guitarist). It was recorded on the last day of the sessions for War; Adam Clayton already went home and the others still felt that the album needed one more song. So, the Edge laid down the bass and overdubbed the guitar. When they play it live, The Edge and Adam swap instruments.
The middle bass riff was written by drummer Bill Bruford and performed by John Wetton
Paul Stanley wrote it and played it, not Gene.
Nick Rhodes (keyboardist) and John Jones both contributed synth bass.
The group's bassist, John Taylor, did not actually play bass on this track, although he does in the music video.
Written and performed by guitarist Jeff Waters.
That bass line is so funky
