Best of each artist · One record per artist
Best bass
The bass is what you feel before you hear it. Here is the album where each artist’s bass takes centre stage.
- 1 Marvin Gaye What's Going On James Jamerson’s bass lines move as freely as jazz through the whole album, yet never let the song lose its footing. Listen to “What’s Going On” Timeless classic
- 2 Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um Charles Mingus was both composer and bassist, and you can hear it: the bass drives, teases and leads the band. Listen to “Better Git It in Your Soul” Timeless classic
- 3 Bill Evans Trio Sunday at the Village Vanguard Scott LaFaro plays the bass as a third voice beside the piano. Eleven days after the recording he died in a car crash. Listen to “Gloria’s Step” Timeless classic
- 4 Chic Risqué Bernard Edwards’s bass line in “Good Times” became the basis of “Rapper’s Delight” – and with it, part of hip hop history. Listen to “Good Times” Timeless classic
- 5 Weather Report Heavy Weather Jaco Pastorius made the electric bass sing. He wrote “Teen Town” himself. Listen to “Teen Town” Timeless classic
- 6 Parliament Mothership Connection Bootsy Collins makes the bass the heart of the funk – heavy, rubbery and full of humour. Listen to “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” Timeless classic
- 7 Michael Jackson Thriller The bass on “Billie Jean” was played by Louis Johnson. It is simple, but impossible to stop listening to. Listen to “Billie Jean” Timeless classic
- 8 Miles Davis Kind of Blue “So What” opens with Paul Chambers’s double bass asking the question and the band answering. One of jazz’s best-known intros. Listen to “So What” Timeless classic
- 9 Bob Marley & the Wailers Exodus Aston “Family Man” Barrett was the foundation of the Wailers. The bass is as much the melody as the vocal. Listen to “Jamming” Timeless classic
- 10 Queen The Game John Deacon wrote “Another One Bites the Dust” around a bass line – and gave Queen their biggest hit in the US. Listen to “Another One Bites the Dust”
- 11 The Beatles Abbey Road Paul McCartney’s melodic bass gives the Beatles’ songs an extra melody under the surface. Listen to “Come Together”. Listen to “Come Together” Timeless classic
- 12 Jan Johansson Jazz på svenska Georg Riedel’s double bass is half the record: the warm, steady foundation that turns the folk tunes into jazz. Listen to “Visa från Utanmyra” Timeless classic
- 13 Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik Flea plays funk with punk energy. “Give It Away” is built on a bass line and not much else. Listen to “Give It Away” Timeless classic
- 14 Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come Charlie Haden’s bass holds together a band with no piano and no fixed chords. On “Lonely Woman” it is both anchor and lament. Listen to “Lonely Woman” Timeless classic
- 15 Fleetwood Mac Rumours John McVie’s bass line near the end of “The Chain” is so famous it has become a song in its own right for many. Listen to “The Chain” Timeless classic
- 16 Rush Moving Pictures Geddy Lee plays bass, sings and works the synths with his feet. “YYZ” is his showcase. Listen to “YYZ” Timeless classic
- 17 Pixies Surfer Rosa Kim Deal’s bass is plain and simple – and she co-wrote “Gigantic” with Black Francis and sings it herself. Listen to “Gigantic” Timeless classic
- 18 The Cure Disintegration Simon Gallup’s bass carries the melodies while the guitars build clouds above. Listen to “Fascination Street” Timeless classic
- 19 Metallica Master of Puppets Cliff Burton’s last album with Metallica. On the instrumental “Orion” the bass takes the lead. Listen to “Orion” Timeless classic
- 20 Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast Steve Harris’s galloping bass is Iron Maiden’s signature, and he wrote most of the songs. Listen to “Hallowed Be Thy Name” Timeless classic
- 21 The Smiths The Queen Is Dead Andy Rourke plays funky and playful under Marr’s guitars. “Barbarism Begins at Home” is his moment. Listen to “Barbarism Begins at Home” Timeless classic
- 22 Motörhead Ace of Spades Lemmy played the bass like a rhythm guitar: distorted, loud and in chords. Listen to “Ace of Spades” Timeless classic
22 artists in the list.