Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was sorting through some of my old Beatles sheet music the other day. I was doing a little play along to a few of the songs. I forgot how awesome some of those old rifs are. Day Tripper being my favorite. Just curious and thought I'd start a different thread here. Any thoughts on your favorite bass rif? Doesn't have to be Beatles.

What would "Come Together" be without a Bass guitar. "I Want You (She's So Heavy", "Something", and "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" are also great bass driven songs and I'm Only thinking of one of the Beatles albums. There is a huge wealth of bass driven songs (many played on a Rickenbacker 4001s)from the Beatles. I heard "Baby Your A Rich Man" the other day and realized it has a really nice bass part in it. I could go on and on but most readers of this forum know what I mean when it comes to Beatles songs.

Anything Jack Bruce played while in Cream. Specifically: "I'm So Glad" from "Goodbye"; "Sweet Wine" from "Live Cream"; "Spoonful" from "Wheels of Fire"; the uptempo middle section of "Passing the Time" also from "Wheels of Fire"; "Sleepy Time Time" and "N.S.U." from "Live Cream".

"I'm So Glad" is the song that changed my life and is *THE* Number 1 inspiration in taking up the bass guitar. The intricacies & timing of Bruce's playing still leave me wondering just how he did it. As mentioned in a post in another thread, the effect of his influence is still with me after all these years.

I was a guitar player until I heard "Siberian Khatru". I did not switch to bass because of a lack of bass player. I can say that this track changed my life. It made me WANT to be a bass player, and WANT a Rickenbacker.

All the best,
JL

The first time I heard The Yes Album did it for me.

It may not be a "riff" but Jon Camp's bass line throughout Ocean Gypsy is one of my favorite lines. It, along with Annie's vocals, are intertwined and so complimentary to each other, you could almost do away with the rest of the instrumentation.

My favorite riffs (in no particular order):
Roundabout, Close to the Edge (particularly the bit that comes in at 4:53 "Clothed in mornings faster than we see"), Summertime Blues from Live at Leeds, Jack Bruce on Live Cream Volume 2 or with Frank Zappa on Apostrophe, Tom Petersson on "Clock Strikes Twelve" from Cheap Trick's In Color And In Black And White, Dave Meros on "Go The Way You Go" from Spock's Beard's The Light, too many more to mention without getting fired.

Most anything Maca did was gold for me. I started listening to bass lines, thumping them on the first two strings of an old cheapie acoustic. I know it is kind of a silly "chick" song, but listen to what Paulie does on "It's Just Another Day," his first single after splitting from the Beatles.

Of course, Chris Squire took bass to the fore. I forced myself to learn and play Roundabout, Heart of the Sunrise (OK, most of it I could do), Long-Distance Runaround, Your's Is No Disgrace, and Siberian Khatru (yes, I usta be able to do them, but after my Rick languised under the guest bed for 21 years, I've tried to relearn and re-execute them with no luck so far).

I agree with Jeffrey Scott on Jon Camp's melody in Ocean Gypsy. Yes, it may not be rock-n-roll, but what a beautiful piece and a showcase of what a Rick bass can be in the right set of hands. Marvelous!

And of course, most anything Geddy Lee can do. Can he actually sing and play those lines at the same time? I can't play bass and . . . and . . . uhh . . . do anything but breath at the same time!

Dave Pegg's interpretation of Jethro Tull's 'Boureé' on their live 'A Little Light Music' CD really made an impression on me.

Tom Sawyer ... the bass in that song is sooo cool ... especially where the synth drops out and the bass takes over the melody line ... all this in a 7/8 time signature ...

or Freewill, or pick a Rush song ...

I have to agree with at least two of them, well actually anything McCartney played, but "Baby You're a Rich Man" I love how he picks the muffled string right in the beginning and that loud D, vintage Ric, what a sound!
Fixing A hole, LSD The whole Sgt. Peppers album blew me away. Come Together. Any Time at all. Don't Let me Down
Also "I'm so glad" both versions but especially the Goodbye Cream version, I used to sleep with that record. Badge. Wheels Of Fire had great bass on it along with great music, all their stuff for me too. long live EB-3's, distortion and Marshalls! haha
"Liar Liar The Castaways. Dick Roby.
Most of the Beach Boys stuff, he was an amazing bass player, I mean his choice of notes. Brian Wilson, Bruce Johnston, and studio people, Carole Kaye.
The bass solo on "Take Me For A Little While" Vanilla Fudge. if you've never heard it check it out, amazing for 1967, also the bass in "You just Keep me Hangin' on" also The Vanilla Fudge. Tim Bogart
the bass solo on "Fried Hockey Boogie" Canned Heat. Larry Taylor. Also the ten minute bass solo on Living the blues Refried Boogie parts one and two, 40 minute live tune on two sides of an LP.and "The Same All Over", same album.
"Rain" The Beatles (forget his name)
Thankyouforlettinmebemicelfsagin (something like that) Sly and The Family Stone: Larry Graham
Most James Jamerson tunes. Too numerous to mention.
"Good Morning Little School Girl", Ten Years After: Leo Lyons
Most of Jack Cassidy's bass playing, especially the fuzzed out stuff on After Bathing At Baxters, and Crown Of Creation. Songs are too numerous to mention.
"It's My Life" The animals: Chas Chandler
"Memphis" Johnny rivers: Joe Osbourne
Much of The Dave Clark Five, great sound, don't know his name. "Bits and Pieces" (first song I ever heard with the E tuned down to a D) "Can't you See that she's mine" "Everybody Knows" (I still love You) "Because" "Anyway You Want It"
And many more by many forgotten players and bands.

Jon Camp on "Mother Russia" and "Song For All Seasons". Wow ! Can still listen to them every single day.

Bruce Foxton of The Jam is my number one bassist, "Down in the tube station at midnight" and, "In the street today" being some of the highlights. I used to like JJ Burnel of The Stranglers playing, tho i must say it irritates me now. Paul Simonon of The Clash, and of course John Entwhistle was or course briliant. Theres just too many good players......

Owen, your a bass player after my own heart, I've mentioned Bruce and "Tube Station" several times here and other forums and it seemed no one had heard it. Finally, someone who's heard it, that's a great example of a Ric sound.
How about "Funeral Pyre", amazing bass part, I think that was with his Ric, but he also had a 70's all black P-bass, sometimes it's hard to tell.
The entire 1st Rush album was done with a Precision, it was before Geddy bought his Ric.
Fooled me for years.
I also love "Can't Get There From Here", Mike Mills for R.E.M.. Cool sound there too.

Whatever happened to Bruce Foxton anyway? I know he bounced around a couple bands after The Jam split. Does anyone know where he or his basses are right now? Going Underground has a couple great bass riffs. That initial thumping on that song is all ric-o-sound. Very kick ***.