Is there a better bass solo than the one in "My Generation?"

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Permalink Reply by delzey on July 3, 2011 at 9:44pm

maybe we should discuss qualifications, because bruce thomas' work on elvis costello's "lipstick vogue" and chris squire's work on "roundabout" instantly popped into my head.

 

what the ox is doing on "my generation," though sounding like a solo has more in common with what are normally called "fills." when i think guitar solos they are usually within the context of stand-out work against what the rest of the band is doing and not filling in during the breaks.

 

not to take away from entwhistle, i just want to know if we're differentiating between a bass solo and a solo bass.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Dudno on July 3, 2011 at 10:27pm

Yeah, solo might not be the best word. Just thinking of how memorable that bit is.  And in such a massive song.  You can put it up against the famous guitar riffs of the time.  Not many bass parts like that.

 

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Permalink Reply by Harry on July 3, 2011 at 11:08pm

Although my post-punk sensibilities cringe that I ever dug such bombast, the live extended bass solo by Chris Squire on "The Fish" really was pretty cool back in the day.
I was fully on board, saw Yes one time on 3 successive night, the round rotating stage, etc....Going for the One and Tormato days.

 

I love the way the bass kicks in on "Love Removal Machine" by the Cult

 

Entwistle obviously had many killer performances....great on "The Real Me"....

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Permalink Reply by Vic Paric on July 4, 2011 at 6:21pm

The short answer is "no", although Entwistle's work on "The Real Me" (among others), is just as good. I would also consider John Paul Jones on "The Lemon Song" and Berry Oakley on "Mountain Jam" to be serious contenders ...

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Permalink Reply by Julie Jurrjens on July 7, 2011 at 7:54pm

"Solo?" I don't know. It's certainly impressive, wrung out of a spindly Danelectro, but the first bass line I ever recall being knocked out by, even as a clueless kid, was the Beatles' "Rain". It hurtles along so beautifully.

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by delzey on July 7, 2011 at 8:13pm

yeah, i'm gonna come back with a couple more to throw on the fire.

 

does stanley clarke count, or are people going to insist he's jazz? i'm thinking "rock n roll jelly."

also also, glenn cornick of jethro tull on "bouree"

 

and harry, wasn't the studio version of "the fishes" on the fragile yes album entirely bass?

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Permalink Reply by Heikki on July 11, 2011 at 8:51am

Herewith a few contenders when it comes to bass lines http://rockandrolltribe.com/forum/topics/the-most-distinctive-bass?...

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