Eight excellently exciting basslines from classic 1980s songs

New Order - “Age Of Consent”

Another master of the art, Peter Hook on this 1983 song from New Order. He featured with Joy Division on a similar list of great 1970s basslines and is back with the band that followed. Hook’s bass again adds a very distinctive element. 

New Order had plenty of great songs all featuring Hook’s bass extensively. “Age Of Consent” from their 1983 album Power, Corruption & Lies is one of the best examples of that. There’s no wonder Hook has claimed it as one of his favorite songs from the band. 

His bass guitar not only introduces the tune and takes the song forward, but it also leads and directs. It’s not playing an underlying beat, instead, it’s carrying the melody. That's very typical of New Order songs and why Hook is another very prominent bass guitarist. 

Level 42 - “Lessons In Love”

You can't have a 1980s list on bass guitar and not include Mark King and Level 42. He’s an absolute master of the instrument. King played slap bass superbly, adding a jazz funk element to the music of Level 42. 

“Lessons In Live” was released in 1986 as a single from Level 42’s hit album Running In The Family. This is one of many great songs from the band and a fine example of King’s fantastic bass skills. The speed and constant pace of the bubbling bass are quite something. Especially when you consider King is on lead vocals too. Apparently, there were seven different basslines on the record from the studio. 

Have a look at King performing this one live at a Night Of The Proms from Germany in 1998. Backed by a huge orchestra you can see his obvious talent on show, his bass sound is stunning. It follows on with the album title track as an added bonus! 

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