Ten brilliantly bouncing bass lines from 1970s classic songs

Chic - “Good Times”

Time for some disco and dance. You can’t resist moving about to Chic on their 1979 disco hit “Good Time”. It’s a great song but one of the reasons for that is Bernard Edwards and his bass.

Listening to “Good Times” it does feel all about the bass, the song revolves around it, is driven along by it, and gets its pace and rhythm from it. Yet the outline of the song was written first before the bass was added. Apparently, when Edwards arrived in the studio as Nile Rodgers and the band had been working on it, Rodgers asked Edwards to ‘walk his bass’ to it as they played. Edwards added his magic bass line and the song was complete. 

Edwards’ bass and the song inspired others. Rodgers has claimed at times that Chic invented hip-hop with it. A bit of a stretch, but certainly Sugar Hill Gang used it to develop their massive hit “Rapper’s Delight”. “Good Times” bass line is also acknowledged as an inspiration for John Deacon to create “Another One Bites The Dust” for Queen.

Marvin Gaye — “What’s Going On”

Marvin Gaye had this as the title song of his 1971 album What’s Going On. It’s another super walking bass line giving the song its pace and beat. The bass sounds pretty laidback and easygoing as it nudges the song along. 

Slightly odd terms and descriptions perhaps, given the recording story surrounding James Jamerson who played the bass on it. Gaye had to find Jamerson in a local bar and get him back to the studio for the session. Jamerson’s bar time meant he couldn’t stand or even sit long enough to play the track. His contribution to the song, superb as it is, is reported to have come from him lying down on his back as the only way he could play his guitar in his post-bar drinks state.

You wouldn’t know at all. The bass bubbles along brilliantly and subtly behind Gaye’s soft tones. It’s quiet, but very present, and makes the song. Another top bassline despite the playing circumstances.

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