World's Prettiest Bassline (James Jamerson, 1970)

The Jackson 5 performed Darling Dear on their third album (The Third Album). James Jamerson played bass on this selection with a style and fluency seldom heard in common hours. The bassline is so soulful and beautiful that many musicians speak of having "sung" the bassline instead of the equally great lead vocal line delivered by the gifted and prodigious Michael Jackson. The bassline would qualify as a "wonder of the world" since it is such a bold departure from anything heard at that time, or since. James Jamerson is arguably the greatest bass player to ever live. He played on more number 1 hit records than any other bassist, or musician in the history of popular music. He died a bitter and brokenhearted man since he was neither adequately compensated or recognized for his immeasurable contributions to the spirit and practice of bass playing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• JamesJamerson
• bass
• Jackson5
• MichaelJackson
• bassists
• Funkbrothers
• Motown
• MarvinGaye
• greatestbassplayer
• DarlingDear

[Osifuwa]

because of this song........

this time last year i grew a pair and finally bought a bass

[i couldn't even play the intro and I could just about pay notes with with my thumb]

a whole year later............i've got this bassline by the balls (and a few others ;-) )

it' funny where inspiration and your imagination can take you

[justinlaboy]

wanna hear something really incredible? he played all those tunes with only his index finger on his right hand. true story

[vitaobass]

32 slappers bassists cant play this

[vitaobass]

32 guitarists get jealous

[briantlager]

gives me goosebumps lol

[shelldon12]

How can you just not love everything on this planet when listening to this bassline?

[megavega4]

@jscoupal They flew the multitrack tape back to Detroit specifically so that Jamerson could play bass on the track.

[megavega4]

@instantextra It is DEFINITELY not Felder. It's Jamerson. You can hear the rounder bottom and chromatic improvisational style. Felder, as great as he was read a chart for "I Want You Back" and took a couple of liberties with the line. This was played off the top of Jamerson's head.

[MrRandblues]

WOW! That is the highest compliment I can give when someone has taken me out . It is incredibly sad that he died broke ? Without his incredible bass lines to countless motown hits who knows if you could even dance to them. I'm not a dancer but I can appreciate those who do but, I am a listener and the countless tickles to my ears he brought are invaluable!

[EtcEtcAndEtc]

@Osifuwa Groove on!

[stevelane1956]

@FlintboyG Its definitely Jamerson, wonderful!!

[ManelRuivo]

to me, the two bests basslines are September and Aint no mountain high enough with the supremes and the temptations.