Best of 2014: The Top 10 Isolated Bass Tracks

Our “Isolated Bass Weeks” are super popular, and they’re super fun for us to do.

Here are the top 10 reader favorites from 2014, based on No Treble reader views over these 12 months.

Which one is your favorite?

Rage Against the Machine: “Killing in the Name” Isolated Bass

1. Rage Against the Machine: “Killing in the Name” Isolated Bass

RATM is known for their big groove and it’s neat to hear this isolated bass track on “Killing in the Name”…

Jackson 5: James Jamerson’s Isolated Bass on “Darling Dear”

2. Jackson 5: James Jamerson’s Isolated Bass on “Darling Dear”

No Isolated Bass Week would be complete without one of the stunning bass lines by the one and only James Jamerson. Today we’re in for a treat with the beautiful bass line behind the Jackson 5 tune, “Darling Dear” from Third Album, released in 1970…

Rush: “Limelight” Isolated Bass

3. Rush: “Limelight” Isolated Bass

Rush’s Moving Pictures was one of the first albums I ever bought – on vinyl – when it came out. I only played upright at the time (and sax), and I dreamed of one day getting an electric bass and playing like Geddy Lee. Here’s one of the tracks I admired with so many others…

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Isolated Bass and Drums on “Give It Away”

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Isolated Bass and Drums on “Give It Away”

Here is the one and only Flea, and his isolated bass (along with Chad Smith’s drums) for the Chili Pepper’s “Give It Away”…

The Beatles’ “Drive My Car” Isolated Bass

5. The Beatles’ “Drive My Car” Isolated Bass

“Drive My Car” appeared on the 1965 release Rubber Soul. Some say George played the bass. Others said Paul did…

Jaco Pastorius: “Domingo” Isolated Bass

6. Jaco Pastorius: “Domingo” Isolated Bass

This was our first ever isolated bass entry by the one and only Jaco Pastorius – of his tune, “Domingo” – from The Birthday Concert recording session…

The Beatles: Isolated Bass on “Paperback Writer”

7. The Beatles: Isolated Bass on “Paperback Writer”

This isolated bass track has some historical significance for the Beatles. Engineer Geoff Emerick is quoted as saying the song was “was the first time the bass sound had been heard in all its excitement. Paul played a different bass, a Rickenbacker…”

Yes: Isolated Bass on “Heart of the Sunrise”

8. Yes: Isolated Bass on “Heart of the Sunrise”

The 1971 Yes album, Fragile ends “Heart of the Sunrise”, a bass-heavy track anchored by the one and only Chris Squire. Here’s the bass line in all its glory, with a little bit of the rest of the track bleeding through…

Rush: “Working Man (Vault Edition)”, Isolated Bass & Drums

9. Rush: “Working Man (Vault Edition)”, Isolated Bass & Drums

A little over 40 years ago (gasp), Rush released their self-titled debut. Among the tracks on the album was “Working Man”, which was the tune that put them on the map in Cleveland, as the story goes. In 2008, the band discovered an alternate version of the tune which they dubbed “Working Man (Vault Edition)”. Here’s the isolated bass and drums together..

The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence”: Paul McCartney’s Isolated Bass

10. The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence”: Paul McCartney’s Isolated Bass

Today we get a good listen to the bass line on the Beatles’ song, “Dear Prudence” from the 1968 album known as The White Album. Paul McCartney covered a lot more than just the bass on this one – including drums, piano, flügelhorn, tambourine, cowbell, handclaps and backing vocals… But of course, we’re all about the bass, so it is cool to hear this line in isolation….

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  1. Bepo Dubknuckle

    Seriously? No Entwistle?

  2. 3 Sir Pauls….nice!!

  3. Failure – Heliotropic