The Most Famous Bass Solo in Pop Music 

Thanks for mentioning "The Liquidator" as the genesis of this monster hit. I grew up in Trinidad 🇹🇹, and in 1968, this was a #1 Caribbean hit and I've mentioned this to lots of people who hadn't the faintest clue. Respect.

Your obvious enthusiasm coupled with such a insightful analysis of these apparently 'simple' lines never fails to educate and inspire. Thank you!

This was the song that made me want to play bass. I was 14 when it came out in 1972, and because of Mr. Hood's bassline, a lifelong love affair with music began. He had no idea he was influencing a kid from 1970's Newark, NJ to pick up a bass.

John Entwistle's solo on "My Generation" (The Who) still stands as one of the very few greatest in Pop music.

I would have thought John McVie playing bass on The Chain would have been the the most famous bass solo in popular music.

The first song with a famous bass solo that popped into my head was "All Right Now".

I live in the Shoals, and have been lucky to meet David....he's a class act and a very nice man! Great vid!! 👍 👍👍

I remember when this record hit the top 40 airwaves. The bass groove was the hook. And the thing that strikes me about how the sound and feel is executed is the up-down walk isn't slurred. It's finger plucked; each note articulated with microseconds of silence between them. This is not what I'd describe as heavily staccato funk feel. It may be approaching that, but not really. It's more what I'd describe as clean articulation. The best bass players have this, while so many others slur their playing. I play drums, not bass, but I know this quality in a bassist when I hear it.

I may be a minority of one here, but my FAVE bass solo (I'll Take You There was brilliante, agreed) was the one by Herbie Flowers on 'Jump Into The Fire' by Harry Nillson from Nillson Schmillson. He went down the scales and back up, and made a great Rock Song greater still! John Entwhistel and Billy Sheehan are Bass Guitar Avatars. And Jaco Pastorius is in an alternate Universe of his own!

I totally agree. Iconic song and David Hood grooves the song.The funny thing is that when I hit this clip and your excellent analysis , I thought you would be talking about John Entwistle and My Generation.

Another great post. Thanks for the history lesson on this particular song and bass line.

Black Sabbath's N.I.B intro solo, is probably one of my favorites, and one of the most iconic bass solos in all of metal music

The best bass performance ever has got to be on " Papa was a rolling stone " by the Temptations , with " The Chain " close behind .

I still play this song from time to time in a couple of bands I play in as a bass player... it always gets people up on the dance floor. Never fails..

In the UK, it's the coda from "the Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. It was used as the theme tune for the same sports programme on TV for 30 years.

My God dude! My wife and I were just talking about this song the other day and especially the David Hood solo which I said to her 'this guys bass part is BRILLIANT so simple but perfect!

Derek Smalls bass in “Big Bottom” rules-everything else drools.

I’m from Florence AL where it all started for Rick Hall and his studio FAME that spawned the breakaway studio Muscle Shoals Sound. My family knows a bunch of the musicians. Great guys.

I’m a Jamaican Bassplayer and for years always thought, these two songs were very similar , Liquidator and I’ll take you there, Thanks for your knowledge and information 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

The best basslines are like the best table manners--they are faultless, but they rarely call attention to themselves. Here is a rare exception! Fun vid, thanks for posting.

Just found this channel and love it. I'm moving to bass from guitar and these are some of my all time favorite jams. Keep it up.

I played a lot of his iconic parts in a cover band for over 20 years. I could *always* feel the way they just clicked right in with people. They *connect*. The simple truth. You couldn't be more right. Make it sing!

"I'll Take You There" is definitely an earworm--once heard, it's tough to dislodge it from the mind (liked & subscribed ).

For me learning to play bass in the 1970's Cream's Sunshine of Your Love was the iconic Bass line of the time and still is.

I know it's weird but this baseline always reminded me of a beautiful woman skipping through a field of wildflowers on a warm Spring day.

This is the first bass line every beginning R&B bass player learns. David Hood keeps it simple and iconic at the same time. One of my favorite bass players of all time. I can't believe how many people have never heard this song before. 🙄

Thanks for giving us the back story of this song. So many of them out there, so many to appreciate the talent that goes into them. Here is one of my favorite bass solos: Galveston by Glen Campbell.

Berry Oakley - intro for "Whipping Post"

"Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band.

It's a great bass solo, but it's hard to imagine this being more famous than the bass solo in The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

Like others - Entwhistle in My Generation, also love slapping bass in Sly& family stone “If you want me to stay” I do love your exposition of the pentatonic build of this bass run, thanks!

I'm a white man who plays guitar listening to a black man who not only plays bass but makes great videos about other great bass player who are sometime black bass players & sometimes white as in this case. And what is it that brings us all; black, brown, yellow, white together? Music! Back in the days of "hippies", people of all colors, introduced society to the concept that yes we can all get along & it was the music which bound us all together regardless of the color of our skin. This was clearly on display in 1969 at Woodstock for all to see that yes we can get back to the Garden & it starts with the music. Dr. Martin Luther King, a black man, taught us all to judge by character not the color of a persons skin. Lyndon B. Johnson, a white man, passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to help heal the wounds of our shattered past & to help level the playing field so everyone could have equal opportunity. Biology, men/women of all races, teaches us that we all bleed red & come from a common ancestor. Jesus Christ, the God Man who was neither black nor white, confirms this in His Word & taught that there was neither Jew nor gentile, that we are all of one race, the human race. So what happened??? Society was well on it's way to healing until a little over 10 years ago when the tide started changing. There were some very angry, bitter, dare I say evil men who crept in who taught there can be no reconciliation until blame is assigned & responsibility is taken. This is not the road to reconciliation this is the pathway to destruction. This is an evil ideology that pits one side against the other which in the end leaves no one the winner. I say let all of us of every color get back to the love, forgiveness, unity, & healing that we found so long ago through the music. That we get back to judging by character not the color of a persons skin. I love you because you make great videos, talk about great music (from people of all colors), your love of music, & I thank you for your contribution to music & the color of your skin never even comes into the equation. We who have lived through it & have seen the healing power of music must teach this generation there's a better way. That love, unity, & respect only comes when we treat each other as brothers & sisters because after all that's exactly what we are.

At first I was like "I bet this is about My Generation", then I was like "eh?? never heard of I'll Take You There", finally I was like "oooh yeah I remember this song...". Great vid.

I am so glad this video got made. I have been loving this bass line and bass solo - and everything about this song since I was 12 years old, in 1972. "I'll take you there" was getting massive airplay on WABC musicradio in New York and I never got sick of hearing it. I got so much homework done while bopping my head to this song - thank you Staple Singers.

Love your analytics Man, please keep up the good work!

My favorite video of the week. Great job. AND,,,,it's funny because I just listened to this song on Saturday. And now this great analysis. Loved it. Thanks Man!!

Let's not forget Bob Babbitt's killer bass solo on "Scorpio", by "Dennis Coffey And The Detroit Guitar Band". If you don't know this solo, educate yourself. You will be pleased.

Just a superb song. I was 9 years old groovin' to this song in 1971. They literally don't make 'em like this anymore.

When I read the title I immediately thought of John Entwistle's breaks on The Who's "My Generation".

Thank you for sharing do continue the great work you are doing 👏

I too thought that this piece would be about the bass solo in My Generation.It’s what prompted me to buy my first fender jazz bass in 1966. Great topic nonetheless. For more on David Hood and the swampers I suggest the documentary Muscle Shoals on Prime Video. Oh… and before I forget… kudos for paraphrasing prolific country songwriter Harlan Howard’s description of his songs as “ three chords and the truth”. Tres clever!

I'm 72 years old. Was in college, a junior, in February 1972, the year this was released. I cannot imagine anyone my age not being familiar with this song, seeing as hit the number 1 slot on Billboard. Go figure.

Thank you so much! I just bought their album from iTunes! I grew up in the 70's and this is the vibe I remember.

great to know about this album from you! thanks for sharing your knowledge!

A vast majority of the time when a title like this comes up in my feed and I click I'm disappointed. This is top shelf content.

Love this bassline, one of the first I learned after picking up a bass

Mavis during the solo..."Bass...little David, easy hea'h, help me now...c'mon little David, alright..." Sing it baby!

Excellent always thank you!

Odd that nobody mentions the other Jack, as in Jack Cassidy from Jefferson Airplane. His work on "After Bathing At Baxter's (1967) is spectacular. Especially 'rejoice', 'Martha', 'The last Wall Of The Castle' and the jam, 'Spare Chaynge'. No fan or player of the bass should be without this. Also, 'The Other Side Of This Life' from "Bless Its Pointed Little Head". It's just about as heavy as "Live At Leeds".

I'm quite partial to the bassline in Jethro Tull's Living in the Past. It was such a great and lively bit of playing by Glenn Cornick.

He's also one of the nicest, most laid back people you'll ever meet. Muscle Shoals bands/musicians have no ego. Not sure if he still does it but as of a few years ago, he and his band The Decoys (some members of the Swampers) played every Thursday night at a local bar just for the sheer fun of it. Gotta love it!

Learned things I didn't know about one of my all-time favorite songs! Thanks!

It was Elvis in concert when I first heard of Jerry Obern Scheff. Elvis's bass guitarist. When I was 12 years old. He worked for Elvis from 1969 to 1977. Member of the TCB band as well, La Woman for Jim Morrison The Doors. I can not remember what concert that Jerry was asked by Elvis to play some blues. I blew or Blue my mind. As well, He asked James Burton King of the Fender Telecaster, to play Johnny Be Good in the back of his head. He is my favorite guitarist. Then Ronnie Tutt. Drum solo. He was not just a drummer, he was a performer. I Became a songwriter first when I was 12. At 13 played rhythm guitar, 14 years old learning Drums. In my early 30s I did a demo using all of Elvis's Band members as well, strings, horns, piano all for his members from Elvis in Concert. A good friend at the time gave me over 20 sheets of papers of lyrics. Finely I one. Titled. Keeper Of My heart. We lived together for several months. It was after dinner when He gave me those paper. By 6am I complete the music arrangements. First time anyone gave me lyrics without music. That evening we went to the studio to lay some tracks. The owner of the studio teaches piano and keyboards. Bingo. I owe my life to keyboards. All of Elvis's band in a keyboard and lot more. Some say it sounds a bit of Pink Floyd or Nazareth a beat like love hurts. My Buddy sounds a lot like Neil Young with a light rock band and all the perks from Elvis's Band. It was completed that week in less than 14 hours. Thank God the Guy who owns the studio teaches vocals. He told me sing back up. I do not sing well. I go off key. He build my confidence. Hey man it is only a demo my friend said. Ok. Thanks to all of Elvis's band members your horns blue me away 😁😁.

Cool story and great musicians! Tony Levin on Big Time and the quick solo on You Can Call Me Al are pretty recognizable too.

This was a huge hit. I loved Stax and still have my old 45's.

Saw Mavis a few years back opening for Dylan. Muscle Shoals backing band were the masters and creators of such a unique saound. Although they backed so many greats, I would imagine the prospect of backing Pops Staples was daunting. Pops is one of most unapreciated guitar players. His style and sound were incredible. So Muscle Shoals with David Hood, Pops and Mavis, how could it be anything but a hit! And yes the solo is as iconic as they come. thank you for pointing this out and I have added myself as a subscriber. I have a Soul Radio Show in San Francisco and I only play 45rpm records. I have dropped the needle on this track many times on air.

Very interesting; that solo brings back an entire era. The Staples are so underrated, even with their number one hit. The Canadian-American group The Band said that they were such fans of The Staples that they owned obscure recordings of them that even The Staples didn't own!

One of my favorites

I turned up the volume on that bass solo back when I heard that song.

I still like the bass to Dr. My Eyes as played by Lee Sklar as the all-time best. 😁

Great video! I love the Muscle Shoals team! So much of what "they" did is still unknown. Now, the Staples Singers! OMG!! MAVIS! But really "Pops" created it all! I'll Take You There....Wattstax 1973.....crazy how so many people don't know about this music festival! Not only AMAZING GROUPS and music but celebs in the audience! Among them was AND WHO could forget the gorgeous girl in the red polka dot mini dress layin down some killer dance moves!

Never heard of it in ALL of my 57 years until just now. I can honestly say, I was underwhelmed--to say the least.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Special thanks for providing the notation.

This song is awesome, I've loved it for decades. Great video, full of interesting info, breakdown and memories. Thanks from Colorado.

Nice to see the amazing David Hood getting some credit he so sorely deserves... the man has been making everyone sound good for a very long time! David, your playing on this number is one of the very first bass lines I ever learned when I got my first bass, a reissue 1957 Precision bass with the gold anodized pick-guard. I was so stoked when I learned to play along with the record!

Thank You For Sharing Nice Interpretation 🏄‍♀️🎹🎤🎶😊

❤️ given that “ska” as the predecessor to reggae was built around Motown and Stax vibe “version” music it’s totally acceptable at that time for the Jamaica vibe to flow back to the states 🇯🇲.

The guy playing bass in Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al was pretty impressive.

I've had a crush on Mavis Staples since around 1974, I can't be thr only one.

I'm so glad that session musicians are finally getting their due. The are the true masters of the craft and the backbone of the recorded music industry.

7 years old then and remember that song well!

WHAT?!!! the reggae song was created first? Awesome research. Thanks for bringing that up! The truth always comes out at the end :-)

I started playing bass in 1970. In 1968 I saw Jimi Hendrix at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio which made me want to switch from violin to bass. In 1967 at Expo 67 in Montreal I heard the song "A Girl Like You" by The Rascals that lit the fire of wanting to seriously think about switching. I was able to learn the solo from "I'll Take You There" in 1972 and I felt like I was on cloud nine...I knew I was a bass player. Thanks for the video, it took me back to the mountain I learned to climb, and the fun that I had doing it.

Pure Soul. What a great tune. JLG

I heard countless songs in the 70s (when I was a little kid) that got me hooked onto drums and bass! As for the fruits, music or anything else in life, different strokes for different folks!

This is probably the most famous bass solo, along with "My Generation" by The Who, played by John Entwistle, but the very first bass solo (that I know of) on a pop/rock tune by a well known band was "Nivram" by The Shadows, credited to Jet Harris (R.I.P.) but the rumour is that it was played by Hank Marvin himself! Maybe we will never know!

Awesome! I had to learn that for a lesson. Thanks for posting!

Great song which was new to me! There should be more bass solos in pop music! One minor observation: The solo contains the note f which is not part of the c pentatonic scale - and makes the solo even more interesting IMHO.

unfamiliar with this album and song but the bass is definitely recognizable. I only know of the staple singers from their appearance in The Last Waltz(they killed it!) and am happy to get a lead to more of their music. thanks for the very informative vid

Love that bass line in I'll Take You There"; took me hours to master that break!

I want to say, thank you for your content, I enjoy then a great deal. Keep them coming, please?

Lead bass intro by John Entwistle of The Who on " The Real Me" still gets my " Best Ever" vote.

The mist important bass line is CAROL KAYE'S "Games People Play". She totally improvised this riff and it's FEATURED IN SCHOOLS as a textbook example of THE genius bass line! Take that!!

I’m just going to throw in Mr Big by Free. The solo bit transitions from Paul Kossoff on guitar climbing high while Andy Fraser holds down the bottom end to Andy moving up the fretboard and showing off while Paul calms down a bit. Wonderful.

Merci for taking us down there...where bassists go.

Great analysis. I remember that song. You would hear it everywhere back then.

This solo has occupied a place in my heart and soul for as long as I can remember. Thank you for celebrating it! For what it's worth, Smashmouth pays homage to the solo by opening their cover of War's "Why Can't We Be Friends?" with it.

Bravo. You're an incredibly skilled musician and videographer.

I never thought of this as a "solo", but a very tasty structured bass line. A solo to me is something improvised , or free form like what John Paul Jones played in the Lemon Song" on Led Zep II for example...which isn't a hit pop song but a blues progression.

It's a lot shorter, but I'd also throw the 'You Can Call Me Al' bass solo in there (though maybe that is more of a bass 'moment'). Great video as always!

Great presentation. Man you can play a bass so smooth. I'm just starting to learn the bass..so I always enjoy watching pros like your technique :o)

👍 I love stuff about 60’s and early 70’s music. Best music ever!

Hi I had the record when it came out and I still have it somewhere 45 that’s a long time ago yes very powerful record as you probably know it was a gospel song but it was sort of in disguise. And several people had done that at the time which was pretty cool I remember telling people this song is talking about following the Lord going to heaven and they would say no it’s not and they would be very angry but it most certainly was it was well done and highly enjoyable. It was a huge hit I had a nice feel to it I’m glad that it like other songs was able to cross into other areas of music! And I am blessed to see that you enjoy it.

Really love your channel keep up the good work

There are two songs that, no matter where I am on planet Earth, when I hear them, I dance. Autopilot. This is one of them. I remember hearing it for the first time when it hit the radio. And boy did it hit big. Absolute magic. The other song? Keep on Truckin”. Eddie Kendricks. ❤️

One of my favorites of all time. Yeah

I have a good one . Paul(Ramone) McCartney’ s bass intro to Steve Miller ‘s My Dark Hour🇺🇸🎸

There are a couple of bass riffs I can think of that have more impact on pop music. They may not be a bass solo but still so notable. Number one is the bass intro on the song”these boots are made for walking” by Nancy Sinatra, the second is the bass intro on “good vibrations “ by The Beach Boys. By the way Carol Kaye played in the studio recording on both songs.

When you know the tune from the title of the video! Awesome research and analysis, as always...thank you!

Another great dissection of a familiar song we THOUGHT we knew.