John Paul Jones' Best Bassline

[Glyn]

I tried to pick songs where the bass line doesn't follow the guitar, with the exception of Black Dog of course. I included Black Dog because it is one of JPJ's riffs - thus a candidate for the best bassline.

I chose Ramble On, reason being that the bassline is just so much of the song. It begins the song, and carries it through till the end. It is quite a good riff too.

A very, very close second would be Achilles Last Stand. My favorite bassline, such thundering power

[3hrsoflunacy]

Maybe Ramble On, maybe The Lemon Song. He is such a solid player it is hard to say, "Yep - that's the best!" Also like his bass work on Four Sticks but you really have to listen to the pre-vocal mix to fully appreciate it.

[paul carruthers]

Ozone Baby

[SummerOfMySmiles]

The fast part in Dazed and Confused, when Page and Plant go "laahh.. daaah... daah, daaah". That is a kickass bass line.

[mickey g]

The Wanton Song

[TheStairwayRemainsTheSame]

Ramble On's bassline really puts you deep in the song, so that one for me.

How Many More Time's bassline is groovy as fuck, so that gets second choice.

[Led_Rock_Hard]

The Lemon Song, it's just such an awesome part of the song.

[bamf4k]

Achilles' Last Stand

[DAS]

I like the cool relaxed Ramble On baseline but the awesome Nobody's Fault But Mine is a close second.

[Stryder1978]

I chose D&C. Listen to his changing bass lines behind Jimmy's violin bow solo. Absolutely incredible!

[zeplives66]

I would have to go with 'In My Time Of Dying' especially the DVD Earls Court version. Just blows my mind every time i watch it!!! The way he emphasizes Pagey slide guitar and gives this rockin tune so much punch and power!!!

Close 2nd is 'How Many More Times' and 'The Lemon Song'. Classic Jonesy.....

[timeaisis]

First off, pretty much every Zep song has a pretty killer bass part. I'd have to go with Lemon, because you really can't beat it.

Of course, Ramble On is classic, D&C is excellent, and then you've got some others that you wouldn't expect. In My Time of Dying live has some pretty killer bass, the fills keep changing, its crazy. Gallows Pole has some sweet bass going on, too. And Heartbreaker is so simple, but completely genius, especially the slidey parts. Bring it On Home gets crazy after about a minute, and Travelling Riverside Blues has some pretty sweet stuff. Sooo many great basslines, its really hard for me to pick.

OHH, and totally forgot "Hey Hey What Can I Do". It's sooooo sweet. Kinda flies under the radar, cuz it was never released on an album...

Edited May 2, 2012 by timeaisis

[joe (Liverpool)]

In my opinion it has to be The Lemon Song, such a haunting bassline.

[Glyn]

True it's hard to nail down the perfect bassline. Some of his live stuff is quite awesome as well. Realistically all songs need to be considered...probably even the ones where he uses bass pedals. Ive always found that pretty incredible.

Edited May 13, 2012 by publicenemy3

[tazulike88]

shit ... i forgot Poor Tom and voted for Ramble on.

[Cxc0nti7]

JPJ's best song in my opinion is The Lemon Song. The bass line throughout the middle of the song especially is the smoothest piece of bluesey-rock bass I've ever heard. Truly a signature on a repertoire of great bass writing.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Cxc0nti7

[MollyHendrix]

The fast part in Dazed and Confused, when Page and Plant go "laahh.. daaah... daah, daaah". That is a kickass bass line.

That is my favorite one of his.

[jb126]

Don't know what's "best", too many to choose. Some favorites are already mentioned above.

I love how he looks exhausted after "Dazed and Confused" in the 1969 Danish video.

[paul carruthers]

You know, I totally forgot about For Your Life when I originally answered in this thread. Such is life...

[jayceeporter]

I was able to get the isolated "Heartbreaker" bass

this is true perfection.

Edited September 5, 2012 by jayceeporter

[jb126]

Thanks Jayceeporter!

[TashaZoso16]

Ramble on or the Lemon song I'd say..

[ZeppMan93]

I like his bassline when they go into that jam after Jimmy's guitar/violin solo in Dazed and Confused. That is the quickest I've seen JPJ move lol

[TBLacK457]

I like his bassline when they go into that jam after Jimmy's guitar/violin solo in Dazed and Confused. That is the quickest I've seen JPJ move lol

Not only that, he keeps that going for a while too!

[kingzoso]

I Love John Paul Jone's bassline in "Stairway to Heaven". From beginning to end, JPJ is playing the bass with his feet. Same with "Since I've Been Loving You". I don't think there are too many other bassists who can play such "Classic" songs with just foot (bass) pedals.