Famous songs with double bass

Last week, we posted on Facebook asking what’s the most well-known song that features upright bass. After hundreds of you gave your suggestions, we thought it would be great to compile a list of some of the responses, so here are 15 popular songs that feature a double bass. You might even find a song you didn’t realise had double bass on it!

Please let us know your top choices and what we have missed. You can join the discussion here.

Fever – peggy lee

As one of the top suggestions on our Facebook post, we had to include this classic by Peggy Lee. Originally recorded by Little Willie John, Lee’s version of Fever opens with Joe Mondragon on double bass with an instantly recognisable, iconic line. This track is definitely a contender for the most well-known song featuring double bass.

The Lovecats – The Cure

Also one of the top comments on our Facebook post, this 1983 hit features another instantly recognisable bass line on the upright. Played by Phil Thornalley (who is also famous for co-writing the hit Torn by Natalie Imbruglia!), this is a brilliant example of the use of a double bass in a pop song and a great suggestion.

Stand By Me – Ben. E. King

Originally written for The Drifters, who decided against recording it, this classic by Ben. E. King could not be missed off this list. With Lloyd Trotman on double bass, it has that familiar bass riff that everybody knows. In 1999, BMI ranked it fourth in their Top 100 Songs of the Century. Now, that’s a popular song featuring the double bass.

These Boots are made for walking – nancy sinatra

Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2020, this 1965 hit by Nancy Sinatra features some great double bass playing by Chuck Berghofer. The bass line is known for its iconic sliding descent and is a really fun one to try and play - it’s harder than it sounds!

Rebirth of slick (cool like dat) – Digable planets

This 1992 hit by American hip hop trio Digable Planets uses a sample from Stretching by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (with Dennis Irwin on bass). It won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1994, and is a great example of the use of double bass in 90s hip hop. If you don’t know it, it’s definitely worth a listen.

so what – miles davis

So What is the first track on Davis’s revolutionary 1959 album Kind of Blue. While many of our Facebook comments suggested songs from this album, So What was the most popular. With bassist Paul Chambers playing the melody at the start of the tune, it’s an inspiring listen for all double bass players, and a classic not to be missed off of this list.

Fire and rain – James Taylor

This is one that despite it being a song I’ve listened to loads of times, I didn’t realise there was double bass on it (although it’s so obvious now I know)! Bob West trades in his usual bass guitar for bowed double bass to highlight to melancholy of the song. It’s a beautiful tune and a lovely use of the double bass in popular music.

Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed

A landmark of the glam rock genre, this single by Lou Reed with the incredible Herbie Flowers on double bass was a highly mentioned suggestion on our Facebook post. This is another example of an instantly recognisable bass line, and Herbie Flowers has even been interviewed about his part it in – you can check that out here if you’re interested.

Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones

The use of double bass is unusual for The Stones and the way it was played in this song is interesting! In an interview, bassist Bill Wyman admitted that he wasn’t good enough to play both left and right handed double bass, so guitarist Keith Richards offered to use the bow while Bill Wyman did the fingerings. It was through this joint effort that the double bass in Ruby Tuesday was recorded.

Wild World – Cat Stevens

This folk rock song released in 1970 features John Ryan on double bass. It’s a really popular song that a lot of people (including me) don’t realise has double bass on it.

‘39 – Queen

After writing this song, which was the B-side to You’re My Best Friend, Brian May asked bassist John Deacon to play double bass as a joke. A few days later, May found Deacon in the studio with the double bass, having already learnt to play it, and so that’s what Deacon played on this record. Also a little fun fact you might enjoy – when counting each album track from their debut album onwards, this is the 39th song that Queen released.

that’s all right mama – elvis presley

That’s All Right Mama opens with Bill Black playing the classic slap bass sound you would have heard everywhere in the 1950s. Argued by Rolling Stone Magazine as the first ever rock ‘n’ roll record, this was Elvis Presley’s first single and has left quite the legacy.

Moondance – michael bublé

Bublé’s cover of Van Morrison’s Moondance had to make it onto this list because it features one of my favourite bass players, the incredible Brian Bromberg. The opening verse is just vocals and bass, and it is undeniably Bromberg’s playing - so swinging! The album also includes a cover of Fever, the first song on this list, that features Brian Bromberg again, so that’s another one to take a listen to!

Is you is or is you ain’t my baby – Ira “buck” woods

Another brilliant suggestion from the Facebook post, and one I had to include, was this song featured in a clip from Tom and Jerry. The classic cartoon is so joyous, and this depiction of the double bass is really funny. I love the way Tom plays it – definitely worth a watch!

All i need – jacob collier, mahalia & ty dollar $ign

To finish off, this video was chosen by Romy, our operations manager, as her favourite double bass feature in a popular song. Jacob Collier plays bass (as well as many other instruments!) in his bathroom for Jimmy Kimmel live, and the song was grammy-nominated for Best R&B Performance. If you don’t know it, give it a watch, it’s a good one!

So that’s it, 15 popular songs featuring the double bass. If you found any new gems, or think we have missed any, please join the discussion on our Facebook post here.

I really hope you’ve enjoyed having a listen and have felt inspired to get playing!

Cheers,

Geoff (DDB Founder)

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