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1.42am
5 November 2011
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In this thread, I will list what I feel to be Paul's best bass performances, along with some brief justification for these views. This isn't a “top 10” or “top 5” list; I will only list those songs I feel to be in the “top-rank,” with no particular care about how many that comes to.
What makes for a “great” McCartney bass riff? I think it has to come from Paul's distinctive and unique style, and not from instances where he is being derivative (copying the style of others). Paul's distinctive style of bass playing could also serve as predicates for McCartney himself as a person; McCartney is at his best when his bass playing is moody, bi-polar, and restless. In a sense, I think it can be argued that Paul really isn't fully himself as an artist outside of some of his most honest and fully realized bass lines. With that said, here is my list of the finest Paul bass performances (with the Beatles):
- Hey Bulldog – This is, in my opinion, his best. Especially pay attention to his riffing starting at 2:12. The whole song, however, is masterfully moody and expressive.
- Sexy Sadie – Without Paul, this one would have been a real snoozer. McCartney's bass is what makes this one truly fascinating.
- Being for the Benefit of Mr.Kite – Goes from brilliantly menacing to whimsical with plenty of other moods in between. The middle part of this song would be a complete disaster were it not for Paul's incredibly interesting bass line. Again, this probably wouldn't even be a very good song without McCartney. But with McCartney and Lennon together, it's an artistic triumph.
- I want you (She's so heavy) – McCartney's bass is the only reason to listen to this one, but that's a very good reason. The guitar and vocal melodies in the “She's so heavy” part are good too, though.
- With A Little Help From My Friends – Lots of creative little diversions. Gives the song its soul. As usual, McCartney's bass is the melodic and emotional “center” of the Beatles.
- Rain – This one is really interesting, I think, because it's right on the cusp of McCartney really coming into his own as an artist and as a bass player. He's starting to find himself in this one, I think.
- You're Going to Lose that Girl – This one is sort of like Rain : interesting from the standpoint of McCartney's development as an artist. This is one of the first songs where he really seems to start experimenting and being more adventurous and ambitious.
- Something – Whimsical and creative. Steals the show. Great one.
- Dear Prudence – Paul takes awhile to warm up in this one, but when he does he delivers one of his classics. I think a strong argument could be made that this is his best. Very mature, unusual, and surprising. Very experimental tonally, but in a pure and honest manner (i.e. without resorting to a lot of special effects). Can't praise this one enough.
- Taxman – I put this one in with Rain . I think this one is a sign of things to come. Some see this as perhaps his best performance, and it's certainly a very impressive piece of playing both technically and creatively. But I still see this as a great but transitional piece of playing. It's still somewhat derivative: it's more like “McCartney playing Motown” than a truly pure Paul McCartney piece.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen.
1.55am
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1 May 2011
Offline Yeah. Erm, i think i'll pass here. Thanks all the same.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
3.48am
1 May 2010
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You forgot Helker Skelter. 
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
2.59pm
31 March 2008
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Interesting list. Ian Macdonald (author of Revolution In The Head) thought the bass part on Something was misjudged and too busy, and I think I agree with him. I’d add Lucy In The Sky to the list too. Interesting that most of the songs are primarily Lennon’s, none sung by McCartney.
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3.13pm
16 February 2011
Offline Joe said:
Interesting list. Ian Macdonald (author of Revolution In The Head) thought the bass part on Something was misjudged and too busy, and I think I agree with him. I'd add Lucy In The Sky to the list too. Interesting that most of the songs are primarily Lennon's, none sung by McCartney.
If you would have read their other thread, you would wonder no more…
3.59pm
23 January 2011
Offline Joe said:
Interesting list. Ian Macdonald (author of Revolution In The Head) thought the bass part on Something was misjudged and too busy, and I think I agree with him. I'd add Lucy In The Sky to the list too. Interesting that most of the songs are primarily Lennon's, none sung by McCartney.
I think it's true that the McCartney was able to focus more on innovative bass lines when he wasn't having to worry about the overall structure of the song. This point has been made before, by some critic…can't remember which.
"You can manicure a cat but can you caticure a man?"
John Lennon- Skywriting by Word of Mouth
6.55pm
20 September 2011
Offline mithveaen said:
You forgot Helker Skelter.
You're poking the troll…apples for you.
"Now and then, though, someone does begin to grow differently. Instead of down, his feet grow up toward the sky. But we do our best to discourage awkward things like that."
"What happens to them?" insisted Milo.
"Oddly enough, they often grow ten times the size of everyone else," said Alec thoughtfully, "and I’ve heard that they walk among the stars."
–The Phantom Tollbooth
9.53pm
1 December 2009
Offline Can I just say that everytime paulsbass types “Mr. Anderson” I mentally hear Agent Smith addressing Neo?
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
9.57pm
1 May 2010
Offline 
*zigs with coffee*
Totally LOL!!!
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
10.45pm
1 December 2009
Offline Well done, Mr. Bass!
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
11.27pm
20 September 2011
Offline Paulsbass, I love you.
from a Matrix fan.
"Now and then, though, someone does begin to grow differently. Instead of down, his feet grow up toward the sky. But we do our best to discourage awkward things like that."
"What happens to them?" insisted Milo.
"Oddly enough, they often grow ten times the size of everyone else," said Alec thoughtfully, "and I’ve heard that they walk among the stars."
–The Phantom Tollbooth
4.54am
10 August 2011
Offline I agree completely with “Hey Bulldog ,” “Something ,” “With a Little Help …”
(see http://www.intotheskywithdiamo…..NGS_2.html)
I would put “Nowhere Man “ in the top 5.
Thanks, I'll check out the others. (Never noticed the bass on “Sexy Sadie ” or “You're Gonna Lose …!)
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
4.55pm
20 December 2010
Offline McCartney even in the early albums was doing great bass work. I recently listened to the 'Please Please Me ' album and he played fantastic. I agree with everyone that once they stopped touring his bass lines got a lot more melodic.
The further one travels, the less one knows
8.23pm
1 May 2010
Offline Umb.. really? Can you tell me a song where Paul's bass impressed you in that album? I hadn't paid attention to that..
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
10.48pm
20 December 2010
Offline mithveaen said:
Umb.. really? Can you tell me a song where Paul's bass impressed you in that album? I hadn't paid attention to that..
I like 'I Saw Her Standing There ' & 'Boys ' the most. You can really hear his bass well if you have the remastered stereo versions.
When he took over the bass when Stuart passed away, it was a perfect transition. After all, he is the bass player for the Beatles.
The further one travels, the less one knows
5.55am
1 May 2010
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*Mith goes to youtube to search for a I Saw Her Standing There bass solo*
*listens*
Holy Cow. You're so right. I never paid attention to Paul's bass in that album. Thanks!! 
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
10.25pm
24 October 2011
Offline 
Paul is without a doubt the most innovative Bass player, Lets forget about the who’s the technically best nonsense. He added a nuance to every Beatles song requiring his special touch. 
"All You Need is LOVE"
11.26pm
23 November 2011
Offline Hard to tell what is a good Paul bass without reference to Ringo and John's playing — at least in the earlier times. Paul's base may or may not be “great” depending on what the others are doing since they formed a wonderful rhythm section, something I don't hear mentioned much, the three of them making your feet dance.
I would like to see a discussion of John's rhythm playing since it seems to play a huge part in all this. Or, I think it's John's playing. Like, “I'm Happy Just to Dance with You” and many others. Someone is working very hard on this rhythm. I assume it's not George, but I can't know (I don't know enough). This is not their best rhythm, but the guitar work is clear — perhaps too busy, really. Oh, well.
3.04am
14 December 2009
Offline OK, this is really distressing to me, this thread being revived now, because I just yesterday discovered (or maybe re-discovered after learning and suppressing) that GEORGE played bass on “Maxwell's Silver Hammer”! Such a whimsical bass part, that always helped me to justify & defend a song that so many others loathe, and now I discover in the 'Bible that Paul didn't even play it! (Why would George put so much effort into contributing such a sublime performance on a song he despised so?) First I learn about “Old Brown Shoe “, now this…my god, maybe Mr. Big was right all along!
(OK, I won't go that far! But this is still pretty surprising to me. Why would Paul play rhythm guitar and leave the bass to George? Maybe he was taking forever working out the Moog parts so George assumed full responsibility for the bass as some kinda proprietary retaliatory gesture, since it was George's synthesizer, after all.)
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
5.23am
23 November 2011
Offline I figured it out listening to “Another Girl .” Ringo and John are lockstep for the rhythm. They create the rock. Paul's base adds the “roll” to the rock-'n'-roll. Together, they make your toes tap.
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