Was EGG when Hooky's Lead Lead Bass playing started??

I know in JD the group focused around his lead melodic bass style and on some songs on movement too, but still he seems to fulfill the duty of normal bottom end bass too. But on EGG it seems like he is letting the synths carry the bottom end bass rhythm and he is playing the bass bassically (get it BASSically) like a lead guitar (like he does on a lot of NO tracks). Well is it right to say EGG started his lead lead bass playing?? From what I hear is there really any heavy bottom end bass playing on EGG?? sound like there is not.

thanks

I think She's Lost Control or Insight might be the first example of the lead bass style. Playing repetitive riffs on the G string while using the open D as a drone was a complete change of direction from the more standard bass lines on early JD tracks.

I think the more they used sequencers for the bass, the less it made sense for Hooky to play low. Hence on later JD tracks like The Eternal, Heart and Soul, 24 Hours, LWTUA, Bernard would handle the traditional bass parts while Hooky was free to play bass guitar.

For what it's worth, one of my favourite Hooky bass tracks is Glass, which is one of the earliest JD tracks and is a low-end bassline out of keeping with his later style. Just love the fluidity and rhythm of the part, really unique compared to any other bass work he's done to my knowledge. Sometimes people talk about Hooky's style as if it's always been all about the high notes, but Glass is a fucking bastard of a bassline.

In fact, you need only look at New Order's first single for the lead bass progression. Ceremony is not the way bass is usually played and the bass provides a lot of the melody in that song.

Hooky's early bass lines didn't have the chorus, just distortion, while he still did some high notes it was not as melodic until he got the chorus and concentrated on the top end, but the synth playing bass lines and hooky playing higher does date back to the Closer album, way before EGG.

As for bass as lead with a separate low end bass guitar part I think Waz is right with She's lost control, the Unknown pleasures version seems to have a bit less low end in the intro compared with the single.

You have inspired me to make a new thread on BCD Top 5 low end Hooky bass lines

Jed Stephens wrote:

As for bass as lead with a separate low end bass guitar part I think Waz is right with She's lost control, the Unknown pleasures version seems to have a bit less low end in the intro compared with the single.

As an aside, I didn't notice until after many many listens but the UP version of SLC actually has 2 bass tracks. Hooky overdubbed the low rising progression bit on to the bits between the verses.

No Love Lost and Leaders of Men in my opinion.

Waz wrote: I think She's Lost Control or Insight might be the first example of the lead bass style. Playing repetitive riffs on the G string while using the open D as a drone was a complete change of direction from the more standard bass lines on early JD tracks.

I think the more they used sequencers for the bass, the less it made sense for Hooky to play low. Hence on later JD tracks like The Eternal, Heart and Soul, 24 Hours, LWTUA, Bernard would handle the traditional bass parts while Hooky was free to play bass guitar.

For what it's worth, one of my favourite Hooky bass tracks is Glass, which is one of the earliest JD tracks and is a low-end bassline out of keeping with his later style. Just love the fluidity and rhythm of the part, really unique compared to any other bass work he's done to my knowledge. Sometimes people talk about Hooky's style as if it's always been all about the high notes, but Glass is a fucking bastard of a bassline.

I totally agree on Glass, such a great low end part from Hooky. One of my favorite basslines ever.

I also agree on Insight and She's Lost Control being the beginning of the lead style for him. I've always really liked that Unknown Pleasures has a nice mix of low and high bass parts. Though I feel songs like Heart and Soul and 24 Hours are when the bass really starts sounding straight up New Order-ey because of the addition of the chorus.