Question: who wrote the bass line for i want you back

title: I Want You Back
text: `` I Want You Back '' was released on October 7 , 1969 and was the first Jackson 5 single to be released by Motown and the first song written and produced by The Corporation , a team comprising Motown chief Berry Gordy , Freddie Perren , Alphonso Mizell , and Deke Richards . It also is the first of four Jackson 5 number - ones released in a row ( the others being `` ABC '' -- 1970 , `` The Love You Save '' -- 1970 , and `` I 'll Be There '' -- 1970 ) and the first Jackson 5 song recorded in Los Angeles , California ; the quintet had previously been recording Bobby Taylor - produced remakes of other artists ' hits , including `` Who 's Lovin ' You '' , the B - side to `` I Want You Back '' , at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit , Michigan . The `` I Want You Back '' bassline is considered by many as the greatest of all time and thus has sparked many debates about who played the bass during the recording . Famously The Funk Brothers were Motown 's backup musicians and after the company 's relocation to Los Angeles band members changed . Many tend to believe that it was James Jamerson who played the bass during recording but he was most active from 1962 - 1968 . During the later years of his career Jamerson had grown unreliable due to substance abuse . Most evidence suggest that a new member of the Funk Brothers , Wilton Felder , was the bassist . 

Answer: answer: Many tend to believe that it was James Jamerson who played the bass during recording but he was most active from 1962 - 1968 .  Most evidence suggest that a new member of the Funk Brothers , Wilton Felder , was the bassist .