Rutger Gunnarsson - ABBA's bass-player

[reens]

Rutger is the man, probably one of the coolest players on the Nordic block back in the day. Tricky, funky and always superbly tasteful and fresh with ideas. Even when he switches to some fretless as on The Visitors -- great tone, great feel.

He's one of the total bassplayers.

Great playing is great playing regardless of all else. Lots to steal from Rutger.

I love some of his lines on Head over Heels and Soldiers off The Visitors CD.

Jim

 

[Hamerguy]

Rutger is the man, probably one of the coolest players on the Nordic block back in the day. Tricky, funky and always superbly tasteful and fresh with ideas. Even when he switches to some fretless as on The Visitors -- great tone, great feel.

He's one of the total bassplayers.

Of course, I like the basslines in ABBA's songs. Another great player of the nordic block also from that time is Pekka Pohjola, he played with Mike Oldfield.

 

[totallyfrozen]

I think his playing is incredible. One of my all-time favorite bass lines is the line throughout "Dancing Queen". SUPER GROOVY! Definitely a booty shaker!

 

[jaywa]

I've covered "Dancing Queen" in a couple of different projects and invariably, the people I play it with want to rush it or at least, play it too on top of the beat. "Dancing Queen" is busy song with a laid-back feel... it's not an easy groove to cop.

 

[odin70]

I really like him. Groovy and melodic. Great drummer to. Great songs of course And...did i forget Agnethas ass?

 

[D.Don]

I really like him. Groovy and melodic. Great drummer to. Great songs of course And...did i forget Agnethas ass?

Uhummm... Groovy (ass) ?



D.Don

 

[The Mouse]

I have played in two ABBA tribute bands here in Ireland. Great gigs! Lots of fun! It's a great "bass" gig to get. Rutger Gunnarsson is an absolute legend!! My favourite tunes to play would be "Name of the Game", "Money Money" and "One of Us".. Now that I think of it, there aren't many/any ABBA tunes that I dislike playing.

 

[Rune Bivrin]

Just have to chime in. Rutger and Bruce Thomas (of Elvis Costello & the Attractions) are two of the most amazing bass players I know. Very often extremely busy, but never an unnecessary note.

 

[bohemond]

He was a talented bassist. But who the heck want to see a band play Abba covers?? I dont know If I was in palce where Abba was being played I would duck and get the H.. outta there

 

[Eminentbass]

I have played in two ABBA tribute bands here in Ireland. Great gigs! Lots of fun! It's a great "bass" gig to get. Rutger Gunnarsson is an absolute legend!! My favourite tunes to play would be "Name of the Game", "Money Money" and "One of Us".. Now that I think of it, there aren't many/any ABBA tunes that I dislike playing.

I've also done a couple of ABBA tribute shows. I love the songs you mentioned and will add "Voulez Vouz" and "Gimme Gimme Gimme" to that list. I have so much respect for Rutger that I learned the songs verbatim without adding any fills of my own anywhere.

 

[D.Don]

In reply to my own post earlier in this thread, it seems like it's quite the opposite, Rutger did play on all records more or less, and he did not only play the bass, but also he made the horn and strings arrangements on the lionpart of the abba songs released!!

And here's a clip, dunno who the player is, but dude, what a great Gunnarson-line!






D.Don

 

[Paul F.]

Rutger is great! ... Mike Watson is the name of the other bassplayer who played with ABBA, also a great bassplayer.

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[bassalo]

Growed up listening all those ABBA records late seventies---- And think that´s the BEST pop music ever(for me). Those songs/basslines are amazing. And how in the hell there´s no THE ABBA BASSLINE BOOK(or something like that) out there????? Maybe same style of book like Dr.Licks`s Standing In The Shadows Of Motown "The Life And Music Of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson". Hey! Rutger Gunnarsson played on recordings that´s been sold over 300 millions copies!!!!!!!
So Hal Leonard and other major music book companies HELLO!! or Rutger if you are reading this, maybe some Swedish music book company would do that book(and you check those trancriptions ) for all OF US Bass Players. And was very nice to hear that ABBA movie soundtrack!!!

+1 and sub'd. Rutger is pure genius on the bass!

 

[ridgeback]

so cetera and I are the only fans of Rutger ????

can't be true......

greets, jules

nope have said it so many times here on tb..great melodic player and some quite unusual bass lines..he has been a huge Influence over my own style of playing..listen and give some of his bass lines a go.a bit different from the norm .imo.

 

[cronker]

fantastic player. it surprises me when i hear Abba trotted out at just about every wedding, and to notice that the quality of the sound thirty years on is fing amazing!

i do know that Benny and Bjorn wrote every single note and inflection with intent - they were orchestral in their arrangements. There was absolutely NO improvising allowed - every song was arranged within an inch of its life.

 

[D.Don]

And Rutger wrote most of the string arrangements....

(As he's classicaly educated at the music academy of Stockholm)

D.Don

 

[Chrisk-K]

Bjorn and Benny arranged all ABBA songs. Does it mean that they probably composed most ABBA basslines? I just want to know.

 

[Vorago]

Abba's music is frighteningly perfect.

 

[D.Don]

Bjorn and Benny arranged all ABBA songs. Does it mean that they probably composed most ABBA basslines? I just want to know.

Nope, Rutger ACED, he has a very huge role in the ABBA arrangements, first of all, he's classically schooled (classical acoustic guitar, harp, and orchestra/string arranging), and second, he sight reads perfect, something that impressed benny and björn from the first day they met him.



D.Don

 

[Vorago]

Just listen to those synths at 1.10 !