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Rutger Gunnarsson - ABBA's bass-player
- Thread starter Jules Forcella
- Start date
Thanks D.Don, that's pretty much what I meant to write - I mangled my text in the editing. It does imply that he took a bass to the audition though (he was a classical guitar student but he implies he got the job through singing without even touching the bass)
Thanks Evil Undead!
Oh...if anyone read the whole thing I blew the coding on the links section so I have now fixed that!
Oh...if anyone read the whole thing I blew the coding on the links section so I have now fixed that!
Interesting comment on the article implying that the studio musicians had a huge of input on what they played with Abba, contradicting what I have read elsewhere.
I changed large chunks of the original article after some recent conversations. Seems the key ABBA studio musicians had a much greater role in inventing their own lines than I assumed...
http://philwbass.com/2014/01/02/the-bassists-of-abba/
http://philwbass.com/2014/01/02/the-bassists-of-abba/
Very happy today! I got a couple of emails from Mike Watson who played on some of the original recordings.
He confirmed there was no sheet music for the Abba sessions except for the string section.
He did tell me something I haven't heard before - that he played the bass on 'Gimme, gimme, gimme, a man after midnight!'
This track had always made me wonder as it didn't sound like Rutger but also not particularly like Mike. Mike even dropped in some popped notes on this one.
Mike also confirmed that he recorded the tracks with his 1966 Jazz bass with Schecter pickups. Better get updating my article.
Oh, also Mike confirmed that Rutger played the bass on Fernando contrary to what I wrote.
He confirmed there was no sheet music for the Abba sessions except for the string section.
He did tell me something I haven't heard before - that he played the bass on 'Gimme, gimme, gimme, a man after midnight!'
This track had always made me wonder as it didn't sound like Rutger but also not particularly like Mike. Mike even dropped in some popped notes on this one.
Mike also confirmed that he recorded the tracks with his 1966 Jazz bass with Schecter pickups. Better get updating my article.
Oh, also Mike confirmed that Rutger played the bass on Fernando contrary to what I wrote.
Will do!
Here's some of my other work if you're interested:
http://aidanhampson.co.uk/bass-songbooks/
Here's some of my other work if you're interested:
http://aidanhampson.co.uk/bass-songbooks/
Here it is!
Waterloo
Mamma Mia
SOS
Dancing Queen
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Money, Money, Money
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
Summer Night City
Super Trouper
The Winner Takes It All
Lay All Your Love On Me
One Of Us
Send me a message via my website aidanhampson.co.uk if you'd like any more info.
Aidan
Waterloo
Mamma Mia
SOS
Dancing Queen
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Money, Money, Money
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
Summer Night City
Super Trouper
The Winner Takes It All
Lay All Your Love On Me
One Of Us
Send me a message via my website aidanhampson.co.uk if you'd like any more info.
Aidan
AWESOME! I remember when it was "uncool" to enjoy ABBA`s wonderfully arranged and performed 'Top 40/Pop/Soft/Chick' rock. Back then I never listened hard enough to enjoy those deceptively "easy-sounding" basslines(but...I loved the melodies in secret).
Just started getting back into them via youtube and...totally now bestow my highest praise,respect and admiration for not only the group as a whole--the iconic contribution they made to music,video and such a force they were in the 70`s to Dance/Pop music...did I mention that Nordic bass player was waaayyyyy the unsung (unstrung?) hero of old school low end?
Haha...betcha thought I was going to mention those 2 fine women ,dincha?
Just started getting back into them via youtube and...totally now bestow my highest praise,respect and admiration for not only the group as a whole--the iconic contribution they made to music,video and such a force they were in the 70`s to Dance/Pop music...did I mention that Nordic bass player was waaayyyyy the unsung (unstrung?) hero of old school low end?
Haha...betcha thought I was going to mention those 2 fine women ,dincha?
NewHowdy,
he's one of my great inspirations
who else of you guys have been infected of his "phat, tricky & groovy" basslines ??????
for the guys who hadn't listened to him and are laughing right now I can promise - you've missed some
Keep on shakin' !!!!!
Greets, Jules
Googled 'Abba's bass player' which got me here! Great to know there's a lot of likeminded ppl re this marvellous Bassist! I guess the Abba band made Abba what it was.....I doubt the singing alone could have made it on its own! His tricky subtle basslines and feel...... sheer pleasure listening to his style!
