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Joe_Bear - 06.05.2007, 05:11
Favourite ABBA Bass Moments
I was thinking of posting a topic about bass lines for a while (I read what Daniel said in another post and I thought of posting it.) I love Rutger Gunnarsson bass playing, and there songs ABBA songs that aren't that popular (like I Saw It In The Mirror) but I enjoy, because of the bass.

What ABBA trax have you favorite bass line?

welshabbalover - 06.05.2007, 10:05

One that comes straight to mind is Thats me :D

Samy
x

Carribean - 06.05.2007, 11:03

Visitor1982 wrote: For me it's One Of Us. He plays the bass so funky there.

Marnix

I agree Marnix.
That bass line is so obvious in the mix and sounds just great.
It is always the thing I notice the most when listening to One Of Us.

johnny59 - 06.05.2007, 11:58

I never paid attention to any basses and can't come up with examples. Neither could I have named any of the bass guitar players.

Am I one-eared?

Fire&Ice - 06.05.2007, 13:44

Hades wrote: I do enjoy the funky bass playing on some early ones, f.e. 'My mama said', 'Hey, hey Helen' and yes, even 'Man in the middle'.

I agree, especially Man in the middle. Listening to this song in OOPS, that is the best thing about it and of course the girls' harmonizing.

There are lots of songs I like because of the bass-line too. Nina Pretty Ballerina, People Need Love, The Piper, Lay all your love, I am the city, Should I Laugh or Cry, Elaine and Under Attack - I like the way the bass defines this song, giving it somewhat spooky feel. 8)

Some of these songs aren't among my favourites, but the bass is so cool there.

Simsalabim - 06.05.2007, 15:33

On and on and on
One of us
Lay all your love on me

Toni - 06.05.2007, 16:57

I would say "I Saw It In The Mirror". Mike Watson did a great job here.


Toni :thumbup:

restareabear - 07.05.2007, 15:31

As Good as New. I often forget some the terriffic elements and hooks in this tune because I tend to remember the open synth part only.

restareabear - 07.05.2007, 16:40

You are correct WATERLOO, my bad!

MarryMeAgnetha - 10.05.2007, 07:16

Joe_Bear,

Thanks for starting this thread! ABBA records had so many great bass lines.

Rutger Gunnarsson was the definitive ABBA bassist. He did great work with ABBA, and he was known as a great bassist and all-around musician both before and since his time with ABBA.

Someone mentioned Mike Watson who is also a great musician. Although he didn't play with ABBA as much as RG did, he did contribute some memorable bass lines to several great songs.

To list all the great bass lines on ABBA songs would entail listing most of ABBA's catalogue, so instead I'll just single out a couple of favorites.

The bass part on the neglected masterpiece My Mama Said is surely one of the greatest bass parts on any ABBA record. It's very technical and flashy while still maintaining a deep funky, jazzy groove.

By contrast, the bass line in The Name of the Game (Bonnie's favorite, and one of mine as well) is generally quite simple. But even as the song runs through a variety of changes in mood, that solid bass never lets up. Whether it's the smoky, sultry, moody verse or the brighter, more energetic and open choruses, the unrelenting groove never lets us down. The tempo doesn't budge. Only the mood and feeling change. What a great bass part!

--Daniel

Fire&Ice - 11.05.2007, 21:47

In CRS by CMP.. (lol) I've found out that Rudger Gunnarsson did a complete string arrangement for My Love My Life and from that moment onwards, he did it for the majority of ABBA songs.

Sometimes B&B had the idea how the strings should sound and sometimes not so they would leave it all for Rutger to finish it off. If they did not like it, they would simply leave it out of the mix.

Maxi-saxi - 15.05.2007, 05:14

I did not know Rutger Gunnarsson won the Readers poll back in the 80's for his outstanding Bass Playing.

You learn something new every day.

Maxi-saxi