In Memoriam: Lasse Wellander (1952 – 2023)

ABBA’s long-term guitarist Lasse Wellander has died after a short battle with cancer, his family announced.

The Swedish pop group described Wellander’s talent as “immense,” and paid tribute to a “dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist.”

“It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep. Lasse recently fell ill in what turned out to be spread cancer and early on Good Friday he passed away, surrounded by his loved ones,” a statement posted to the guitarist’s Facebook page on Sunday said.

“You were an amazing musician and humble as few, but above all you were a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather,” the statement added.

“Kind, safe, caring and loving … and so much more, that cannot be described in words. A hub in our lives, and it’s unbelievable that we now have to live on without you.”

“Lasse was a dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist,” ABBA said in a statement to CNN Monday.

“The importance of his creative input in the recording studio as well as his rock solid guitar work on stage was immense.

“We mourn his tragic and premature death and remember the kind words, the sense of humour, the smiling face, the musical brilliance of the man who played such an integral role in the ABBA story. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.”

Born in 1952, Wellander did his first session with Swedish pop legends ABBA in October 1974, when songs “Intermezzo No.1” and “Crazy World” were recorded. Soon after, he became the main guitarist on the group’s albums, and toured with them in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1980, according to the band’s website.

Even after Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog went their separate ways in 1982, Wellander stayed in the fold, working with Benny and Björn.

He appeared on a number of albums, including the “Chess” concept album, two “Gemini” albums and the soundtracks for the films “Mamma Mia” and “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” as well as the ABBA album “Voyage,” released in November 2021.

Wellander played with several groups during the 80s, including Low Budget Blues Band, Zkiffz, Little Mike and the Sweet Soul Music Band and Stockholm All Stars, according to the biography on his official website.

A celebrated musician in his own right, Wellander released seven studio albums, two of which made the Top 40 album charts, according to his biography on ABBA’s website.

He received the Albin Hagström Memorial Award from The Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 2005 and 13 years later was awarded the Swedish Musicians Union’s prestigious special prize Studioräven Award for his work as a session musician. (Ctsy CNN)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 8pm ET: Feature LP: Abba – The Singles: The First Ten Years (1982)

The Singles: The First Ten Years is a double compilation album by Swedish pop group ABBA, released in November 8, 1982.

“Ring Ring” – 3:04
“Waterloo” – 2:42
“So Long” – 3:05
“I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” – 3:16
“SOS” – 3:22
“Mamma Mia” – 3:31
“Fernando” – 4:12
“Dancing Queen” – 3:50
“Money, Money, Money” – 3:06
“Knowing Me, Knowing You” – 4:02
“The Name of the Game” – 4:53
“Take a Chance on Me” – 4:06
“Summer Night City” – 3:34
“Chiquitita” – 5:26
“Does Your Mother Know” – 3:14
“Voulez-Vous” – 5:08
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” – 4:49
“I Have a Dream” – 4:44
“The Winner Takes It All” – 4:55
“Super Trouper” – 4:13
“One of Us” – 3:55
“The Day Before You Came” – 5:50
“Under Attack” – 3:47

Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (5, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23), co-lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16), backing vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (7, 9, 10, 18, 20), co-lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16), backing vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – steel-string, acoustic guitar, lead vocals (13, 15), backing vocals
Benny Andersson – synthesizer, keyboards, backing vocals
Ulf Andersson – saxophone
Ola Brunkert – drums
Lars Carlsson – horn
Christer Eklund – saxophone
Malando Gassama – percussion
Anders Glenmark – guitar
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass
Roger Palm – drums
Janne Schaffer – guitar
Åke Sundqvist – percussion
Mike Watson – bass
Lasse Wellander – guitar

Wednesday 3/15/23 12am ET: Feature Live LP: Abba – Live At Wembley Arena (2014)

Live at Wembley Arena is an album of live recordings by Swedish pop group ABBA, released by Polar Music on September 24, 2014, on 2 CD, 3 LP and digital format.

The album, produced by Ludvig Andersson, includes the complete concert at London’s Wembley Arena (now The SSE Arena, Wembley) on November 10, 1979, the last of a six-night residency at the famous venue.

It features most of ABBA’s hit singles and album favorites from their first eight years as a unit, as well as the never-before-released “I’m Still Alive”, written by Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus.

1. “Gammal fäbodpsalm” 1:43
2. “Voulez-Vous” 4:11
3. “If It Wasn’t for the Nights” 5:18
4. “As Good As New” 3:26
5. “Knowing Me, Knowing You” 4:30
6. “Rock Me” 3:34
7. “Chiquitita” 5:34
8. “Money, Money, Money” 3:57
9. “I Have a Dream” 6:51
10. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” 5:34
11. “SOS” 3:30
12. “Fernando” 4:13
13. “The Name of the Game” 3:09
14. “Eagle” 6:10
15. “Thank You for the Music” 3:52
16. “Why Did It Have to Be Me?” 4:32
17. “Intermezzo No. 1” 4:06
18. “I’m Still Alive” 4:29
19. “Summer Night City” 5:28
20. “Take a Chance on Me” 4:25
21. “Does Your Mother Know” 3:58
22. “Hole in Your Soul” 4:39
23. “The Way Old Friends Do” 3:05
24. “Dancing Queen” 5:52
25. “Waterloo” 3:51

Agnetha Fältskog – vocals, keyboards
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – acoustic guitars, vocals
Benny Andersson – synthesizers, keyboards, accordion, vocals
Ola Brunkert – drums
Anders Eljas – keyboards
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass
Mats Ronander – guitars
Åke Sundqvist – percussion
Lasse Wellander – guitars
Tomas Ledin – backing vocals
Birgitta Wollgård – backing vocals
Liza Öhman – backing vocals

Monday 12/26/22 9pm ET: Feature LP: Abba – Voulez-Vous (1979)

Voulez-Vous is the sixth studio album by the Swedish supergroup ABBA. Released on April 23, 1979, the album yielded five hits, all of them big 1979 singles in Britain – “Chiquitita”, “Does Your Mother Know”, “I Have a Dream” and the double A-side “Voulez-Vous”/”Angeleyes”. The title track showed the group embracing disco music, which at the time was at its peak. The album topped the charts in a number of countries and ranked among Britain’s five best-selling albums of the year.

It was the first ABBA album to be mainly recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm, and the only ABBA album to include a studio recording made outside Sweden: the instrumental backing track for the title track was partly recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami.

Voulez-Vous was first released on CD in 1984. The album has been digitally remastered and reissued four times; first in 1997, then in 2001 and in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and yet again in 2010 for the Voulez-Vous Deluxe Edition.

1. “As Good as New” 3:22
2. “Voulez-Vous” 5:09
3. “I Have a Dream” 4:44
4. “Angeleyes” 4:20
5. “The King Has Lost His Crown” 3:30
6. “Does Your Mother Know” 3:13
7. “If It Wasn’t for the Nights” 5:13
8. “Chiquitita” 5:26
9. “Lovers (Live a Little Longer)” 3:28
10. “Kisses of Fire” 3:16
11. “Summer Night City” 4:18
12. “Lovelight” 3:48
13. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” 4:53
14. “Dream World” 3:38
15. “Voulez-Vous” (extended remix) 6:11

Agnetha Fältskog – vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – banjo, guitar, vocals
Benny Andersson – synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
Rolf Alex – drums
Ola Brunkert – drums
Lars Carlsson – horn
Anders Eljas – horn
Joe Galdo – drums (2)
Malando Gassama – percussion
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass
Paul Harris – piano
Janne Kling – wind
Nils Landgren – trombone
Ish Ledesma – guitar (2)
Roger Palm – drums
Halldor Palsson – tenor saxophone
Arnold Paseiro – bass (2)
Jan Risberg – oboe
Janne Schaffer – guitar, sitar
Johan Stengård – tenor saxophone
Åke Sundqvist – percussion
George Terry – guitar (2)
Mike Watson – bass
Lasse Wellander – guitar
Kajtek Wojciechowski – tenor saxophone
Gunnar Mickols – violin
Anders Dahl – violin

Thursday 12/15/22 10am ET: Classic Greatest Hits LP: Abba – Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1979)

Greatest Hits Vol. 2 is a compilation album by Swedish pop group ABBA, released October 29, 1979 to coincide with their tour of North America and Europe (taking place between September and November 1979). It was ABBA’s second chart-topping album of the year, the first being Voulez-Vous, and contained the brand new single “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”, recorded in August 1979.

1. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” 4:49
2. “Knowing Me, Knowing You” 4:01
3. “Take a Chance on Me” 4:05
4. “Money, Money, Money” 3:06
5. “Rock Me” 3:03
6. “Eagle” 5:48
7. “Angeleyes” 4:17
8. “Dancing Queen” 3:48
9. “Does Your Mother Know” 3:12
10. “Chiquitita” 5:21
11. “Summer Night City” 3:31
12. “I Wonder (Departure)” 4:31
13. “The Name of the Game” 4:50
14. “Thank You for the Music” 3:47

Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (1, 10, 14), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13), backing vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (2, 4, 12), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13), backing vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – lead vocals (5, 9, 11), acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
Benny Andersson – keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals
Rolf Alex – drums
Ola Brunkert – drums
Lars Carlsson – horn
Christer Danielson – horn
Andrew Eijas – horn
Malando Gassama – percussion
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass
Gloria Lundell – harp
Roger Palm – drums
Halldor Palsson – saxophone
Janne Schaffer – guitar
Bengt Sundberg – horn
Åke Sundqvist – percussion
Mike Watson – bass
Lasse Wellander – guitar
Gunnar Wenneborg – horn
Kajtek Wojciechowski – saxophone

Monday 9/5/22 10pm ET: Feature LP: Abba – The Visitors (1981)

The Visitors is the eighth studio album by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released on November 30, 1981.

With The Visitors, ABBA took several steps away from the “lighter” pop music they had recorded previously and the album is often regarded as a more complex and mature effort. The opening track, “The Visitors”, with its ominous synthesizer sounds and the distinctive lead vocal by Frida, announced a change in musical style. With Benny and Frida going their separate ways, the pain of splitting up was explored yet again in “When All Is Said and Done”. The major hit single on the album, “One of Us”, also depicted the end of a love story. Elsewhere there were Cold War themes—highly topical at the time—and further songs of isolation and regret.

The Visitors was one of the first records ever to be digitally recorded and mixed, as well as one of the earliest in history to be pressed on the CD format in 1982[ (in terms of commercial release dates, it was predated by the Japanese release of Billy Joel’s 52nd Street.) The Visitors has been reissued in digitally remastered form four times—first in 1997, then in 2001, again in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set and most recently in 2012.

For four decades, The Visitors stood as ABBA’s last studio album, until the release of their 2021 album, Voyage.

1. “The Visitors” 5:49
2. “Head over Heels” 3:45
3. “When All Is Said and Done” 3:20
4. “Soldiers” 4:38
5. “I Let the Music Speak” 5:20
6. “One of Us” 3:55
7. “Two for the Price of One” 3:36
8. “Slipping Through My Fingers” 3:51
9. “Like an Angel Passing Through My Room” 3:25
10. “Should I Laugh or Cry”
11. “The Day Before You Came”
12. “Under Attack”
13. “You Owe Me One”

Agnetha Fältskog – vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – acoustic guitar, guitar, mandolin, vocals
Benny Andersson – synthesizers, keyboards, vocals
Ola Brunkert – drums
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass, mandolin
Janne Kling – flute and clarinet
Per Lindvall – drums (on “Soldiers” and “The Visitors”)
Åke Sundqvist – percussion
Lasse Wellander – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin

Sunday 7/17/22 1pm ET: Feature LP: ABBA – Super Trouper (1980)

Super Trouper is the seventh studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA, released on November 3, 1980. It features the No.1 singles “The Winner Takes It All” and “Super Trouper”. The album became the biggest-selling album of 1980 in the UK.

Led by the international hit “The Winner Takes It All”, Super Trouper was the group’s sixth chart-topping album in the UK. It was also the best-selling album in Britain for 1980. Super Trouper was first released on CD in 1983 by Polar Music International, in the early 1980s by Polydor, and in the late 1980s by Atlantic Records for the US. The album has been reissued in digitally remastered form four times; first in 1997, then in 2001, again in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set and as a Deluxe Edition (containing a bonus DVD) in 2011. The previous year’s divorce between Björn and Agnetha was explored in “The Winner Takes It All”, and the members’ lives in Stockholm high society circles coloured the lyrics for “On and On and On”. Other well-known songs on the album include the hit single title track “Super Trouper”, as well as the electro-dance of “Lay All Your Love on Me”.

Probably due to the disco backlash at that time, the album saw ABBA returning to a more straightforward pop sound, as opposed to the preceding (and noticeably more dance-oriented) Voulez-Vous album. The album closed with “The Way Old Friends Do”, which was recorded live a year earlier during their 1979 concert tour. Although not released as a single with this album, the song was later released as a single in 1992 to promote the compilation More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits. The song was later covered by The Alexander Brothers, The Kingston Trio, Philomena Begley and Faryl Smith. On some European vinyl issues, the cheering and applause at the end of “The Way Old Friends Do” is recorded up to the run-out groove, playing in an endless loop on manual turntables.

1. “Super Trouper” 4:13
2. “The Winner Takes It All” 4:55
3. “On and On and On” 3:41
4. “Andante, Andante” 4:38
5. “Me and I” 4:53
6. “Happy New Year” 4:24
7. “Our Last Summer” 4:18
8. “The Piper” 3:25
9. “Lay All Your Love on Me” 4:33
10. “The Way Old Friends Do” 2:53 (Live)
11. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” 4:53
12. “Put On Your White Sombrero” 4:34

Agnetha Fältskog – vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – acoustic guitar, vocals
Benny Andersson – synthesizers, keyboards, vocals
Ola Brunkert – drums (2-9)
Lars Carlsson – horn (3)
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass (3-9), guitar
Janne Kling – flute (8), saxophone (3)
Per Lindvall – drums (1)
Janne Schaffer – guitar
Åke Sundqvist – percussion
Mike Watson – bass (1, 2)
Lasse Wellander – guitar
Kajtek Wojciechowski – saxophone (3)

Tuesday 6/14/22 8pm ET: Feature LP: ABBA: The Album (1977)

ABBA: The Album is the fifth studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in Scandinavia on December 12, 1977 through Polar Music, but due to the massive pre-orders the UK pressing plants were not able to press sufficient copies before Christmas 1977 and so it was not released in the UK until January 1978. The album was released in conjunction with ABBA: The Movie, with several of the songs featured in the film. Altogether the album contains nine songs.

The album contained two UK number-one singles, “Take a Chance on Me” and “The Name of the Game”, as well as European hits “Eagle” and “Thank You for the Music”.

1. “Eagle” 5:50
2. “Take a Chance on Me” 4:07
3. “One Man, One Woman” 4:34
4. “The Name of the Game” 4:54
5. “Move On” 4:43
6. “Hole in Your Soul” 3:41
7. “Thank You for the Music” 3:50
8. “I Wonder (Departure)” 4:34
9. “I’m a Marionette” 4:09

Agnetha Fältskog – lead, harmony, and backing vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead, harmony, and backing vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – harmony and backing vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitars, spoken word lead vocals on “Move On”
Benny Andersson – harmony and backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers
Lasse Wellander – lead guitar (except “Eagle”), acoustic and electric rhythm guitars
Janne Schaffer – lead guitar on “Eagle”
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass, string arrangements
Ola Brunkert – drums (except “Take A Chance on Me,” “One Man, One Woman,”, and “Thank You For The Music”)
Roger Palm – drums (on “Take a Chance on Me”, “One Man, One Woman”, and “Thank You for the Music”)
Lars O. Carlsson – flute, saxophone
Malando Gassama – percussion

Friday 5/13/22 11pm ET: Feature LP: Abba – Arrival (1976)

Arrival is the fourth studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally released in Sweden on October 11, 1976 by Polar Records. It became one of ABBA’s most successful albums to date, producing three of their biggest hits: “Dancing Queen”, “Money, Money, Money” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You”. The track “Fernando”, which had been recently released as a single in March 1976, was included on the Australian and New Zealand versions of the album. Arrival was the best-selling album of 1977 in the United Kingdom and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

1. “When I Kissed the Teacher” 3:00
2. “Dancing Queen” 3:50
3. “My Love, My Life” 3:52
4. “Dum Dum Diddle” 2:50
5. “Knowing Me, Knowing You” 4:02
6. “Money, Money, Money” 3:05
7. “That’s Me” 3:15
8. “Why Did It Have to Be Me?” 3:20
9. “Tiger” 2:55
10. “Arrival” 3:00
11. “Fernando” 4:12
12. “Happy Hawaii” 4:25
13. “Fernando” (Spanish version) 4:17
14. “La reina del baile” (Spanish version of Dancing Queen) 4:04
15. “Conociéndome, conociéndote” (Spanish version of Knowing Me, Knowing You) 4:04
16. “Fernando” (Frida’s Swedish solo version) 4:14

Agnetha Fältskog – vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
Benny Andersson – piano, synthesizer, accordion, chimes, marimba, backing vocals
Ola Brunkert – drums
Roger Palm – drums, tambourine and hi-hat percussion on “Dancing Queen”
Malando Gassama – percussion
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass, string arrangements on “My Love, My Life”
Janne Schaffer – electric guitar on “My Love, My Life”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You” (rhythm), “That’s Me” and “Why Did It Have To Be Me?”
Lasse Wellander – acoustic guitar on “Dum Dum Diddle”, electric lead guitar on “Knowing Me, Knowing You” and “Tiger”
Anders Glenmark – electric guitar on “Money, Money, Money”
Lars Carlsson – saxophone on “Why Did It Have To Be Me?”
Sven-Olof Walldoff – string arrangements on “Dancing Queen”
Anders Dahl – string arrangements on “Arrival”

Thursday 4/21/22 9am ET: Artist Countdown: Abba Top 30 Hits (Rev2)

ABBA are a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group’s name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names arranged as a palindrome. Widely considered one of the greatest musical groups of all time, they became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide from 1974 to 1983, and in 2021. ABBA have achieved 48 hit singles.

In 1974, ABBA were Sweden’s first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Waterloo”, which in 2005 was chosen as the best song in the competition’s history as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the contest. During the band’s main active years, it consisted of two married couples: Fältskog and Ulvaeus, and Lyngstad and Andersson. With the increase of their popularity, their personal lives suffered, which eventually resulted in the collapse of both marriages. The relationship changes were reflected in the group’s music, with latter compositions featuring darker and more introspective lyrics. After ABBA separated in December 1982, Andersson and Ulvaeus continued their success writing music for multiple audiences including stage, musicals and movies, while Fältskog and Lyngstad pursued solo careers.

Monday 1/17/22 1pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 15

This RadioMax extended special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We complete letter S and begin our travels into T.

1pm to 4pm ET

Friday 1/14/22 1pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 14

This RadioMax extended special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with the letter S.

1pm to 4pm ET

Thursday 1/13/22 6pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1981 A to Z – Part 8

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1981 A2Z.

We complete letter H and begin I. We feature music from: Police, Peter Cetera, Lulu, Pretenders, Abba, The Who, Glen Campbell, Terri Gibbs, Foreigner, Ronnie Milsap, Phil Collins, Donald Byrd, Carly Simon, Bangles, U2, AC/DC, Santana and many more. . .

6pm to 10pm ET

Thursday 1/13/22 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 13

This RadioMax extended special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with the completion of letter R and start with S into T.

2pm to 6pm ET

Wednesday 1/12/22 12pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 12

This RadioMax extended special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with the completion of letter N and start with O into R and feature music from: Hurricane Smith, Shocking Blue, Rod Stewart, Spinners, America, Three Dog Night, Eagles, Jackson Browne, Led Zeppelin, Ringo Starr, Jim Croce, Lighthouse, Clarence Carter, Allman Brothers Band and many more.

12pm to 6pm ET