[sdiy] Bruce Haack

[Scott Stites]

Surprising that Columbia did carry it, indeed.  According to the movie, Columbia did balk at releasing "Haackula" because of content.  It was later 'watered down' and released as a (still creepy) children's album of sorts (according to the flick).

An interesting bit in the movie is that he composed and performed the music for the 'Booby Trap' game commercial - how many here remember that potential finger-smasher of a game?

I read a review of 'Electric Lucifer' - around 1970, wasn't it?  A lot of vocoder in that one.  The review mentioned it was performed on equipment built by Bruce - parts cost about $50 from Canal Street.  During the movie, I noticed quite a few vocoder-like effects, though the time periods of the recordings were always a bit vague.  Still, in 1970, had vocoders as self contained units hit the market yet?

I wonder if he put his designs to schematic, and wonder even further if any survive.

As for the tribute album, it certainly would be an interesting piece.  I was surprised when I discovered 'Party Machine' (played in entirety at the end of the movie) was actually done by Bruce - first time I heard it, coming in late, I didn't realize that was the case - it sounded contemporary enough to have been on the tribute album, which was done in 2004.  Awesome use of the vocoder IMO. 

Cheers,
Scott


-----Original Message-----
>From: John McCusker <mccusker at email.unc.edu>
>Sent: Feb 15, 2006 7:42 AM
>To: synth-diy <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
>Subject: Re: [sdiy] Bruce Haack
>
>I'd start with either his 'Way-Out Album for Children' (1968) or a  
>collection called "Hush Little Robot" (available on CD) which  
>contains most of the infamous 'Electric Lucifer' LP. Both excellent,  
>both mind warping. It still amazes me that Columbia Records initially  
>released some of his stuff.
>
>www.brucehaack.com
>http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/haack.bruce.html
>
>John M
>
>
>
>On Feb 15, 2006, at 1:10 AM, Colin Raffel wrote:
>
>> There was also a benefit CD made for Bruce Haack.  Covers of all  
>> sorts of artists doing his songs.  It is called Dimension mix, I  
>> have never heard it but supposedly the stereolab recording is  
>> wonderful.
>>
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A8AXBI/002-4690317-7827204? 
>> v=glance&n=5174
>>
>>
>> -Colin
>>
>> On Feb 15, 2006, at 12:50 AM, <scottnoanh at peoplepc.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hey all,
>>>
>>> If you have access to the Documentary Channel (I get it on Dish  
>>> Network),
>>> this month is music month, and they've been playing "Bruce Haack,  
>>> King of
>>> Techno" quite a bit.
>>>
>>> To be honest, I'd never heard of Bruce Haack, and just figured the  
>>> film must
>>> be about one of the countless techno artists I am unfamiliar  
>>> with.  Au
>>> contraire!  This guy was one of the original Synth DIY guys.  He  
>>> performed
>>> on electronic equipment he'd built himself from the late '50's on  
>>> through
>>> his last recording around '81 or so (he died in '88).
>>>
>>> There's some great footage of him playing his 'dermitron' - a  
>>> device that
>>> allowed one to 'play people' through skin contact.  It looks to be  
>>> from the
>>> late fifites/early sixties on the old show "What's My Line".  Very
>>> theremin-like.  He produced a whole line of kid's records (he made  
>>> a guest
>>> appearance on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in '68) and then moved  
>>> on to
>>> hippiedom and some very dark stuff.  The last recording he made  
>>> (circa 1981)
>>> "Party Machine" is played for the closing credits - really trips  
>>> my trigger.
>>> All vocoder vocals and such.
>>>
>>> If you get the Documentary Channel, check it out.....
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Scott
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>


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