In a message dated 1/23/2006 1:41:41 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, larrydavid@... writes:
FWIW, I would like to see other people's recommendations too - I usually
carry a list with me of stuff to look for and am always looking for cool
synth records to add to it.
Here's a few not yet mentioned (thinking of older pre-1980 stuff):
Mostly or all synth:
Tonto's Expanding Head Band (huge modular)
Stardrive (featuring Dave Mason, custom ARP setup)
Synergy (aka Larry Fast)
Gary Wright (Dream Weaver)
any earlier Tangerine Dream
any Yellow Magic Orchestra
Roger Powell (Cosmic Furnace, Air Pocket)
Bill Nelson (Diary of a Love That Whirls, Chimera)
Hot Butter (a bit goofy, but hey, classic)
Rock/ jazz groups from my formative years, with strong synth performances :
early Manfred Mann's Earth Band albums (1971-75 especially)
Edgar Winter Group (They Only Come Out at Night, Jasmine Nightdreams)
Johnny "Guitar" Watson (A Real Mother For Ya)
Isotope (The Best of Isotope)
Steve Hillage (L, Motivation Radio) (also the Gong-guy, Flying Teapot)
The Tubes (The Tubes, Remote Control)
Little Feat (Waiting for Columbus)
Utopia (RA)
Ultravox (Systems of Romance, Vienna)
Styx (The Grand Illusion)
Pink Floyd (DSOTM, Wish You Were Here)
Nektar (Recycled, w/Larry Fast)
Hawkwind (Levitation)
Yes (Yessongs, Rick Wakeman again)
Polyrock (Above the Fruited Plain)
any Talking Heads, Devo, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, etc.
Mellotron:
King Crimson (Court of the Crimson King)
Moody Blues
As for Gentle Giant, 'Free Hand' and 'The Power and the Glory' are two of my favorites, but you can't go wrong with any of their stuff.
-Karl.