Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Thread

classic synth records

2006-01-23 by Lee Mitchell

I'm not sure how inappropriate this post is, but I thought it's a good
group of people to ask.

I'm going to be going to a large used record shop and was wondering if
anyone had suggestions on some stuff to look for in terms of classic
synth records (regardless of genre).

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-23 by John Laudicina

all Emerson Lake and Palmer
Tomita
Robert Rich (MOTM)
Wendy (Walter) Carlos
Yes
Pink Floyd
Frank Zappa (Wakajawaka)
Jean Michel Jarre
Weather Report
Supertramp
Chick Corea
George Duke
It is an endless list

--- Lee Mitchell <djarago@...> wrote:

> I'm not sure how inappropriate this post is, but I
> thought it's a good
> group of people to ask.
>
> I'm going to be going to a large used record shop
> and was wondering if
> anyone had suggestions on some stuff to look for in
> terms of classic
> synth records (regardless of genre).
>
>
>
>
>
>

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Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-23 by Larry David

>Tomita
>Robert Rich (MOTM)
>Wendy (Walter) Carlos
>
>

if the record says "walter" rather than "wendy" that is a good sign for
me - i like his earlier stuff. i have a walter carlos record of early
pieces ranging from tape music (musique concrete) to moog modular stuff,
very interesting. (the record has a cartoon drawing of walter, the
beatles, and a gorilla on the front; and a moog modular - can't recall
the title...) there were several more "baroque on moog" albums besides
"Switched On Bach", as well - all of them probly available on CD too,
but maybe not individually (i know there is/was a boxed set)

>Yes
>Pink Floyd
>Frank Zappa (Wakajawaka)
>Jean Michel Jarre
>Weather Report
>
>

forgot weather report - if you like jazz and synths, they are hard to
beat. if you play bass (or just like music with great bass playing),
then you should own every weather report album (while they had Jaco), IMHO.

>Supertramp
>
>

??? synth music? maybe i'm missing something - The Logical Song is one
of my favorites for the Rhodes part, but i wouldn't call it synth
music... but then again i only own Breakfast in America (the first
record I ever bought!) ;)

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>Chick Corea
>
>

forgot Chick too - he has some amazing synth albums - My Spanish Heart,
The Leprechaun (or something close to that), and another one I can't
recall from the same era - all found for a pittance at my local record
store, and all probably out of print (well maybe Spanish Heart is on CD,
haven't checked). i have a Maynard Ferguson album with Chick on it -
Maynard (jazz trumpeter) and Chick have a dueling solo (Chick on
Minimoog) that is unbelievable. probably the most virtuosic and
expressive synth playing i have ever heard...

Larry D.

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-23 by Greg Amann

>
> >Supertramp
> >
> >
>
> ??? synth music? maybe i'm missing something - The Logical Song is
> one
> of my favorites for the Rhodes part, but i wouldn't call it synth
> music... but then again i only own Breakfast in America (the first
> record I ever bought!) ;)
>

Whatever Supertramp may be, they are NOT a band that used synths
particularly well.

For early prog that has some strong synth that is off the beaten
track (this is NOT synth music, this is prog with synth - very
different), try Flying Teapot by Gong.

PLL, BFG

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-23 by xamboldt

I believe that is called "Walter Carlos By Request" - featuring a
fantastically psychotic version of "What's New Pussycat" - at one
point it sounds like he drops a brick on the keyboard, but then you
remember that everything was monophonic, so the dissonance had to be
painstakingly arranged. Genius!

-Chris

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On Jan 23, 2006, at 3:24 PM, Larry David wrote:
> (the record has a cartoon drawing of walter, the
> beatles, and a gorilla on the front; and a moog modular - can't recall
> the title...)

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-24 by Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)

...
Tonto's Expanding Head

Lee Mitchell wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> I'm not sure how inappropriate this post is, but I thought it's a good
> group of people to ask.
>
> I'm going to be going to a large used record shop and was wondering if
> anyone had suggestions on some stuff to look for in terms of classic
> synth records (regardless of genre).

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-24 by Richard Brewster

Speaking of Walter Carlos, I rented A Clockwork Orange (1971) last
week. Fantastic soundtrack of classical music a la Moog. There is a
scene where Alex is getting beaten up by his old droogies, now cops, and
every hit of the nightstick is accompanied by an incredible crashing
sound. All I could imagine was a reverb tank being drop kicked. So add
A Clockwork Orange soundtrack to your classic recordings list.

-Richard Brewster

http://www.pugix.com

xamboldt wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>I believe that is called "Walter Carlos By Request" - featuring a
>fantastically psychotic version of "What's New Pussycat" - at one
>point it sounds like he drops a brick on the keyboard, but then you
>remember that everything was monophonic, so the dissonance had to be
>painstakingly arranged. Genius!
>
>-Chris
>
>
>On Jan 23, 2006, at 3:24 PM, Larry David wrote:
>
>
>>(the record has a cartoon drawing of walter, the
>>beatles, and a gorilla on the front; and a moog modular - can't recall
>>the title...)
>>
>>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: [motm] Re: classic synth records

2006-01-24 by Paul Haneberg

I'm a big Gentle Giant fan too.

If you can get it get the DVD. I think the keyboardist from GG is actually
selling this himself.
First saw it a Dave Bradley's house. Poorly recorded by todays standards,
but the playing is spectacular.

I would get the live album "Playing the Fool" first.

I would also recommend:
(in this order)

Freehand
Octopus
In a Glass House
Interview
Power and Glory

The Missing Piece and Civilian are more commercial but also quite good.

I'd stay away

Show quoted textHide quoted text

from:
Three Friends
Giant for a Day

There are also a couple of early albums which are not as good IMHO:

Gentle Giant and Acquiring the Taste

There are a whole bunch of live albums taken from various radio shows and
concerts.
Most of these are not well recorded, but there are some real gems because
the playing often transcends the poor quality.

Proghead Paul

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub) " <egroups@...>
To: <MOTM@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 7:30 PM
Subject: [motm] Re: classic synth records

> Hi Juergen!
>
>>>I go to a local used record store (in Detroit area) and usually find
>>>prog rock stuff - sometimes Gentle Giant or Camel records, which are
>>>always worth the few bucks on the sticker, even if they are not awesome
>>>records.
>>
>>
>> Ahhh, but *every* record from Gentle Giant is awsome !!
>
> Some of the records have been rereleased on the occasion of their 35th
> anniversary.
> Any particular recordings you'd recommend since that's a lot?
>
> e.g.
> In a Glass House
> Interview
> Playing the Fool
> Free Hand
> ...
>
> Michael.
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-24 by Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)

just remembered: Pete Namlook (Moog)

Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub) wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> ...
> Tonto's Expanding Head
>
> Lee Mitchell wrote:
>
>>I'm not sure how inappropriate this post is, but I thought it's a good
>>group of people to ask.
>>
>>I'm going to be going to a large used record shop and was wondering if
>>anyone had suggestions on some stuff to look for in terms of classic
>>synth records (regardless of genre).
>

Re: [motm] Re: classic synth records

2006-01-24 by JH.

> If you can get it get the DVD.

Absolutely.

> I'd stay away from:
> Three Friends

Oh. Three Friends is *fabulous*. Especially the title track - ear candy,
which is the exception from GG, but tricky timing and an extraordinary bass
line nevertheless.

> There are also a couple of early albums which are not as good IMHO:
>
> Gentle Giant and Acquiring the Taste

Aquiring The Taste is a rather experimental album, and not one of my
faviorites either. BUT: The fist track, Pantagruel's Nativity, is simply
breathtaking, awesome, one of their best songs ever. It's worth getting
the album for just this song, IMO. This one, and the follow-up on the
same topic, The Advent Of Panurge (from Octopus).

And the very first (self titled) album is interesting as well. Very
different
from their later stuff, less transparent in the mix, more accessible for the
average listener, but with a wonderful atmosphere and the tricky stuff
more below the surface. I know they played "Funny Ways" to death
on their many tours, but I still think it's a great composition and worth
listening in its original version, of the 1st album.
And there's some real nasty Moog synth on Alucard.

JH.

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>
> There are a whole bunch of live albums taken from various radio shows and
> concerts.
> Most of these are not well recorded, but there are some real gems because
> the playing often transcends the poor quality.
>
> Proghead Paul
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub) " <egroups@...>
> To: <MOTM@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 7:30 PM
> Subject: [motm] Re: classic synth records
>
>
> > Hi Juergen!
> >
> >>>I go to a local used record store (in Detroit area) and usually find
> >>>prog rock stuff - sometimes Gentle Giant or Camel records, which are
> >>>always worth the few bucks on the sticker, even if they are not awesome
> >>>records.
> >>
> >>
> >> Ahhh, but *every* record from Gentle Giant is awsome !!
> >
> > Some of the records have been rereleased on the occasion of their 35th
> > anniversary.
> > Any particular recordings you'd recommend since that's a lot?
> >
> > e.g.
> > In a Glass House
> > Interview
> > Playing the Fool
> > Free Hand
> > ...
> >
> > Michael.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-01-24 by John Laudicina

I forgot...
Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds, ARPs Yahmahas,
Rolands and thunder childs (I think it was a Moog 15?)
If you can find this album the album art alone is
worth the money.
Richard Burton narrates,
Justin Hayward (Moody Blues) sings
Great album.

As far as Supertramp I am sure I heard Synths in
there, go back a couple of albums. On the credits
they just list keyboards, I guess Roger Hodgson and
Rick Davies, did not wnt to give the manufacturers any
free publicity, and why not I am sure the
manufacturers didnt give them any breaks on equipment.

Chick Corea used an arp odessy on the Leprechaun
album, I saw him and photographed him with the white
faced odessy in Gainsville at the great southern music
hall. I shot the photo because at the time I had a
white faced odessy, wish I still had it.

George Duke used an arp odessy (white faced) an
several of the ZAPPA albums Saw him use it at many
zappa concerts.

I am gonna put up my Micro moog on ebay soon. gonna
keep the juno 6 and my modular keeps growing.
Building my 480 kit now, not sure if I am 100%
satisfied with the prestuffed board, when mine came
allot of the resistors had one leg out of the holes.
But I think this would have been a trip to put all of
those resistors on the board.

I would like to know how do they pre-stuff a board????
is it done by hand??

John

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Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic synth records)

2006-01-25 by Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)

John Laudicina wrote:

> not sure if I am 100%
> satisfied with the prestuffed board, when mine came
> allot of the resistors had one leg out of the holes.
> But I think this would have been a trip to put all of
> those resistors on the board.
>
> I would like to know how do they pre-stuff a board????
> is it done by hand??

That's done by a pretty big machine.

Quoting Paul:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> On a $180,000 machine (not one *I* own, though).
>
> http://www.uirmd.com/products/inserters.htm first item
> (6241 inserter/sequencer)
>
> Paul S.

I'm not sure what happend, maybe the resistors weren't secured properly
while being shipped?

Michael.

RE: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic synth records)

2006-01-25 by Paul Haneberg

I've had to put a number of parts back in these boards that have shaken
loose on their way here. I assume they get shaken loose on their way to
the customers as well.

Personally, I'd rather make up the resistor baggies and ship them,
although it is a pain in the ass.

Paul H.

-----Original Message-----
From: motm@yahoogroups.com [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 7:19 PM
To: motm@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic synth records)

John Laudicina wrote:

> not sure if I am 100%
> satisfied with the prestuffed board, when mine came
> allot of the resistors had one leg out of the holes.
> But I think this would have been a trip to put all of
> those resistors on the board.
>
> I would like to know how do they pre-stuff a board????
> is it done by hand??

That's done by a pretty big machine.

Quoting Paul:

> On a $180,000 machine (not one *I* own, though).
>
> http://www.uirmd.com/products/inserters.htm first item
> (6241 inserter/sequencer)
>
> Paul S.

I'm not sure what happend, maybe the resistors weren't secured properly
while being shipped?

Michael.

Yahoo! Groups Links

RE: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic synth records)

2006-01-25 by John Laudicina

Maybe the better solution to the pre-stuffed boards
is... have them soldiered in, is this possible or is
this impossible due to the rest of the components
having to be added latter???

Paul Both of you... You guys are doing a great job.
John

--- Paul Haneberg <phaneber@...> wrote:

> I've had to put a number of parts back in these
> boards that have shaken
> loose on their way here. I assume they get shaken
> loose on their way to
> the customers as well.
>
> Personally, I'd rather make up the resistor baggies
> and ship them,
> although it is a pain in the ass.
>
> Paul H.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: motm@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)
> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 7:19 PM
> To: motm@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic
> synth records)
>
> John Laudicina wrote:
> > not sure if I am 100%
> > satisfied with the prestuffed board, when mine
> came
> > allot of the resistors had one leg out of the
> holes.
> > But I think this would have been a trip to put all
> of
> > those resistors on the board.
> >
> > I would like to know how do they pre-stuff a
> board????
> > is it done by hand??
>
> That's done by a pretty big machine.
>
> Quoting Paul:
> > On a $180,000 machine (not one *I* own, though).
> >
> > http://www.uirmd.com/products/inserters.htm first
> item
> > (6241 inserter/sequencer)
> >
> > Paul S.
>
> I'm not sure what happend, maybe the resistors
> weren't secured properly
> while being shipped?
>
> Michael.
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

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Re: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic synth records)

2006-01-25 by Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)

John Laudicina wrote:

> Maybe the better solution to the pre-stuffed boards
> is... have them soldiered in, is this possible or is
> this impossible due to the rest of the components
> having to be added latter???

I'd say the soldering bath would fill all the othe drillings you need to
stuff the remaining parts. And I wouldn't consider soldering by hand.

Michael.

Re: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic synth records)

2006-01-26 by groovyshaman

Please don't do this. I like my soldering!

-George

----- Original Message -----

Show quoted textHide quoted text

From: "John Laudicina" <gion2archery@...>
To: "Paul Haneberg" <phaneber@...>; <motm@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 12:10 PM
Subject: RE: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic synth records)

> Maybe the better solution to the pre-stuffed boards
> is... have them soldiered in, is this possible or is
> this impossible due to the rest of the components
> having to be added latter???
>
> Paul Both of you... You guys are doing a great job.
> John
>
> --- Paul Haneberg <phaneber@...> wrote:
>
> > I've had to put a number of parts back in these
> > boards that have shaken
> > loose on their way here. I assume they get shaken
> > loose on their way to
> > the customers as well.
> >
> > Personally, I'd rather make up the resistor baggies
> > and ship them,
> > although it is a pain in the ass.
> >
> > Paul H.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: motm@yahoogroups.com
> > [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> > Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 7:19 PM
> > To: motm@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [motm] Re: pre-stuffed PCBs (was: classic
> > synth records)
> >
> > John Laudicina wrote:
> > > not sure if I am 100%
> > > satisfied with the prestuffed board, when mine
> > came
> > > allot of the resistors had one leg out of the
> > holes.
> > > But I think this would have been a trip to put all
> > of
> > > those resistors on the board.
> > >
> > > I would like to know how do they pre-stuff a
> > board????
> > > is it done by hand??
> >
> > That's done by a pretty big machine.
> >
> > Quoting Paul:
> > > On a $180,000 machine (not one *I* own, though).
> > >
> > > http://www.uirmd.com/products/inserters.htm first
> > item
> > > (6241 inserter/sequencer)
> > >
> > > Paul S.
> >
> > I'm not sure what happend, maybe the resistors
> > weren't secured properly
> > while being shipped?
> >
> > Michael.
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: classic synth records

2006-02-02 by Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)

JH. wrote:

> The best ones are Free Hand and The Power And The Glory.
>
> But if you aren't used to that kind of music, it's much better
> to start with their more accessible ones, like Gentle Giant
> or Three Friends.

I just acquired "The Power and the Glory".
Excellent stuff!

Can't wait to get some others.

Thanks for pointing us/me there!

:-) Michael.

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-02-06 by Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub)

xamboldt wrote:

> I believe that is called "Walter Carlos By Request" -

Guys, thanks for that great pointer!
I just acquired it and I was totally unaware of this record.
I do indeed like it - the weirder the better ;-)

> featuring a
> fantastically psychotic version of "What's New Pussycat" - at one
> point it sounds like he drops a brick on the keyboard, but then you
> remember that everything was monophonic, so the dissonance had to be
> painstakingly arranged. Genius!

You mean that one at 0:59?
Doesn't sound that complicated to my ears but maybe I'm missing something.

And Wendy does like cats as you can hear throughout that tune. ;-)

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>
> On Jan 23, 2006, at 3:24 PM, Larry David wrote:
>
>>(the record has a cartoon drawing of walter, the
>>beatles, and a gorilla on the front; and a moog modular - can't recall
>>the title...)

Unfortunately they dropped that layout for the CD-rerelease.

Michael.

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-02-06 by xamboldt

I just dug my record out, and you're right, that sound at :59 wasn't
all that complicated - actually just sounds like maybe a single
blarty oscillator. I hadn't heard the song it years, so I guess it
had become more complicated in my mind - I guess it was shocking at
first listen since it was so loud and seemingly random. Anyway, the
liner notes said it was recorded in 1967, and was one of her first
Moog pieces and an experiment with an 8-track recorder. So the song's
worth hearing even if it's just to see how out there she was from the
beginning of her Moogery.

-Chris

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On Feb 6, 2006, at 12:19 PM, Michael Zacherl (aka TonTaub) wrote:

>
> xamboldt wrote:
>
>> I believe that is called "Walter Carlos By Request" -
>
> Guys, thanks for that great pointer!
> I just acquired it and I was totally unaware of this record.
> I do indeed like it - the weirder the better ;-)
>
>> featuring a
>> fantastically psychotic version of "What's New Pussycat" - at one
>> point it sounds like he drops a brick on the keyboard, but then you
>> remember that everything was monophonic, so the dissonance had to be
>> painstakingly arranged. Genius!
>
> You mean that one at 0:59?
> Doesn't sound that complicated to my ears but maybe I'm missing
> something.
>
> And Wendy does like cats as you can hear throughout that tune. ;-)
>
>>
>> On Jan 23, 2006, at 3:24 PM, Larry David wrote:
>>
>>> (the record has a cartoon drawing of walter, the
>>> beatles, and a gorilla on the front; and a moog modular - can't
>>> recall
>>> the title...)
>
> Unfortunately they dropped that layout for the CD-rerelease.
>
> Michael.
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: [motm] classic synth records

2006-02-14 by Kenneth Elhardt

John L. writes:

>>As far as Supertramp I am sure I heard Synths in

there, go back a couple of albums. On the credits
they just list keyboards, I guess Roger Hodgson and
Rick Davies, did not wnt to give the manufacturers any
free publicity, and why not I am sure the
manufacturers didnt give them any breaks on equipment.<<

They aren't really know for synth use. But SOS did a piece about the making
of Breakfast in America. They say they used an Oberheim 4 voice on it.
They also used an Elka Rhapsody String synth through a Chorus pedal. The
strings in "Take the Long Way Home" would be an example. Also they used a
Wurlitzer, not a Rhodes for electric piano which somebody made a mistake on.

Ken Tkacs writes:

>>Off the top of my head, I can think of these electronic music LPs that

never made it to CD:

"The Four Seasons" by Patrick Gleeson, using the Synclavier.

"The Electronic Messiah" (Carlos-style rendition of the Messiah with a
real human choir)

"Sound Creature" by Isao Tomita (his 'secrets of synthesis' album); most
other Tomita has been released on CD, but not necessarily in Europe or
The States.<<

I have these and lots other vintage records I'm probably going to sell off.

>>"The Interstellar Suite" by Amin Bhatia is good and I hear had a limited

CD release.<<

Had Amin Bhatia appeared on the scene 10 years earlier and with a modular
synth, we might be naming him along with Tomita and Carlos as the third
synth virtuoso. I liked his original Roland contest entry better than his
redone version for the "Intersteller Suite". It wasn't broken up and
intermixed with movie-like sound effects and dialog, and it was supposedly
100% Minimoog with effects, as opposed to the more digital sounding synths
(but really analog) he later used for "Interstellar Suite".

I still have his two winning Roland 5th and 6th Annual Synthesizer Tape
Contest entries online. The links are below at about 4.7 MB and 2.2 MB
respectively. The first piece really picks up after the first slow minute.
He was heavily influenced by Tomita. Minimoog is the synth used in each one
(he got a hell of a lot out of that synth), but it sounds like there is also
an 808 or similar type drum machine used in the second piece.

http://home.att.net/~synth6/Flight_Beyond_the_Stars-Bhatia.mp3

http://home.att.net/~synth6/Desert_March_of_the_Military-Bhatia.mp3

-Elhardt