Any recommendations for MOOG based albums

Hey,

Do any of you guys have any recommendations for any moog albums. I’m sure there are some classic ones out there.

Cheers :slight_smile:

Moog modular: anything by Klaus Schulze ( RIP ) from 1975-79 or so. Afterwards he still used the minimoogs a lot, even after he sold his modular. In the 90’s Pete Namlook talked Klaus into using his moog modular again, they made a bunch of “dark side of the moog” albums like this:

https://www.discogs.com/release/38243-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moog-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moog-IX

Of course the classic moog modular albums like these:

https://www.discogs.com/release/7859-The-Mighty-Moog-Everything-You-Always-Wanted-To-Hear-On-The-Moog-But-Were-Afraid-To-Ask-For

Dick Hyman’s famous “minitaur” track is on this one:

https://www.discogs.com/release/7285627-Dick-Hyman-Moog-The-Electric-Eclectics-Of-Dick-Hyman

“Switched on Bach” was pretty huge & set off an avalanche of modular synth music & inspirations in 1968:

https://www.discogs.com/release/7858-Walter-Carlos-Switched-On-Bach

Anything Tangerine Dream 1974-78 or so

Emerson Lake & Palmer had a moog modular in most of their stuff:

https://www.discogs.com/search?q=Emerson+Lake%20&%20Palmer&type=all

This is an early ( recorded in 1969 I think? 1970 release ) LP with moog modular content that is fun to listen to: later the studio burned & took the moog modular with it :frowning:

https://www.discogs.com/release/435392-Syrinx-Syrinx

Mort Garson did a bunch of moog modular albums too:

https://www.discogs.com/artist/76089-Mort-Garson

I’ll throw some lesser Moog albums out: Return of the Rentals by The Rentals. Pop-punk and tons of Moog Source …it’s kinda reminiscent of Stereolab albums at times (who used Moog + Farfisas, Rhodes, and tons of other gear).

Also Commit This To Memory by Motion City Soundtrack …inspired by The Rentals …even more pop-punk. Moog MG-1 on the record from what I’ve read.

Lisa Bella Donna!!! She’s hard to miss if you follow Moog related stuff on youtube and social media, but just in case you haven’t heard her yet, she’s amazing! She has a lot of youtube performances which are well worth your time watching because she’s so inspiring to see in the flow.
She also has an entire discography on Bandcamp. It’s really cool to hear what a contemporary master of the synth like her is doing now (with many of the synths just released in the last few years) in the context of “the lineage” as it were.
I would say to go listen to what artists like the other posters mentioned (Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultz, etc.) and then check her out to get some historical context and comparison to what people were doing with these synths several decades ago, and what some of the current masters like her are doing now with both vintage Moogs and the ones just released these past few years.
Of LBD’s albums, a few of my personal faves are: Moogmentum(which is also on Spotify), Ascention (the title track has a performace video on Youtube that’s a must-see!), and Afternoon Dreams (apparently one of/the first recorded album to feature the Matriarch!).
I hope you enjoy your journey of music discovery! I know I am! :smiley:

Of course Larry Fast https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/325903-Larry-Fast
and his Synergy: https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/115465-Synergy-3
esp. https://www.discogs.com/de/master/59930-Synergy-Electronic-Realizations-For-Rock-Orchestra

This is a gem for any Moog (and accordion and ABBA/Benny Andersson) music lover:

https://www.discogs.com/release/2929550-Gnesta-Kalle-And-His-Moogmen-Ny-gammal-Kultis

I will be posting a website dedicated to Vibronic Music Services (Vibronix) from 1973-1976. Our album was simply called The Philadelphia Moog Ensemble. There were only a handful of vinyl records pressed and I recently located one in Spain. Once I receive the record I will create digital files and will upload to the new website. The site should be completed by 9/15/22.

Song List
Funeral March for Queen Mary - Henry Purcell
Excerpt From The Brandenburg Concerto in G Major - Johann Sebastian Bach
Excerpt From The Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach
Chant de Paix (Song of Peace) - Jean Langlais
Trumpet Voluntary - Jeremiah Clarke
Phnorque - Kenny Fine

Here is the Philadelphia Moog Ensemble demo album Copyright 1975:
https://www.kenfine.com/vibrosynth
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@vibrosynth

Does anyone have a recommendation for an album published past 2000 or 2010 ? Thank you.

Haackula. Bruce Haack. 22,965 listeners. …
Drape Me In Velvet. Musette. 9,229 listeners. …
Music To Moog By. Gershon Kingsley. 11,852 listeners. …
Black Mass. Lucifer. …
Hisscivilization. Jupiter Apple. …
Moog: The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman. Dick Hyman. …
Moog Rock: Great Classic Hits. Les Baxter. …

Perhaps the most famous example of the Minimoog’s use in Rock can be found in Pink Floyd’s legendary album, Wish You Were Here. The iconic, synthetic bass line of ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ was produced with Richard Wright’s Minimoog, adding a glimmering, flowing effect to the song

Although this topic was posted for placing a comecial link, just as the two answers above, it’s a good topic :slight_smile: (Guys, you are being pretty obvious here…)

Many well known references were dropped here and I’m surprised not to see two more:

Here are a couple less obvious ones, in the 00/10s, maybe 90ies too:

  • The Dead Weather keyboardist and guitarist, Dean Fertita (also playing in the Queens of the stone age) uses a Little Phatty. Examples here and there live.
  • The same Fertita in QOTSA: some references in this other topic.
  • A french band named No Drum No Moog. Guess what, they feature drums and Moog :slight_smile: SoundCloud there, some lives available online too.
  • LCD SoundSystem’s synthesist and vocalist Nancy Whang plays a Moog The Rogue. See this live and listen to too Dance Yrself clean (live here) and Someone great.

Snowflakes are dancing (Isao Tomita)

Thanks for that, I like it a lot :slight_smile:

Oh yeah: a masterpiece!

Check out Anthony Phillips album 1984. This all-instrumental album is a great example of what can be done with the Polymoog, which is featured throughout. Anthony was one of the original members of Genesis, and his playing and composition is excellent throughout. It was just remastered a few years ago, and sounds wonderful.

Polymoog & ARP 2600 if I remember correct?

I bought that album based only on what instruments were used, reading the back cover :laughing:

Yes, Arp 2600 as well.
There’s also a nice mix of drum machine and live percussion to push things along.

It also seems to me like some of the sounds could have come from the Arp Pro DGX; there are some that sound a bit like the ones Tony Banks used in various Genesis tunes.

The remaster has early mixes of some of the sections, and some other pieces recorded around the same time as the album (late 70’s).
It’s a pretty good synth instrumental album… recommended.

I was disappointed to discover “jump” wasn’t on it

Hey,

Absolutely, Moog has produced some classic albums that are a treat for electronic music enthusiasts. Here are a few recommendations:

Wendy Carlos - “Switched-On Bach” (1968):

A groundbreaking album featuring classical music performed on a Moog synthesizer. Wendy Carlos played a pivotal role in popularizing the synthesizer.
Isao Tomita - “Snowflakes Are Dancing” (1974):

Tomita’s interpretation of Claude Debussy’s compositions using Moog synthesizers creates a mesmerizing and otherworldly atmosphere.
Keith Emerson - “Moog Plays The Beatles” (1970):

Keith Emerson, of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, takes on Beatles classics in this album, showcasing the Moog’s versatility.
Tangerine Dream - “Phaedra” (1974):

A pioneering work in the Berlin School of electronic music, “Phaedra” is known for its atmospheric and ambient sounds.
Jean-Michel Jarre - YoWhatsApp“Oxygene” (1976):

Jarre’s “Oxygene” is a landmark album in electronic music. It’s a beautiful journey through ambient and melodic landscapes.
Kraftwerk - “Autobahn” (1974):

While not exclusively Moog, Kraftwerk heavily used synthesizers, including the Moog, in “Autobahn,” contributing to the emergence of electronic pop.
These albums showcase the versatility of the Moog synthesizer across different genres. Enjoy exploring these classics! Cheers!