Hit Songs Featuring Moog Synthesizers

The Moog Forum Moog Music General Topics Forum
1

Hi,

I’m looking for a list of hit songs by the following artists that feature moog synthesizers. I’m particularly interested in songs where the synthesizer is fairly obvious. The songs are for a radio special to celebrate Robert Moog’s contribution to popular music. Thanks in advance.

Here are the artists I’m interested in:

Beatles
ELP
Moody Blues
T-Rex
Who
Stevie Wonder
Jean-Michael Jarre
Yes
Roxy Music
Devo
Pink Floyd
Peter Gabriel
Phil Collins
Michael Jackson
The Cars
Steve Winwood
Deep Purple
Genesis
Duran Duran
Styx
Supertramp

2

Scanning your list, I think you might wish to reconsider a few bands.

The Who (specifically Pete Townsend) were big users of ARP gear back in the day. ARP was Moog’s main competitor in the ‘70’s. ARP synths are featured all over the album Who’s Next (‘Baba O’ Reilly’, ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, ‘Mobile’, etc.)

I’m pretty sure Tony Banks of Genesis is (was) also an ARP player.

When Pink Floyd recorded ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ (their biggest album) they used an EMS VCS3 synth.

I’m sure there are other examples. The biggest problem might be confirrming which brand of synth was used on a particular song, as many keyboard players use synths made by multiple manufacturers (Yamaha, Korg, Roland, ARP, Sequencial Circuits, Oberheim, Moog, etc.).

I’d suggest Trevor Pinch’s Book “Analog Days” to get some confirmation on ‘Moog synth’ songs.

Oh, and don’t forget Wendy Carlos (Switched On Bach) and Isao Tomita (Snowflakes are Dancing, The Firebird Suite, Holst The Planets). BIG Moog users in a classical setting.

3

Why is it NO ONE REMEMBERS E.L.O.???
E.L.O. was using Moogs from 1973 on, most likely on ALL of their hits that included synthesizer!
I see all of these list of bands that used synthesizers… and so FEW of them list E.L.O. despite the fact that E.L.O. had bigger hits than many of the more commonly-associated bands who used synthesizers.

4

There are also a couple of New Wave-era acts that used a Minimoog.

Wall of Voodo
Klaus Nomi
Georgio Moroder
Prince
The Police

5

Was Wonder’s “Boogie on Reggae Woman” (or whatever the title was) a minimoog?

6

Not exactly. It was a Synthi AKS which also included a digital sequencer used on that album.

I agree wholeheartedly with museslave (how are ya, man!!??) about ELO. Check out “Daybreaker” from the “On the Third Day” album.

Steve Winwood used moog all through the “Arc of a Diver” album.

Supertramp were almost exclusively Oberheimers.

HRx

7

Boogie on Reggae Woman was not a minimoog. It was a collection of various modules from Arp, Sem, and Moog all cv’d together to form a monster modular synth called Tonto, operated by the Tonto’s expanding headband guys who produced the best of Stevies seventies stuff. Stevie played the notes and they did all the slides (on a ribbon controller) and filter changes.

8

I think Rick Wakeman used a Polymoog on Yes’ Wonderous Stories.

Re the Pink Floyd thing: Yes, it was an AKS (in fact several) but for some reason the album cover for Dark Side listed VCS3. Apart from the keyboard they’re basically the same thing in a different box, though (someone correct me if I’m wrong).

I believe they used Minimoogs live, though, as the oscillators were more stable than the EMS synths.

One of the first hit singles in Britain to feature a Moog synth prominently was Chickory Tip’s Son of my Father. I think this was the first time many people had heard the instrument.

And yes, definitely mention Wendy Carlos and Tomita. Even if the main focus is hits, mention Wendy. Switched on Bach definitely qualifies as a hit. I think I’m right in saying it was the highest selling classical album of all time when it first appeared. And Glenn Gould praised her performances when set alongside other performances of Bach’s music. Musically, technically and in terms of `hit’ success it was a marvellous achivement.

It would probably be a good idea to post your shortlist here of recordings to play so any non-Moog records can be weeded out - and any doubtful ascriptions can be fought over to the death. :smiley:

9

<< Re the Pink Floyd thing: Yes, it was an AKS (in fact several) but for some reason the album cover for Dark Side listed VCS3. Apart from the keyboard they’re basically the same thing in a different box, though (someone correct me if I’m wrong). >>

The DVD “Dark Side of the Moon” actually shows them using an AKS in the studio, not a VCS3. Both there’s also a still shot in the DVD that shows a VCS3 in Waters rig (probably a concert photo).

But it’s all academic, because as Sweep correctly mentioned, electrically they are the same synths in different ‘packaging’. A VCS3 (aka “Putney) is in a wood cabinet. The AKS is a portable version of the same synth in a suitcase - a kind of plastic attache. The AKS is actually two bit of EMS gear in a single package: a Synthi A (suitcase) with a touchplate keyboard/sequencer in the lid (the 'KS”).

Interestingly, you can still buy 'em new from EMS:

http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/emsprods.html#synthiaks

10

Sort of.

The Synthi A and VCS3 (Mk2 version… The Putney was the Mk1) are electronically identical, and both still available from EMS. The A sits in a Spartanite attché case. The AKS had the built-in KS sequencer (no longer available from EMS) which is an essential piece of the combo to create many of the sounds on Dark Side. The patch required to play “On The run” won’t sound right or work with a non-sequencer equipped Synthi. Of course there’s nothing to stop you from using the KS sequencer with a VCS3 for the same effect. No amount of playing fast on the conventional key DK2 or Cricklewood DK1 (non sequencer ) keyboards will compensate!!

Splitting hairs. I know!!

11

Hi

Looking forward to hearing your radio show. In the meantime you should be able to listen to a show i did this week for an internet radio station. It should be available from Friday evening UK time.

It is a personal thankyou to Bob for his inspirational work. A real wizard.

www.totallyradio.com

Here is the playlist - enjoy, CB.

Walter Carlos, Spring, Columbia Records
Richard Hayman, The Windmills of Your Mind, Command records
Walter Carlos, Sinfonia to Cantata no 29, CBS
Tomita, The Earth – A Hollow Vessel, RCA
Gershon Kingsley, Did You Ever Take a Journey, Audio Fideltiy Records
Chris Swanson, Snow, n/a
Dick Hyman, The Minotaur, Command
Circulus, My Body is Made of Sunlight, Rise Above Records
C&K Vocal, Generace, Supraphon
Emerson Lake and Palmer, Lucky Man, Island
The Moog Machine, Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in, CBS
Marty Gold, Day Tripper, AVCO Embassy
Hugo Montenegro, You Got it Bad Girl, BMG
Clara Rockmore, Swan, n/a
Walter Carlos, Winter, Columbia Records
Dick Hyman, The Moog and Me, Command records
Devo, Mongoloid, Warner
Herbie Hancock, Earth Beat, CBS
Klaus Schulze, Mind Phaser, Bomb Records

12

When did Clara Rockmore ever endorse a Moog product?

I know that in the film, Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey, it was said that CBS were sponsoring a concert where she was supposed to play one of Dr. Moog’s Theremins, but she declined, out of pride for the unit made for her by Leon Theremin, himself.

Did she later endorse a synthesizer, or something?

13

I don’t think Clara Rockmore ever endorsed any Moog products but I know that Bob worked closely with her and obviously had a real love for the Theremin.

CB

14

As for Clara Rockmore, she did have her custom Theremin made by Theremin himself and it was true that she would only play that unit. The backstory is Moog produced her album in the 1970s and he arranged to have film & video shot of her in the process. So they had established a working relationship. Everyone was hoping she’d come out of retirement to perform at the Theremin tribute but she had the issue of her Theremin not being operational and she definitley stated she would not play a substitute. Bob Moog, whom she trusted, made a house call and repaired it and she performed. CBS had little to do with Bob Moog or his company other than releasing “Switched on Bach”. I doubt Rockmore’s concert was sponsored by CBS but I can’t say for sure.

back to hits

Well there’s “Popcorn” by Hot Butter. It’s considered the first hit single that’s mostly Moog Synthesizer (though some drums and I think bass keep it from being 100% synth).

The Beatles songs are “Maxwell Silver Hammer,” “Oh Darling,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “Because.”

Stevie Wonder’s played T.O.N.T.O. for several mid 70s albums. It was a huge heavily customized polyphonic Moog modular system which lots of modifications and custom modules (starting in the mid 70s many were co-designed with Serge). Prior to TONTO, he played mainly Arp 2600 and afterward the Yamaha GX-1.

I don’t believe T-REX used synths but that’s not my area of expertise. Malcolm Cecil of TONTO fame won one of his engineering Grammys for a T-REX album (with no synths on it).

Jean-Michel Jarre owned Moog synths but they weren’t a major part of his sound.

Same in the case of Vangelis.

Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream used significantly more Moog (especially in the mid 70s). Both have toured with large modular systems.

Yellow Magic Orchestra also toured with a large Moog and Emu Modular system. It’s on all their albums between 1978 and 1981.

Kraftwerk used a lot of Mini in their early days. Autobahn (single edit) was a top 10 U.S. single. I’m sure “Trans Europe Express” and “The Man Machine” featured a lot of Mini. “The Model” on the latter became a major hit.

Don’t forget Garry Numan’s hit “Cars”, usually cited as THE song to hear Polymoog on.

15

Speaking of cars. What was the favoured synth of The Cars?
-T2k-

16

Mostly Roland I think.

Telex is a good example of a band with a very Moog-centric sound.

17

On Pinkfloyds album “wish you were here” they used the minimoog heavily as well as the prophet 5 in concert.
-Tristan

18

Alot of you are forgetting Kanas’s album “leftoverture”

19

Did not Heart use the Mini in tunes like “Magic Man”?

20

That’s for sure. Plenty on “Magic Man,” plus on “Crazy On You” and “Heartless.”