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Topic ClosedFar out Synthesizer Solos in Early Prog
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brainstormer View Drop Down
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Points: 887 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 28 2014 at 17:54
Originally posted by calm_sea calm_sea wrote:

You haven't really defined what you mean by "early".
Would the Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" fit into this category?  How about Camel's "Lunar Sea"? 

Sure.  I consider early prog anything before 1981, but of course that's give or take
a few years.

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Are you just looking for trippy, expansive stuff which is far more textural and exploratory than purely melodic?  Pretty much every lick of synthesizer in Hawkwind's music was for atmosphere and texture, and was entirely experimental (to my ears). 


Yes,  I'm aware of their music, but they really didn't do that many synth solos.  Their
guitar solos were often outstanding as far as being "far out."  What I mean by far
out is using more of the features of the synthesizer, or other processing, so that
it really makes you feel sound in a unique way.  Lucky Man,  And You and I's synth
lead lines, much of Banks work on Lamb, and some of Vangelis work does that for me.
IMHO, there isn't a whole lot of it, but its around.


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A lot of progressive rock, particularly symphonic and RPI, uses the synthesizer as another musical texture with which to play melodically.  This helps bands get the scope of sounds which an orchestra might have, but in a rock setting.  At least that's who I interpret it.  Love synths.

Me too.  I've played them since I was 13 when I built a PAIA 2720 kit with an older
neighbor friend.
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Points: 10213 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 28 2014 at 17:03
The Doors' Strange Days, 1967.

" According to No One Here Gets Out Alive, "Strange Days" finds Ray Manzarek recording "one of the earliest examples of the Moog synthesizer in rock." The synth was hooked up with the help of Paul Beaver and played by vocalist Morrison."
 Wikipedia
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Points: 4460 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 28 2014 at 15:59
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Points: 60 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 28 2014 at 09:54
You haven't really defined what you mean by "early".
Would the Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" fit into this category?  How about Camel's "Lunar Sea"? 

Are you just looking for trippy, expansive stuff which is far more textural and exploratory than purely melodic?  Pretty much every lick of synthesizer in Hawkwind's music was for atmosphere and texture, and was entirely experimental (to my ears). 

A lot of progressive rock, particularly symphonic and RPI, uses the synthesizer as another musical texture with which to play melodically.  This helps bands get the scope of sounds which an orchestra might have, but in a rock setting.  At least that's who I interpret it.  Love synths.
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Points: 10213 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 09 2014 at 17:19
Paul Beaver played Moog synth on those tracks:


The Ventures' Stawberry Fields Forever (The Beatles cover) from Super Psychedelics  LP released in 1967





The Electric FLag's M-23 from The Trip soundtrack LP released in 1967




also A Little Head  the track from the same album.








The Electric Flag's Growin` Is Easy  from A Long Time Comin'  LP released in 1968 











Edited by Svetonio - December 09 2014 at 18:17
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Points: 872 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 09 2014 at 10:32
ok it's just a small solo but the video makes me smile :)
"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

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Points: 15916 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 05 2014 at 17:29
Colin Towns (Ian Gillan Band) has some excellent solos (on his ARP 2600) throughout Clear Air Turbulence. A stunning one especially on Angel Manchenio.
(Oops, it's from 1977, not early )
I'll make up for it by suggesting Falk Rogner's twittering VCS 3 noodling in Amon Duul II's song Surrounded By The Stars. There is also a clavioline credited.......

Edited by Tom Ozric - December 05 2014 at 17:33
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Points: 8615 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 05 2014 at 11:25
Originally posted by cstack3 cstack3 wrote:

Besides "Switched On Bach," this was the first Moog synth I heard as a lad (1970), it comes right up in the intro!  The classic spacey synth sound (sine-wave I believe)

Great performance by Ian Gillan, one of his best! 




Good call, Chuck. And synths courtesy of Quatermass/Sun Treader/Brand X musician Peter Robinson!Thumbs Up
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Points: 23104 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 05 2014 at 10:49
How could I forget?
These two cracking RPI tunes both sport the same angry duck-like synth, only put to use in remarkably different ways:
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Points: 1607 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 30 2014 at 13:30
Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

Originally posted by prog4evr prog4evr wrote:

Originally posted by Rick Robson Rick Robson wrote:

A full-blown synthesizer playing music piece:
   
Triumvirat - E Minor 5 9 Minor 5 
 

If you want "full-blown synthesizer playing [classical] music piece," then check out the entire catalog of Wendy (Walter) Carlos (circa 1971 to 1973 especially):  an early aficionado, promoter, and friend of Robert Moog's first (if not "beta") line of his synthesizer creations...
 
This. I was going to post the full version of "Timesteps" till I recalled (more like rediscovered) that Carlos does not allow music to be posted on Youtube. Even the original album version of A Clockwork Orange is truncated, i.e. only non-Carlos tracks are posted.
 
Hey that will be interesting indeed to check out! I thank you two for the info.


"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
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Points: 7265 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 30 2014 at 13:17
Besides "Switched On Bach," this was the first Moog synth I heard as a lad (1970), it comes right up in the intro!  The classic spacey synth sound (sine-wave I believe)

Great performance by Ian Gillan, one of his best! 






Edited by cstack3 - November 30 2014 at 13:18
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Points: 17163 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 30 2014 at 11:31
Originally posted by prog4evr prog4evr wrote:

Originally posted by Rick Robson Rick Robson wrote:

A full-blown synthesizer playing music piece:
   
Triumvirat - E Minor 5 9 Minor 5 
 

If you want "full-blown synthesizer playing [classical] music piece," then check out the entire catalog of Wendy (Walter) Carlos (circa 1971 to 1973 especially):  an early aficionado, promoter, and friend of Robert Moog's first (if not "beta") line of his synthesizer creations...
 
This. I was going to post the full version of "Timesteps" till I recalled (more like rediscovered) that Carlos does not allow music to be posted on Youtube. Even the original album version of A Clockwork Orange is truncated, i.e. only non-Carlos tracks are posted.
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Points: 1455 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 30 2014 at 05:02
Originally posted by Rick Robson Rick Robson wrote:

A full-blown synthesizer playing music piece:
   
Triumvirat - E Minor 5 9 Minor 5 
 

If you want "full-blown synthesizer playing [classical] music piece," then check out the entire catalog of Wendy (Walter) Carlos (circa 1971 to 1973 especially):  an early aficionado, promoter, and friend of Robert Moog's first (if not "beta") line of his synthesizer creations...
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Points: 15916 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 28 2014 at 18:51
Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

I'm sorry, but, for me, none will compare to "Stagnation" and "Lucky Man." These two gave me chills back then and still do today.
No synth in Stagnation, just Banks toying with the pitch on his Hammond.
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Points: 1607 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 28 2014 at 18:45
A full-blown synthesizer playing music piece:
   
Triumvirat - E Minor 5 9 Minor 5 
 


"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
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Points: 8192 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 27 2014 at 11:29
I'm sorry, but, for me, none will compare to "Stagnation" and "Lucky Man." These two gave me chills back then and still do today.
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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Points: 1607 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2014 at 15:55
Just recalling another track worth mentioning for featuring a stunning synthesizer playing even if not exactly of the kind asked by the OP:
 
Camel - Lunar Sea
 
 


"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
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Points: 5319 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2014 at 15:15
Nostradamus is a great Solaris album and I stand by that........now back to your solo arguments







some of the hits, all of the time, and I am right always
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Points: 20604 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2014 at 15:11
Perhaps it easier to ask what Synthesizer solos were NOT far out in early prog. LOL
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Points: 23104 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2014 at 14:59
Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

Sadly, you are confusing "popular music" with other things out there. Calling the guitar style in Egberto Gismonti a "solo" is stupid, and bad music knowledge. Calling Keith Jarrett's majority of work a "solo" means the rest is worthless.
No I don't and sadly you confuse me with a complete idiot that knows nothing about music. 
 
 
That was not the intent, unless you wish to think so!
 
All I'm saying is that many of the folks in "progressive" music also had the ability that has been in music for thousands of years to create something that today we like to call "solo" because we are not willing or capable of discussing the musical ability that those folks have, some of which would probably be way better than some of the best known performers in the last 500 years!
 
Why?
 
The old days had no media for anyone to hear things and compare, and today, this has helped foilks take that ability to incredible degrees of quality, and compositional elements that would not even be considered 300 years ago!
 
"Solo", in my book, is for the "hits" ... you don't go to see Turandot for one aria or solo. You don't go to see Clapton for one "solo" ... it's an idiotic idea. The issue is that we refuse to give rock music, and its many variations the credit it deserves as solid music that deserves consideration and mention in the history of music ... everyone here, talks about it as just another pop song with a bridge and a solo in it and nothign else ... and after a while that discussion, and THAT SONG are blank, boring, repetitious and have nothing to shake you with!
 
Why are you, and others, refusing to elevate teh music, when so much of it is way better than merely a pop song? Ohhh btw, Tangerine Dream is a bunch of fa****s and ugly old f**kers that can't play, since all they do during their shows is solo from beginning to the end ... !!!!
 
Sorry!!!! Your music definition and understanding needs to spread out a bit more. On the floor with a piss is a good start!


You can't expect everyone else to think like you Pedro. The way you think of 'solos' are so far removed from anything mentioned in this thread that it literally boggles the mind. Don't get me wrong, I understand where you're coming from, but that is NOT the discussion right now. 
The above post of yours is highly disrespectful of anyone who isn't 'in on' this pseudo interpretation of yours, and it is furthermore some of the most condescending bull I've read in a long time. 
Please refrain from talking down to us mere mortals. Seems like every post you write these days lashes out at innocent bystanders, collaborators or the site itself. If you cannot express your feelings without trashing your surroundings, then I wholeheartedly recommend you go somewhere else. 
You may not see it like this, but 90% of what you write these days is downright offensive. Take your snobbery elsewhere.

We are not refusing to elevate the music - on the contrary: we are trying to do exactly that - just through words and simple conversations that normal folks can understand using common words like solos, codas and the likes.....just like your favourite musicians do. Yep I'll bet that even Vangelis uses a word like solo. You just re-leave the word completely of it's meaning and take it even further - suddenly assuming that you know what and how we feel whenever we use such a word. How could you ever know monsieur Nostradamus?




Edited by Guldbamsen - November 24 2014 at 15:01
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