Far out Synthesizer Solos in Early Prog - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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timothy leary View Drop Down

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Posted: November 24 2014 at 15:15

Nostradamus is a great Solaris album and I stand by that........now back to your solo arguments

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Rick Robson View Drop Down

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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

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BrufordFreak View Drop Down

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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.

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Rick Robson View Drop Down

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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

Tom Ozric

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Posted: November 28 2014 at 18:51

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.

prog4evr

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Posted: November 30 2014 at 05:02

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...

verslibre

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Posted: November 30 2014 at 11:31

prog4evr wrote:

Rick Robson wrote:

A full-blown synthesizer playing music piece:

Triumvirat - E Minor 5 9 Minor 5

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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cstack3

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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

Rick Robson View Drop Down

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Posted: November 30 2014 at 13:30

verslibre wrote:

prog4evr wrote:

Rick Robson wrote:

A full-blown synthesizer playing music piece:

Triumvirat - E Minor 5 9 Minor 5

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

Guldbamsen View Drop Down

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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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presdoug

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Posted: December 05 2014 at 11:25

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

Tom Ozric

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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

Walton Street View Drop Down

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Posted: December 09 2014 at 10:32

ok it's just a small solo but the video makes me smile :)

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Svetonio

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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

calm_sea

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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.

dwill123

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Posted: December 28 2014 at 15:59

Svetonio

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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."

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brainstormer View Drop Down

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Posted: December 28 2014 at 17:54

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.

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.

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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Gerinski

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