Analog Days seems to be getting a few nods in the comments of this post. I have the book myself but haven't had a chance to get around to it. The general consensus is that it is a great book but there are a few inaccuracies. I've been hoping the authors would come out with an addendum that clarifies them, but I haven't heard of anything to date. I checked the Analog Days website for this but couldn't find anything. If anyone knows where we can find such a list, please post in the comments. Also, someone posted a link to an interview with Trevor Pinch, one of the authors of the book, on ABC Radio National. It's worth a read when you have the time. In the interview they state the theremin was used in the Beach Boys Good Vibrations. It was actually an electro-theremin.
BTW, if you are thinking of picking up a copy of Analog Days, here's a link: Analog Days on Amazon : )
Update: I remember putting up a post on Analog Days before. I checked my archives and found the post on August 23, 2005, exactly one day short of an entire year from this post. Funny. Anyway, there was mention of the inaccuracies in that post (this is a quote from AH, not me in the post): "It's also said to contain a lot of B.S. with attributions to people who simply didn't do certain things the author says they did. For one, Dan Wyman who ran SoundArts in L.A. in the 70s, and who WROTE the Moog modular manual, was quite ticked-off when he read the book and saw so many historical inaccuracies."
We need this list...
Updates via the comments:
via Peter Kirn:
"It's difficult to get interviews with Wendy Carlos, I know that, but I agree. I mean, in general, the writing isn't great by any stretch, and it doesn't feel comprehensive -- I would have liked to see more discussion beyond Moog, for one -- and there are inaccuracies.
But having said all that, you'll still want to read it, and you'll still have a great time with it. I think we need a new book now, mainly! And there's a lot of the roots of electronic music that just don't get told at all; the whole history of the 40s and 50s gets pretty much lost."
via anonymous:
"You can toss pretty much the entire section on Wendy Carlos. The amount of editorializing was nauseating and brings the credibility of the entire book into question. Yet, this wingnut is making money talking to radio progams around the world, telling her story for her. Jackass."
Via Anon:
"Beyond inaccuracies (of which I noted a few), the authors of Analog Days sometimes sound like grad students in psychology. Even so, the book is worth the read for the story - the general arc of the story is true and I haven't seen so much of the story presented in one place anywhere else.
For example, who would have thought that the success of the Moog synthesizer was tied in any way to Taco Bell?"
Beyond inaccuracies (of which I noted a few), the authors of Analog Days sometimes sound like grad students in psychology. Even so, the book is worth the read for the story - the general arc of the story is true and I haven't seen so much of the story presented in one place anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteFor example, who would have thought that the success of the Moog synthesizer was tied in any way to Taco Bell?
You can toss pretty much the entire section on Wendy Carlos. The amount of editorializing was nauseating and brings the credibility of the entire book into question. Yet, this wingnut is making money talking to radio progams around the world, telling her story for her. Jackass.
ReplyDeletehey Wendy is that you up there in the second entry?
ReplyDeleteI have 2 x 2 hour radio documentaries that are loosly based on Analog Days if some one want to let me upload them so all of us can access it i will do it
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome. If you need somewhere to upload them try twango. We can grab it from there.
ReplyDelete> hey Wendy is that you up there in the second entry?
ReplyDeletemost likely matthew davidson
I liked the book, but I felt that the Bucha vs Moog thing felt very "invented" to add some drama to the whole thing, especially when neither guy really seemed to have much awareness or animus about the other.
ReplyDeleteBut it did have interesting things about Mother Mallard, Suzanne Ciani, and others. Not a complete waste, but it could have been tighter.
what "moog vs buchla" thing was "invented"?
ReplyDeletethere was alot of contrasting of the two scenes in the book but none of it struck me as drama-filled or animosity-ridden.
i don't see why people dislike this book so much. also, i wish people would sign their names. it doesn't make for good vibes.
a list of _confirmed_ inaccuracies would be nice. another thing to keep in mind is that it's not a book about the history of EM instruments. it's about a very specific period, the early days of voltage control, and as Bob's instruments had a more significant commercial impact than Don's then yeah the book is going to focus more on that.
another thing that seems to bother some people is the observations that the authors make about the social aspects of this period. Wendy's upset about it because they talk about her beyond "someone with the last name carlos and a first name which starts with 'w' did a very significant album called Switched-On Bach", which i really don't understand.
it's one of the things i liked about the book: it put Moog and Buchla in a very fair perspective as far as motivations and attitude go. i had absolutely no interest in Buchla synths before i read that book. however, once the Buchla was placed in socio-historical context it "clicked" in my head, and all of a sudden i was thinking "man i'd love to hang out with don. i'll bet he's a hoot. i'd like to play one of those synths too but what if i fall in love with it? egads! i should stay away from them. they sound too cool!"
if the entire book had been about Don (or EMS or ARP etc) i still would have read it ... everyone reading this comment thread would have too. not every book written about EM has to be comprehensive ... specialty books are important.
Here's an example of some of the bs that should have been left out:
ReplyDelete"What we want ot suggest with Wendy and her synthesizer is that it may have helped provide a means whereby she could escape the gender identity society had given her. Par of her new identity became bound up with the machine. The transformative power of the synthesizer may have allowed her not only to conjure up a new musical meaning but also helped her find herself a newly gendered person. While sompe people use the transformative power of the synthesizer to escape from the prison of "straight" society, to help them transecnd to new states of consciousness, Wendy, we suggest may have used it to help her transcend her former body and her former gender identity."
WTF is that?
Tell the story. Don't create what you don't know and present it with "we suggest" and "may have" weaseling.
> Here's an example of some of the bs that should have been left out
ReplyDeletenot really, if you think about it everything she did after the sex change had a lot less passion in it.
I love analog days, i think most of it's readers are probably musicians or gearheads but since I was always more interested in the engineering aspect of music this book really inspired me to get involved in electrical engineering for my career.
ReplyDeleteAs far as complaints i've heard about this book, it's all opinions anyways, Trevor is entitled to his opinion, he's not marketing this book as some factual reference guide, it's just a story.
Inverse - I am 'anon' and posted both 'anon' posts. I am not the poster: 'anonymous'. I agree with you it is the best available book on the subject - when it is telling the story. That doesn't mean it is the best book that could be on the subject. The 'analysis' often seems out of place and not that well done. I had to wade through it to get to the story and placed little value in any of it. The story on the other hand I enjoyed enormously and I've mentioned the book numerous times here and elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the inaccuracies: I read the book many months ago, and I have little desire to read through the book a second time just to enumerate them. I'm working my way through a full set of Electronotes and that will occupy me for some time. Perhaps a new reader can take notes as the go through the book.
Regarding anonymity: I don't have a blog and I don't see the point of posting my real name, it would mean nothing more than 'anon' does to you.