The first recording with Minimoog synthesizer - Sun Ra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ (1970)

video upload by George Greene

"The first recording with Minimoog synthesizer (Model B prototype) - Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ (1970)

In 1969, Sun Ra had recorded on Moog Modular synthesizer at the New York midtown studio of Gershon Kingsley. Those recordings were issued on My Brother the Wind, Vol. 1 (although it was not titled 'Vol. 1'— it only achieved that reference after 'Vol. 2' appeared). The following year, drummer Tommy Hunter arranged a meeting between Sun Ra and synth pioneer Robert Moog in upstate Trumansburg, New York. Bob and his crew were testing prototypes of the Minimoog at that time, inviting Sun Ra to explore its sounds. A recording of this test session was made and, although not originally intended for commercial release, partly released many years later in 1992 (My Brother the Wind, Vol. 2, CD tracks 7-11: The Wind Speaks, Sun Thoughts, Journey to the Stars, World of the Myth 'I', The Design - Cosmos II). But more significantly, it was during this visit that Moog loaned Sun Ra a prototype Minimoog (Model B), several months before the commercial instrument (Model D) was introduced in March 1970. Ra immediately added the instrument to his repertoire of keyboards, later acquired a second, and featured the Minimoog prominently on many of his recordings of the early 1970s. Sun Ra sometimes played two Minimoogs at the same time to achieve a duophonic synthesizer sound.

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You can find dditional posts mentioning Sun Ra and the Minimoog here.

You can find Sun Ra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ on Amazon here.

Found this one updating this old post, after posting AutomaticGainsay's The History of the Minimoog Prototypes. Down the rabbit hole I went...

The first recording featuring Moog Synthesizer - The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds (1967) ?

video by George Greene

Available on Amazon

"The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds was a collaborative concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac. It was issued by Elektra Records in May 1967 and featured early use of the Moog synthesizer by Paul Beaver, with music written by Mort Garson, words by Jacques Wilson, and narration by Cyrus Faryar. The Moog Modular synthseizer has a prominent role on the album. Rather than being limited to just spooky sounds, Beaver contributed a veritable clinic of fundamental Moog modulations, from soothing melodies and textures to sharply percussive interactions with the other session musicians. 'Must be played in the dark,' are the instructions printed in purple on the back of album cover. Although the Moog Synthesizer is not mentioned in the liner notes Paul Beaver is credited vaguely with 'electronic instruments'. This was not only the first commercial release of a record featuring the Moog but also the first to chart, spending a total of nine weeks on the Billboard album chart."

If you know of anything earlier, feel free to leave a comment. Surprised there is no mention of this release on Wikipedia's article on the Moog Synthesizer, but there is a separate article on the release here. Wikipedia also mentions use of the Moog on The Monkey's 1967 release of Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd, recorded April–October and released in November. The Zodiac was rleased in May of 1967.