SY MANN - SWITCHED ON SANTA - Tijuana Christmas (1970)

YouTube via cosmocorps2000.

Don't miss the kawazy vid below. "SY MANN showed his earliest musical talent at age 6 when he began to correct mistakes, made by his older sister who was then a cello student, by reaching up to the keyboard of the family player-piano and striking the "right notes". His parents took him to a piano instructor when he was 7 and in a short time it was discovered that he possessed absolute pitch. During public school assemblies he gave demonstrations of this phenomenon to the applause and wonder of his classmates and teachers. He continued his music education at NYU. Excelling in his music studies, Sy was elected to membership in the National Honorary music fraternity, PHI MU ALPHA SINFONIA and, later, held the post of student president of the music department of NYU School of Education. Back in civilian life after almost 4 years of service, Sy returned to NYU for his B.S. degree in Music Education, now a married man and father of a baby boy. Not particularly desirous of entering the teaching field, Sy continued with performing engagements, playing for most of show business' top acts as well as stints with the bands of Alvino Ray and Benny Goodman. In 1949 he entered the radio field as staff pianist and arranger for New York's top independent station WNEW. He then established himself in the recording, jingle and film music fields. In 1954 he joined the CBS music staff and currently is pianist-arranger on the Arthur Godfrey Show where he doubles on trumpet, vibraphone, clavietta, electric harpsichord and other assorted keyboard instruments. He has contributed his talents to numerous stars like Barbra Streisand, Tiny Tim, Sammy Davis, Connie Francis. Anybody who plays piano can play The Moog Synthesizer. It is a computer like instrument with a piano keyboard. Since only one note sounds at a time to make music one needs a multi-track tape recorder to record each line of music separately. An electronic engineer is needed not only for the circuitry but also to program the millions of different sound combinations available — also each time the sound is changed The Moog has to be tuned! It takes about one hour of recording time to produce 30 seconds of listenable music. In this album Sy takes the Moog Synthesizer and creates today's electronic Christmas tree out of this new musical wonder. The Moog, a strange machine of lights, cords, inputs and outputs enters the festive world of the merriest season of all. It's a wonderful gift for today's caroleers. Sy Mann giftwraps all your Christmas favorites in the most exciting musical sound, and puts them under your glittering tree. Gift tagged to read 'Merry Christmas from The Moog!'"

SY MANN - SWITCHED ON SANTA - My Favorite Things (1970)



"MUSIC: Sy Mann - My Favorite Things from the album SWITCHED ON SANTA! (1970) One of this numerous Moog records from the past. Now the Moog plays popular xmas songs VIDEO: Scenes from Tales From The Crypt (GB 1972) Episode: All Through The House Starring Joan Collins After Joanne Clayton (Joan Collins) kills her husband on Christmas Eve, she prepares to hide his body but hears a radio announcement stating that a homicidal maniac (Oliver MacGreevy) is on the loose. She sees the maniac outside her house but can't call the police because of her husband's body. The segment ends with the maniac, dressed as Santa Claus, being let into the house by Joanne's little daughter. He strangles Joanne to death. (from Wikipedia)."

Update via Mal in the comments: "This was recorded in Jean-Jacques Perrey's Recording studio in Manhattan using his (and Gershon Kingsley's) moog modular. Jean-jacques engineered the album (uncredited) and I also believe that manny of the tracks were actually arranged and recorded by him. Also... Santa on the front cover is in fact Jean-Jacques Perrey!!!"

Synplant jam with Vangelis & Grandmaster Flash remix

YouTube via Torley

"VISIT http://torley.com for more useful fun!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

First Moog Quartet

flickr by Squeakyrat

"Gershon Kingsley's First Moog Quartet, Popcorn, 1972."

Gershon Kingsley Part 2

YouTube via moogfoundation.
"Joel Chadabe, president & founder of the Electronic Music Foundation, introduced Gershon Kingsley"
I'm not seeing Part 1 yet. I'll update this post and let you know if it goes up later.

Gershon Kingsley - Popcorn

YouTube via sometest353.
"The Original Popcorn Video cuz i didn't found it on youtube."

Gershon Kingsley plays Popcorn 2007

YouTube via GKingsley
"The Composer himself at the August Foerster Grand"

Update: Excerpt on Popcorn via kingsleysound.com where you will find more:
"Despite the wide range of music Gershon Kingsley has composed, he is most well-known for a 1972 instrumental dance hit called "Popcorn."

Kingsley recalls that he wrote the primary melody to "Popcorn" in about 30 seconds. The song was first released in 1969 as part of a Kingsley solo album called "Music To Moog By." LINK TO: MOOGBY Then the First Moog Quartet, while on their nation-wide tour of college and universities, used "Popcorn" as their encore song.

In 1972, "Popcorn" was recorded by a group of musicians under the band name Hot Butter."

Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman

Box of Textures has a review of the recent Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman show in NY. Definitely worth checking out. You'll find more images including one of the opening act, Circuit Parade.

The following is an excerpt:
"Perrey was absolutely charming and totally hilarious! He introduced every song with a story, sometimes also pointing out some of his musical partners who were in the audience (Gershon Kingsley, for example). Perrey and Countryman played mostly analog equipment. Countryman had a Prophet ’08 as his main instrument, and Perrey had a Poly Evolver Keyboard, Minimoog Model D and an Ondioline. Countryman also had an Arp 2600, but it sounded like it was constantly playing a sample and hold pattern in the background while Perrey was talking, so Countryman leaned over and switched the 2600 off."

Mondo Modular Episode 5

YouTube via scootermccrae. You can find all episodes here.
"Back-in-action after a short hiatus (note new studio set-up -- but more about that in an upcoming video), I'm finally making good on some of that Herb Deutsch footage I promised a few episodes back. I figured there was no better time to do this than around the time of what would have been his 74th birthday (May 23rd).

I'll post a couple of fun stories from Gershon Kingsley next time and then return to the familiar format (ie: my dorking around with my various knobs and patch cables).

Special thanks to the Grammy folks who recently gave some money to the Moog Foundation to try and get the various papers and prototypes in Bob's old work shed in some kind of order and will hopefully see to the future preservation of."

Mondo Modular Episode 2

YouTube via scootermccrae
"Yet another bold journey into an audio world where many have tread before and even fewer haven't... (wait a minute -- this doesn't make any sense?!?)

Anyway, just me again getting some cool sounds out of my truly amazing modular sound generating system.

Please bear with me and in an episode or two I'll post some video of electronic music giants like Herb Deutsch, Gershon Kingsley and Bernie Kraus that I've shot over the years.

See the rewards that lie ahead for making it throught these punishing viewings? Who sez I'm not a pussycat sweetheart?"

Hot Butter Popcorn (Synth) Original Sheet Music 1971

via this auction

"Gershon Kingsley Hot Butter Popcorn original sheet music bought from new in 1971. How time flies!

One of the first synthesiser music to apprear in the charts. This sheet music has been used as music, so is not mint, but in good condition considering its age. Too difficult for me!

If you are after some authentic 37-year old flower-power memorabilia, then this is worth a look."

MOOG Demo Record

Update: see this post for the audio.
via this auction
"Ultra-rare private pressing, the first promotional recording produced by Moog, given out to prospective customers to demonstrate the capabilities of their amazing products. Both sides are identical and contain a wonderful montage of Moog-sourced sound effects and short original compositions created especially for this record by Wendy Carlos, ranging widely from experimental to classical to pop to ambient soundscapes and a real treat for collectors of her work. It is narrated by Ed Stokes who explains the different types of waves and filters available, the basics of sound synthesis, and Moog innovations like voltage control. This extremely hard to find record is an awesome artifact of early electronic music history and a gem for Moog
and Wendy Carlos fans.

Wendy Carlos studied under Vladimir Ussachevsky and Otto Luening at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, worked with Robert Moog to develop and popularize the synthesizer and pioneer its performance techniques, and scored films for Stanley Kubrick and Disney. Some additional points of reference for this synth demo record: Jean-Michel Jarre, Paul Beaver, Bernie Krause, Stereolab, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Mu-Ziq, Matmos, Dick Hyman, Raymond Scott, Bruce Haack, Pierre Henry, Tomita, Vangelis, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley, Tom Dissevelt, Ondioline, Theremin, Clara Rockmore, Arp, Donald Buchla, Chappell Recorded Music Library, De Wolfe, Montparnasse 2000, Patchwork, Piero Umiliani, Roger Roger, Cecil Leuter, DJ Premier, DJ Shadow, Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Oskar Sala, trautonium, Morton Subotnick, John Eaton, Donald Erb, Bernard Parmegiani, Mort Garson..."

MOOG Meets Taco Bell and Goes to Church

I'm currently reading "Analog Days" by Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco. You can find the book in the Synth Books section on the right of this site. I just got to the part were the Minimoog Model D finally came into fruition in 1970. According to the book, it was first introduced to music stores by David VanKoevering. David was putting on a show with a theremin when he first met Bob Moog. Bob went to his show and invited him to come see Gershon Kingsley perform at Carnegie Hall with the MOOG modular. Soon after, David ended up picking up a MOOG Model 10 according to this site. What was particularly interesting was how David first began to promote MOOG.

"Like a traveling medicine show, Van Koevering moved thousands of Minimoogs by using innovative marketing techniques. In Florida, he hooked up with Taco Bell, handing out free coupons to the restaurant, and then showing up later in the evening to play to diners. He promoted the "Island of Electronicus," an artificial land mass connected by a causeway to the Florida coast, where a Moog concert was scheduled. The radio ads announced, 'Where is the Moog synthesizer? It's here now ... to stimulate your feelings, thought, and your love for your fellow man.'"

Yes, this Taco Bell. :)

The above quote comes from this article from the San Antonio Current. BTW, I couldn't find an image of the Taco Bell flyer although there is one pictured in Analog Days. If anyone knows where I can find one online, feel free to comment. The image in this post is of David's "The Island of Electronics" which he formed shortly after. You can also read more about this on VOTAGE::MAIN where I found the image. Be sure to check out all the links in this post for more of the fascinating story and of course "Analog Days."

David later repackaged the Memorymoog as the "Sanctuary Synthesizer" and sold them to a number of churches. I wonder how many are still sitting in storage... (image via this post)

Note: according to some on AH and other sites there are inaccuracies in the book, "Analog Days." I haven't discovered a comprehensive list. If you know of such a list, please comment. If you know of the inaccuracies also feel free to comment. If there is enough interest I could create the list with a sticky post for us. Regardless, the book is a great read. It is well written and a fascinating story of the birth of MOOG, and it touches on Buchla.

Update via marr in the comments:

"There's a scan of the flyer on moogarchives...
http://moogarchives.com/vako2.jpg
http://moogarchives.com/vako3.jpg"

Moogfest 2007 in NYC -- featuring the first annual Moogfest Symposium

"Featuring an all-star lineup from the world of Moog
Greetings from the Bob Moog Foundation!

We have been hard at work all summer as we work towards our mission to document, celebrate & teach innovative thinking. On September 22, 2007 we will be traveling to Moogfest, an annual NYC event celebrating the musical legacy that continues through the instruments that Bob created. Check out Moogfest at moogfest.com and if you live in the NYC area, please join us for this very special tribute!

The Bob Moog Foundation has partnered with Moogfest to create the first annual Moogfest Symposium. At the Symposium, which takes place at 8pm on Thursday September 20, 2007 at Columbia University, luminaries in the field of electronic music will gather to discuss Bob’s legacy as it pertains to their own work and they will be taking questions from the audience. Symposium panel members include:

Herbert Deutsch – collaborator on the development of the first Moog synthesizer; composer, musician and performer; twice Chair of the Music Department at Hofstra University and former Director of Sales and Marketing at Moog Music, Inc.

Gershon Kingsley – musician and composer who led the Moog Quartet, which performed around the country and at Carnegie Hall. Best known for his catchy melody “Popcorn”, which is part of his “Music to Moog By” album, Mr. Kinglsey has recorded many Moog Albums, including “The In Sound From Way Out” with Jean-Jaques Perry and his most recent addition “God is a Moog”.
Joel Chadabe – composer, performer and pioneer in the development of interactive music systems. Mr. Chadabe has had a lifelong career in academia and has lectured, performed and recorded extensively. He is currently Professor Emeritus at State University of New York at Albany; Director of the Computer Music Studio at Manhattan School of Music Visiting Faculty at New York University. Joel is the President of the Electronic Music Foundation and the author of “Electric Sound: The Past and Promise of Electronic Music.”

John Eaton – Avant garde opera composer and performer and Professor Emeritus of Music Composition at the University of Chicago, where he taught for 10 years. He also taught at Indiana University (Bloomington) for 20. Mr. Eaton is a McArthur Fellow who, over a 20 year collaboration with Dr. Moog, created the Eaton-Moog Multi-Touch Sensitive Keyboard. He currently serves as the Composer and Artistic Director for the Pocket Opera Players, based in New York City.

David Borden – musician, composer and performer; played and tested early Moog Modulars in Bob Moog’s studio in Trumansburg, NY. Founder of Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece, the first Moog synthesizer ensemble. Retired Director of the Digital Music Program at Cornell University, where he taught for 37 years.

Trevor Pinch – Author of “Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Syntheziser” and professor and Chairperson of Science and Technology Studies at Cornell Univeristy.

Moogfest and the Bob Moog Foundation are proud and honored to be
sponsoring an event that pulls together Bob’s lifelong friends and colleagues and the vast amount of experiences and knowledge that they share. This promises to be a very special evening.

Please join us at:

Center Room
3rd Floor, Prentis Hall
632 West 125th Street
Columbia University

For directions online, please see:
http://music.columbia.edu/cmc/contact/index.html

For those of you who live in the New York City area, we hope to see you at the Symposium and at Moogfest. We’ll be checking in with the rest of you to let you know how it all went.

Until then-
The Bob Moog Foundation"

Richard Lainhart to Play Moogfest 2007

"I'm pleased and proud to announce that I will be performing with Jordan Rudess at this year's Moogfest (http://www.moogfest.net) on September 22 at B. B. King's in New York City!

What's more, I'll be bringing my new Buchla 200e/Continuum (http://www.otownmedia.com/he/buchla.htm) system to the land of the Moog for the first time.

Performers include Thomas Dolby, T Lavitz, Don Preston, Adam Holzman, Gershon Kingsley, Herb Deutsch, and many other pioneers and practitioners of the art of Moog synthesis, so it should be an evening of diverse and exciting music. I hope to see you there."

Be sure to check out these posts.

Moogfest 2007

"To honor Bob Moog and commemorate his groundbreaking achievements, hordes of renowned musicians and longstanding Moog users will gather in New York City on Saturday, September 22 at B.B. King's Bar & Grill in Times Square (237 w. 42nd Street between 7th & 8th Avenues) to celebrate Moogfest 2007.

This Year's Extravaganza Features...

Thomas Dolby
Jordan Rudess
Adam Holzman
Spiraling
Don Preston
Gershon Kingsley
Herb Deutsch
Erik Norlander

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this special event are $45 and are available at the box office (212-997-4144) or at all Ticketmaster outlets.

For more inforation visit www.moogfest.com

Check out the 2006 DVD for a look at last year's action!"

Gershon Kingsley - Popcorn ( 1969 Original )

YouTube via TONYM2M2
Re-Uploaded on Jun 16, 2007sometest353·1 video

Details:
"Gershon kingsley's " Popcorn " is one of the worlds most recognisable tunes ...not bad going for a man who penned the track in two minutes.! ! ..... It was recorded in 1969 for Kingsley's solo album " Music To Moog By " http://www.virginmegastores... which saw Kingsley pioneering the use of Dr. Moog's early synthesizer.....Hot Butter released a more up-tempo version of Popcorn in 1972 . This became an instant hit across the world, and has the distinct title ot being The Worlds First Commercially Successful "Synthesizer" Record, WOW !!......Just as the name Moog is connected to Synthesizer...so too is Kingsley to Electronica......"
Funny cover version
Gersh. kingsley site

Synth CDs

See the Synth CDs label for more.

Vintage MOOG Albums - Free downloads. Check this one out. This is not an ad.


Amin Bhatia Virtuality
Post on MATRIXSYNTH


Switched on Bach (MOOG)

CLICK FOR MORE »

Synth Books

See the Synth Books label for more.
Also see the scans label for more synth documentation.


The A-X of Analogue Synthesizers by Peter Forest


Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail


Essential Retro by James Grahame

CLICK FOR MORE »

Jean Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman Live - San Francisco and LA

Via the Analogue Haven mailing list:
"Join Jean and Dana tomorrow night at AH as they show why they're such legends in the electronic music field. They'll be spotlighting their brand new release, entitled The Happy Electropop Music Machine as well as saying hello to all of you who stop by.

Jean-Jacques Perrey is a legend, and a pioneer in the popular electronic music field. He was the second musician to ever own a Moog Synthesizer, and one of the first to record with it, way back in 1966. Over the past five decades, Perrey has released many classic MOOG albums, featuring his trademark crazy tape loops and his catchy original melodies. His theme 'Baroque Hoedown' (co- composed with Gershon Kingsley) has been featured as part of Disneyland's much-loved 'Main Street Electrical Parade' for over 30 years. Even today, Perrey's music has been sampled by countless popular Hip-Hop and Rap artists, including Ice T, DJ Premier, Gangstarr, and many others. At age 77, Perrey is still very much active, and still creating 'Music for Smiles and Laughs.'

A concert review from this tour and more photos available at the wonderful MATRIXSYNTH site. All the fun starts at 5:00pm, so don't be late!!"

The San Francisco show starts tonight at 8:00 PM at Recombant Media Labs. For those of you in LA, as stated above, they will be at Analogue Haven tomorrow, 8/30 5:30 PM, and they will end their tour at the Knitting Factory at 7:30 PM. More details here.

Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman Live

Reminder that the first show in Seattle this Sunday, other dates below. Title link just takes you to my original post. The following is the press release:

The Most Senior Touring Pop Icon ... At 77 Jean-Jacques Perrey Is a Legend and Electronic Music Pioneer. Fans Can See Him Live in Seattle on Aug. 27, San Francisco on Aug. 29 and Los Angeles on Aug. 31

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23, 2006 -- This August, Oglio Records will release a new Jean-Jacques Perrey/Dana Countryman CD, THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE. The CD is an insanely happy instrumental collection of original tunes, and also includes five melodies by other composers. Using classic "Moog"-style analog synthesizers, as well as acoustic instruments, the CD is styled to be very retro, and very happy.

Jean-Jacques Perrey is a legend, and a pioneer in the popular electronic music field. He was the second musician to ever own a Moog Synthesizer, and one of the first to record with it, way back in 1966. Over the past five decades, Perrey has released many classic MOOG albums, featuring his trademark crazy tape loops and his catchy original melodies. His theme "Baroque Hoedown" (co-composed with Gershon Kingsley) has been featured as part of Disneyland's much-loved "Main Street Electrical Parade" for over 30 years. Even today, Perrey's music has been sampled by countless popular Hip-Hop and Rap artists, including Ice T, DJ Premier, Gangstarr, and many others. At age 77, Perrey is still very much active, and still creating "Music for Smiles and Laughs."

A recent Perrey/Countryman concert in Berlin, Germany had a sell-out crowd, and that performance will be released soon on DVD. To support the release of new THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE, Perrey and Countryman will be performing the new album in a mini-tour of concert venues this August, starting in Seattle, and continuing on to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

A tour of the United Kingdom is planned for the Spring of 2007, followed by a tour of Japan, later that year. THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE is a refreshing "blast from the past," focusing on catchy melodies, at a time when interest in the Moog Synthesizer is suddenly in vogue again.

Show Dates for THE HAPPY ELECTROPOP MUSIC MACHINE:
Live in Seattle
Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006, 7:30 pm
The Triple Door - 216 Union Street - 206-838-4333
$15.00 advance, $18.00 door

Live in San Francisco
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006, Doors open: 7 pm - Show, 8 pm
Recombinant Media Labs -
763 Brannan @ 6th St. in San Francisco's SOMA District
For more information: 415-863-3068
Tickets are available by emailing info@researchpubs.com

Live in Los Angeles
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, Doors open: 7:30 - Show, 8 pm
Knitting Factory - 7021 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles 90028
323-463-0204
See online artwork at the photolink:
http://www.danacountryman.com/promo1/HEMM_art.html

Please contact:
Craig Melone
Hands On Public Relations
(310) 341-3201
Handsonpr@aol.com

Perrey and Countryman's web sites:
http://www.jeanjacquesperrey.com
http://www.danacountryman.com

Oglio Entertainment's web sites:
http://www.oglio.com
http://www.coolcds.com

Moog Tribute by Simon James aka Corky Burger on CDM

Title link takes you to the post and mp3 on CDM. Track list: 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

Analog Synth Record Collection

Check out this auction list while it's up. There is a slew of old analog synth records. I saved off the album covers, titles and any details given for each; title link takes you to one monster htm file. I listed the albums below as well for anyone that wants to search for them in the future.



-Moog Synthesizer, The Essential, Perrey & Kingsley
-Moog Synthesizer, Moog Indigo by Jean Jacques Perrey
-Amazing New Sound of Jean Jacques Perrey
-Spotlight on the Moog; Kaleido-scopic vibrations
-The in sound from way out, Perrey - Kingsley
-First Moog Quartet by Gershon Kingsley
-Yankee Transdoodle; ARP 2600 + Obenheim equipt.
-Giorgio; 1977, exclusively electronic keyboards
-It's about time, Tonto
-White Noise / An Electric Storm
-Plugged in Joplin, Minimoog and EMS Synthi AKS, 1974
-Firebird by Isao Tomita
-Ragnarok; Electronic funk by Paul Beaver and Bernard L. Krause
-Skylab; Electronic butterflies play instrumental hits
-Electronic Music for Jean Dubuffet's Coucou Bazar by Ilhan Mimaroglu
-All Good Men by Beaver and Krause
-Beyond the sun, the planets Patrick Gleason and the Eu Polyphonic Synth
-Electric Love Moog synthesizer and strings
-Good morning Starshine with Moog synth by Tartaglia
-Mother Mallards Portable Masterpiece Co recorded at R.A. Moog !
-Short Circuits by Ruth White / Moog Synthesizer
-Moog synthesizer album, Everything you always wanted to hear on the Moog but were afraid to ask
-Music to Moog by Gershon and Kingsley
-Quadradisc Highlights - quadraphonic record album
-Electronic Hair Pieces Mort Garson with Moog synthesizer
-Copper Plated Integrated Circuit - 1969
-Switched On Gershwin - Moog synthesizer
-White Noise 2 David Vorhaus, 1975, Concerto for synth
-Popcorn Gershon Kingsley's First Moog Quartet
-Apollo 100 Masterpieces includes Popcorn
-Hot Butter with Stan Free at the Moog synthesizer
-Realistic Life Mechanical Sound Effects record album
-Flowers Of Evil