Jump to content


Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

Best Vocoder Song


Pat Azzarello

Recommended Posts

I rediscovered Patrick Moraz's third album recently (bought the vinyl used and ripped it to a CD - didn't want to pay the $125 for the CD that was on eBay). I've always loved that album, but I was struck by the vocoder tune (Primitivization).

 

My second favorite at this point is PIM's contribution to the first KC compilation.

 

Anyone have any other favorite vocoder songs?

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Replies 43
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Hey, Pat. There are 2 sleepers that aren't really renowned:

 

Flyingdale Flyer, Jethro Tull - all of the backup vocals are vocoder

 

Outside Now, Frank Zappa - same thing. A lot of the backups are vocoder.

 

What I really like is that it isn't obvious at first. Very well done.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

(O.T. - speaking of vocoders, I'm a vocoding newbie. Can I get some suggestions from you pros out there? I'd like to duplicate some lush back-up vocals, more like ELO than kraftwerk. I've got both the MS2000 and the creamware vocodizer...and am just starting to learn how to use them... )

Tom F.

"It is what it is."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the "Lord's Prayer" portion of Pink Floyd's Sheep utilized a vocoder. In fact, it sounds to me like there's a bunch of vocoder (as well as other blending of synths & voice) throughout all of Animals.

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

This ain't no track meet; this is football.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Gulliver:

Originally posted by PatAzz:

I rediscovered Patrick Moraz's third album recently (bought the vinyl used and ripped it to a CD - didn't want to pay the $125 for the CD that was on eBay). .......

$125 for a CD?? :eek::eek:
Japanese import (ever released anywhere but). Limited quantities. Yup... $125. Saw it as cheap as $95 a couple of years ago :(
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by analogman1:

Hey Mecca,

What album was I Thought It Was You" on??

OR is that the title OF the album??

Thanks

Big T

It was Sunlight. An obscure jazz/funk/disco album with just that one good song if I remember correctly... I thought it was you is an excellent cut by the way....Jaco on bass, Harvey Mason on drums, nice horns etc.

 

You're gonna laugh at this album cover photo--

 

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80305141600&sql=Aj2jieat14xa7

 

(let me know if you can't pull it up).

TROLL . . . ish.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does the fourth movement of Beethoven's Ninth as realized by Wendy Carlos qualify as a song? Stunning vocals then and now.

 

k.

9 Moog things, 3 Roland things, 2 Hammond things and a computer with stuff on it

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by meccajay:

Originally posted by analogman1:

Hey Mecca,

What album was I Thought It Was You" on??

OR is that the title OF the album??

Thanks

Big T

It was Sunlight. An obscure jazz/funk/disco album with just that one good song if I remember correctly... I thought it was you is an excellent cut by the way....Jaco on bass, Harvey Mason on drums, nice horns etc.
Well...hardly obscure, it was a big hit back in 1978, in fact they play the single quite often on daytime radio. The LP is often seen in many thrift stores and is not really rare at all, in fact I daresay next to Future Shock its the LP I come across most often by Herbie.

 

Also if I remember correctly, Jaco and Harvey only played on one track, a latin fusion track.. the rest was the Headhunters crew, probably Gadson on drums.

 

ALso a great cut is No Means yes, featuring one of Herbies all time best rhodes solos.. great build up and technique..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Analogaddict:

Originally posted by meccajay:

You're gonna laugh at this album cover photo

I love this cover! I have mine in the bookshelf so I can look at it every time I think I have too much gear!

 

/J :cool: nas

That's the BACK you're talking about, every musician loves that back cover! :eek: The front is still funny.

 

As far as that being obscure, well I just rarely find it in any of my "Jazz head" friends collections, or anywhere anymore. I do hear the tune on college radio once in a while...again, good tune! :D You are right about Future Shock..It's everywhere!

 

About Jaco, don't know what songs he's playing on or not etc, it could be Byron Miller who I believe is also on that album.

That's definately Harvey Mason playing on "I thought it was you", the next time you listen to it, you'll hear his signature improv etc.

TROLL . . . ish.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I still have the "Sunlight" LP. :)

 

Staying in the jazz field, on the Weather Report album "Domino Theory" there's a tune called "Where the Moon goes" sung by the Manhattan Transfer, IIRC. Their voices sound like they're partially vocoded - it's a strange and interesting effect.

 

"O Superman" is great too. The simultaneous use of direct and vocoded vocals, and the minimal arrangement, give it a true warmth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Analogaddict:

I love this cover! I have mine in the bookshelf so I can look at it every time I think I have too much gear!

It was since, um, maybe 1987 that I had not looked at that cover! I just did... wow. I played the synth recognition game, and could identify just about all the gear, except the synth at far right. I thought some old Roland... But on the inner sleeve, it says it's a "Sequential Circuit Prophet"!!! What kind of Prophet is that?! A prototype, I guess. You never stop to learn... :D
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by mytzylplk:

Hey how about a little Canadian content. Arguably one of the best rock /prog rock bandsever was SAGA !

Check out "See them Smile" for a great vocoder riff

 

Cheers

Hey, fellow Saga fan! :wave:

 

"See them Smile"... On what album is this song?

I a kind of can't recall right now...

I am back.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by marino:

on the inner sleeve, it says it's a "Sequential Circuit Prophet"!!! What kind of Prophet is that?! A prototype, I guess. You never stop to learn... :D

Cool! I have an Italian CD reissue with no gear listing at all, and since it´s a CD the photo is much smaller than I´d like it to be! Is that a CP30 up front???

 

/J :cool: nas

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Gulliver:

Originally posted by mytzylplk:

Hey how about a little Canadian content. Arguably one of the best rock /prog rock bandsever was SAGA !

Check out "See them Smile" for a great vocoder riff

 

Cheers

Hey, fellow Saga fan! :wave:

 

"See them Smile"... On what album is this song?

I a kind of can't recall right now...

Never mind. Images at Twilight. :cool:
I am back.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...