Rockists who tried synth-pop?
April 4, 2012 5:20 AM Subscribe
Which artists had an uncharacteristic attempt at synthpop/electronica in the 70s/80s?
I know of Cat Stevens, Neil Young and Paul McCartney. Did any other big names throw a synth track deep into their late 70s/early 80s albums? I'm not worried if it wasn't a successful experiment but definitely don't want artists that specialized in synth music.
I know of Cat Stevens, Neil Young and Paul McCartney. Did any other big names throw a synth track deep into their late 70s/early 80s albums? I'm not worried if it wasn't a successful experiment but definitely don't want artists that specialized in synth music.
Alice Cooper's "Clones (We're All)" and Flush the Fashion
Ian Anderson's Walk into Light
...are a few of the more dedicated attempts that come to mind.
posted by bendybendy at 5:46 AM on April 4, 2012
Ian Anderson's Walk into Light
...are a few of the more dedicated attempts that come to mind.
posted by bendybendy at 5:46 AM on April 4, 2012
Neil Young's Trans album, maybe?
posted by Threeway Handshake at 6:15 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by Threeway Handshake at 6:15 AM on April 4, 2012
I was going to say Neil Young, but there are many more
posted by eustatic at 6:21 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by eustatic at 6:21 AM on April 4, 2012
"Born In The USA" is pretty synthy, no? "Tunnel Of Love" is dripping with drum machines, too.
posted by littlerobothead at 6:38 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by littlerobothead at 6:38 AM on April 4, 2012
It's neither somebody who wasn't synthy sometimes, or 70s/80s (it's mid 90s) but I always thought David Bowie's forays into drum and bass were quite strange in his context anyway.
posted by solarion at 7:32 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by solarion at 7:32 AM on April 4, 2012
Edgar Winter's 'Frankenstein'? It's not Klaus Schulze or somebody, but it's got a lot of synth in it.
And if you're taking Herbie Hancock, you might also consider Stevie Wonder.
posted by box at 7:59 AM on April 4, 2012
And if you're taking Herbie Hancock, you might also consider Stevie Wonder.
posted by box at 7:59 AM on April 4, 2012
I suppose "uncharacteristic" kinda depends on what you make of all the synth experiments that showed up on The Who's 70s era albums, but I'd add Townshend's 1980 solo hit to your list.
posted by 5Q7 at 8:37 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by 5Q7 at 8:37 AM on April 4, 2012
Box: And if you're taking Herbie Hancock, you might also consider Stevie Wonder.
I just watched an incredible documentary about how/why that happened. In which the biggest synthesizer in the world befriends Mark Mothersbaugh after helping to bring about "Music of My Mind", "Talking Book", "Innervisions" and "Fulfillingness' First Finale"! It was tragic, yet heartwarming.
I guess I'd make an argument for Van Halen's "Jump," 1984. In'nerestin' question: psychedelic grody hard-rockin bands late '60s thru the '70s so often had keys ... then wha??? Synths replaced b3s and clavs and the guitar players were all "OH HELLZ NOOOOOO!!1!"?
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:21 AM on April 4, 2012 [3 favorites]
I just watched an incredible documentary about how/why that happened. In which the biggest synthesizer in the world befriends Mark Mothersbaugh after helping to bring about "Music of My Mind", "Talking Book", "Innervisions" and "Fulfillingness' First Finale"! It was tragic, yet heartwarming.
I guess I'd make an argument for Van Halen's "Jump," 1984. In'nerestin' question: psychedelic grody hard-rockin bands late '60s thru the '70s so often had keys ... then wha??? Synths replaced b3s and clavs and the guitar players were all "OH HELLZ NOOOOOO!!1!"?
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:21 AM on April 4, 2012 [3 favorites]
George Harrison - I've Got My Mind Set on You
The poor man..
posted by obscurator at 9:56 AM on April 4, 2012
The poor man..
posted by obscurator at 9:56 AM on April 4, 2012
Sparks. They asked Giorgio Moroder to produce their Number One in Heaven album after they fell in love with the sound of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love."
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:15 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:15 AM on April 4, 2012
I just listened to The Ramones Howling at the Moon the other day and forgot how many keyboards are in it. And how freakin fantastic it is. Are you sure that’s enough snare? Dee Dee!
posted by bongo_x at 11:31 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by bongo_x at 11:31 AM on April 4, 2012
David Bowie's Low, which ..er.. synthesized a lot of European electronica (specifically Neu! and Kraftwerk) and brought it to the ears of the masses.
posted by nicktf at 12:37 PM on April 4, 2012
posted by nicktf at 12:37 PM on April 4, 2012
^ OH HELLZ NOOOOOO!!1! ^
I remembered another one that sort of fits, which is at some point after 1974, the very grody, psychedelic guitar-driven sound of Funkadelic was subsumed by the sassy synth-driven sashay of Parliament; the path which led to the ultimate party moment of the eighties!
Now I'm listening to More Bounce to the Ounce.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 8:51 AM on April 7, 2012
I remembered another one that sort of fits, which is at some point after 1974, the very grody, psychedelic guitar-driven sound of Funkadelic was subsumed by the sassy synth-driven sashay of Parliament; the path which led to the ultimate party moment of the eighties!
Now I'm listening to More Bounce to the Ounce.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 8:51 AM on April 7, 2012
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posted by Bobby Bittman at 5:25 AM on April 4, 2012