Polymoog
Encyclopedia
The Polymoog is a polyphonic
analog synthesizer
that was manufactured by Moog Music
from 1975 to 1980. The Polymoog was based on divide-down oscillator technology similar to electronic organ
s and string synthesizers of the time, and this led to a certain lack of flexibility compared to later polyphonic synthesizers such as the Yamaha CS-80
and the Sequential Circuits
Prophet 5. Coupled with a reputation for unreliability due to its overly-complex design and fragile construction, the Polymoog quickly became outclassed and even derided. Nevertheless they are capable of making some unique and exceedingly powerful sounds, notably the soaring string sounds on Cars
.
The name Polymoog can either refer to the original Polymoog Synthesizer (model 203A) or the largely pre-set Polymoog Keyboard (model 280A) released in 1978. Confusingly, the 203a was originally badged Polymoog Keyboard but this was changed to Polymoog Synthesizer and the Polymoog Keyboard name transferred to the 280a. Serial numbers are said to have begun with the number 1000. The date of production was often written inside the top lid, which is easily removed by turning two knurled nuts underneath at each end of the keyboard and removing the vertical screws along the bottom of the interface sections at the back in under five minutes. Note the lid is not hinged and must be lifted off completely to reveal the layers of circuit boards. The top layer of boards are hinged and must be swung up carefully to reach the individual note cards.
The Polymoog features a 71-note weighted Pratt & Reed touch-sensitive
keyboard
divided into three sections with a volume slider for each. The synthesizer also has a 3-band resonant graphic EQ
section, which can changed to be low/bandpass/high pass. The Moog designed 24 db filter section, allows modulation
modulated from its own envelopes, LFO
and sample and hold
circuit. Ranks and waveforms of all notes are also adjustable combining waveforms, octaves, tunings, and their own independent LFO
rates and amounts. Although the user can adjust the sounds of the instrument, the synthesizer also offers preset
s named "strings
", "piano
", "organ", "harpsichord
", "funk
", "clav
", "vibes
", and "brass
". Presets were factory created as physical circuit cards and may be modified for live performance using Var(iation) buttons and triggering a red dot next to the preset number in the display. However the changes cannot be stored internally.
Although criticised by many for its limited programmability, the Polymoog was successful, and its unlimited polyphony was considered revolutionary upon its initial release. Gary Numan
was also one of the Polymoog's most recognizable and prominent users employing both versions, most recognisably the Vox Humana preset from the 280a. This searing string sound, especially prominent on the track 'Cars' and most of the album The Pleasure Principle
, became his signature sound in the late 1970s and early 1980s. (To re-create this sound one must use the 'Direct' output on the Keyboard to bypass the filter section.) A Polymoog is featured prominently in his music video
for "Cars
" as well as in live footage from his performances on Top Of The Pops
and The Old Grey Whistle Test
The Polymoog Keyboard 280a is a stripped-down version of the Polymoog Synthesizer, although the two are similar in appearance sharing the same case and keyboard. Most noticeably, the right-hand control panel is absent, while the left-hand panel is sparsely populated by just a few sliders, thus giving the user much less control over the sounds. The Polymoog Keyboard does however feature more presets than its predecessor: "vox humana
", "string 1", "string 2", "electric piano
", "piano", "honky tonk
y", "clav", "harpsi", "brass", "chorus brass", "pipe organ
", "rock organ", "vibes", and "funk". Control over these presets is limited to octave balance, envelope attack, and LFO modulation depth and rate (interestingly, adjustment of these LFO parameters is limited or unavailable on some presets). The lower two octaves may also be split off to play a separate bass tone, with some control over this tone allowed via a dedicated 'bass filter'. Filter control of the main preset sounds is not user adjustable other than via an external controller.
There are a few common misconceptions. In the mixer sliders on the left one may see a horizontal metal bar. Is it broken? No, it was added at the factory to prevent users from accidentally turning the audio fully off on stage or in a music shop. New users may mistake the red LED and centre dual pot for a coarse and fine tuning adjustment circuit. The inside knob and flashing LED are for control of phase beating between waveforms. Only the outer pot is for tuning and is not connected to the LED. Some of the lower and upper buttons on the far right are controls for assigning an external synthesizer and will appear to do nothing if one is not connected. The fastest way to begin modifying a preset is with the Var button on the 203 that is immediately to the right of the presets and then adjusting decay.
A separate foot pedal controller known as the Polypedal (model 285a) with numerous cv jacks interfaces with the back panel. It allows the user to switch between single and multiple triggering of envelopes, and controls for pitch, filter, and sustain. The range of the multi-octave pitch shift is easily limited by a foot-controlled pot allowing for Sun Ra
-esque transpositions of chords containing dozens or all notes simultaneously, or a precise small shift of one note.
The Polypedal also can be interfaced with a standalone Minimoog
to control its volume, pitch and filter for users who, when playing two keyboards at once, cannot use the Minimoog's pitch wheels. Other Minimoog interface features include a case top designed to hold one neatly on the Polymoog and the ability to have a Minimoog
track the lowest or highest note played, with the option of combining the external audio through the Polymoog's mixer. This requires audio and cv cables, but also a simple female to male s-trig cord to gate/trigger the Minimoog's filter and VCA envelopes.
The Polymoog's sturdy cross-braced stand uses the same legs as the Fender Rhodes. Case feet designed to allow air circulation beneath also allow it to sit on other keyboards without using the legs. The fiberglass and aluminum channeled case design easily supports additional keyboards and prevents the case flex problems faced by the competing ARP
Quadra. The original machine shipped with a heavy "Genuine Naugahyde
" zippered bag. Anvil-style road cases are strongly advised for movement.
This is a keyboard that yields its best results to the player who takes the time to fit themselves to its style. It is not for those who expect the immediate satisfaction of a digital preset. It has character, a rich lush sound, and depth and was designed as much for studio use as live.
Polyphony (instrument)
Polyphony Instruments that are not capable of polyphony are monophonic.-Synthesizer:Most of early synthesizers were monophonic musical instruments which can play only one note at a time, and are often called monosynth as opposed to polysynth...
analog synthesizer
Analog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
that was manufactured by Moog Music
Moog Music
Moog Music is an American company based in Asheville, North Carolina which manufactures electronic musical instruments. The current Moog Music is the second company to trade under that name.-R.A. Moog Co. and the original Moog Music:...
from 1975 to 1980. The Polymoog was based on divide-down oscillator technology similar to electronic organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
s and string synthesizers of the time, and this led to a certain lack of flexibility compared to later polyphonic synthesizers such as the Yamaha CS-80
Yamaha CS-80
The Yamaha CS-80 was a polyphonic analog synthesizer released in 1977. It supports true 8-voice polyphony as well as a primitive settings memory based on a bank of micropotentiometers , and exceptionally complete performer expression features, such...
and the Sequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
Prophet 5. Coupled with a reputation for unreliability due to its overly-complex design and fragile construction, the Polymoog quickly became outclassed and even derided. Nevertheless they are capable of making some unique and exceedingly powerful sounds, notably the soaring string sounds on Cars
Cars (song)
Fear Factory, an American industrial metal band, recorded a version of "Cars" and released it as the second single from their third studio album, Obsolete. The song was only included as a bonus track on the limited edition digipak re-release of Obsolete and would be instrumental in breaking Fear...
.
The name Polymoog can either refer to the original Polymoog Synthesizer (model 203A) or the largely pre-set Polymoog Keyboard (model 280A) released in 1978. Confusingly, the 203a was originally badged Polymoog Keyboard but this was changed to Polymoog Synthesizer and the Polymoog Keyboard name transferred to the 280a. Serial numbers are said to have begun with the number 1000. The date of production was often written inside the top lid, which is easily removed by turning two knurled nuts underneath at each end of the keyboard and removing the vertical screws along the bottom of the interface sections at the back in under five minutes. Note the lid is not hinged and must be lifted off completely to reveal the layers of circuit boards. The top layer of boards are hinged and must be swung up carefully to reach the individual note cards.
The Polymoog features a 71-note weighted Pratt & Reed touch-sensitive
Keyboard expression
Keyboard expression often shortened to expression is the ability of a keyboard instrument to respond to the dynamics of the music or change the tone of the sound in response to the way that the performer depresses the keys of the musical keyboard...
keyboard
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
divided into three sections with a volume slider for each. The synthesizer also has a 3-band resonant graphic EQ
Equalization
Equalization, is the process of adjusting the balance between frequency components within an electronic signal. The most well known use of equalization is in sound recording and reproduction but there are many other applications in electronics and telecommunications. The circuit or equipment used...
section, which can changed to be low/bandpass/high pass. The Moog designed 24 db filter section, allows modulation
Modulation
In electronics and telecommunications, modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a high-frequency periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with a modulating signal which typically contains information to be transmitted...
modulated from its own envelopes, LFO
Low frequency oscillation
Low-frequency oscillation is an electronic signal, which is usually below 20 Hz and creates a rhythmic pulse or sweep. This pulse or sweep is often used to modulate synthesizers, delay lines and other audio equipment in order to create effects used in the production of electronic music. Audio...
and sample and hold
Sample and hold
In electronics, a sample and hold circuit is an analog device that samples the voltage of a continuously varying analog signal and holds its value at a constant level for a specified minimal period of time. Sample and hold circuits and related peak detectors are the elementary analog memory...
circuit. Ranks and waveforms of all notes are also adjustable combining waveforms, octaves, tunings, and their own independent LFO
Low frequency oscillation
Low-frequency oscillation is an electronic signal, which is usually below 20 Hz and creates a rhythmic pulse or sweep. This pulse or sweep is often used to modulate synthesizers, delay lines and other audio equipment in order to create effects used in the production of electronic music. Audio...
rates and amounts. Although the user can adjust the sounds of the instrument, the synthesizer also offers preset
Preset
Preset can refer to:* Preset keys of a Hammond organ* Default , a setting or value automatically assigned to a computer program...
s named "strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
", "piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
", "organ", "harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
", "funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
", "clav
Clavichord
The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was widely used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces...
", "vibes
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
", and "brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
". Presets were factory created as physical circuit cards and may be modified for live performance using Var(iation) buttons and triggering a red dot next to the preset number in the display. However the changes cannot be stored internally.
Although criticised by many for its limited programmability, the Polymoog was successful, and its unlimited polyphony was considered revolutionary upon its initial release. Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
was also one of the Polymoog's most recognizable and prominent users employing both versions, most recognisably the Vox Humana preset from the 280a. This searing string sound, especially prominent on the track 'Cars' and most of the album The Pleasure Principle
The Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan album)
The Pleasure Principle is the third studio album, and debut album under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1979...
, became his signature sound in the late 1970s and early 1980s. (To re-create this sound one must use the 'Direct' output on the Keyboard to bypass the filter section.) A Polymoog is featured prominently in his music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Cars
Cars (song)
Fear Factory, an American industrial metal band, recorded a version of "Cars" and released it as the second single from their third studio album, Obsolete. The song was only included as a bonus track on the limited edition digipak re-release of Obsolete and would be instrumental in breaking Fear...
" as well as in live footage from his performances on Top Of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
and The Old Grey Whistle Test
The Polymoog Keyboard 280a is a stripped-down version of the Polymoog Synthesizer, although the two are similar in appearance sharing the same case and keyboard. Most noticeably, the right-hand control panel is absent, while the left-hand panel is sparsely populated by just a few sliders, thus giving the user much less control over the sounds. The Polymoog Keyboard does however feature more presets than its predecessor: "vox humana
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
", "string 1", "string 2", "electric piano
Electric piano
An electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
", "piano", "honky tonk
Honky tonk
A honky-tonk is a type of bar that provides musical entertainment to its patrons...
y", "clav", "harpsi", "brass", "chorus brass", "pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
", "rock organ", "vibes", and "funk". Control over these presets is limited to octave balance, envelope attack, and LFO modulation depth and rate (interestingly, adjustment of these LFO parameters is limited or unavailable on some presets). The lower two octaves may also be split off to play a separate bass tone, with some control over this tone allowed via a dedicated 'bass filter'. Filter control of the main preset sounds is not user adjustable other than via an external controller.
There are a few common misconceptions. In the mixer sliders on the left one may see a horizontal metal bar. Is it broken? No, it was added at the factory to prevent users from accidentally turning the audio fully off on stage or in a music shop. New users may mistake the red LED and centre dual pot for a coarse and fine tuning adjustment circuit. The inside knob and flashing LED are for control of phase beating between waveforms. Only the outer pot is for tuning and is not connected to the LED. Some of the lower and upper buttons on the far right are controls for assigning an external synthesizer and will appear to do nothing if one is not connected. The fastest way to begin modifying a preset is with the Var button on the 203 that is immediately to the right of the presets and then adjusting decay.
A separate foot pedal controller known as the Polypedal (model 285a) with numerous cv jacks interfaces with the back panel. It allows the user to switch between single and multiple triggering of envelopes, and controls for pitch, filter, and sustain. The range of the multi-octave pitch shift is easily limited by a foot-controlled pot allowing for Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
-esque transpositions of chords containing dozens or all notes simultaneously, or a precise small shift of one note.
The Polypedal also can be interfaced with a standalone Minimoog
Minimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
to control its volume, pitch and filter for users who, when playing two keyboards at once, cannot use the Minimoog's pitch wheels. Other Minimoog interface features include a case top designed to hold one neatly on the Polymoog and the ability to have a Minimoog
Minimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
track the lowest or highest note played, with the option of combining the external audio through the Polymoog's mixer. This requires audio and cv cables, but also a simple female to male s-trig cord to gate/trigger the Minimoog's filter and VCA envelopes.
The Polymoog's sturdy cross-braced stand uses the same legs as the Fender Rhodes. Case feet designed to allow air circulation beneath also allow it to sit on other keyboards without using the legs. The fiberglass and aluminum channeled case design easily supports additional keyboards and prevents the case flex problems faced by the competing ARP
ARP Instruments, Inc.
ARP Instruments, Inc. was an American manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, founded by Alan Robert Pearlman in 1969. Best known for its line of synthesizers that emerged in the early 1970s, ARP closed its doors in 1981 due to financial difficulties...
Quadra. The original machine shipped with a heavy "Genuine Naugahyde
Naugahyde
Naugahyde is an American brand of artificial leather . Naugahyde is a composite of a knit fabric backing and polyvinyl chloride plastic coating. It was developed by United States Rubber Company, and is now manufactured and sold by the Uniroyal Engineered Products division of Michelin...
" zippered bag. Anvil-style road cases are strongly advised for movement.
This is a keyboard that yields its best results to the player who takes the time to fit themselves to its style. It is not for those who expect the immediate satisfaction of a digital preset. It has character, a rich lush sound, and depth and was designed as much for studio use as live.
Notable players
- Wendy CarlosWendy CarlosWendy Carlos is an American composer and electronic musician. Carlos first came to notice in the late 1960s with recordings made on the Moog synthesizer, then a relatively new and unknown instrument; most notable were LPs of synthesized Bach and the soundtrack for Stanley Kubrick's film A...
- Tony BanksTony Banks (musician)This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
of GenesisGenesis (band)Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
on | ...And Then There Were Three......And Then There Were Three......And Then There Were Three... is the ninth studio album by the British band Genesis and was released in 1978. It is the band's first album as a trio.-Background and recording:...
album in 1978. - Rick WakemanRick WakemanRichard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
of YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, the Going for the OneGoing for the OneGoing for the One is the eighth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released in 1977 on Atlantic Records. It was produced after an extended break for solo activity from the group, and marks the return of keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who had departed in 1974 after the Tales from...
and TormatoTormatoTormato is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock group Yes. Issued as the follow-up to 1977's acclaimed Going for the One, Tormato received less than charitable reviews upon release and its virtues are still a matter of debate for Yes fans and critics...
albums - Cat StevensCat StevensYusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
used it throughout his album IzitsoIzitsoIzitso is an album released by the British singer/songwriter Cat Stevens in 1977. After the lackluster Numbers, Izitzo – an album of pop/rock songs more in keeping with the style of Stevens' earlier 1970s albums – proved to be his comeback. The song "Child for a Day" was featured in the 1977 film... - Chick CoreaChick CoreaArmando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
used in the albums Romantic WarriorRomantic WarriorRomantic Warrior is the sixth studio album of fusion band Return to Forever.Romantic Warrior is the band's best selling record reaching eventual sales of 500,000 copies. It was the group's first album made for Columbia Records, which may have had a positive effect on sales...
and MusicmagicMusicmagicMusicmagic is the seventh and final studio album of fusion band Return to Forever.This album contains the final line-up of the band, with only founders Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke returning from the previous album. This is the first album since Light as a Feather to contain vocals, featuring... - Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
of Yellow Magic OrchestraYellow Magic OrchestraSakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
used world tour and domestic tour live in 1979 and 1980. - Gary NumanGary NumanGary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
His albums The Pleasure PrincipleThe Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan album)The Pleasure Principle is the third studio album, and debut album under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1979...
and TelekonTelekonReleased in 1980, Telekon is the fourth studio album, and second album under his own name, by the British musician Gary Numan. It debuted at the top of the UK charts in September 1980, making it his third and consecutive no.1 album....
are more or less predominated by the Polymoog. - Isao TomitaIsao Tomita, often known simply as Tomita, is a Japanese music composer, regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music and space music, and as one of the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements...
- Geoff DownesGeoff DownesGeoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
of Buggles and AsiaAsia (band)Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a... - Richard TandyRichard TandyRichard Tandy , is best known as the keyboard player in the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra...
of ELOELO- Music :* Electric Light Orchestra, a British rock music group** The Electric Light Orchestra , the group's debut album** ELO 2, the group's second album* ELO Part II, an offshoot band of Electric Light Orchestra- Sports and games :... - John FoxxJohn FoxxJohn Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
on his album MetamaticMetamaticMetamatic is an album by John Foxx, released in 1980. It was his first solo album following his split with Ultravox the previous year. A departure from the textured mix of synthesizers and conventional instruments on Systems of Romance, his last album with the band, Metamatics hard-edged... - FreeezFreeezFreeez were a United Kingdom dance music group from London, known initially as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Initiated by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and others such as Andy Stennet Freeez were a United Kingdom dance music...
- Gary WrightGary WrightGary Malcolm Wright is an American musician, best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You".-Early life:...
On the album "Dream Weaver" - Ralf HütterRalf HütterRalf Hütter is the lead singer, keyboardist, and reportedly leader of the electronic-music band Kraftwerk. Since the departure of Florian Schneider in 2008, he is also the group's sole remaining founding member....
of KraftwerkKraftwerkKraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
used up to 2 of these live - Jimmy DestriJimmy DestriJimmy Destri is an American musician. He played keyboards in the rock band Blondie, and is one of the principal songwriters for the band along with Chris Stein and Deborah Harry. Destri stopped touring with the band in 2004, but remained an official member of the band for several more years...
of BlondieBlondie (band)Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
used the Polymoog on every Blondie album, until the early 80's. - Paul DavisPaul Davis (singer)Paul Lavon Davis was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his radio hits and solo career which started worldwide in 1970. His career encompassed soul, country and pop music...
used a Polymoog on his 1977 album, Singer of Songs. - Anthony Phillips who played with GenesisGenesis (band)Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
on TrespassTrespassTrespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person, trespass to chattels and trespass to land.Trespass to the person, historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery, wounding, mayhem, and maiming...
album in 1970, and used later the polymoogPolymoogThe Polymoog is a polyphonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Moog Music from 1975 to 1980. The Polymoog was based on divide-down oscillator technology similar to electronic organs and string synthesizers of the time, and this led to a certain lack of flexibility compared to later...
a lot on his solo like Private parts and pieces albums in the end of the 70', and the "1984" album from 1981.
See also
- Moog synthesizerMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
- Robert MoogRobert MoogRobert Arthur Moog , commonly called Bob Moog was an American pioneer of electronic music, best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.-Life:...
- Moog MusicMoog MusicMoog Music is an American company based in Asheville, North Carolina which manufactures electronic musical instruments. The current Moog Music is the second company to trade under that name.-R.A. Moog Co. and the original Moog Music:...
- List of Moog synthesizer players