Thursday Coffee Break: Long Live the Moog
Posted at 8:18 AM on August 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
When it first appeared in the 1960's nobody had heard anything like it. They'd also never seen anything quite like it: the original synthesizer keyboard, designed by Robert Moog, was practically as big as a small pickup truck.
It's tempting to pronounce it as it's written (with an "oo" sound), but it's actually pronounced "MOE-g," like Moe from the Three Stooges (or The Simpsons). The Moog synthesiser became a staple in 70s music for artists looking for an unearthly sound to spice-up their songs. We're paying tribute to the Moog today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Kraftwerk "Autobahn"
Donna Summer "I Feel Love"
The Beatles "Here Comes the Sun"
Emerson, Lake and Palmer "Lucky Man"
Parliament "Flashlight"
Comments (38)
So do I get my wish to finally have you guys play some ELP this morning?? :)
Lucky Man -- Emerson Lake + Palmer
Minnesota's own Motion City Soundtrack use a Realistic Concertmate that was manufactuered by Moog for Radio Shack in the 80's. "Hangman" showcases it nicely.
Umm, The Rentals, absolutely. Either "Friends of P" or "Waiting".
You guys painted yourself into the corner today! The one man who popularized the Moog was Keith Emerson, so you should do some ELP (Karn Evil 9 would be nice, or radio friendly "Still You Turn Me On") or show some real flash and do "America" by The Nice!
Maybe some Tangerine Dream?
"Star Collector" or "Daily Nightly" - The Monkees (first to use it in a pop song, I believe)
Back in NYC - Genesis
Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA - Devo
Maxwell's Silver Hammer - The Beatles
Aries (The Fire Fighter) - The Zodiac (eaaaarly use of Moog)
My Summer Girl - The Rentals
Fan Mail - Blondie (not totally positive that's a Moog in that one but Jimmy Destri played one quite a bit)
Gotta have some Stevie Wonder - "Have a Talk With God"
I second The Rentals with Friends Of P.
*Rubs hands together in anticipation of "Mellotron Appreciation Day"*
Motion City Soundtrack!
Do they use a moog in The Future Freaks Me Out?
I gave a speech in college about a band, and definitely pronounced "moog" incorrectly.
Foggy Mountain Breakdown from the album
Country Moog/Switched-On Nashville by Gil Trythall
Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep will blow your Moog mind on "Gypsy" Live 1973!
Palo Alto - Radiohead
In the Meantime - Spacehog
Thanks to Wikipedia…
Popcorn – Hot Butter
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot
Thanks to my twisted mind..
You can sing the first stanza of “Stairway to Heaven” to the tune of the The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
I Want You (She's So Heavy) - Beatles
"Funky Worm"- Ohio Players (Walter "Junie" Morrison funks it up!)
"Popcorn"- Hot Butter
Lucky Man - Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Autobahn-Kraftwerk
I Feel Love - Donna Summer
No Moog list would be complete without "Watcher Of The Skies" by Genesis. I second every ELP pick, including mine!
"I Want You (She's So Heavy)" by the Beatles
The Minotaur by Dick Hyman
Emerson, Lake & Palmer's song "Lucky Man"
Devo-Mongoloid?
May I suggest some Jeff Beck???
@gripweed - "*Rubs hands together in anticipation of "Mellotron Appreciation Day"* "
Sorry, missed that by a few months already! It was a good set.
Have to do Hot Butter and "Popcorn"
Another vote for "Popcorn" by Hot Butter...my father-in-law still has this on vinyl!
Time to Pretend - MGMT
In Your Wildest Dreams - Moody Blues
Although, "In Your Wildest Dreams" could be playing currently on about a million different Lite Rock or Classic Rock stations across the country right now.
You MUST play "Daily Nightly" by the Monkees. Micky Dolenz was the third Moog owner ever, and this is reportedly the first pop song to feature one.
Radiohead - Idioteque
I second MGMT, Radiohead, and Motion City Soundtrack
Anything by the late great BRAINIAC
Chromeo- Night by Night
Anything by the late great BRAINIAC
I missed out today- but had to come say the Donna Summer rocked!
re: ELP/Lucky Man
Do-it -yourself Moog synthesizer, circa 1972 -
Sing into the hose from your sister's Suzy Homemaker vacuum cleaner while swinging it in the air and you get that Lucky Man synthesizer sound. I swear.
Sorry couldn't get it in sooner but Strange Days by the Doors is a perfect addition for this theme.
Todd, we got our ELP!
I read an interview with Robert Moog years ago where they asked him how to pronounce his name. He said that his family always pronounced it as a rhyme to "rogue" but so many people said it with the long "O" that he just got used to it. As someone who has struggled with the mis-pronounciation of my (real) last name it was comforting to hear. After reading Moog's comment I decided to stop correcting everyone and just let it slide.
| August 2010 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
Master Archive
- Download songs by Alabama Shakes, Dawes, My Morning Jacket and more
- Random Vinyl - 5/25/12
- Transmission 5/25/12
- Block Rockin' Weekend Is Back!
- 9:30 Coffee Break: Hip Hop for Soundset
- Interview with Brother Ali
- Today in Music History: The Isley Brothers' First Hit
- Chart Show 5-24
- Passport Approved 5/23/12
- Random Vinyl - 5/24/12
- 9:30 Coffee Break
- Add category
- CD of the Week
- CD Reviews
- Contests
- Dining with Dara
- Favorite Songs of the Decade
- Honey-Do List
- In the Studio
- John Munson Interviews
- Last Call at the Uptown
- Live Events
- Local
- Meet the Beatles (Again)
- Morning Show
- Music History
- Music News
- Musicheads
- My Three Songs
- New Hot
- Passport Approved
- Pitchfork
- Policy and a Pint
- Programs
- Random Vinyl
- Rock the Garden
- SXSW
- Teenage Kicks
- The Aughts
- The Chart Show
- The Current Presents
- The Current Road Trip
- The Local Show
- Theft of the Dial
- Time Machine Tuesday
- Transmission
- United States of Americana
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock