Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1985 - (page 203)

[BimboBob]

That's a really good point about making sure we don't sacrifice a broader understanding of a band or a theme to the year by year format.

To that point, when we move to the 80's I'll prepare a 10,000 word rant on the DX7 and just get it out of the way instead of spending nearly half a year slagging off each individual song that uses it :-) This also means that come 1982 I won't have to acknowledge that Toto put more effort in and used it much more intelligently than 90% of bands. Except I just have, doh.

Although it didn't go on sale until 1983.

 

[Saddleworth2]

That's a really good point about making sure we don't sacrifice a broader understanding of a band or a theme to the year by year format.

To that point, when we move to the 80's I'll prepare a 10,000 word rant on the DX7 and just get it out of the way instead of spending nearly half a year slagging off each individual song that uses it :-) This also means that come 1982 I won't have to acknowledge that Toto put more effort in and used it much more intelligently than 90% of bands. Except I just have, doh.

I thought the DX7 was used by almost everyone in the 80's. Kate used it on a couple of her albums alongside her Fairlight so it can't be totally bad. Think Prince used on on Purple Rain as well.

 

[threespires]

Two things...

1. I don't use Spotify so whoever updates it can do what they want.
2. I'll be on holiday.
3. They had better not!

I'll update foryou as long as you don't mind all the tracks you erroneously dismiss from Upstairs at Eric's finding their way in there ;-)

Although it didn't go on sale until 1983.

Back in the day the Toto/David Paitch created rom patches were popular, but you're absolutely right it would have been impossible for the DX7 to have been used on Toto IV. Which must mean that ironically at least some of those patches, like the famous marimba sound, must simply have been later recreations of older synth sounds. (Possibly explains why the keyboards on that album are by far the least of the crimes committed). Either way, whatever I might think of them, they were not the kind of band to just press the preset.

 

[RobMCFC]

Either way, whatever I might think of them, they were not the kind of band to just press the preset.

No, that was Depeche Mode :)

According to Wikipeadia .....

Toto IV prominently featured several vintage synthesizers. Key instruments included the Yamaha CS-80, used for the iconic brass pad sound in "Africa" and other songs, as well as a Polyfusion Modular, nicknamed "Damius", which contributed to the opening lines and solo in "Rosanna". Additionally, the Yamaha GS1 was used for the kalimba sound in "Africa". Other synthesizers like the Minimoog Model D, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Roland Jupiter-8, and Oberheim Xpander were also used by Steve Porcaro.

 

[threespires]

I thought the DX7 was used by almost everyone in the 80's. Kate used it on a couple of her albums alongside her Fairlight so it can't be totally bad. Think Prince used on on Purple Rain as well.

Yes but the difference was Kate Bush was a woman who (I believe?) actually learnt to programme her Fairlight herself and therefore for whom actually programming the DX7 properly would have held no fear. This wasn't the case for lots of artists and the problem was there was more than enough presets to bottle out if you didn't want to get to grips with it's (admittedly quite painful) programming. So the double whammy of being a pain to make it sound unique combined with the ease of getting something 'decent' sounding out of it meant that lots of use of the DX7 sounded identical. Signature sound or quickly evolving cliché depending on your point of view. That's before you even get into the whole analogue digital debate.

 

[threespires]

No, that was Depeche Mode :)

I know you're joking but you're going to regret that!

 

[OB1]

Haha. There's no way someone isn't going to nominate Africa. I look forward to the bizzare technical glitch on Spotify that stops you adding it :-)

Should we be worried that the initial playlist is supposed to be 10 songs which is precisely the number of tracks on A Broken Frame?

I like Toto a lot but they did release a contender for most cringe worthy song ever; however, across their catalogue there’s loads of fine music.

 

[threespires]

No, that was Depeche Mode :)

According to Wikipeadia .....

Toto IV prominently featured several vintage synthesizers. Key instruments included the Yamaha CS-80, used for the iconic brass pad sound in "Africa" and other songs, as well as a Polyfusion Modular, nicknamed "Damius", which contributed to the opening lines and solo in "Rosanna". Additionally, the Yamaha GS1 was used for the kalimba sound in "Africa". Other synthesizers like the Minimoog Model D, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Roland Jupiter-8, and Oberheim Xpander were also used by Steve Porcaro.

Yes if I'd bothered to look it up rather than just having a pop I'd have realised this!
I think it was Paitch who adopted the DX7 but as I said it seems like at least some of the sounds created were simply recreations of early sounds. I know someone who still has a fully working DX7, wouldn't surprise me if he has the ROM in question too, might ask him.

 

[threespires]

I like Toto a lot but they did release a contender for most cringe worthy song ever

You're going to have to narrow it down for me:-)

 

[OB1]

You're going to have to narrow it down for me:-)

Ho, ho.

On their first album,
there’s a track,
That’s a pile of crack.

 

[BimboBob]

No, that was Depeche Mode :)

According to Wikipeadia .....

Toto IV prominently featured several vintage synthesizers. Key instruments included the Yamaha CS-80, used for the iconic brass pad sound in "Africa" and other songs, as well as a Polyfusion Modular, nicknamed "Damius", which contributed to the opening lines and solo in "Rosanna". Additionally, the Yamaha GS1 was used for the kalimba sound in "Africa". Other synthesizers like the Minimoog Model D, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Roland Jupiter-8, and Oberheim Xpander were also used by Steve Porcaro.

DM didn't use a DX7 until 1985-ish. A Fairlight, series 1 or 2, was used on Violator. Most albums were a mix or ARPs, Moogs, Roland's etc etc.

 

[BimboBob]

I'll update foryou as long as you don't mind all the tracks you erroneously dismiss from Upstairs at Eric's finding their way in there ;-)

Now then...I didn't dismiss the turncoats album did I?

 

[threespires]

Ok 1976 closed for additions but remains open for discussion. We can talk all week but Bimbo's choice of If You Leave Me Now will remain simultaneously the most surprising pick and yet very bimbo :-)

I've added a couple of OB1's classics and I've finished with a song the young me intensely disliked at the time, but over the years I've come to really like in terms of it's simplicity and lack of cynicism. So despite the national malaise of the time and the soon to break musical discontent, I'm concluding the 76 playlist with something that represents from my perspective an uncomplicated, care free and more innocent time lived out in the scorching sunshine of 1976.

The Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow

 

[Saddleworth2]

Ok 1976 closed for additions but remains open for discussion. We can talk all week but Bimbo's choice of If You Leave Me Now will remain simultaneously the most surprising pick and yet very bimbo :-)

I've added a couple of OB1's classics and I've finished with a song the young me intensely disliked at the time, but over the years I've come to really like in terms of it's simplicity and lack of cynicism. So despite the national malaise of the time and the soon to break musical discontent, I'm concluding the 76 playlist with something that represents from my perspective an uncomplicated, care free and more innocent time lived out in the scorching sunshine of 1976.

The Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow

What was your overall impression of 1976 following completion of the playlist?

 

[Protein Junkie]

This year saw the release of Jon Anderson’s “Olias of Sunhillow” A solo album in every sense with some gorgeous,ethereal themes.

I still love Temples of Syrinx from the Rush 2112 album.

Scorpions created great controversy for the original cover of “Virgin Killer”It was subsequently banned in some countries.

Echo many other views about Boston and Blue Oyster Cult.

 

[RobMCFC]

This year saw the release of Jon Anderson’s “Olias of Sunhillow” A solo album in every sense with some gorgeous,ethereal themes.

I still love Temples of Syrinx from the Rush 2112 album.

Scorpions created great controversy for the original cover of “Virgin Killer”It was subsequently banned in some countries.

Echo many other views about Boston and Blue Oyster Cult.

Meant to say in relation to 2112, I love the "Overture" and ""The Temples of Syrinx" but find the rest of side 1 - i.e. the concept part - a bit tedious.

I much prefer the 2nd side with "A Passage to Bangkok", "The Twilight Zone" and "Lessons" and a great finish with "Something for Nothing".

 

[BimboBob]

Ok 1976 closed for additions but remains open for discussion. We can talk all week but Bimbo's choice of If You Leave Me Now will remain simultaneously the most surprising pick and yet very bimbo :-)

I've added a couple of OB1's classics and I've finished with a song the young me intensely disliked at the time, but over the years I've come to really like in terms of it's simplicity and lack of cynicism. So despite the national malaise of the time and the soon to break musical discontent, I'm concluding the 76 playlist with something that represents from my perspective an uncomplicated, care free and more innocent time lived out in the scorching sunshine of 1976.

The Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow

Peter Cetera, strings, Horns...what's not to like?

Chicago X was one of my Dad's Sunday album picks.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

On second thoughts, Whilst this thread is 'year by year' sometimes we don't join the dots around a Bands career - their influence in the round. Maybe just write a little piece on Family on here and see what discussion that provokes - its still part of the History of Rock n roll after all and would be a change from lists of 30 tracks at a time ;-)

Definitely. We've said before that if anybody wants to write a piece on any specific aspect of the year that we are covering then feel free. It was done for a year in the 60s covering the significance of the Brill Building in NYC. Was it KS55? Apologies if I've got that wrong.

Well, I never saw them live, unfortunately, so I'm in a weak position (one of my three regrets, along with the first Jimi Hendrix, i.e. with Redding and Mitchell, and the first Fleetwood Mac, i.e. Peter Green Jeremy Spencer, that one). I
If I were going to write a piece, it would certainly be on Music From a Doll's House. That dates from 1968, so we're way, way past it on this thread. Family Entertainment dates from 1969. Those two first albums were easily the strongest things they did, although there are interesting things on later albums. (Those old men are still tinkering with the idea of touring, I think — they've still got quite a strong base in Germany, I hear! Of course, of the original band, there is only Roger Chapman, vocals, and Rob Townsend, drums, left).
When I was first played Music From a Doll's House, I simply didn't know what to think. I couldn't identify it. It was like an aural UFO. I wasn't sure whether I loved it, or hated it, or what. That's always a good sign. To this day, I'm still not sure if it's rock music. To do it justice, I'd have to go through it track by track, and even then I'm not sure I could give it it's due.
One thing I will say — each track is its own entity, very carefully defined musically to stand on its own terms. It is the very opposite of a ‘concept’ album. Perhaps the only linking thread is Chapman's voice that bleats, wheedles, and roars. There is no other voice like it in anything I know in pop and rock music. The only other I could possibly compare would be Ian Curtis. And only on these grounds: neither of them are ‘beautiful’ voices, by classical canons of good taste. You could even say that they're both ugly voices. But one note from either of them — that voice grabs you by the scruff of the neck. It says, “Listen to me. I've got something important to tell you — yes, you!”

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

A Night at the Opera gets all the plaudits, because it has Bohemian Rhapsody on it, but A Day at the Races is a brilliant album

Much prefer The Prophets Song to Bohemian Rhapsody

 

[Saddleworth2]

Well, I never saw them live, unfortunately, so I'm in a weak position (one of my three regrets, along with the first Jimi Hendrix, i.e. with Redding and Mitchell, and the first Fleetwood Mac, i.e. Peter Green Jeremy Spencer, that one). I
If I were going to write a piece, it would certainly be on Music From a Doll's House. That dates from 1968, so we're way, way past it on this thread. Family Entertainment dates from 1969. Those two first albums were easily the strongest things they did, although there are interesting things on later albums. (Those old men are still tinkering with the idea of touring, I think — they've still got quite a strong base in Germany, I hear! Of course, of the original band, there is only Roger Chapman, vocals, and Rob Townsend, drums, left).
When I was first played Music From a Doll's House, I simply didn't know what to think. I couldn't identify it. It was like a UFO. I wasn't sure whether I loved it, or hated it, or what. That's always a good sign. To this day, I'm still not sure if it's rock music. To do it justice, I'd have to go through it track by track, and even then I'm not sure I could give it it's due.
One thing I will say — each track is its own entity, very carefully defined musically to stand on its own terms. It is the very opposite of a ‘concept’ album. Perhaps the only linking thread is Chapman's voice that bleats, wheedles, and roars. There is no other voice like it in anything I know in pop and rock music. The only other I could possibly compare would be Ian Curtis. And only on these grounds: neither of them are ‘beautiful’ voices, by classical canons of good taste. You could even say that they're both ugly voices. But one note from either of them — that voice grabs you by the scruff of the neck. It says, “Listen to me. I've got something important to tell you — yes, you!”

From wiki, which has it pretty spot on:

The band's sound has been variously described as progressive rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock, folk rock, jazz fusion, not to mention "British art rock," and hard rock.

Family were particularly known for their live performances; one reviewer describing the band as "one of the wildest, most innovative groups of the underground rock scene", noting that they produced "some of the rawest, most intense performances on stage in rock history" and "that the Jimi Hendrix Experience were afraid to follow them at festivals".

Family was an influence on Jethro Tull, with Ian Anderson noting that the band were particularly underrated. Both in his vocal sound and style and his dramatic stage presentation, Chapman was also a strong early influence on Peter Gabriel.

I got to know them around 72, I think at the time of their album 'Bandstand' which was more traditional rock than some of their others. I loved the looseness, the musicianship and the vocals. Burlesque remains one of my favourite singles.