Everything You Always Wanted to Hear on the Moog

Here it is: everything you always wanted to hear on the moog... but were afraid to ask for! This great disc of classical Moog music, "Semi-conducted" (get it?) by Andrew Kazdin and Thomas Z. Shepard, features works by Chabrier, Lecuona, Bizet, and an incredible 14 minute rendition of Ravel's Bolero that fills the entire second side of the record.

There's a lot of electronic computer technology in music today, but in the days of the Moog, electronic music really sounded artificial. That's exactly what makes records like this so frightening to the musical establishment... and such treasures to the rest of us. From tinny sounds that you can almost recognize from their analog counterparts to spacey flourishes that only exist in Moogspace, these tracks bring a thoroughly unique perspective to the tunes they cover.

Most Moog albums employ a number of traditional instruments (especially drums), but not this one: it is entirely synthesized on the Moog, right down to fake applause at the conclusion of Bolero. The liner notes go to some length to remind the listener of the massive creative effort that goes into producing an album like this. With only one sound at a time to work with, reproducing a complex score can involve up to 20 tracks per song, and countless hours of work. You really have to hand it to Kazdin and Shepard for putting that kind of work into a record that was most probably panned by every music critic of its day. Moog on!

Great album, BTW. Analog synths are the best. (06-15-2010)

Amy (gbrooks314@gmail.com) says:
Just came across your website today...here's an interesting thing that caught my ear about 10 years ago--The band "Los Amigos Invisibles" samples this version of Carmen on their song "Ultrafunk." (Unless my ears are wrong and I don't know it.)

This is such an obscure album (that I have permanently imprinted on my brain from listening to it obsessively as a kid), and it really caught my attention.

Listen from 0-30s. If I'm wrong, I'll feel like a putz! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7xB_-QaVps

Thanks to Beth for the MP3's as well! (06-06-2010)

Ben (adrianbennett@email.com) says:
Beth - thankyou so much for taking the time to make available a much-loved album from my youth that I thought I would never hear again. Back then I just had a terrible mono copy on a cassette from a school friend. He had recorded his father's copy, but didn't know what it was called. He could only remember that there was a "funny little red man" with two right hands on the cover! (We were both only ten or eleven.) I grew up thinking it must have been by Tomita, and so could never find it. Hearing it again in high quality and stereo is an absolute thrill. Thanks again. (01-26-2010)

Kevin Austin (kevin.austin@videotron.ca) says:
i have always been impressed by this recording. For me it is the Chabrier Espana which is the golden moment here. The Bolero is neat and well-known, but I find that the Chabrier is a rather inspired piece of work. Having done some multi-channel realizations myself, I am aware of the technical and musical complexity of creating an "effective" transcription. (09-17-2009)

Robert Scalise (scalisemail04@cfl.rr.com) says:
Francik thank you so much. I lost my copy of a Reel-to-reel version of this recording during a move several years ago.

also, may I direct you attention to a recording called by a modern synthesizer wiz by the name of Amin Bhatia who's current CD -Virtuality has a new version called Bolero Electronica. while the album is technically impressive (it uses vintage synthesizers from the Cantos Foundation Synthesizer Museum as well as several from personal collections and each section of Bolero used the instruments like the moog from the 1960's to the present computer based systems. It's unbelievable! Please check it out.
http://www.aminbhatia.com/
There are MP3 clips there. (07-20-2009)

Ernest T. Spoon (spoonreport@hotmail.com) says:
Corny, but cool! (07-14-2009)

Jeff Polen says:
Thanks Beth. I grew up on this album and i actually have my parents Vinyl of this. I was going to try to capture it and save it, but you saved me a ton of time and I appreciate that. I forgot how cool this album was. Nothing compares. Thanks again. (06-30-2009)

Beth (beth@francik.com) says:
This album is awesome! I have the 4 songs as 320kb MP3s if you are looking for a copy.

http://www.francik.com/moog/

(04-23-2009)

Dan (progrock1@aol.com) says:
Hard to believe that I never heard this record given how much I am into '70s prog and anologue synths in general. If anyone has an excellent cd transfer of it and a kind heart I would be happy to cover expenses for a copy. Thanks. Dan (04-20-2009)

Jose Fritz (exgavin@yahoo.com) says:
My copy came from a thrift store, but the sticker on the back tells me the previous owner was David Green of Brockton, MA. (03-15-2009)

Michael Evans (mjegreenstar@talktalk.net) says:
I use to have this record, but cleared everthing out when CD's were introduced. It was a superb record and I have always regretted losing it.
Has it been reproduced on CD, if so can some tell me where it can be bought, or let me know its' reference number?
Thanks (11-21-2008)

Dave ten Haaf (dstenhaaf@yahoo.com) says:
I would really love to get a copy of these songs. If anyone can help, please drop me an email 11/17/08 (11-17-2008)

Flotsam says:
My sister and I listened to this album frequently when we were young - I loved Bolero; still do. I now own many versions of Bolero, and my musical tastes have certainly matured, but I would love to get a copy of this great old album. (11-03-2008)

haywood jablomy says:
Walter/Wendy Carlos was much better at this kind of thing. (07-17-2008)

Ed says:
I need a copy! I had it years ago (Actually I have side 1 memorized) Its just one of those things you remember and love (04-12-2008)

Courtney says:
I just bought a copy in very fine condition for $0.50 from a church run thrift store. I bought it as a lark but now I realize just how unique this album truly is. (10-21-2007)

Laurie Foston (writersallages@aol.com) says:
I played this back when it first came out. I thought it was long lost at first then found it at amazon as an LP. Still looking for a CD (07-02-2007)

jd (007jed@comcast.net) says:
were can I find this on a cd???? (06-17-2007)

Aldi says:
My uncle had that LP when I was a kid. Now I own a few copies, including one that is still sealed! (none are for sale, sorry). (04-10-2007)

Tom Blasing says:
I've never seen this on (Red Book) CD but it would sell a few copies if it were. I've only seen the MP3's of it (MP3 is too compressed for me).

My family had this album in the early 70's and was the focal point of listening one Christmas on the cheap little Sears stereo (tuner and phono only) in our livingroom. When your 7-years old as I was it sounds playfull if anything else.

I just picked up a (vinyl) copy from Amazon.com for $28 although one side was a little rough. It may have sounded a little more on my system since I'm using McIntosh front end units and Klipsch Jubalie speakers (VERRRRYY efficient at 104db/1w/1m!!).

I can't even find the year this thing was made! (03-21-2007)

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