The origin of the farty synth ?

[Val]

I'm gutted I didn't know about the Love You thing in East Kilbride, I would've loved to be there. Andrew does indeed have a great voice, Rob's take on Dennis is amazing too!

Did you listen to the whole thing, Craig?  it was not perfect, by any means; but it was LIVE and it was FUN. I feel we did the closing harmonies (Sean Macreavy's idea) on "Solar System" much better in Lutterworth, though...

Speaking of "Love You" reminds me of the time when (pardon the name drop, but it's true!) we were having dinner with Billy Hinsche and Jeffery Foskett and Jeffrey turned to AGD and asked him to explain why the fans so loved "Love You"!

[Craig Boyd]

I'm gutted I didn't know about the Love You thing in East Kilbride, I would've loved to be there. Andrew does indeed have a great voice, Rob's take on Dennis is amazing too!

Did you listen to the whole thing, Craig?  it was not perfect, by any means; but it was LIVE and it was FUN. I feel we did the closing harmonies (Sean Macreavy's idea) on "Solar System" much better in Lutterworth, though...

Speaking of "Love You" reminds me of the time when (pardon the name drop, but it's true!) we were having dinner with Billy Hinsche and Jeffery Foskett and Jeffrey turned to AGD and asked him to explain why the fans so loved "Love You"!

Yeah I loved it Val! I think if it had been perfect you would have lost the whole essence of the album, it's the little imperfections that give the whole thing it's charm. I've heard before Jeff isn't a fan of the album, it does seem to be a bit like marmite amongst the fans. What did AGD say to him?

[PS]

It's beautifully sincere and joyous cover versions like these that re-freshen the ears and make us listen anew what lies beneath the originals. The energetic and powerful drumming especially lifts up the songs into a rock attack, the off kilter lead vox perfectly apropos, the harmonies provide the Beach Boy bedding. Immensely charming.

[guitarfool2002]

If the theory is that Brian took his influence from Carl on Long Promised Road, in the way the synths were used on a Beach Boys recording, then I'd say that is a great possibility.

If the theory is that Brian through Carl were innovators in the way they played those synths *in general* or in music history, I'd disagree. Going back to the late 60's, there were specific innovators and specific records - some novelty, some 'serious' - which were experimenting with the Moog and using it for the same kind of sounds and musical purposes as Brian (and Carl).

Among the many names: Paul Beaver and Bernie Krause with "The Zodiac", Keith Emerson with ELP, Yes, Bernie Worrell (one of the undisputed masters of Moog/MiniMoog bass playing in the 70's), Sun Ra, the band Hot Butter with the novelty hit "Popcorn"...etc.

But one of the pioneers, one of the first to have a hit record (The Minotaur) using a Moog in similar ways as the Love You album, was Dick Hyman. This is his version of a James Brown song, recorded in 1969, and if you just sample various bars of music from this you'd be tapping into many examples of what dance music would be based on a few decades later.

"Give It Up Or Turn It Loose" 1969:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyW_VkOTo2k

Brian's synth lines and sounds were great, they're classic, but they're not too far removed from what was already being done on Moog and MiniMoog synths into the 70's.

[seltaeb1012002]

Speaking of Farty Synths - here is the Beach Boys Britain band of the same name and featuring your very own AGD and Rob Dean. The band is headed up by Sean Macreavy and band members include the lovely Synthesiser Patel and Mr Bass Farty Synth himself: the wonderful Jimmy Hughes....and yes, that's me, sporting AGD's infamous black hat.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Z7rK2RUz4&feature=related

Holy crap, this is awesome! Wow. Great job fellas! 

[Alan Smith]

If the theory is that Brian took his influence from Carl on Long Promised Road, in the way the synths were used on a Beach Boys recording, then I'd say that is a great possibility.

Perhaps it went along these lines - Carl starts using the synth as a key studio component; Surf's Up (which contains are select farts) and Holland (full of farts) as great examples, + Jon Stebbins notes Dennis's synth use on POB.  (This thread is sounding like "bonus tracks" from a BB blog).

I assume Brian worked pretty closely with Carl (in the studio) on 15, Adult Child and Love You; so I think it would be less about Carl's early influence and more Carl's specific direction of Brian, mid '70s.

Whatever happened to the Farty Synths - the world was surely their oyster...

[Rob Dean]

If the theory is that Brian took his influence from Carl on Long Promised Road, in the way the synths were used on a Beach Boys recording, then I'd say that is a great possibility.

Perhaps it went along these lines - Carl starts using the synth as a key studio component; Surf's Up (which contains are select farts) and Holland (full of farts) as great examples, + Jon Stebbins notes Dennis's synth use on POB.  (This thread is sounding like "bonus tracks" from a BB blog).

I assume Brian worked pretty closely with Carl (in the studio) on 15, Adult Child and Love You; so I think it would be less about Carl's early influence and more Carl's specific direction of Brian, mid '70s.

Whatever happened to the Farty Synths - the world was surely their oyster...

Don't forget the encore song ( Just Once In My Life ), which really should have been on Love You - Again to be played very loud 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwgZm0ZWdJ0

[DonnyL]

I'd say Brian was first, as he was always after these types of sounds even before the synth was in vogue, i.e. the use of bass harmonica and fuzz tone in the mid-late '60s.

[Craig Boyd]

If the theory is that Brian took his influence from Carl on Long Promised Road, in the way the synths were used on a Beach Boys recording, then I'd say that is a great possibility.

Perhaps it went along these lines - Carl starts using the synth as a key studio component; Surf's Up (which contains are select farts) and Holland (full of farts) as great examples, + Jon Stebbins notes Dennis's synth use on POB.  (This thread is sounding like "bonus tracks" from a BB blog).

I assume Brian worked pretty closely with Carl (in the studio) on 15, Adult Child and Love You; so I think it would be less about Carl's early influence and more Carl's specific direction of Brian, mid '70s.

Whatever happened to the Farty Synths - the world was surely their oyster...

Don't forget the encore song ( Just Once In My Life ), which really should have been on Love You - Again to be played very loud 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwgZm0ZWdJ0

That's immense! I like to think of that song as a part of Love You rather than 15BO's aswell.

[Wirestone]

I'd say Brian was first, as he was always after these types of sounds even before the synth was in vogue, i.e. the use of bass harmonica and fuzz tone in the mid-late '60s.

This is key, I think. Brian likes a particular kind of big bass sound. The Moog was ultimately a more convenient way to produce that sound.

[guitarfool2002]

Brian was first in what? If it's using a MiniMoog or whatever to record a bassline, he's got quite a line of musicians in front of him, dating back to 1970. And that's just the MiniMoog - as that Dick Hyman clip I posted tonight is from 1969, I'd say Brian wasn't near the first.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what exactly it is Brian is being credited as "first" in doing...because his playing Moog is cool but it's not pioneering or groundbreaking in rock music, if that's the right wording. 

[Cam Mott]

Who coined the term "farty synths"? Was it someone on PSML or Green Mansions?

[DonnyL]

Brian was first in what? If it's using a MiniMoog or whatever to record a bassline, he's got quite a line of musicians in front of him, dating back to 1970. And that's just the MiniMoog - as that Dick Hyman clip I posted tonight is from 1969, I'd say Brian wasn't near the first.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what exactly it is Brian is being credited as "first" in doing...because his playing Moog is cool but it's not pioneering or groundbreaking in rock music, if that's the right wording. 

ha, sorry for the lack of clarity ...

Brian was first in introducing this sound in the group, not Carl.

[Jay]

Speaking of Farty Synths - here is the Beach Boys Britain band of the same name and featuring your very own AGD and Rob Dean. The band is headed up by Sean Macreavy and band members include the lovely Synthesiser Patel and Mr Bass Farty Synth himself: the wonderful Jimmy Hughes....and yes, that's me, sporting AGD's infamous black hat.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Z7rK2RUz4&feature=related

Woah! AGD has a killer singing voice!

Yup - been known to drop a fully-grown bull elephant at 100 paces.  

All joking aside, you NAILED Solar System. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Don't forget the 'good' version of Shortenin' Bread...that was done in 1973!


andrew--- that was tight.

[MBE]

My Solution had them and that was 1970 so even though it was done in a silly context they are there.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Who coined the term "farty synths"? Was it someone on PSML or Green Mansions?

It was either yours truly, or (more likely) SeanyMac. Time has blurred the detail. However, I'm proud to state that it was my idea to add "JOIML". Which Sean just nailed, as we all knew he would.

Doing that gig may have been one of the highest points of my entire BB fandom: I was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY out of both my league and comfort zone, but the mere presence of all the fine musos - and friends - onstage conspired to make me up my game and not make a complete arse of myself in front of the assembled fans (and the paying public - it wasn't a closed fan show). The whole thing was just a complete blast.

[Val]

Speaking of Farty Synths - here is the Beach Boys Britain band of the same name and featuring your very own AGD and Rob Dean. The band is headed up by Sean Macreavy and band members include the lovely Synthesiser Patel and Mr Bass Farty Synth himself: the wonderful Jimmy Hughes....and yes, that's me, sporting AGD's infamous black hat.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Z7rK2RUz4&feature=related

Woah! AGD has a killer singing voice!

Yup - been known to drop a fully-grown bull elephant at 100 paces.  

All joking aside, you NAILED Solar System. 

Yes, he did, Jay, most certainly.   I think all the vocals for that performance were pretty "spot on"...even I didn't cringe (too much) at my mimicry of dear Marilyn, even to the point of American pronunciations,  for which my muso. non BB pals took the proverbial of, later!

And to AGD, Sean,. Rob,  Synthesiser, Paul, Jimmy, Daniel and Alex, plus  Stephen & Elaine - great kudos for all the hard work and care - but mostly the fun we had!

[Jaco]

Surprise to me was the raw power of Honkin' Down The Highway.
I listened this morning twice to your whole Love You performance + Just Once In My Life
The first song a little shaky (backing vocals / warming up), but all the rest until the end: great, great music!

Just Once In My Life was the perfect last song, and I was even hypnotised by the version of Love Is A Woman

[PongHit]

This is an interesting side-note: 44 years ago, Brian didn't even know what the word synthesizer meant!


Interviewer: "The synthesizer..."
BRIAN WILSON: "I have not heard of that."
Interviewer: "It's an electronic instrument that creates sound, just pure sound…"


http://rootstrata.com/rootblog/?p=6313

[Jaco]

I couldn't find another playlist, so I made one

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5D132E6B746CC370


Tracks:
1."Let Us Go On This Way"  2."Roller Skating Child"   3."Mona"                            

4."Johnny Carson"

5."Good Time"   6."Honkin' Down the Highway"    7."Ding Dang"

(Side two)
1."Solar System"  2."The Night Was So Young"   3."I'll Bet He's Nice"    4."Let's Put Our Hearts Together"

5."I Wanna Pick You Up"    6."Airplane"    7."Love Is a Woman"

bonus: "Just Once In My Life"

[Mikie]

That Sean Macreavy is a good man. He's very talented and on a personal level a real good guy.

[drbeachboy]

Andrew & Val, you guys did a better a job of performing the Love You songs than the Beach Boys did back in 77 & 78. This is a lot of fun to watch and listen to. I've only watched side one and the first two songs on side two, so looking forward to the rest of the show. Andrew, you had Brian down pat on Solar System.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I think it was slightly better when I did it a few months earlier in a blue bathrobe. 

[Mikie]

Who's the good lookin' chick with the hat?  Is she married?