Here’s something I came cross the other day, an album from 1972 by Mike Hankinson, an English guy who lived in South Africa though album was produced in the USA.
It’s called “The Unusual Classical Synthesizer” and was made entirely on a Electronic Music Studios “Synthi” VCS-3 as opposed the Moog Modular which was the weapon of choice for many of the “Switched on” also rans that came after Wendy Carlos.
The track listing is as follows
Side one:
1 Toccata and Fugue in D minor (Bach) [7:05]
2 Variations – Mein junges Leben hat ein End (Sweelinck) [3:29]
3 Sonata in D major (Scarlatti) [2:46]
4 Sonata Rondo (Clementi) [3:20]
Side two:
1 Concerto in A minor (Bach) [2:59]
2 Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart) [3:37]
3 Italian Concerto (Bach) [3:37]
4 Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven) [5:08]
From VintageSynth.com about the VCS-3
“The VCS3 (nicknamed the Putney) is an analog monosynth housed in a distinctive angled wooden case, a truly classic synth. EMS (Electronic Music Studios) was created in England back in 1969. The VCS3 was one of their first synths and it is still a great, unique, funky little unit! Pictured above is the Mark I model. Pictured is another unit with the small wood-cased DK2 voltage-control keyboard required to play the VCS3.
It has three oscillators, and a unique matrix-based patch system. Instead of patch wires, the VCS3 uses a patchbay grid in which the synth components are laid out, and signal routing is accomplished by placing small pins into the appropriate slots. The VCS3 was, in actuality, a modular type synthesizer reduced down to an extremely portable size.”
Just goes to show that few things today are really that new, on the sleeve notes it says “It is recommended that you play this disc on a very good system and if you own a Quadraphonic synthesizer, listen to it through that – the sound will amaze you. Be careful not to damage your speakers playing the Bach Toccata !”
Mmm, sounds like 5.1 surround sound and sub-bass, mark my words, flares and platforms will be back in fashion at some point.
I LOVE this album, and I, too, have the LP, which I inherited from my grandfather, along with Switched-on Bach, The Well Tempered Synthesizer and several Tomita LPs.
What I like about this album is the use of the very rare VCS-3 synthesizer. Most of his peers at the time used the Moog. Except for the Moonlight Sonata, all of the pieces are very lively and fun to listen to.
I grew up listening to this album….I love this album and it has shaped the way that i view music now..this and Rick Wakeman.
Very cool!
I too grew up with this album. I only wish I had saved the record. Thanks for posting some of the recordings. It was good to hear it again.
This album started me into classical music interests in my early teens, which was unusual for kids at that age. Switched On Bach was my next album, but I initially did not like the light sounds that he used. I guess I liked full base sounds which the Unusual Classical Synthesizer had.