The French Love Their Synthesizers

Episode 47

The French Love Their Synthesizers

Playlist

1. Roger Roger (Cecil Leuter), “Duetto (La Concierge Et Le Monsieur Du Premier)” and “Rondeau Cucu” from Musique Idiote (1970 Neuilly). I believe this is the first library music record that he composed for Moog Modular synthesizer. The tunes are pretty simple, either one track or two tracks recorded in a multitracked sequence. 1:33 and 1:41
2. Jean-Pierre Ferland, “It Ain't Fair” from ‎Jaune (1970 Barclay). This song has English lyrics on an album that includes tunes in both French and English. This album was recorded in Montreal during the early days of synthesizer use at Andre Perry’s studio. Perry’s uncredited Moog Modular synthesizer adds little touches throughout, especially on this song. Ferland was a widely popular French-Canadian singer/songwriter. 2:03
3. Heldon, “Zind” from Electronique Guerilla (1974 Disjuncta). Bass Guitar, Pierrot Roussel; Drums, Coco Roussel; Guitar, Alain Renaud; Piano, EMS VCS 3 Synthesizer, Patrick Gauthier; EMS VCS 3 Synthesizer, Georges Grumblatt; Vocals, Gilles Deleuze; Written by Richard Pinhas. 2:18
4. Heldon, “Back to Heldon” from Electronique Guerilla (1974 Disjuncta). Bass Guitar, Pierrot Roussel; Drums, Coco Roussel; Guitar, Alain Renaud; Piano, EMS VCS 3 Synthesizer, Patrick Gauthier; EMS VCS 3 Synthesizer, Georges Grumblatt; Vocals, Gilles Deleuze; Written by Richard Pinhas. 8:31
5. Heldon, “Ouais, Marchais, Mieux Qu'en 68 (Ex : Le Voyageur)” from Electronique Guerilla (1974 Disjuncta). Bass Guitar, Pierrot Roussel; Drums, Coco Roussel; Guitar, Alain Renaud; Piano, EMS VCS 3 Synthesizer, Patrick Gauthier; EMS VCS 3 Synthesizer, Georges Grumblatt; Vocals, Gilles Deleuze; Written by Richard Pinhas. 4:22
6. Philippe Grancher, “Birds, Birds” from 3000 Miles Away (1975 PÔLE 0014). Composed, Arranged by, Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer (String Ensemble), Mellotron, Organ, Effects, Philippe Grancher; Synthesizer, Jean-Louis Rizet; Bass, Gérard Bouquin; Drums – Pascal X; Electric Guitar, Arnaud Chevalier. 8:27
7. Henri Roger, “‎Asyle Cosmique” from Images...(1975 Pôle Records). Composed and performed by, instruments, Mini Korg Synthesizer, Elka Rhapsodie, Yamaha YC 45 D organ, Electric Guitar, Henri Roger. 10:25
8. Michel Madore, "Stanley” from Le Komuso À Cordes (1976 Barclay). Another product of Montreal. Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Piano, Cimbalom [Cymbalom], Ocarina, Producer, Arranged By, Written-By, Michel Madore; Drums, Tubular Bells, Gong, Percussion, Mathieu Léger; Electric Bass, Contrabass, Errol Walters; Electric Piano, Piano, Phillippe Beck; Saxophone, Synthesizer, Ocarina, Percussion, Arranged By, Ron Proby. 3:52
9. Space Art, “Psychosomatique,” from Trip In The Center Head (1977 IF Records). Music by Dominique Perrier, Roger Rizzitelli playing the following Instruments: Polymoog, Minimoog, Hammond Organ, Fender Piano, Piano, Drums, Clavinette, Arp Odyssey, Eminent, Violon électrique Flanger, Guitare électrique, Vibraphone, Bell-Trees, Gong, Timbales, Grosse caisse symphonique, Korg, Mellotron. 10:38
10. Jean Michel Jarre, "Oxygène Parts 1, 2, 3” from Oxygène (1977 Polydor). Composed By, Producer, ARP Odyssey synthesizer, EMS A.K.S. and V.C.S. 3 Synthesizers, R.M.I. Harmonic synthesizer, Farfisa organ, Eminent organ, Mellotron, Rhythmin' Computer, Jean-Michel Jarre. 18:41
11. Clearlight, “Spirale D'Amour” from Visions (1978 Polydor). Arranged by Clearlight, Cyrille Verdeaux; Bass, Philippe Melkonian; Drums, Percussion, Jacky Bouladoux; Electric Bottleneck Guitar Cosmique, Christian Boule; Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Didier Malherbe; Grand Piano, ARP Odyssey Synthesizer, Gong, produced by Cyrille Verdeaux; Synth Programmed by Francis Mandin; Minimoog Synthesizer, Luc Plouton; Violin, Bass Violin, Didier Lockwood. 7:33
12. Richard Pinhas, “Iceland Parts 1 and 2” from Iceland (1979 Polydor). Composed By, Performed By, Electronics, Guitar, Richard Pinhas. Pinhas was also a member of Heldon, whose music combined rock and electronic. 10:43
13. Tai Phong, “Thirteenth Space” from Last Flight (1979 Warner Brothers). Piano, (Acoustic, Electric), Synthesizer, Celesta, written by Pascal Wuthrich and Michaël Jones; Drums, Stephan Caussarieu; Engineer, Khanh; Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Michaël Jones. 4:56
14. Tai Phong, “Last Flight” from Last Flight (1979 Warner Brothers). Piano (Acoustic, Electric), Moog Synthesizer. EML synthesizer, Pascal Wuthrich; Vocals, Electric Guitar, and written by, Khanh; Drums, Stephan Caussarieu; Engineer, Khanh; Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Michaël Jones. 9:58
15. Szajner, “Brute Reason” from Brute Reason (1983 Island). Composed By electronics, keyboards, Bernard Szajner; Bass, Felipe Maujardo; Drums, Kirt Rust. Guitar, Xavier Geronimi; Saxophone, Schroeder; Vocals, Percussion, Joji Hirota. Szajner is also the man who invented the laser harp, used by Jarre in performance. 5:18

 

Background music:

• Space Art, “Speedway,” from Trip In The Center Head (1977 IF Records). Music by Dominique Perrier, Roger Rizzitelli playing the following Instruments: Polymoog, Minimoog, Hammond Organ, Fender Piano, Piano, Drums, Clavinette, Arp Odyssey, Eminent, Violon électrique Flanger, Guitare électrique, Vibraphone, Bell-Trees, Gong, Timbales, Grosse caisse symphonique, Korg, Mellotron. 2:54
• Szajner, “Without Leaving” from Brute Reason (1983 Island). Composed By electronics, keyboards, Bernard Szajner; Bass, Felipe Maujardo; Drums, Kirt Rust. 3:46

Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz.

Additional opening, closing, and other incidental music by Thom Holmes.

For additional notes, please see my blog Noise and Notations.