After the success of Walter (now Wendy) Carlos’s 1968 album SWITCHED-ON BACH, the record industry experienced a brief surge of cash-in moog exploitation albums. Some of the best of these include The Moog Machine’s SWITCHED-ON ROCK (Columbia Records), The Electric Concept Orchestra’s MOOG GROOVE (Limelight Records), and THE HAPPY MOOG! (Pickwick Records).
THE HAPPY MOOG! was masterminded by Jean Jacques Perrey and Harry Breuer, both stalwarts of the music industry. Perrey in particular is remembered as an early pioneer of electronica; he’s best known for his 1970 album MOOG INDIGO as well as for his collaborations with Gershon Kingsley.
Here are the best tracks from the Happy Moog album:
1) “Space Express”
2) “Short Circuit”
3) “Paris 2079″
4) “Saturn Ski Jump”
I found my copy of the album at a Goodwill store in Massillon, Ohio. It was fifty cents.
Duration : 0:8:17
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Interesting… …
Interesting… Goofy little work, printed-circuit typeface & all. Having heard both SWITCHED-ON BACH albums, SWITCHED-ON ROCK & SWITCHED-ON BACHARACH (Yeh, they covered him too… Have yet to hear ELECTRIC HAIR) it’s good to hear original compositions versus trans-compositions. Speaking of which: Wait until you hear The Moog Cookbook’s Cover of WHOLE LOTTA LOVE… Wow! Far-out! Real groovy, man!
Yay Analogue Heaven
Yay Analogue Heaven
Paris 2079 …
Paris 2079 especially.
I believe the BBC …
I believe the BBC used this music for “BBC Schools” in the late 1970s, early 1980s.
You know, this …
You know, this music reminds me of the background music of “Inspector Gadget” (1983)
I think Walter’s …
I think Walter’s early albums sounded better than Wendy’s Switched on Brandenburgs. I love A Clockwork Orange soundtrack (1971), the original and the recent remaster of unreleased demos. I wish the demos were issued on vinyl it would be kick ass!
I would love to …
I would love to find this at a goodwill. I love hearing moog on vinyl records.
I love it! My Dad …
I love it! My Dad bought this album new & I have it now. I still play it when I need cheering up. It always makes me smile!
its not uncommon …
its not uncommon for artists of upbeat music to compose it when they are also in their darker moments.
I mean most music …
I mean most music in the 21′st century that hits….Great music is always being made, somewhere by someone. Just kills me that for the most part, those musicians can’t make P Diddy money.
This is some of the …
This is some of the most imaginative, creative, and awesomely fun music I have ever heard. And to think that is was made more than 40 years ago makes today’s Soul Ja artist look even more pathetic.
when i feel like …
when i feel like killing myself, i listen to this video, and i suddenly feel like living!! I <3 my life!
Could be, although …
Could be, although our local “independent TV” station from the 1970s (WXIX, now ‘Fox 19′) used to play a lot of moog-synthesized music with the promos.
All very groovy, although I didn’t appreciate the work involved at the time.
Thanks for …
Thanks for introducing me to this. Walter/Wendy’s stuff has been my favorite from day 1.
I’m not sure if it is appreciated in today’s environment how much harder it was to do back then. I remember reading about how they would get a sound and it would only be good for less than an hour. It was all analog.
Yes, Walter Carlos …
Yes, Walter Carlos became Wendy Carlos following sexual reassignment surgery in 1972. Her first album released as “Wendy” came out in 1979.
Or was there a …
Or was there a gender transtition?
He? Don’t you mean …
He? Don’t you mean she?
This is a wonderful …
This is a wonderful selection. I have some rare and radiant vinyl I should explore. I discovered Perrey when I found a copy of his “The Amazing New Electronic Pop Sound of Jean Jacques Perrey”
OH MY GOD – Thank …
OH MY GOD – Thank you for putting this up! Total insane memories… wheeee!!
Then again, Walter …
Then again, Walter was a wiz even before he was Wendy.
I should get a sex …
I should get a sex change so I’ll be that good at a moog
Sounds like Mr …
Sounds like Mr Bungle’s first album at 1:53 !!
4:30 this is quite …
4:30 this is quite famous from TV or something?
We had this album …
We had this album when I was a kid.(1970 or so) It enthralled me and I’ve had my eye out for it ever since.
Imagine my pleasure when the moog began appearing in pop music in the early 90s.
Thanks!
Thanks a lot, love …
Thanks a lot, love this type of really primitive electronic pop music, it sounds so goofy and childish you can’t help but smile. For some it’s just a novelty thing that goes over quick, but I also like how insane you go after listening to it for too long.