The great thread of electronic/synthesizer soundtracks

[iProg]

So is there anyone here who's able to identify the analog polyphonic synth used on Fabio Frizzi's
Manhattan Baby soundtrack (1982)?

A PPG or Polymoog. Worst guesses ever.

[Micke]

No, it's neither PPG nor Polymoog.

The synth in question was used by some very famous acts but not until a few years later. Considering that the
soundtrack to "Manhattan Baby" was recorded in the summer of 1982 it's gotta be one of the very first recordings
to feature this synth. This is a great synth but it never became successful for some reason.

Keep 'em coming!

[balma]

Just a question man.

How did you get so knowledged about wich synth was using for x movie? Each time I hear a synth on a movie and I wonder wich one is, I think.... Micke.... Micke.....

[Micke]

My knowledge of this comes from interviews & articles on film composers and session musiicians, and conversations
I have had through the years with hundreds of more or less famous musicians. Moreover, I have a large collection of
movie soundtracks on LP & CD and in many cases the synths and gear used on a specific score are listed on the LP
sleeve or in the CD liner notes.

[iProg]

No, it's neither PPG nor Polymoog.

The synth in question was used by some very famous acts but not until a few years later. Considering that the
soundtrack to "Manhattan Baby" was recorded in the summer of 1982 it's gotta be one of the very first recordings
to feature this synth. This is a great synth but it never became successful for some reason.

Keep 'em coming!

Could it be a Gleeman Pentaphonic then, based on your statements?

[Micke]

Nope. It's a much more (in)famous synth. As I said previously it's a great sounding and powerful poly-synth but
for various reason it never became succesfull.

[Micke]

Afaik this synth wasn't in full production until the latter half of 1982 or thereabouts (the actual synth used on the
Manhattan Baby OST was a prototype).

[iProg]

Nope. It's a much more (in)famous synth. As I said previously it's a great sounding and powerful poly-synth but
for various reason it never became succesfull.

Elka Synthex?

[Micke]

Yessss... Elka synthex is correct!

Here's a photo of the actual synth used on the score:
http://www.synthorama.com/search?q=elka ... ce=message

It was built by Mario Maggi for film composer/keyboardist Gianni Mazza, who played the synth on the recording
sessions. Maurizio Guarini (of Goblin) usually played the synths on Frizzi's scores but in this particular case he was
busy with another project.

I recently bought the remastered and expanded CD's of Fabio Frizzi's scores to "The Beyond" and "Manhattan Baby"
and I love 'em.

[themilford]

what a beast of a synth.

here's a neat vid:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 9570281770

[MrFrodo]

what a beast of a synth.

here's a neat vid:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 9570281770

Okay, that is one of the greatest synth videos I've seen in a while, and it's due equally to Paul Wiffen's demonstration AND his remarks.

[iProg]

Yessss... Elka synthex is correct!

Here's a photo of the actual synth used on the score:
http://www.synthorama.com/search?q=elka ... ce=message

It was built by Mario Maggi for film composer/keyboardist Gianni Mazza, who played the synth on the recording
sessions. Maurizio Guarini (of Goblin) usually played the synths on Frizzi's scores but in this particular case he was
busy with another project.

I recently bought the remastered and expanded CD's of Fabio Frizzi's scores to "The Beyond" and "Manhattan Baby"
and I love 'em.

It sounds so digustingly good! Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran bought one before the production of "All you need is now", along with a new Moog Voyager and ARP Quadra, but I don't now where or if he used it.

Paul's video is truly fantastic.

[tomorrowstops]

Just watched Flash Gordon (1980) today for the first time. Queen sounds great on this, as do the orchestral cues from Howard Blake. Am I hearing Prophet 5 all over this or an Oberheim?

Any anecdotes on this one, Micke?

I haven't really investigated yet, but did anyone release the score in its entirety (both Queen's cues and Blake's)? I see a set of just Queen's cues on itunes....

[MrFrodo]

Just watched Flash Gordon (1980) today for the first time. Queen sounds great on this, as do the orchestral cues from Howard Blake. Am I hearing Prophet 5 all over this or an Oberheim?

Any anecdotes on this one, Micke?

Well, they definitely used Oberheim. I know I'm not Micke, but I recall reading that the OB-Xa was one synthesizer in their arsenal. Don't know about any other models.

[Virgule]

I haven't really investigated yet, but did anyone release the score in its entirety (both Queen's cues and Blake's)? I see a set of just Queen's cues on itunes....

I found cases of cassette tapes on the side of the road last fall and it was one of the few I kept. It's pretty good even without the movie. The track list is the same as on here:

http://www.discogs.com/Queen-Flash-Gord ... ase/456643