Superfreak Synth
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Superfreak Synth
Does anyone know what synth was used for the strings sounding part in Rick James's Super Freak?
Re: Superfreak Synth
Hello,
If you're referring to the reedy, combo-organ modeled sound on records around that period, it was typically
an Oberheim OB-X. It was the machine mainly associated with the New Wave sound. The Minneapolis bands
also often used it for that type of sound. The string synth sounds on those Rick James recordings were usually
ARP String Ensemble or Omni, but Crumar (I assume, Performer) listed on 1982 "Throwin Down" lp.
Afa electronic keys, Levi Ruffin Jr. used a variation of what funk bands typically used around the turn of the
decade: ARP String Ensemble (Omni 1 on the lp, "Bustin Out Of L Seven", maybe others), Minimoog, OB-X.
OB-X seemed to be later upgraded to Xa, and Moog Liberation, Memorymoog, and Moog vocoder was added.
Danny LaMelle also second key player during 80's, but not sure if he toured with them.
Regards,
-L
If you're referring to the reedy, combo-organ modeled sound on records around that period, it was typically
an Oberheim OB-X. It was the machine mainly associated with the New Wave sound. The Minneapolis bands
also often used it for that type of sound. The string synth sounds on those Rick James recordings were usually
ARP String Ensemble or Omni, but Crumar (I assume, Performer) listed on 1982 "Throwin Down" lp.
Afa electronic keys, Levi Ruffin Jr. used a variation of what funk bands typically used around the turn of the
decade: ARP String Ensemble (Omni 1 on the lp, "Bustin Out Of L Seven", maybe others), Minimoog, OB-X.
OB-X seemed to be later upgraded to Xa, and Moog Liberation, Memorymoog, and Moog vocoder was added.
Danny LaMelle also second key player during 80's, but not sure if he toured with them.
Regards,
-L
Re: Superfreak Synth
Thank you so much. I love this site.
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James Mandible
- Newbie
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Re: Superfreak Synth
It was most likely an Oberheim, yeah, and according to Teena Marie, it was probably Prince's Oberheim!
In 1980, Prince opened for James on the Fire It Up tour. James complained that Prince stole his stage moves and according to Marie, Rick paid Prince back by stealing his gear. “Back then people weren’t really programming their own synthesizers,” says Teena. “Prince - you know – he’s a genius... he was one of the only one’s who could really do that – probably him and Stevie [Wonder] were the only one’s really doing it…[Prince] was programming all his synthesizers and setting the presets with his own sound and …at the end of the tour [Rick] took [Prince’s] synthesizers.” Teena cannot help but chuckle as she recounts the story. “He took them to Sausalito and he actually used them on the Street Songs album and then he sent them back to [Prince] with a thank you card. He was a piece of work…and a brilliant genius, too!”
In 1980, Prince opened for James on the Fire It Up tour. James complained that Prince stole his stage moves and according to Marie, Rick paid Prince back by stealing his gear. “Back then people weren’t really programming their own synthesizers,” says Teena. “Prince - you know – he’s a genius... he was one of the only one’s who could really do that – probably him and Stevie [Wonder] were the only one’s really doing it…[Prince] was programming all his synthesizers and setting the presets with his own sound and …at the end of the tour [Rick] took [Prince’s] synthesizers.” Teena cannot help but chuckle as she recounts the story. “He took them to Sausalito and he actually used them on the Street Songs album and then he sent them back to [Prince] with a thank you card. He was a piece of work…and a brilliant genius, too!”