Electric Harpsichords - give me more!

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I've totally fallen in love with the sound of the electric harpsichord, mainly due to the first Dillard and Clark album which is essential listening for me at the moment. What I want to know is where I can find more music that has the electric harpsichord on it - not a normal one but an electric one. Peculiar, I know.

Rob M (Rob M), Monday, 7 November 2005 12:09 (twenty years ago)

Quasi - 'R + B Transmogrification', 'Featuring Birds', 'Sword of God'

Patrick South (Patrick South), Monday, 7 November 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

That is, distorted electric harpsichord. "Roxichord"

Patrick South (Patrick South), Monday, 7 November 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

First Mandrake Memorial album:

http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/m/mandrakemem_mandrakem_101b.jpg

Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 7 November 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

By the way, I can barely hear any electric harpsichord on the Dillard & Clark album. Though it's pretty sweet on "Git on Brother."

Patrick South (Patrick South), Monday, 7 November 2005 17:38 (twenty years ago)

I've never heard of such an instrument! I know the Hohner Clavinet was intended to be a kind of electric harpsichord. Haven't heard Dillard & Clark in ages, and can't recall what that instrument sounds like. Is that what Cal Cobbs played on Albert Ayler's Love Cry LP? Or Detroit Junior throughout Howlin' Wolf's The Back Door Wolf?

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 7 November 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

Ah yes, there is some nice harpsichord on "The Radio Song" too.

I think the playing on 'Love Cry' is just plain harpsichord. I suppose it's hard to tell...but I guess electric harpsichord can be sustained for longer, as it is on "The Radio Song." In the case of Quasi, it's obviously electric because of all the distortion. But yes, I believe Coome's Rocksichord is homemade. I doubt there are many instances of electric harpsichord in music. Though I'd love to hear more!

Patrick South (Patrick South), Monday, 7 November 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Get this comp immediately...

http://www.hasharat.co.il/images/various_harpsichord_200.jpg

Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Monday, 7 November 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

Huh, I was under the impression the Clavinet was an electric clavichord... but mysteriously, the Clavinet FAQ I just found claims it's "an electric guitar controlled by a piano keyboard."

Of electric harpsichords I know nothing. Google informs me that "electricity was first applied to the mechanism of a musical instrument in an electric harpsichord in 1761," which is kind of cool...

Doctor Casino, Monday, 7 November 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

I readily admit I'm remarkably ignorant as to how most vintage electric keyboards actually WORK. The revelation that yarn is a major component of the clavinet was fairly mindblowing. And I don't even have a clue what a clavichord sounds like.

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 7 November 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

I don't know what kind of keyboard the Mandrake Memorial used. Always figured maybe it was a "harpsichord" setting on an organ.

Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 7 November 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

Baldwin electric harpsichord is all over Abbey Road; apparently Stereolab used it all over everything, but I don't know them well enough to tell you where.

Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 01:31 (twenty years ago)


http://www.alphabeck.co.uk/hoep/images/bald_harp2.jpg

Savin All My Love 4 u (Savin 4ll my (heart) 4u), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 02:20 (twenty years ago)


http://www.alphabeck.co.uk/hoep/epianos2.html#maestro

Savin All My Love 4 u (Savin 4ll my (heart) 4u), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 02:23 (twenty years ago)

Hey thanks for the Mandrake Memorial recc. It's really good.

Patrick South (Patrick South), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 03:20 (twenty years ago)

there's a bit on coloma's "finery" album but i can't remember which songs specifically right now..

john p. irrelevant (electricsound), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 03:44 (twenty years ago)

AFAIK the much-reviled Cal Cobb played the vibraphone on all those Ayler albums.

sleeve (sleeve), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 23:02 (twenty years ago)

Stereolab song with harpsichord: "Spiracles."

Also, Cocteau Twins, "Blue Bell Knoll"? I honestly don't know what's acoustic and what's electric, though.

jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 23:44 (twenty years ago)


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