#Moogsploitation

[haveyouheardthisband]

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

Black Hole Sun • Buddy Holly • Basket Case • Come Out and Play • Free Fallin' • Are You Gonna Go My Way? • Smells Like Teen Spirit • Evenflow • The One I Love • Rockin' In the Free World

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[balleralbumcovers]

EPIC ALBUM COVER #227

Gil Trythall - Country Moog / Nashville Gold

Released: 1972 (Athena, Summit)

Novelty country, moogsploitation

[vinylarchavist]

Switched-On Bach (MS 7194)

Clarifying the Cover Art

A standing figure holding headphones in their right hand indicates a less common or alternate cover for Switched-On Bach (MS 7194). The standard 1968 cover, designed by John Berg with photography by Horn/Griner, typically features a person in 18th-century attire (resembling Bach) seated at a Moog synthesizer, with patch cables and a keyboard prominently displayed. However, some pressings, particularly international or later U.S. editions, used alternate artwork due to Columbia’s practice of varying covers for promotional or regional releases.

Album Details

Title: Switched-On Bach

Artist: Wendy Carlos (credited as Walter Carlos)

Label: Columbia Masterworks

Catalog Number: MS 7194 (Stereo; mono version is M 7194)

Release Year: October 1968

Format: 12" Vinyl LP, Stereo

Genre: Electronic, Baroque Music, Moogsploitation

Producers: Trans-Electronic Music Productions, Inc. (Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind)

Performers: Wendy Carlos (Moog synthesizer), Benjamin Folkman (additional keyboards)

Country: USA (distributed globally by Columbia)

Alternate Cover: Certain pressings of Switched-On Bach feature a figure standing with headphones, emphasizing the modern, technological aspect of the Moog synthesizer. This cover may have been used for specific markets (e.g., UK, Canada, or export pressings) or later reissues. For example, a Discogs listing (r139241) notes slight artwork variations across pressings, and Rate Your Music mentions different covers for Switched-On Bach. The standing figure with headphones aligns with the album’s futuristic theme, contrasting the baroque music within.

Track Listing

Assuming MS 7194 is Switched-On Bach, the tracklist includes 12 Bach compositions reinterpreted on the Moog synthesizer:

Sinfonia to Cantata No. 29 (3:20)

Air on a G String (2:27)

Two-Part Invention in F Major (0:45)

Two-Part Invention in B-Flat Major (1:30)

Two-Part Invention in D Minor (0:48)

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (2:56)

Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in E-Flat Major (7:07)

Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C Minor (2:43)

Chorale Prelude “Wachet Auf” (3:37)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major: First Movement (6:35)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major: Second Movement (2:50)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major: Third Movement (5:05)

Unique Sound

Switched-On Bach is celebrated for its groundbreaking sound, blending Baroque precision with electronic innovation. Key aspects include:

Moog Synthesizer Innovation: Wendy Carlos used a custom-built Moog modular synthesizer, a monophonic instrument requiring each note to be programmed individually. This labor-intensive process (described as “unfathomable” by reviewers) produced a range of timbres—harpsichord-like plucks, organ-like sustains, and ethereal tones—unheard in 1968. Overdubbing created polyphonic textures, mimicking an orchestra.

Baroque-Electronic Fusion: Bach’s mathematical compositions (e.g., fugues and inventions) were ideal for the Moog’s precise, clean sound. Tracks like “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3” retain Baroque structure while introducing futuristic timbres, creating a “timely and timeless” sound that feels both classical and avant-garde.

Technical Mastery: Carlos’s meticulous multitrack recording and tuning (aided by Benjamin Folkman) resulted in a polished, vibrant sound. Reviewers praised its “crisp, precise, and rapid” execution, with instruments “singing better than human voices” in some passages.

Cultural Novelty: The album’s electronic timbres were novel in 1968, sparking a “Moogsploitation” trend with imitators like Switched-On Bacharach. Its kitschy yet sophisticated sound appealed to classical fans, audiophiles, and experimental music enthusiasts.

Stereo Mix: The MS 7194 stereo pressing enhances the Moog’s dynamic range, with distinct separation of voices, making it ideal for vinyl collectors seeking analog warmth. The headphones on the cover you described underscore the album’s hi-fi appeal.

Cover Art and Packaging

Your described cover—a standing figure holding headphones in their right hand—suggests a variant emphasizing the Moog’s technological allure. Standard MS 7194 pressings feature a seated figure at a synthesizer, but alternate covers were used for some editions. The jacket includes liner notes by Carlos, Folkman, and Robert Moog, explaining the synthesizer’s technology and Bach’s suitability for electronic adaptation. The back cover lists tracks and credits, with photography by Horn/Griner. The cardboard jacket is prone to ring wear or seam splits, similar to your other 1960s LPs (Vera Lynn, Doctor Dolittle).

Vinyl Collector Details

Catalog Number MS 7194: The “MS” prefix denotes stereo, preferred for its dynamic sound over the mono M 7194. Original 1968 pressings have Columbia’s red “360 Sound Stereo” label with the “walking eye” logo. Check runout etchings (e.g., “XSM 137225-1A” or “XSM 137226”) to confirm first pressings, often marked with “P” (Pitman) or “S” (Santa Maria).

Condition and Value: On Discogs (r139241), VG+ to NM copies sell for $10–$30, with sealed or mint copies at $40–$100 (2025 prices). Promotional copies with “Demonstration” stamps or white labels can reach $150+. The album’s popularity ensures availability, but alternate covers (like yours) may increase value if rare.

Rarities: Promotional copies, signed LPs (rare, as Carlos was reclusive), or international pressings with unique artwork are highly collectible. Your headphones cover may indicate a Canadian or UK pressing, noted in some Discogs listings.

Availability: Available on Discogs, eBay, and Amazon (ASIN varies by reissue). Thrift stores or record fairs may have copies, but check for scratches or surface noise, as 1960s vinyl was heavily played.

Reissues: Later releases include CBS Masterworks CDs (MK 7194) and 180-gram vinyl by Friday Music or Music On Vinyl. The original MS 7194 is prized for its analog sound and historical value.

Reception and Legacy

Switched-On Bach was a cultural phenomenon, peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200 and selling over a million copies, a feat for a classical album. It won a Grammy for Best Classical Performance (Instrumental Soloist, 1969) and sparked a Moog synthesizer craze. Critics lauded its “incredible production” and “timeless timbres,” though some classical purists criticized its electronic approach. Its 2000s revival, noted on Rate Your Music (#267 for 1968) and UNCUT’s “500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s,” highlights its enduring appeal. Carlos’s identity as a trans artist adds social significance, especially post-1979.

Connection to Your Interests

Your queries about The Great Doctor Dolittle Songs (Pickwick/33, 1968), Blue Öyster Cult (Columbia KC 31063, 1972), and The World of Vera Lynn (London SPA 103, 1968) show a passion for late-1960s vinyl across genres. Switched-On Bach complements these as a 1968 Columbia release, offering an electronic twist that contrasts with the orchestral pop of Vera Lynn, the proto-metal of BÖC, and the budget covers of Doctor Dolittle. Its innovative sound and collectible status align with your focus on era-specific LPs.

Recommendations for Collectors

Why Collect MS 7194: This LP is essential for electronic music fans, classical crossover enthusiasts, and 1960s vinyl collectors. Its unique sound, Grammy win, and potential rare cover make it a standout alongside your other albums.

Where to Find: Search Discogs (r139241), eBay, or Amazon for MS 7194. Check thrift stores or record fairs for deals, but verify the cover matches your description. Your variant may be listed under international pressings.

Care Tips: Store in a polyethylene-lined sleeve to protect the jacket. Clean with a carbon-fiber brush to preserve the stereo mix’s clarity, vital for the Moog’s timbres.

Companion Albums: Pair with Carlos’s The Well-Tempered Synthesizer (1969, Columbia MS 7286) or Switched-On Brandenburgs (1980, CBS Masterworks) for more Moog explorations.

Additional Notes

If your copy is indeed MS 7194, check:

Runout Etchings: Look for “XSM 137225” or “XSM 137226” to confirm a 1968 pressing.

Label: Verify the red Columbia “360 Sound Stereo” label.

Jacket: Inspect for wear, as alternate covers may be rarer and more valuable.

[zef-zef]

Wolfgang Seidel - ICC Berlin from: Wolfgang Seidel - Friendly Electrons (Karlrecords, 2024)

Cover photo by Wolfgang Seidel

[rustedskyprisms]

The rateyourmusic page for I Feel Fantastic. Moogsploitation as a genre for that is funny to me.

[grubbe-dziela]

⦕☼⦖ Everything ⦕☼⦖

I'm an artistic, creative, lonely, suicidal, limerent, bisexual dude from Poland looking for purpose in life and reasons to keep going. =w= I'm an absolute workaholic when it comes to my creative output. I need to work on something. At all times. I make digital drawings, glitch art, physical art from Biedronka catalogues, experimental photography and progressive electronic music. :3

Linktr.ee Deviantart Photography Bandcamp (nothing there yet ;w;)

I'm also an absolute maniac when it comes to consuming music. No day goes by without a track being played. >w< I like weird shit - experimental stuff. My taste in music is very varied. Anything goes, like gay indie pop rock, drone metal, italian progressive rock, outsider music, slowcore, zheul, funk, moogsploitation, no-wave, post-rock, alien experimental rock operetta, etc. just as long as it's weird/interesting. What's the point of making something if it has been done before? We wonder, but fantasy moves ahead.

Last.fm Rateyourmusic My special Spotify playlist

"The aching and the breaking are the making of a soul, The empties that have been returned relieve us of a goal."

[superdeluxeaverage]

today n yesterday couldve been bad bad which wouldve sucked dick to start the new year on but like they were both GREAT GREAT so that the bad was outweighed by the good v easily yesterday i went to the swap meet with my coworker friend it was rly nice n i found some great records tho theyre scuffed not horribly so but just get stuck in grooves like once or twice on each side i got the yes album blind faith (1978 rso reissue) 3 moogsploitation records (switched on rock, moog groove, and dick hyman moog album :D) earth wind and fire thats the way of the world (tho having that one makes me wanna find gratitude on LP cause thats such a great live album) sly n the family stone stand, let it bleed, creedence willy n the poor boys and genesis nursery cryme i think thosee are all the records i got :D but it was chill n fun going with my friend n we got breakfast after like usual n we talked its always great but i talked abt my ex-friend a lil bit n then that same day at work two of my ex-friends friends were shopping there so that was awkward THEN today my ex-freind and her friend (who i also had known) showed up and were shopping there so that was realllllyyy weird especially for it to be happening literally a day after i mention that whole thing n stuff its so weird but i didnt make any like contact or anything but im sure her and her friend saw me cause they left pretty soon after i noticed them. if i wasnt where i am at rn mentally n socially n idk just in my own interests too like that rly couldve had me sooo down but instead im just like idk uhh lol abt it. cool things that happened today was a drag king who shops where i work not often saying hi and asking how ive been and inviting me to a movie screening that i guess shes performing at and then this dilf referring to me as babyboy when calling me to help him look at items we have behind the glass LOL he called it real loud so all the customers there heard it n were prolly like wtf n i was worried someone would say something it was hottt T-T im p suuure hes gay in like the older guy dom way cause hes been there with 20smthn year olds having them help him take furniture out for him n stuff but idk i just assume shit alot of the time but that was real nice lol. n overall today customers were all p nice to me which was neat. n ive been blasting johnny jewel by television a lot lately i have the single version on the double exposure bootleg cd and the live 1978 version on the arrow head bootleg. i rly think the live one goes into agharta territory when it gets to that second solo like i feel like it has to be purposeful cause he like robert quine was a agharta type fella tho i think that influence is overplayed in the grand scheme given those records were coming out when both guitarists had already basically developed their style i mean u can def hear a john mclaughlin on the corner and even jack johnson type influence in quines playing for sure but that moment on little johnny jewel live is like the only real time i can hear a agharta influence in television. like the kinda solemn mood it takes while the solo gets crazier is soooo last stretch of agharta i feel like it has to be a direct influence.

[theropoda]

moogsploitation film

[theparanoid]

Bruce Haack - The Electric Lucifer

(1970, full album)

[Moogsploitation, Psychedelic Pop, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Electronic]

[haveyouheardthisband]

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

Plantasia • Symphony for a Spider Plant • Baby's Tears Blues • Ode to an African Violet • Concerto for Philodendron and Pothos • Rhapsody in Green • Swingin' Spathipyllums • You Don't Have to Walk a Begonia • Mellow Mood for Maidenhair • Music to Soothe the Savage Snake Plant

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[videostak]

hold up country moog is actually really really good O_o

[vinyl-connection]

[zef-zef]

Best of 2024

Wolfgang Seidel - Friendly Electrons (Karlrecords, 2024)

[midi-wizard]

maybe it’s a good thing all the thrift stores near my parent’s house are closed this week, i always end up dropping like $100 on beat up patchwork clothes and Moogsploitation albums