Some kinda organ

[zravkapt]

This is something that's been bugging me off and on over the years; I figure someone on PE will have the answer. Some New Wave artists in the late 70s/early 80s used an organ that has a specific kind of sound. It sounds like these artists are going for a retro 50s/60s sound with their choice of organ sound yet it doesn't quite sound like a vintage organ being used. It sounds almost like a cross between a Farfisa and a string-synth. The type of organ sound I'm talking about can be heard in songs like Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" and Dire Straits' "Industrial Disease."

Was there a new organ on the market in the mid-70s that had that sound or were they actually using a Farfisa or something similar?

[Sputnik]

Pump it Up is a Vox Continental. Very similar to a Farfisa. Not sure about the Dire Straits. In general I think a lot of these bands were trying to go back to classic sounds of the 60s and early 70s especially the "skinny tie" stuff that was trying to recapture something of a 60s feel. I don't believe the were using contemporary gear.

Bill

[zravkapt]

Thanks for the reply. I'm wondering how easy to find and affordable those style of organs were at the time.

[ronmac]

That's what she said.

[Sputnik]

The Continental went out of production in the early 70s. My guess is they were reasonably available and reasonably affordable, as that sound had largely become passe until it was reclaimed to some extent in the very late 70s early 80s.

Bill

[Mister Triscuits]

My guess is they were reasonably available and reasonably affordable, as that sound had largely become passe until it was reclaimed to some extent in the very late 70s early 80s.

Indeed, one of the most notable exponents of the Vox Continental sound was Ray Manzarek of the Doors, and even he had switched to using mostly Hammond by the early '70s.

[Steve F.]

The Continental went out of production in the early 70s. My guess is they were reasonably available and reasonably affordable, as that sound had largely become passe until it was reclaimed to some extent in the very late 70s early 80s.

Like Mosrite guitars, which were popular with The Ventures, couldn't be given away in the 70s, until the B-52s made them totally cool again.

[JJ88]

Yeah I think it's a sound used to directly invoke the garage band sound of '96 Tears' and the like.

[Zeuhlmate]

Like Mosrite guitars, which were popular with The Ventures, couldn't be given away in the 70s, until the B-52s made them totally cool again.

Iron Butterfly used them until Metamorphosis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdsGk6jbozQ

[hFx]

Classic Vox Continental abuse: http://vimeo.com/60879324

[Steve F.]

Iron Butterfly used them until Metamorphosis.

Iron Butterfly weren't very cool

[Rick L.]

Just what makes that little old butterfly
Think he can fly while made out of iron
Everyone knows a butterfly can't
Fly when made out of iron

But, he's got hiiiiiigh hopes

[Mister Triscuits]

Iron Butterfly weren't very cool

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!

[hippypants]

A lot of the British Invasion used the Vox too. I remember seeing one played in some movie that had the Dave Clark Five in it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vox_Continental

[interbellum]

This is something that's been bugging me off and on over the years; I figure someone on PE will have the answer. Some New Wave artists in the late 70s/early 80s used an organ that has a specific kind of sound. It sounds like these artists are going for a retro 50s/60s sound with their choice of organ sound yet it doesn't quite sound like a vintage organ being used. It sounds almost like a cross between a Farfisa and a string-synth. The type of organ sound I'm talking about can be heard in songs like Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" and Dire Straits' "Industrial Disease."

Was there a new organ on the market in the mid-70s that had that sound or were they actually using a Farfisa or something similar?

I guess The Comsat Angels used it on their debut album?

[Vic2012]

John Lennon played a combo organ at Shea Stadium. With his elbows.

[hFx]

Classic Vox Continental abuse: http://vimeo.com/60879324

John Lennon played a combo organ at Shea Stadium. With his elbows.

--

[Vic2012]

^ Well duh......

[Zeuhlmate]

Iron Butterfly weren't very cool

[Lopez]

To me, the greatest player of the Vox Continental was Augie Meyers of the Sir Douglas Quintet. He had that "pumping" organ sound similar to what Jerry Lee had going with the piano.