Time for a little break from the news, current events and politics. Let’s just have a little fun.
With that said, I understand that the talkbox, the voder, the sonovox and the vocoder are four different pieces of technology, but what they all have in common is the ability to manipulate the sound of a musical instrument and/or the human voice to create a very distinct, almost robotic sound.
But for those of us who only became aware of any of the aforementioned inventions in the 1970s, many would be surprised to know that this equipment actually goes back to the 1930s.
So just in the name of having some fun, here are some of the better-known examples of the talkbox, vocorder, etc, used in popular culture.
In alphabetical order by either band name or surname;
Aerosmith – Steven Tyler’s ode to how much he really hated Joe Perry’s first wife.
Lucille Ball – Even though filmed in grainy black and white, you can still tell what a knockout Lucille Ball was back then.
Chicago – Again, proof as to why Jimi Hendrix said that Terry Kath was the greatest guitar player in the Universe.
Eric Clapton – EC had a minor his with his talkbox two-years before Frampton released Frampton Comes Alive.
Electric Light Orchestra – I’m pretty sure this is the first and only time a whale
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – ELP warned the world of SkyNet and Cyberdyne Systems 11-years before John Connor finally decided to get off his dead ass.
Peter Frampton – None of us knew what that sound was, but we all loved it.
The Kay Kyser Orchestra – I just found this video today. Alan Parsons would love this.
Kraftwerk – If ever there was a reason to resume bombing Germany, this is it.
Nazareth – See what happens when you mess with a son-of-a-bitch?
No Doubt – Making Southern California Garage Ska-Punk great since 1986.
The Alan Parsons Project – “Nevermore, nevermore… NEVER!”
Steely Dan – “Who’s this kinky so-and-so?”
Isao Tomito – His Arabesque No. 1 is probably best known to most Americans from the astronomy television series Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer.
Rodney Trotter’s Egypt – Chosen for no other reason than I can get away with using the word “Nigga” without getting into any trouble… probably, maybe. Whatever. I don’t care.
Joe Walsh – Perhaps the grittiest, dirtiest talkbox in the history of Rock and Roll.