THE PEPPERS – A Taste of Pepper, A Taste of Honey – (EMI) – 1974

what Frank is listening to #74 – THE PEPPERS – A Taste of Pepper, A Taste of Honey – (EMI) – 1974

I didn't know what to make of this when I bought it. it was recorded in Paris and New York in 1974 with names that sound continental so I suspected disco.

Because it wasn't (well not totally) I was pleasantly surprised.

It's a moog album.

For those of you not in the know, the moog synthesiser was "the" instrument of the future when first marketed by American Robert Moog in the mid 1960s. Musically, there were tentative steps with the moog as it tended to be used as another instrument rather than as "the" instrument.  It was Perrey-Kingsley (a Frenchman and a American) who really did all the ground breaking "far out" recordings in the 60s that we associate with the instrument.

The first Perrey-Kingsley album I got in the 80s sometime got me hooked on the moog – until then I had heard only the kitsch-y and cheese-y 70s moog albums and had dismissed them. Perrey-Kingsley, perhaps because they were not looking for commercial success or in just covering rock tunes, really gave the moog a good workout. It then became pseudo hip when the Beastie Boys praised its values in the 90s sometime.

Though I like the sonic explorations of moog and the otherworldly quality and spacey ambiance I do also like the corn so I eventually got hooked on those kitsch-y and cheese-y moog albums of the 70s. I hesitate to add I rarely listen to moog unless I've been drinking – or maybe I start drinking after I put on a moog album. I cant remember.

So, if you want to listen to moog (and I have quite a bit of moog), then come on over … but bring a bottle.

I'm not sure how far I want my moog collection to go as there were many moog albums … I'm not sure if it would have impressed the girls in my salad years, huh? That is a question lost to the ages unless someone wishes to volunteer a girl for a test?

Some of my favourite Moog albums:

• Country Moog – "Hooked on Nashville" – one of my all time moog favourites – country songs done on a moog. I think at least one of you out there has been pissed with me whilst listening to this album.

• Claude Denjean – always interesting.

• Perrey-Kingsley – (of course) 'The In Sound from Way Out" and "Kaleidoscopic Vibrations"  albums.

• Electric Hair – the "Hair" soundtrack done on moog.

• Hot Butter – Popcorn – a good album with the big hit "popcorn" – one of the greatest of all moog singles.

This album is by (I believe) a bunch of Frenchmen – musicians Mat Camison (Keyboards), Pierre-Alain Dahan (Drums), and Tonio Rubio (Bass). I have always had reservations about French pop but at least it's not as (unintentionally) funny as German pop. In any event Frenchmen have always loomed large in the moog / synthesiser history so I have to cut them some slack.

Most interestingly for 1974 is that The Peppers were going for some street credibility with the moog. By that stage there were many moog albums out there but most of them were just doing the hits of the day on the moog. The Peppers have however have written most of the tracks on this album. The album is definitely of its time though: a moog synthesiser album done to Euro disco beats with some wordless chanting vocals. The selling point is the disco – the moog is at times funky and though it never reaches a total freak out it is good enough to shake your booty to. (I would think the more discerning dance kids would get off on this album)

Best Tracks:

Viva la moog … bring it back.

And whilst there bring back the thermin.

Sounds:

Pepper Box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzuUJPbnU6A

A Taste of Honey

attached

Moog:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_synthesizer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moog

The big moog hit by Hot Butter -"popcorn" (1972)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N4ckFN96-k&feature=related

the original from 1969

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSRCemf2JHc&feature=related

As far as I know Elvis never used a moog.