Synthesizer Keyboard Mad Drifting Record ARP Odyssey Edition - A number of electronic keyboards and synth masterpieces that colored music - Part 9

This is part 2 of the theme of the famous synthesizer instrument, the ARP Odyssey. Last time, I covered overseas musicians who use the ARP Odyssey, but this time I will introduce domestic musicians who use the Odyssey.

ARP Odyssey documents

■ The most famous early monophonic synthesizers are the Mini Moog and the ARP Odyssey. The Odyssey was released in 1972, and was sold until 1981 with repeated improvements, and was beloved by many musicians.
The ARP Odyssey has a sleek design with sliders on a white panel. It had a sophisticated futuristic designed panel as opposed to the rugged Moog.
The Odyssey was characterized by a sharp, piercing sound, as opposed to the Moog, which is popular for its thickness.

ARP Odyssey Rev1 (early model) ｜ The knob on the lower left of the panel is used for pitch bending.

ARP Odyssey Rev3 | PPC is at the bottom left of the panel. It uses a rectangular white rubber button to modulate the pitch bend.

Albums I recommend that use the ARP Odyssey

■ Recommended Album: "Solid State Survivor" YMO (1979)

The second album from YMO (Yellow Magic Orchestra). 1980: No. 1 on the Oricon weekly and annual album rankings. It is an historical album that won the Best Album Award at the Japan Record Awards and is a million seller. Famous songs such as "Rydeen", "Technopolis", and "Behind the Mask" are recorded on this album, and the members' red costumes and techno cuts attracted attention not only in Japan but also overseas, and techno pop is the starting point for fashion as well as music. A masterpiece that remains in the history of Japanese rock and pop music. It is said that Hosono first spoke to Tatsuo Hayashi on drums and Hiroshi Sato on keyboards. These two are also great members, but Hayashi, who values a groove that matches the rhythm of the computer, was reluctant, but Yukihiro Takahashi found it interesting. At that time, Sakamoto, who was a student and devoted to synthesizers, joined the group, and YMO was born.

Suggested song: "Rydeen"

Hosono was in charge of the bass for YMO, and used the ARP Odyssey. There is an episode about the Odyssey. It is a famous story that two members were surprised at the thickness and presence of the Odyssey's sound when they listened back to the recording,although it was a normal sound when they recorded the YMO song with the Odyssey's sine wave. The sound of the Odyssey is narrower than that of the Mini Moog, but in this episode you can see that the sound has a considerable presence and is not defeated by the Moog. Hosono's Odyssey bass was indispensable for the early YMO against this background.

■ Recommended album: SOUTH OF THE BORDER (1978) Yoshitaka Minami

Yoshitaka Minami's 1978 3rd album and his masterpiece. Based on Brazilian bossa nova and samba, it is a wonderful production of a fictitious resort in Japan.
There are famous songs such as "Summer Actress", "Poolside", and "Date Line" written by Yumi Arai. Support musicians include Shigeru Suzuki, Tatsuo Hayashi, Yukihiro Takahashi, Haruomi Hosono, Taeko Onuki and other stars from the eve of J-pop. The performance is just words, no matter where you cut it, and it has a wonderful backing section. Ryuichi Sakamoto is in charge of the arrangement, and Korg's early polyphonic synthesizer simulates the brass ensemble brilliantly.

Recommended song: "Night flight"

The ARP Odyssey plays an active part in "Night Flight" from this album. He played a melodious, easy-to-understand solo with a sound peculiar to Odyssey reminiscent of whistling. It is a regrettable that the performance fades out at the end. Many people may say that Sakamoto's solos are habitual, but this album is easy to remember and the completed melody is developed so that he may have prepared it in advance.

■ Recommended album: "IT'S A POPPiN 'TiME" (1978) Tatsuro Yamashita

Tatsuro Yamashita 1978 live super masterpiece. Although it started out as a live work they ended up in tears because they didn’t have the budget for album production (with several studio recordings), but it was a wonderful album. In addition to Tatsuro’s wonderful vocals, the main factor is the skilled group of members in the line-up. Shuichi Murakami (drums), Tsunehide Matsuki (guitar), Akira Okazawa (bass), Ryuichi Sakamoto (piano, ARP Odyssey), Hidefumi Toki (saxophone), Minako Yoshida (chorus) and many more. There is also a large ad-lib section for each instrument in the songs, and you can enjoy playing against the background of high technique.

Recommended Song: "Pink Shadow"

A cover of Bread & Butter's masterpiece, "Pink Shadow". The sharpness of the guitar, bass and drums is nothing but excellent. You can listen to the Odyssey solo (early white panel) by Ryuichi Sakamoto in the song. The solo development from the rising sound with portamento is unique to synthesizers, and you can enjoy the presence of the ARP Odyssey with sawtooth waves. Sakamoto's solo at that time has the impression that it is very melodious and well-developed.

Synthesizers, musicians, recommended albums, recommended songs featured this time

• Instrument used: ARP Odyssey
• Musician: Haruomi Hosono / Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Album: "Solid State Survivor" / YMO, "SOUTH OF THE BORDER" / Yoshitaka Minami, "IT'S A POPPiN'TiME" / Tatsuro Yamashita
• Recommended Songs: Rydeen / Night Flight / Pink Shadow