All you need for polyphony are lots of oscillators. I'll bet Emerson's rig in that picture has at least 8 vcos. Let's not forget that Wendy Calos made extremely polyphonic music with an analog Moog modular system of similar - if not older - vintage.

I'd say the Minimoog is the B3 of early 70s analog synths - think the bass line of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground. The Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 is probably the B3 of the late 70s - early 80s. The Yamaha DX-7 is the defining synth of the 80s, but not necessarily in a good way.

You can buy a Moog System 55 re-issue - which is pretty close - for only $35,000. Of course, you can build a Eurorack modular system with more modules, a wider variety of timbres, functions, etc., and a much more compact footprint for much less. Moog only makes one Eurorack-compatible module, and it really isn't all…

No doubt - my feelings were definitely not rational.

I read this book when it came out, and I've re-read it at least once. I really, really like it, but I have one serious problem with it: structurally (and, as I recall, explicitly) it all leads to Nirvana. My musical consciousness was largely formed in the 80s - I went to college from the late 80s through the early…

He's retired now, but he presided over a very famous national case in the 90s. The irony, as such, is that he was a very good judge. My colleague who was dressed down, as it were, still thought he was a great trial judge, and she is one of the best trial lawyers I've ever worked with. The discussion of the petty…

Shit, it wasn't that long ago that a certain federal judge who shall remain nameless insisted that women appearing before him wear stockings! More than 5 years ago, but less than 15.

It's pretty early in the year to make that prediction, although having read 30+ books so far this year is nothing to sneeze at. I certainly haven't finished that many yet. That said, I can't remember the last year I read fewer than 100. My wife sometimes finishes two books a day. We quite literally had to buy a…

Haven't seen Le Doulos, unfortunately. I plan to remedy that soon. Bob le Flambeur is great, but I probably like Le Samourai better.

You can disregard my first reply: you obviously know all this stuff. I totally agree with your larger point about influence, though - it certainly went both ways.

I'm not sure which I like better. You're right about the post-Aloha years, but he found a lot to like about Las Vegas-era Elvis. What comes through loud and clear is how much Elvis really loved music and how eclectic he was in his taste. Inevitable conclusion notwithstanding, Careless Love really deepened my…

Dewey was a great American.

I have it! I haven't read it yet, but it's on the ever-growing stack. I rad Songsters and Saints by Psul Oliver a few years back, and bought a few other books in the area. I'll move it up now!

Obviously, I agree. Sam Philips aside, part of Elvis' big break was his regular gig on the Louisiana Hayride, not to mention touring extensively as part of a Hank Snow package. The Colonal was originally Hank's manager, and Snow certainly thought he had a greater financial stake in Elvis than it turns out he did. I…

By the by, what do you recommend by Piano Red? All I know is the yo-yo song, and I got it off a compilation (also had My Big 10 Inch and Leave my Kitten Alone on it, if that tells you anything ).

Do this mean what I think it do?

You got the right string, but the wrong yo-yo.

Fall asleep and those Ruskies could waltz right on through the Fulda Gap, and what then, you pinko?!?

Cool. I'll check them out - I've never listened to them, only read what he played - a lot of which I've heard.

Dewey Phillips (no relation to Sam) was a white DJ in Memphis who did as much as anyone to expose a white audience (including his friend Elvis) to the Beale Street sound. An interesting guy.