Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees talks about using the Moog modular synthesizer on Daily Nightly, above, the first pop recording to use the synthesizer:
“Ahh, my little Moog synthesizer,” said Dolenz. “It was actually a pretty difficult thing to use,” he said, recalling how those first-generation synthesizers had to be physically rewired for every different sound the musician might want to use.
“I threw a party for John Lennon one night, and he sat there at the Moog for four hours making flying saucer sounds. It was great for flying saucer sounds.”
“I sold it to Bobby Sherman,” adds Dolenz. “I think he still has it.”
Great! I can add "Daily Nightly" to my ever-lengthening list of "first pop recording to use a synthesizer".
But what's the first recording to use it in an interesting way?
'Popcorn' by Hot Butter – no question.
But that was a cover version of Gershon Kingsley's original.
It was an accurate and honest answer to your question.
Perhaps. Or perhaps not.
Edgar Winter's Frankenstein might be a candidate, too, even though it was later.
I believe Frankenstein used an ARP, not a Moog
That true – but we were talking about first pop recordings to use a synth in an interesting way.
As far as I can tell, the Monkee's Daily Nightly was the first pop record to use a synth, but it wasn't used in a very interesting way.
How about the Beatles using one on Here Comes the Sun and Because. More as a musical instrument, but a nice use in my mind. Electronic sound was more noisy noodling, but fascinating for me at the time as you could get all those unheard sounds out of this thing called a Moog. Cool!
Personally, I find "Daily Nightly" to be VERY interesting. If you're looking for something more MUSICAL, check out "Star Collector" from the same album (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones, Ltd, released in November of 1967). The Moog on "Star Collector" was played by Paul Beaver. There's a cool video of it from the show, but this is the album version, which is longer and Moog-y-er.
[youtube HL44BSsENJE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL44BSsENJE youtube]
depends on who you ask, really
although chronologically a previous pop record to use synths was "The Inner Sounds of the Id" by the Id… in 1967
however, recordings of most of the pop bands that were using synths in the early 60s will be tough to find because they werent major label.. but they are out there
was this the first pop band to use a synth for monkey sounds?
[youtube 3_M9ZMo5TiU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_M9ZMo5TiU youtube]
that sure is a big herpe on Mickey’s lip!