Playlist: Seven Great Songs Featuring Moog Synthesizer

If you've tried to Google something today, you'll notice the logo has been transformed to celebrate Robert Moog's 78th birthday, which allows you interact with his most famous creation. He's the inventor of the Moog synthesizer, and to say he was influential is undercutting the fact that he essentially steered...

By Audra Schroeder

May 23, 2012

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If you've tried to Google something today, you'll notice the logo has been transformed to celebrate Robert Moog's 78th birthday, which allows you interact with his most famous creation. He's the inventor of the Moog synthesizer, and to say he was influential is undercutting the fact that he essentially steered electronic music into a brave new realm. For those unfamiliar, the 2004 documentary Moog is a good starting point. As is usually the case when someone is plagued with artistic genius, of course people thought Moog and his clunky invention were crazy.

Wendy Carlos was actually one of the first to employ the Moog, on her 1968 album Switched-On Bach. Once you start digging, you can see just how far Moog's invention stretched into the fabric of pop music. Below are a few examples. What are some of your favorites?

Jean-Jacques Perrey, "Moog Indigo"

Stevie Wonder, "Tuesday Heartbreak"

Kraftwerk, "Die Roboter"

Dick Hyman, "The Minotaur"

Donna Summer, "I Feel Love"

Roxy Music, "Remake/Remodel"

Brainiac, "Hot Metal Dobermans"

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