This playlist is all about synthesisers. From the gigantic Moog modulars to the most compact Roland drum machines, we'll dart all around the greatest genre of the '80s, starting with the first-ever song to be called "synthpop".
1. "I Feel Love", Donna Summer
Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Donna Summer
from "I Remember Yesterday" (1977 Casablanca)
Key & Tempo: C, 130
Gear MVP: Moog Modular
2. "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", Eurythmics
Annie Lennox
from "Sweet Dreams" (1983 RCA Records)
Key & Tempo: C minor, 130
Gear MVPs: Oberheim OBX, Movement Systems Mk II Drum Computer, Roland SH-101
3. "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Rick Astley)*
Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman
from "Whenever You Need Somebody" (1987 RCA Records)
Key & Tempo: C♯ minor, 115
Gear MVPs: Yamaha DX7, Fairlight CMI, Linn9000
4. "Take On Me", a-ha
Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, Paul Waaktaar
from "Hunting High & Low" (1985 Warner)
Key & Tempo: A minor, 170
Gear MVP: Yamaha DX7
5. "Big Mess", Devo
Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald V. Casale
from "Oh, No! It's Devo" (1982 Warner)
Key & Tempo: G minor, 160
Gear MVPs: Roland Jupiter-8, Linn Electronics LinnDrum
6. "Cool City", Oingo Boingo
Danny Elfman, Steve Bartek
from "SO-LO" (1984 MCA)
Key & Tempo: G minor, 195
Gear MVP: Fairlight CMI
7. "Staying Power", Queen
Freddie Mercury
from "Hot Space" (1982 Elektra)
Key & Tempo: D, 115
Gear MVPs: Oberheim OB-X, Linn Electronics Linn LM-1 Drum Computer
8. "Computer World", Kraftwerk
Ralf Hütter, Emil Schult, Florian Schneider-Esleben
from "Computerworld" (1982 Kling Klang)
Key & Tempo: E minor, 130
Gear MVPs: Minimoog, Texas Instruments Speak & Spell
9. "West End Girls", Pet Shop Boys
Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe
from "Please" (1986 Parlophone)
Key & Tempo: E, 112
Gear MVP: E-MU Systems Emulator II
10. "Statues", Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Andy McCluskey
from "Organisation" (1980 Dindisc)
Key & Tempo: C minor, 115
Gear MVP: Roland Jupiter-8, Roland CR-78
11. "One of Our Submarines", Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby
from "The Golden Age of Wireless" (1983 Capitol)
Key & Tempo: C♯ minor, 128
Gear MVP: Fairlight CMI
12. "The Fourth Dimension", Devo
Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald V. Casale
from "Shout" (1984 Warner)
Key & Tempo: A minor, 145
Gear MVP: Fairlight CMI
13. "Own the Night", Chaka Khan
Franne Golde, M.D. Lauria, Marti Sharron
from "Miami Vice: Original Sound Track Album" (1985 MCA)
Key & Tempo: C minor, 128
Gear MVP: E-MU Systems Emulator II
14. "Evan", Jan Hammer
Jan Hammer
from "Miami Vice: Original Sound Track Album" (1985 MCA)
Key & Tempo: D minor, 125
Gear MVP: E-MU Systems Emulator II
15. "Textures", Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
from "Mr. Hands" (1980 Columbia Records)
Key & Tempo: D♯, 170
Gear MVPs: Minimoog, Linn Electronics Linn LM-1 Drum Computer
* If you've been constantly rickrolled your entire life or are otherwise sick of hearing "Never Gonna Give You Up", omit this song and insert "Showroom Dummies" (Kraftwerk, 1977) between tracks 1 and 2.
--13 May 2023--