When did the keyboard Era start?

[Alvy Singer]

Signals.

 

I remember interviews at the time when the band said as much as they liked MP they found the recording of it almost too easy and were worried they could become too slick. The answer was to shake things up on Signals using keyboards as a lead instrument for the first time with guitar becoming more rhythmic.

 

Power Windows is the best of the keyboard era for me, eight perfect songs.

[Gompers]

QUOTE (Cosy Toes @ May 20 2011, 06:55 PM)

2112

Yes. The mellotron appeared on a Rush record.

[Mr. Krinkle]

QUOTE (Gompers @ May 24 2011, 08:23 AM)

QUOTE (Cosy Toes @ May 20 2011, 06:55 PM) 2112 Yes. The mellotron appeared on a Rush record. Correct. And shortly afterwards, Geddy had a set of Moog Taurus pedals at his feet before the Mini Moog showed up.   So I'd say that 1976 is the correct answer. The Mellotron appeared on "Tears" and the Moog Taurus pedals debuted during "Lakeside Park" when they played it live later that year.     The "A Farewell to Kings" tour was the first one for keyboards. (Mini Moog/Taurus)     Why it's Moving Pictures or Signals, I have no idea. The keyboards started five years earlier.

Edited May 24, 2011 by Mr. Krinkle

[Alvy Singer]

QUOTE (Mr. Krinkle @ May 24 2011, 09:28 AM)

QUOTE (Gompers @ May 24 2011, 08:23 AM) QUOTE (Cosy Toes @ May 20 2011, 06:55 PM) 2112 Yes. The mellotron appeared on a Rush record. Correct. And shortly afterwards, Geddy had a set of Moog Taurus pedals at his feet before the Mini Moog showed up.   So I'd say that 1976 is the correct answer. The Mellotron appeared on "Tears" and the Moog Taurus pedals debuted during "Lakeside Park" when they played it live later that year.     The "A Farewell to Kings" tour was the first one for keyboards. (Mini Moog/Taurus)     Why it's Moving Pictures or Signals, I have no idea. The keyboards started five years earlier. I think the OP meant the start of the musical period in which keyboards became a dominant sound. Not the first instance of keyboards in their music. In which, I think he is correct in suggesting either MP or Signals.

[USB Connector]

Signals, that's where keys and synth were dominant over just about everything else while MP just used them to add to the songs.

[Derxst]

QUOTE (Sir Lerxst @ May 20 2011, 02:58 PM)

The difference between Moving Pictures, and Signals, is that in Moving Pictures, the guitar is still at the forefront of the sound - much more so than in signals.

+1