in praise of: talk box wizardry
The talk box sound will always be associated with ’80s over-the-topness: the lazer funk of Zapp & Roger, the gaudy riffery of Peter Frampton. Even more recent retro-futurists that use the box (or similar, vocoder-y sounds) — Chromeo, Dâm Funk, Daft Punk — stick firmly to the ’80s m.o. of near-goofy neon squelch.
Recently, though, I was hipped to Pete Drake, a ’50s and ’60s pedal steel session guitarist who was one of the earliest (if not the earliest) proponent of what he called “the talking guitar.” I was blown away when I saw the video above; it’s a truly unique and magical use of the box — like a bizarro version of Santo & Johnny’s dreamy “Sleepwalking.” Ultimately, it may be the context (“Forever”‘s lilting doo-wop amble) that gives the TB effect its “wow” factor more than than proficiency or particular inventiveness, but that doesn’t dull the sheen of hearing the song unfold.
Big hat tip to Cassie for passing this along.
Frampton? 80s? Frampton Comes Alive came out in 1976.
Fair.
His backup band is fantastic. I could listen to stuff like that all day.
I do have to say my favourite talk box songs are “Kick Start My Heart” and “Man in the Box.” Maybe more for the subtlety of “wo wowow” over actually trying to make the guitar talk.
That must have been absolutely startling in it’s day! Can you imagine?
seems so out of context . i love it.
Thanks for that. He’s great – and on a pedal steel! BTW, Joe Walsh’s 1972 Rocky Mountain Way was the first talk box I ever heard.