Switched-On Boxed Set

In 1968, keyboardist-composer Wendy Carlos released Switched-On Bach, her bestselling LP featuring baroque music performed on the Moog synthesizer. Carlos intended to spread the gospel of electronic classical music through this quirky release; instead, she sold more albums than Karlheinz Stockhausen could ever dream of, released a few follow-ups, and paved the way for Hot Butter's "Popcorn." Carlos has since become well known for more than just these wacky classical interpretations--she recorded the soundtracks to A Clockwork Orange and Tron and released new works--but the Switched-Ons are the goofy synthesizer recordings that most of us still remember.

No less than Glenn Gould proclaimed, "Carlos's realization of the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto is, to put it bluntly, the finest performance of any of the Brandenburgs--live, canned, or intuited--I've ever heard." We're not sure what he meant by that, but if you have half the enthusiasm Gould did for this music, check out this box set. All four of Carlos's baroque-gone-space-age LPs from the '70s are included here--Switched-On Bach, The Well-Tempered Synthesizer, Switched-On Bach II, and Switched-On Brandenburgs--completely remastered in all their stereophonic glory and containing bonus tracks (the fourth CD is even enhanced for use on your computer). The liner notes weigh in at around 150 pages, filled with photos and background information even on the evolution of Carlos's studio (you get the original LP notes in their entirety, too). The music? It's hilarious, absolutely riveting, and--whether Scarlatti, Bach, Handel, or Monteverdi--played successfully by Carlos and her battery of special effects. For the lover of the eclectic or the classical fan who knows how to let loose, this is a box set to get. --Jason Verlinde Amazon.com

Admit it, they're good!

I remember back in the late sixties the original LP of "Switched on Bach" started showing up in record stores and causing quite a storm. Of course, being the proper musical snob and "purist" I was, I discounted them as being nothing better sounding than "tuned rubber bands".

The trouble was, it was being played everywhere. You couldn't avoid it. And I was forced to listen. Little by little, I must admit, I was won over. First of all, the interpretations really aren't half bad. And that sound! After a while, you find it kinda eats its' way into your soul (well, it was the sixties, you know)!

Anyway, all these years later I'm still a musical snob. I'm still a "purist". And I still get much enjoyment out of Wendy Carlos and her musical creativity.

And, by-the-way, on CD they sound mahvelous!! October 18, 2008

A few thoughts on the SOBoxed....

I just happened upon this set of reviews on Amazon (although I had reviewed the original SOB separately years ago), and was delighted at the multitude of very favorable reviews by others. But then came the weeds amongst the fruit, namely those few reviews by people who just did not 'get it'. The Amazon 'editorial reviewer' should get an award for the most ignorant and condescending review ever given a classical album...."wacky and goofy" indeed...what a fool. Then there was a review that dismissed the entire set of recordings because the music was 'mechanical'. My God, Carlos' performances are anything BUT mechanical...the main reasons that Wendy's performances outshine the competition are that she skillfully orchestrated the original music to sound best given the limitations of the non-polyphonic, primitive, analog synthesizer, AND her great efforts to give the musical performance life and expressiveness. I can only gather that the reviewer must have been having a bad day. Finally, I can understand why someone might find Carlos' lectures to be annoying or an interruption to their listening enjoyment. However, there are a few things to remember about this boxed set:
- the same recordings are available individually without all the commentary...this is mostly a bonus found in the boxed set version...you can have it either way.
- a large part of the buying audience consists of people who have been Carlos fans since 1968, or they are devoted synth-heads (aka synthfools) who love Carlos's work, and these people have been waiting for years to hear these descriptions...dislike the additions if you will, but it is very unfair to dismiss the entire set because of it. June 3, 2008

All in one box set

I have been looking for these albums for a long time but never wanted to purchase them individually because of the cost. This is the perfect box set and the included book really gives insight in to the difficulty Wendy had and the hard work she put in to these albums. Recommeded! May 10, 2008

GREAT remaster of a HISTORIC Recording

Year 2008 is the 40th anniversary of Switched-On-Bach. I wanted an special edition release in honor of the ocassion, BUT this edition was released for the 30th anniversary (1998). Perhaps, I got the bug too early and we may yet see a 40th anniversary edition.

As far as the music itself...This was and is a HISTORIC RECORDING. And this is a great remaster and a tricky digital conversion of ANALOGUE computer music.

When you consider HOW this music was created (analogue systhesis) and how it was recorded (track on track with analogue recording equipment) it is absolutely AMAZING. I truly love it!!! April 26, 2008

Awesome!

One of my favorite cd sets Ever! Its hard to describe, but I'm so glad I found this.. Huge fan of her work.. The music is timeless.. If you have never heard this, do yourself and pick it up, worth every penny.. January 29, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...