Friday, March 16, 2012

RAYMOND SCOTT - MANHATTAN RESEARCH INC.



Disk 1 - http://www.mediafire.com/?jymtymzmwdm
Disk 2 - http://www.mediafire.com/?eynujwyrw2y

DISK 1

Track 1 - Manhattan Research, Inc. Copyright
Track 2 - Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. (Instrumental, Take 4)
Track 3 - Bendix 1: "The Tomorrow People"
Track 4 - Lightworks
Track 5 - The Bass-Line Generator
Track 6 - "Don't Beat Your Wife Every Night!"
Track 7 - "B.C. 1675" (The "Gillette" Conga Drum Jingle)
Track 8 - Vim
Track 9 - Auto-Lite: Sta-Ful (Instrumental)
Track 10 - Sprite "Melonball Bounce" (Instrumental)
Track 11 - Sprite "Melonball Bounce"
Track 12 - "Wheels That Go"
Track 13 - "Limbo: The Organized Mind"
Track 14 - "Portofino" 1
Track 15 - County Fair
Track 16 - Lady Gaylord
Track 17 - Good Air (Take 7)
Track 18 - IBM MT/ST: "The Paperwork Explosion"
Track 19 - Domino
Track 20 - Super Cheer
Track 21 - Cheer: Revision 3 (New Backgrounds)
Track 22 - "Twilight In Turkey"
Track 23 - Vicks: Medicated Cough Drops
Track 24 - Vicks: Formula 44
Track 25 - Auto-Lite Spark Plugs
Track 26 - Nescafe
Track 27 - Awake
Track 28 - "Backwards Overload"
Track 29 - Bufferin: "Memories" (Original)
Track 30 - Bandito The Bongo Artist
Track 31 - Night And Day
Track 32 - Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. ("395")
Track 33 - K2r
Track 34 - IBM Probe
Track 35 - GMGM 1a
Track 36 - The Rhythm Modulator

DISK 2

Track 1 - Ohio Plus
Track 2 - "In The Hall Of The Mountain Queen"
Track 3 - General Motors: Futurama
Track 4 - "Portofino" 2
Track 5 - "The Wild Piece" (a.k.a. "String Piece")
Track 6 - "Take Me To Your Violin Teacher"
Track 7 - "Ripples" (Original Soundtrack)
Track 8 - Cyclic Bit
Track 9 - "Ripples" (Montage)
Track 10 - The Wing Thing
Track 11 - County Fair (Instrumental)
Track 12 - "Cindy Electronium"
Track 13 - "Don't Beat Your Wife Every Night!" (Instrumental)
Track 14 - Hostess: Twinkies
Track 15 - Hostess: Twinkies (Instrumental)
Track 16 - Ohio Bell: Thermo Fax
Track 17 - "The Pygmy Taxi Corporation"
Track 18 - Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. (Announce Copy, Take 1)
Track 19 - Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.
Track 20 - Lightworks (Slow)
Track 21 - "The Paperwork Explosion" (Instrumental)
Track 22 - Auto-Lite: Ford Family
Track 23 - Auto-Lite: Ford Family (Instrumental)
Track 24 - Auto-Lite: "Wheels"
Track 25 - Bufferin: "Memories" (Demo)
Track 26 - "Space Mystery" (Montage)
Track 27 - "The Toy Trumpet"
Track 28 - "Backward Beeps"
Track 29 - Auto-Lite: Sta-Ful
Track 30 - Lightworks (Instrumental)
Track 31 - "When Will It End?"
Track 32 - Bendix 2: "The Tomorrow People"
Track 33 - Electronic Audio Logos, Inc.

I've been meaning to post this collection ever since I started Funky Frolic but I knew it was going to be a very time consuming effort. I was able to find a couple of links online which at least saved me from uploaded the CD's. So, without further ado I present "Manhattan Research Inc." by Raymond Scott.

During his early career Scott was a pianist and band leader for CBS and in the 1940's he sold his music publishing to Warner Brothers. From there Carl Stalling adapted many of his compositions for use in Looney Tunes cartoons ( the best known examples being "Powerhouse" and "The Toy Trumpet" which can both be found on "Reckless Nights And Turkish Twilights". A few years later he founded Manhattan Research as explained on Wikipedia...

"In 1946, Scott established Manhattan Research, a division of Raymond Scott Enterprises, Incorporated, which he announced would "design and manufacture electronic music devices and systems." As well as designing audio devices for his own personal use, Manhattan Research Inc. provided customers with sales & service for a variety of devices "for the creation of electronic music and musique concrete" including components such as ring modulators, wave, tone and envelope shapers, modulators and filters. Of unique interest were instruments like the "Keyboard theremin," "Chromatic electronic drum generators," and "Circle generators"

Scott often described Manhattan Research Inc. as "More than a think factory - a dream center where the excitement of tomorrow is made available today."[ Bob Moog, developer of the Moog Synthesizer, met Scott in the 1950s, designed circuits for him in the 1960s, and acknowledged him as an important influence. Relying on several instruments of his own invention, such as the Clavivox and Electronium, Scott recorded futuristic electronic compositions for use in television and radio commercials as well as records of entirely electronic music. A series of three albums designed to lull infants to sleep, Scott's groundbreaking work Soothing Sounds for Baby was released in 1964 in collaboration with the Gesell Institute of Child Development.

The music, which today sounds uncannily similar to the ambient work of Tangerine Dream or Brian Eno from the mid 1970s, did not find much favor with the record-buying public of the day. Still, Manhattan Research, Inc. had considerable success in providing striking, ear-catching sonic textures for broadcast commercials."

"Manhattan Research Inc." contains many examples of the advertisement music mentioned above in all their groundbreaking glory, along with a range of other stunning electronic pieces such as "Space Mystery Montage", "Ripples", "The Rhythm Modulator". "Bandito The Bongo Artist", "Night And Day", "Backwards Overload" and the very quiet but profound "Cyclic Bit". There are even a few tracks that feature a young Jim Henson, "Bufferin: Memories (Original)", "Limbo: The Organized Mind" and "IBM MT/ST: The Paperwork Explosion".

Not only is the music unbelievable but the 2 CD set is encased inside a 143 page booklet which contains interviews with those who knew and worked Raymond, information on the various instruments he created, in depth details of each track included on the collection and a range of other fascinating insights. You will find some of the photos from the booklet below along with a couple of Youtube videos to give you a taste of his genius.

You really can't have a conversation about the history of electronic music or it's application in advertising without mentioning the name Raymond Scott. Thanks to "Manhattan Research Inc." these treasures will continue to find new ears and his legacy will live on. Suffice to say it is one of the most important collections of it's type ever released and really is a must for all good music libraries. I hope it gives you as much joy as it has for me over the years.








9 comments:

steve said...

This looks fascinating! First saw your anthology at Van Groove and then recently stumbled onto the site. Thanks for sharing this historic collection of sound!
Tejas

Furan said...

Thank you for your time and dedication. In the last year, you've introduced me to a world of sounds I didn't know existed!

Anonymous said...

Hmm... this one's still throughly available in stores and online. Sad. Now I have to unsubscribe from your blog.

CBlack said...

I'm thrilled to get this, and I was able to unrar most of it, but I had to rename the second file, because apparently it was looking for "part2" instead of "Disc 2," and the tune entitled "Backwards Overload" didn't make it. Still, thanks a million!

Gmoney said...

Another winner! Funky Frolic is the shit! May I suggest Suzanne Ciani's "LIXIVIATION". Finders Keepers just put out some of her unreleased commercial work and it is divine. It's Raymond Scott for the Atari generation.

Holly said...

Oh, many, many thanks. What a labor of love!

Mr. Craig said...

After a bit of a dry spell it's nice to get some comments!

@Gmoney - Yes, I have Lixiviation. It is indeed great. Another interesting female electronic artists from the U.S is Doris Norton.

@Anon - I'm sorry that you feel that way. As I stated in the post these are not my links, I have merely highlighted their availability. Also, it should have been very clear from what I wrote that I was strongly recommending people buy the package because the music is only half the story. This cost me $75 and I can appreciate that many people aren't in a financial position to purchase it but I feel the historical significance is such that it warrants as wider audience as possible. You are entitled to your opinion about file sharing but it is an issue which is not as black and white as some would have us believe.

@CBlack - Yeah, sorry about that. It's always a gamble using links I haven't checked. At least it sort of worked.

@Holly - Thanks, as always.

@Steve and Furan - Glad you are enjoying your time at Funky Frolic!

DJ Flipside said...

Thank you Mr. Craig. As always your work is greatly appreciated. This sounds like it's going to be very interesting! Cheers for introducing me to this dude! Downloading now.
Peace
Flipside

furrball said...

I have track 31, disc 2 (Whwn Will It End?) if you or anyone else needs it... (just bought it off iTunes)