ArtistInfo

Raymond Scott
Three Willow Park: Electronic Music From Inner Space, 1961–1971

Album NL 2017 on Basta label
Dance (Abstract, Ambient, Experimental, Techno, Synth-pop)

THREE WILLOW PARK: Electronic Music from Inner Space, 1961-1971 Three Willow Park: Electronic Music from Inner Space, 1961–1971, represents the second anthology of pioneering electronica by Raymond Scott. The album contains 61 previously unissued gems, many featuring hypnotic rhythm tracks played by Scott’s Electronium — an invention which composed and performed using programmed intelligence. Three Willow Park reveals that Scott was producing beat-oriented proto-techno before the 1970s explosion of electronic music and rhythms on the pop charts, a significant achievement that should not be overlooked. In 2000, Basta issued Manhattan Research Inc., a 2-cd set of 69 tracks recorded 1953–69, spotlighting Scott’s groundbreaking electronica — a gallery of strange sounds seemingly beamed down from UFOs. MRI also presented some of the earliest TV & radio commercials to feature electronic music, as well as early film soundtrack collaborations with Jim Henson. Three Willow Park presents the next stage in assuring Scott’s place in electronic music history. Willow Park Center was an industrial rental complex of offices and warehouses in a Long Island suburb. Following his 1965 marital breakup, Scott set up shop at WPC. He operated a musical lab — researching, experimenting, testing, and measuring. He twirled knobs, flipped switches, and took notes. He installed equipment and machines, and used them to build new equipment and machines. This makeshift compound remained Scott’s workspace and bedroom until 1971, when he decamped for L.A. to work for Berry Gordy at Motown. Scott was a highly qualified engineer who also happened to be a conservatory-trained (Juilliard) musician. He could compose, arrange, perform, improvise and edit, but given a shelf of hardware and a soldering iron, he could also rig an appliance to further his musical aims. Like many visionaries, Scott foreshadowed the future. He developed technological processes which were pivotal in the evolution of the fax machine. He composed a “silent” piece years before John Cage‘s 4′ 33″. He predicted (in 1944) that composers would someday reach audiences via thought transference. He applied for and was awarded numerous patents. Foremost, he developed electronic and automated sound-generating technology to craft the elements of pop music at a time when circuit-made sound was largely a novelty, used in “serious” works, or cranked-up for special effects in science fiction films. In 1946, while still leading jazz bands, Scott established Manhattan Research, Inc., billed as “Designers and Manufacturers of Electronic Music and Musique Concrète Devices and Systems.” By the 1950s, he was using his inventions to produce commercials with electronic soundtracks, as well as developing automated sequencer technology. His friend and colleague Bob Moog said, “Scott was definitely in the forefront of developing electronic music technology and using it commercially as a musician.” Besides the Electronium, sounds heard on Three Willow Park were generated by the Circle Machine; Clavivox; Bass-Line Generator; Bandito the Bongo Artist (a drum machine); tone, melody, rhythm and sound effects generators (some controlled, others random); oscillators, sequencers, and modulators; tape montages; and acoustic instruments and voices. These recordings, like those on MRI, define and establish Scott’s legacy in electronic music history. Three Willow Park: Electronic Music from Inner Space, 1961-1971 Release: June 30, 2017 (Basta Music) formats: 3-LP / 2-CD / Digital Produced by Gert-Jan Blom and Irwin Chusid Associate Producer: Jeff Winner Mastering: Paul Pouwer, Power Sound Studio, Amsterdam Audio research and editing: Gert-Jan Blom and Jeff Winner. Additional audio restoration and editing by Irwin Chusid. Advisors: Tom Rhea, Wally (Gotye) De Backer, Brian Kehew, Herb Deutsch All titles composed by Raymond Scott © Gateway Music (ASCAP) except “The Toy Trumpet” © Music Sales Corp. (US) and Warner-Chappell (ex-US) and “Motown Electronium Adaptations” by Hoby Cook © Fields of Roses Music All recordings licensed courtesy Reckless Night Music LLC except “Motown Electronium Adaptations” by Hoby Cook Most of the recordings and numerous visual artifacts in this collection are from the Raymond Scott Collection at the Marr Sound Archives and the LaBudde Department of Special Collections, Miller Nichols Library, University of Missouri–Kansas City. Special thanks to Chuck Haddix and Stuart Hinds. Additional thanks to Scott Middleton, Teresa Gipson, and Kelly McEniry.

Musicians

	Raymond Scott p, 1908-1994 US performer, album by
	Hoby Cook , performer, keyboards

Producers

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