# Back when vocoders were the sound of the future **URL:** \ **Category:** Music\ **Created:** [15 December 2022 21:23 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850 "2022-12-15T21:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ant.Plate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/ant.plate/32/289_2.png) [@Ant.Plate](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Ant.Plate)\ **Post date:** [15 December 2022 21:23 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/1 "2022-12-15T21:23:15Z")
Inspired by listening to @GrimsbyRiviera’s own Tribal Rites compilation from a few years ago… [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/d465c71f012b29c65a56b2b7b519c3c4c48d1466.jpeg "Boogie Down - The General (Gordon DeWitty) - Life in The Big City") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4A_ozbMeHU) …and to get a few more obvious tracks out the way off the bat - without including Kraftwerk, Miami Bass/Electro tracks or Air [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/0900e687f880e017161d2ff2fbd796d30f376b3b.jpeg "Dayton- The Sound Of Music (1983)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgoTdg25COQ) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/fa5d107c24988e7a04cd8233748e0fa3c6e89ff6.jpeg "Herbie Hancock - I Thought It Was You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU7ZCUGnROk) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/fe7c40ca9da2f34830dfee5d49a432c248fa676e.jpeg "Transformer Man") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqdx6dCQLug) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/4476d06032f11d522de7ebe0139c7bb6503b6f97.jpeg "Holger Czukay "Ode to Perfume"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EH5GFP2Otk) Voice of Q, or… [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/35e8eb51683d14175bc0025e86d88581650ebaed.jpeg "Casco - "Cybernetic Love (Instrumental)" (1983)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6x5vyWpw-Q) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/b326839a8a54389d2db0772e8b9df3b82b9266c0.jpeg "New Order - Ecstasy [High Quality]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bozLlW3sZCU) ---
**Author:** ![MGG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/mgg/32/782_2.png) [@MGG](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/MGG)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 00:02 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/2 "2022-12-16T00:02:44Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/c7d00f5300afe2a9894f28f57984e48a0939d017.jpeg "Alex Cima - Disconcerto (1979) Cosmic Disco") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF_hX58cz34) ---
**Author:** ![Jesse3enne77](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/jesse3enne77/32/116_2.png) [@Jesse3enne77](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Jesse3enne77)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 00:35 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/3 "2022-12-16T00:35:25Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/a406c05f433522f5ccd47dfe1817a744ea982183.jpeg "Pete Drake and His Talkbox on the Jimmy Dean Show") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_i10rmmUsg) ---
**Author:** ![Rodney-Bennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/rodney-bennett/32/1109_2.png) [@Rodney-Bennett](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Rodney-Bennett)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 10:19 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/4 "2022-12-16T10:19:15Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/be6b61ee44701ec1234067b64ee610dad9cb9f2b.jpeg "ELO - The Diary of Horace Wimp") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFU9HYyMVxQ) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/2X/8/8bf49f4b98868b51b0d0cbac9c7acbbff3da2090.jpeg "Sesame Street Stevie Wonder Sings 1 2 3 Sesame Street") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWSEEsno7mE) ---
**Author:** ![GrimsbyRiviera](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/grimsbyriviera/32/9_2.png) [@GrimsbyRiviera](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/GrimsbyRiviera)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 12:23 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/5 "2022-12-16T12:23:49Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/551934434d562d75edbacf2422d6c12c0c0a05de.jpeg "Graham Central Station - Now Do-U-Wanta Dance!!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3443N0hWkps) ---
**Author:** ![brunoots](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/brunoots/32/539_2.png) [@brunoots](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/brunoots)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 12:32 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/6 "2022-12-16T12:32:33Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/539f66659b34804285cc74ecafa62fc815f197e3.jpeg "Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask (1979)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4VMLYnH_Dc) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/2X/1/1c74ca4f3ddf60437dc102040bb9201c79e59dec.jpeg "One Way - Mr. Groove") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOU2bnl2m6g) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/0a5fda3fdc30c7ba902d251cdcf97e0dbe77b3b9.jpeg "Kleeer-Tonight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8OOvOY-BN8) ---
**Author:** ![joeblackcircles](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/joeblackcircles/32/203_2.png) [@joeblackcircles](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/joeblackcircles)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 14:47 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/7 "2022-12-16T14:47:10Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/df34b3c35f03309f050153f9640765371d9952a8.jpeg "Antoniou-Street Sound") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly8g_5ADHUA) Skip to 1:30 for full effect. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/44ef282b7e1d2f020a44f7d5996ce5832539db05.jpeg "ARMENTA - I Wanna Be With You (Part 2)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmjqcnVNjS4) ---
**Author:** ![Kent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@Kent](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Kent)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 16:00 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/9 "2022-12-16T16:00:15Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/fe599f983a9067c23ffa51d3190c55a9a7e6f8ea.jpeg "Zapp and Roger/ Computer Love") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X_wDrYqO-A) ---
**Author:** ![howler](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/howler/32/257_2.png) [@howler](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/howler)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 17:03 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/10 "2022-12-16T17:03:35Z")
Glaringly obvious, but [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/9602acab4bdc653f16bbcfc9734e1e4cdcc0eae8.jpeg "Laurie Anderson - O Superman [Official Music Video]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkfpi2H8tOE) ---
**Author:** ![PJH](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/pjh/32/119_2.png) [@PJH](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/PJH)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2022 19:32 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/11 "2022-12-16T19:32:28Z")
Sesame Street was so amazing…I learnt rudimentary Spanish as a kid… ---
**Author:** ![Jesse3enne77](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/jesse3enne77/32/116_2.png) [@Jesse3enne77](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Jesse3enne77)\ **Post date:** [17 December 2022 03:15 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/12 "2022-12-17T03:15:46Z")
My fav vocorder track which I overplay to no end lol Total beach jam. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/f0ba378802ea6c49a15843d5174def84335030ff.jpeg "Oceanliner") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hhdXuCqn3U) ---
**Author:** ![Samcampari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Samcampari](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Samcampari)\ **Post date:** [17 December 2022 14:46 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/13 "2022-12-17T14:46:37Z")
This thread cannot exist without the presence of Q [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/2X/4/447e223f5301272a4ec5d7f75968989c612c95b2.jpeg "Q 'The Voice Of Q' (Original 12" Mix)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvEIXfy_Ga8) ---
**Author:** ![Ant.Plate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/ant.plate/32/289_2.png) [@Ant.Plate](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Ant.Plate)\ **Post date:** [17 December 2022 18:38 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/14 "2022-12-17T18:38:59Z")
1999… jeesh I feel old [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/2X/c/c0e6c2d32c298a11113844a735d1f30adcf8b126.jpeg "Rhythm Plate - Sound of Rhythm Plate") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asdRF2vDg9M) ---
**Author:** ![NickRegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/nickregaard/32/1007_2.png) [@NickRegaard](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/NickRegaard)\ **Post date:** [18 December 2022 13:51 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/15 "2022-12-18T13:51:43Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/3a367f1d650f53bd7f62318d53f7b2529587827a.jpeg "Professor X - Professor X (Saga)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HO9yCE4nmA) ---
**Author:** ![Rodney-Bennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/rodney-bennett/32/1109_2.png) [@Rodney-Bennett](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Rodney-Bennett)\ **Post date:** [18 December 2022 15:20 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/16 "2022-12-18T15:20:31Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/517d2371531da14f935f3e19c1641c6a996491b8.jpeg "The Cylons") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd9FKYVks3Q) ---
**Author:** ![Ant.Plate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/ant.plate/32/289_2.png) [@Ant.Plate](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Ant.Plate)\ **Post date:** [18 December 2022 16:05 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/17 "2022-12-18T16:05:49Z")
If we’re going there… [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/b8c67e4b69e93aae8c89700fce9e4d6a4738ba9b.jpeg "CBeebies Grown-Ups: Nostalgia - Chockablock") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3c3teysyQ8) ---
**Author:** ![Rodney-Bennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/rodney-bennett/32/1109_2.png) [@Rodney-Bennett](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Rodney-Bennett)\ **Post date:** [18 December 2022 16:16 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/18 "2022-12-18T16:16:39Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/4269fae29d895c819654d89ad076fe72a9dd4dff.jpeg "The Body In Question - Peter Howell And The BBC Radiophonic Workshop") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tekiKO7IZ1U) ---
**Author:** ![neville](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/neville/32/175_2.png) [@neville](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/neville)\ **Post date:** [20 December 2022 00:04 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/20 "2022-12-20T00:04:06Z")
Some of these are vocoders and some of them are talk boxes. 🤓 [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/151197be749ffb34b2c597df7abb52c3dfb6170d.jpeg "Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five- Scorpio (Remastered)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkXNO3gy7bk) ---
**Author:** ![Rodney-Bennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/rodney-bennett/32/1109_2.png) [@Rodney-Bennett](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Rodney-Bennett)\ **Post date:** [21 December 2022 19:51 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/21 "2022-12-21T19:51:30Z")
Vocoder. Talk Box. Different means to the same end. Sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart so I reckon both can be posted. Definitely talk box in the intro here: [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/899dead86bc8c8835160ecdc456ee7bdee6c8d6a.jpeg "Sweet Emotion") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15aa3WIHk5M) And from 1989, possibly the first time a vocoder was used to sound retro rather than futuristic. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/1X/e07cf6add0fbddca5aadc5051f61d77c183a5866.jpeg "Love Pains") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ4MlKBFlvw) ---
**Author:** ![Ant.Plate](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/djhistory.discourse.group/ant.plate/32/289_2.png) [@Ant.Plate](https://djhistory.discourse.group/u/Ant.Plate)\ **Post date:** [4 January 2023 10:17 UTC](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850/22 "2023-01-04T10:17:50Z")
1989 (video lift) [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/djhistory/original/2X/7/7613e0ff94d901c6f2a8208413a4279258276624.jpeg "Love Technology Goonj") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skbtpqVO6lI) [Next page](https://djhistory.discourse.group/t/back-when-vocoders-were-the-sound-of-the-future/850.md?page=2)