Listening to Malcolm Cecil and T.O.N.T.O.

Episode 36

Listening to Malcolm Cecil and T.O.N.T.O

Malcolm Cecil’s synthesizer setup was known as T.O.N.T.O., an acronym meaning The Original New Timbral Orchestra.

Playlist

1. Caldera, “Share With Me the Pain” from A Moog Mass (1970 Kama Sutra). Synthesizer programming and engineering by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff; spoken vocals, Malcolm Cecil; tenor vocals, Robert White; harpsichord, John Atkins; synthetic speech effects, Robert Margouleff’ cello, toby Saks. 4:31
2. Tonto's Expanding Head Band, “Timewhys” from Zero Time (1971 Atlantic). Written by, programmed, engineered, produced and performed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margoulff. Lyrics by Tama Starr. Recorded with an expanded Moog Modular III synthesizer. This was prior to expanding their system into what would become T.O.N.T.O.. 5:03
3. Tonto's Expanding Head Band, “Cybernaut” from Zero Time (1971 Atlantic). Written, programmed, engineered, produced and performed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margoulff. Recorded with an expanded Moog Modular III synthesizer. A nice demonstration of what they could accomplish with the Moog. 4:31
4. Stephen Stills/Manassas, “Move Around” from Manassas (1972 Atlantic). Synthesizer, electric guitar, organ, vocals, producer, Stephen Stills; keyboards, Paul Harris; drums, Dallas Taylor; guitar, Chris Hillman. Synthesizer programming, Malcolm Cecil. 4:17
5. Stevie Wonder, “Keep on Running” from Music Of My Mind (1972 Tamla). Synthesizers, ARP and Moog, Piano, Drums, Harmonica, Organ, Clavichord, Clavinet, Stevie Wonder. Engineering and synthesizer programming, Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. Adds the ARP and another Moog to the T.O.N.T.O. setup. 6:38
6. Stevie Wonder, “Evil” from Music Of My Mind (1972 Tamla). Synthesizers, ARP and Moog, Piano, Drums, Harmonica, Organ, Clavichord, Clavinet, Stevie Wonder. Engineering and synthesizer programming, Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. 3:31
7. Pat Rebillot, “The Naked Truth” from Free Fall (1974 Atlantic). Synthesizer and electric piano, Pat Rebillot. Engineering and synthesizer programming, Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. 3:28
8. Tonto, “The Boatman” from It's About Time (1974 Polydor). Written, programmed, engineered, produced, and performed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margoulff. Features the expanded analog version of T.O.N.T.O. featuring ARP, Moog, and Oberheim equipment. Note the rain and thunder sounds created using the synthesizer. Reminds me of Beaver and Krause from this era. 5:04.
9. Tonto, “Tonto’s Travels” from It's About Time (1974 Polydor). Written, programmed, engineered, produced, and performed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margoulff. Features the expanded analog version of T.O.N.T.O. featuring ARP, Moog, and Oberheim equipment. I think you can hear the joystick that Cecil created. 8:25
10. Mandrill, “Peaceful Atmosphere” from Beast From The East (1975 United Artists Records). T.O.N.T.O. played by Claude “Coffee” Cave, Carlos Wilson; electronic music programming, Malcolm Cecil. From the liner notes: “T.O.N.T.O. The Original New-Timbrel Orchestra. This instrument consists of twelve synthesizers linked together and played simultaneously. A polyphonic touch-sensitive also plays also plays an essential role in the creation of sound when the instrument is played. We thank you Malcolm Cecil for the creation of T.O.N.T.O. 3:19
11. Mandrill, “Honey-Butt” from Beast From The East (1975 United Artists Records). T.O.N.T.O. played by Claude “Coffee” Cave, Carlos Wilson; electronic music programming, Malcolm Cecil. 4:58
12. Stairsteps, “Theme Of Angels” from 2nd Resurrection (1976 Dark Horse Records). Synthesizer, T.O.N.T.O., Billy Preston; T.O.N.T.O. programmed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff; produced and engineered by Robert Margouleff. Music By, Lyrics By, Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Bass, Kenneth Burke; Backing Vocals, Ivory Davis; Backing Vocals, Stairsteps; Drums, Alvin Taylor; Guitar, Dennis Burke; Keyboards, Billy Preston. 3:18
13. Stairsteps, “Salaam” from 2nd Resurrection (1976 Dark Horse Records). Synthesizer, T.O.N.T.O., Billy Preston; T.O.N.T.O. programmed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff; produced and engineered by Robert Margouleff. Music By, Lyrics By, Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Bass, Kenneth Burke; Backing Vocals, Ivory Davis; Backing Vocals, Stairsteps; Drums, Alvin Taylor; Guitar, Dennis Burke; Keyboards, Billy Preston. 4:26
14. Quincy Jones, “I Heard That” from I Heard That!! (1976 A&M). Synthesizer, Dave Gruisin. Synthesizer programming by Malcom Cecil, Robert Margouleff, Paul Beaver. 2:12
15. Quincy Jones, “Theme from ‘The Anderson Tapes” from I Heard That!! (1976 A&M). Synthesizer, Dave Gruisin. Synthesizer programming by Malcom Cecil, Robert Margouleff, Paul Beaver. Synthesizer, Ed Kalehoff. Also features a vibraphone solo by Milt Jackson, a trumpet solo by Freddie Hubbard, Toots Thielemans on harmonica, and Bobby Scott on piano. 5:05
16. Steve Hillage, “Octave Doctors” from Motivation Radio (1977 Virgin). Producer, Engineer, Synthesizer T.O.N.T.O., Malcolm Cecil; Synthesizer & Saucersizer, Vocals, Lyrics, Miquette Giraudy; Composed, Arranged, Lyrics, Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer, Voice, Shenai; Steve Hillage. 3:30
17. Steve Hillage, “Radio” from Motivation Radio (1977 Virgin). Producer, Engineer, Synthesizer T.O.N.T.O., Malcolm Cecil; Synthesizer, Vocals, Lyrics, Miquette Giraudy; Composed, Arranged, Lyrics, Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer, Voice, Shenai; Steve Hillage. 6:11
18. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson, “1980” from 1980 (1980 Arista). Produced by Brian Jackson, Gil Scott-Heron, Malcolm Cecil; engineered and mixed by Malcolm Cecil; Synthesizer (T.O.N.T.O.), piano, electric piano, keyboard bass, Brian Jackson; composer, guitar, piano, vocals, Gil Scott-Heron; horns, Bill Watrous, Denis Sirias, Gordon Goodwin; drums, Harvey Mason; guitar, Marlo Henderson. 5:59
19. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson, “Late Last Night” from 1980 (1980 Arista). Produced by Brian Jackson, Gil Scott-Heron, Malcolm Cecil; engineered and mixed by Malcolm Cecil; Synthesizer (T.O.N.T.O.), piano, electric piano, keyboard bass, Brian Jackson; composer, guitar, piano, vocals, Gil Scott-Heron; horns, Bill Watrous, Denis Sirias, Gordon Goodwin; drums, Harvey Mason; guitar, Marlo Henderson. 4:24
20. Malcolm Cecil, “Gamelonia Dawn” from Radiance (1981 Unity Records). Composed, Performed, Produced, Engineered by Malcolm Cecil. Recorded at T.O.N.T.O. studios in Santa Monica, California. From the liner notes: “The Original New Timbral Orchestra is the world’s largest privately built and owned synthesizer standing some six feet high and twenty feet in diameter. It was designed and built by Malcom Cecil.” In addition to Cecil on T.O.N.T.O., this track features Paul Horn on “golden” flute. 4:35
21. Malcolm Cecil, “Dance of the Heart” from Radiance (1981 Unity Records). Composed, Performed, Produced, Engineered by Malcolm Cecil. Recorded at T.O.N.T.O. studios in Santa Monica, California. 3:28

 

Background music:

• Caldera, “Make Me Carry The Death Of Christ” from A Moog Mass (1970 Kama Sutra). Synthesizer programming and engineering by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff; spoken vocals, Malcolm Cecil; tenor vocals, Robert White; harpsichord, John Atkins; synthetic speech effects, Robert Margouleff’ cello, toby Saks.
• Tonto's Expanding Head Band, “Riversong” from Zero Time (1971 Atlantic). Written by, programmed, engineered, produced and performed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margoulff. Lyrics by Tama Starr. Recorded with an expanded Moog Modular III synthesizer. This was prior to expanding their system into what would become T.O.N.T.O.. 8:01

Here is the video produced with Malcolm Cecil by the National Music Centre of Canada.

This short history of T.O.N.T.O. at Rolling Stone magazine is also of interest.

 

Introductory and background music by Thom Holmes unless otherwise indicated.

Opening and closing sequences were voiced by Anne Benkovitz.

For episode notes, see Noise and Notations.

For more information about the history of electronic music, see Electronic and Experimental Music, sixth edition, published by Routledge.