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Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius
This week, we return to our occasional series on YesKit, this time featuring the instrument Tony Kaye used, briefly, in 1968 before he upgraded to a Hammond M100. It was the 1960s iconic keyboard, the British-made Vox Continental. The story of this revolutionary instrument is fascinating and we are indebted to the undisputed expert in the field, Chris Dale, for a great overview I read out at the end of the episode. It was huge fun to both research and then chat about the Vox Continental and I’m sure you will enjoy Mark’s demonstrations as much as I did.
- How did it become the most iconic keyboard of the 1960s?
- What was the keyboard Tony Kaye had when he joined Yes?
- Why did he disguise it?
Please do add your own comments below.
Yes – The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans – Yes Album Listening Guide
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YMP Patrons:
Producers:
- Joseph Cottrell
- Wayne Hall
- Jeffrey Crecelius
- Doug Curran
Patrons:
| Aaron Steelman | Steve Luzietti | Lind |
| Al Dell’Angelo | Terence Sadler | Lobate Scarp |
| Barry Gorsky | John Thomson | Mark Baggs |
| Bill Whittaker | Steve Perry | Mark James Lang |
| Bob Martilotta | Thomas DeVries | Mark Slater |
| Brian Harris | John Viola | Martin Kjellberg |
| Brian Sullivan | Steve Rode | Michael Handerhan |
| Chris Bandini | Tim Stannard | Michael O’Connor |
| Craig Estenes | Steve Scott | Miguel Falcão |
| Dave Owen | Chip Palmer | Paul Hailes |
| David | Guy DeRome | Paul Tomei |
| David Heyden | Steve Moss | Rachel Hadaway |
| David Pannell | Geoffrey Mason | Robert Nasir |
| David Watkinson | Henrik Antonsson | Robert Vandiver |
| Declan Logue | Hogne Bø Pettersen | Ronnie Neeley |
| Dem | Steven Roehr | Scott Colombo |
| Brian | Todd Dudley | Simon Barrow |
| Fergus Cubbage | John Holden | Stephen Lambe |
| Fred Barringer | Douglas Caldwell | Steve Dill |
| Gary Betts | John Cowan | Jamie McQuinn |
| Geoff Bailie | Ray Riethmeier | Ken Fuller |
Vox Continental photo – Docrobbie, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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6 replies on “YesKit Part 5 – Tony Kaye’s Vox Continental – 729”
It was cool hearing Brian May being discussed in this episode. Earlier today I was watching Brian May’s music video for “Driven By You,” which briefly includes Rick Wakeman in the footage, though he did not actually play on the song. The footage was taken from a 1991 concert for the Expo ’92 in Seville (available on DVD as “Guitar Legends In Sevilla”), where Rick played in Brian’s band. You may recall that Brian thanked Rick in his BACK TO THE LIGHT liner notes “For persistent friendship, much appreciated,” and Brian has returned the favor by playing live with Rick’s band a few times (such as at the Starmus festival where he tore through “Würm”).
I had completely forgotten about those liner notes. I love that single but not as convinced by the rest of the album. I should listen again…
Great episode. I’m only part way through but having just read a biography of Steve Marriott from the Small Faces I know a bit about Winston’s Fumbs. Jimmy Winston was a second guitar player in the original Small Faces line up but to vary their sound he moved to keyboards … and guess which sort he played … yes a Vox Continental!
He left the band and one of his subsequent bands was called Winston’s Fumbs and featured Mr Tony Kaye on keys as Winston had moved back to guitar. I wonder was his Vox Continental Jimmy Winston’s which played on their first hit Watcha Gonna Do About It?
Thanks, Geoff. It seems the Vox is far more influential than I had imagined! I like the Winston’s Fumbs music I have found.
Great episode. This sent me on a Light My Fire rabbit hole. The doors Hollywood Bowl live performance in 1968 used a Gibson. The iconic Vox is starkly missed (at least by me).
Ah! Good to know our ramblings continue to inspire 😉