Another Rock "Electronic," The Talk Box

Image result for talkbox
Over time, rock music came to implement many different electronics. Most notabely were electronic instruments such as synthesizer and other electronic instruments. However, none is as intimidating as the talkbox.

First: A Brief History & Overview

 The first concept of a talkbox was conceived in 1939 by an ameteur radio operator, Alvino Rey, to create a so-called "talking steel guitar." Another prominent inventor, Gilbert Wright, invented a simillar machine called a Sonovox that used transductors to pick up sounds from the user's throat. A talking steel guitar became prominent in 1964 when it featured on heavy pedal steel guitar player, Nashville's Peter Drake, on his Forever LP (1964).

In the late 1960s came the Kustoms Electronics talkbox, the first modern commercially available talbox. It consisted of a bag worn on the back (like a bottle of wine) with a plastic tube. Two years later, Bob Hell's Talk Box became available.

While many consider Peter Frampton to be the father of the talkbox, it was used by many other rock and non-rock artists before him. Undoubtedly, Frampton Comes Alive is one of the greatest live albums of all time, and Mr. Frampton's best), the device was used a year ago by Joe Perry in the intro to Aerosmith's 1975 hit, Sweet Emotion, and the title track from Nazreth's album Hair of The Dog. Two years earlier, in 1973, Joe Walsh used it in a solo of his hit Rocky Mountain Way.

Now back to Frampton, the talkbox is used quite a bit on his 1976 live record. Just listen to Show me The Way, and the rather LENGTHY Do You Feel Like we Do. Notice, particularly in the latter, how his voice is coupled with the guitar. In 2006, Frampton did an instrumental of Soundgarten's 1992 mega hit Black Hole Sun.

Since the late 70s, use of the talkbox declined. Perhaps the best use of the talkbox from that era was on the Eagles' 1979 record The Long Run on the track Those Shoes. In the 1980s, the most noteable talkbox user was the late, great Roger Troutman (albeit not rock but funk-rock). Listen to hits such as More Bounce to The Ounce, I Wanna be Your Man, and Doo Wah Diddy, and you'll get the picture. Mr. Troutman also used the talbox on Tupac Shakur's 1995 MEGA HIT California Love.

Perhaps the most SIGNIFICANT ROCK usage of the talkbox in the 80s, apart from Troutman, was Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora on their 1986 mega hit Living on a Prayer. He used it again on their 2001 hit, It's my Life.

The 90s saw the LAST KNOWN example of talkbox usage in popular music. Apart from the aforementioned California Love, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame, used it on their hit Keep Talking
from their 1994 record The Division Bell. That song is also interesting as it features vocal samples from Stephen Hawking.

Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments.

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