Andrew Plays Baba O'Riley on a Lowrey Virtuoso

Within the music world there lies the misunderstanding that Pete Townshend, when recording the famous background to the 1971 hit "Baba O'Riley", used an ARP 2600 to create the arpeggio riff. But that is bullcrap, because I bought this Lowrey Virtuoso organ at Goodwill for 15 dollars because I had read, after extensive research, that Townshend had played the brand's Berkshire model, and I wished to emulate that sound, which I did using the "Marimba Repeat" setting.

So there you go.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Baba
• O'Riley
• The
• Who
• Lowrey
• Virtuoso
• Berkshire

[Shotec1]

Hi. I have question about speed/tempo of Marimba Repeat. How you change speed? With some speed knob?

[bassethound22]

Unfortunately, it only has two settings, fast and slow. This is the fastest it'll go, and I don't know if there's some way I can break open the thing to alter the speed or whatever. I wish it went faster, though.

[Shotec1]

OK thanks. But probably TBO-1 have maybe more speed setting because on Baba O'Riley Townshend playing intro in tempo 116 BPM, when drums comes in it's on 114 BPM. And Sally part is on 117 BPM.

[bassethound22]

@Shotec1 Yeah, it's not the same model that I have, unfortunately, but for my intents and purposes it works. Good luck with yours, though.

[trashbaggage]

lol. Has anyone ever found and ARP 2600 at a Goodwill. It's a dream of mine. Nice job. I bought a Berkshire TBO on eBay for $100 but had to pay $800 to have it delivered. I could never sell it for near $900 though.

[gannonsamuel]

@Shotec1 i think that he also recorded it at like halfspeed on tape then sped it up too...

[DelRockford]

I just got a new camera so I'm going to make a new and improved video this week hopefully! Thanks for everyone's support!

[dannon2010]

yup, that's it.

[cranie4]

I have wanted to see this on the actual organ (or in the same family) for years. Thanks so much!

[shentran]

thanks for the upload .. thats sounds intrigued me for decades..nice one..

[3mptyLab]

I've made a simple VST to emulate this effect. It's not the same and I need to fix the timing but it's my first attempt to VSTs. Since it's not a "MIDI Effect" you have to use a "modular" VST Host. sites.google.com/site/3mptysla­b/Marimba_Repeat_Emu_BAD.rar just connect you input device to my vst to a VSTi to try it.

[utdgrant]

Absolutely spot on! There is no doubt at all in my mind that this is THE instrument (or a very closely related instrument) that Townshend played on the original track.

[DelRockford]

@DelRockford This is my new account, by the way. You guys can listen to me play the Lowrey and sing in my nasally, lispy voice at your own discretion.

[DelRockford]

@ThePhotomusic Haha, very kind. It's from listening to too many Mitch Hedberg stand-up specials. And a large nose.