Kraftwerk Pocket Calculator on Bee Gees Rhythm Machine

Further adventures in extreme music geekdom. This is me playing Kraftwerk's "Pocket Calculator" on a Mattel Bee Gees Rhythm Machine keyboard, followed by Kraftwerk's Ralf Hutter playing the song live on their Mattel Bee Gees Rhythm Machine. Except theirs has all the Bee Gees decals removed so that the audience won't mistake them for the Bee Gees. You can also see this keyboard on the "Computer World" LP jacket. The other hand-held noisemakers are a Stylophone, TI Language Translator (same sound chip as the Speak & Spell), and a home-made electronic percussion trigger.

For you trainspotters out there, this was not the first time Kraftwerk used a Mattel-derived instrument. The choir and string sounds on their mid-late 70s albums were played on a Vako Orchestron, which was an offshoot of the Mattel Optigan, which those sounds were originally created for. More info at my website, www.optigan.com.

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[Mugicha808]

It's surreal to watch a video on youtube of a guy watching a video on youtube. Kraftwerk forever.

[t40onbass]

Back in 1984 I worked at a seafood restaurant and had a bad boss named Romeo who used to stay there after hours and have sex w/the waitresses in the booths. My roomate at the time had one of these things and I composed this ridiculous tune on it called "I Hate Romeo".

[gjc82071]

OMG! I had 1 of these when I was a kid. I'd completely forgot about, it until I came across one on Ebay. So cool! I also had a Casio Casitone VL1, Merlin, Simon, Little Professor, TOMY Hit & Missile, TOMY Pacman & MEGO Star Trek Trekulator. I wish I still had them all now. =D

[Andrew C]

Sounds good to me



[mr2000aaa]

Sure. Upload it on Friday?

[Andrew C]

could you post a tutorial of how to the "The Mix" version of Pocket Calculator? I really need to learn it. Thanks!

[Josh Reeves]

I have one for sale right now 100 bucks postage paid paypal only email me dayglow76@yahoo.com

[Wikkler]

zomg...

IT'S YOUTUBE IN 2007!

[david white]

nice man ;)

[nikko Chatzisomething]

i miss 2007 youtube look!

[tinnitischannel]

So mint!

[mr2000aaa]

Awsome. Could you give me what notes you play, 'cause I play the mix version.