I was interested in finding out from here if anyone knows what keyboard/patch Russ Freeman used in "Tropical Paradise"...there is a piano sound with a pronounced bell/chime sound in most of the songs in that album

Welcome to the board.
I cant answer your question, but just to clarify, the Ripps dont have an album by that name. Are you referring to "Tourist In Paradise", or "Life In The Tropics"?

well, if you mean Tourist in Paradise, all it says in the transcription book I have is, "African Piano Synth"

Maybe someone who plays keys here will know, but I have no idea what that would be.

It's possible you could ask directly, at rippingtons website, click on the faq page, and ask one, or try the contact us link. You may get a surprise, and have Russ tell you himself. Billy Heller, the current excellent keys player, may have a link too, not sure, you can do a search on the internet.
Happy hunting
TY

I think that the much-missed Mark Portmann was responsible for the keys back then?

Roger- that's true, but Billy Heller is more likely to answer, being a current member, and a heck of a nice guy as well. I know he's played TIP live, so he'd have to know. It's possible Mark Portmann would answer too, was just pointing Amor to the easiest possibility.

Later
TY

Hi, Billy - if you're out there!? Hope you and your family are doing well and having a great summer! I'm looking forward to delivering brownies in November!?

"Jeff's brother's wife" : )

PS...I still want to see your photo of Mike with the sax!

PPS...Hello to Kat as well - I know you're always out there somewhere..and I bet that you know the answer to the question at hand...

~ sorry for jumping in with this semi-untrelated post - just thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity to say hello...

Hi Carol...

Here's the youtube>

I think Mark was playing a Yamaha synth (upper key and mobile), maybe an EMu or a Korg (lower keyboard, I'm pretty sure it's an EMu -have to find a video which is more clear) since this was the early 90's....

Billy plays a Kurzweill, and probably uses a vintage type of patch for it. I would have to ask.

Billy said:

" Tourist in Paradise, the main electric piano sound would have been a DX 7. I play a layer of a few different things when we play it live. "

From Kat: A DX 7 is a Yamaha Digital synth, circa late 80's, early 90's

Yep, the DX-7 ruled the world in those days!

Yes... back in the day.... I had a Sequential Circuits Prophet 10 - which just wouldn't stay in tune. I switched to an Oberheim OB-xA for a while, but since I was lugging gear around myself... the DX7 and the Roland Jupiter-8 became the keyboards that I lugged. But those keys were a lot different than the keyboard workstations of today that are driven with patches and programs. We ended up carrying a couple just to get the right sounds.

Geez, I thought the DX-7 weighed a ton! I had a couple of Roland and Yamaha boards (D-20, D-50, SY55, YS200) that were featherweights compared to the DX-7! I had a ton of modules in a 12 space rolling rack. My stuff never left the home though except just a few times where I had to perform out on keys. But as you all know, I'm basically a bass player.

I had the chance to get a DX-7 or a Roland back in the 80's and I went with the Roland Juno 2. I regretted that decision (still have the Juno to this day It's so funny listening to the dated sound(s) )

It was a lot lighter than the CP80 that I was using.... do you remember? there was a nose piece that bolted onto the front of the keyboard. It was an "electric-acoustic piano" - it had actual stings, like a Rhodes and it weighed more than a Rhodes. I still wonder how I got talked into it...

Oh lord, the CP80! The Rhodes Piano was no joke either! A lot of folks I know bought Wurlitzers instead due to the weight (and price). Don't worry us bass players had it bad too. Remember those huge Acoustic Bass 'bins'? No car could transport those.

I dropped a Rhodes stage 73 on my foot when I stood it up. That was not nice and it turns out I broke a few tiny bones. It weighed about 110 pounds.

In contrast, the CP80 was a whopping 325 pounds. The main section was about 175 pounds and the "nose" was about 135 pounds with the cases, unpacked it was about 250 pounds and had to be assembled by 2 people. But it was 88 keys... however, it was much easier to carry the DX7 (35 pounds) and the Jupiter 8 (50 pounds) around.


This episode of pre-historic musical instrument trivia was brought to you by the board musical dinosaurs....

Everyone,

On "Tourist In Paradise," there is one of my favorite piano solos in Rippingtons' history.

Rob Mullins' solo on "Aruba!" is breathtaking. And coupled with Carl Anderson's vocals makes this ditty truly remarkable.

I think Freeman handles most of the other keyboards on this CD. Although I remember Mark Portmann is in the video, too.

Oh, it's so confusing.

Well, that's my two bits. For what it's worth.

Signed,




Eric Viccaro
Wayne Brady climbs the PEAK on Sept. 16!!!

Dinosaurs?! I have a Roland D70 at home. Mark Portman has two albums on sale at CDBaby. Rob Mullins sells some of his albums on his website.

Cool!! I have a D-50, Moog Rogue, Korg Kharma , Kurzweil PC-88, Roland E-5 and got back my DX-7....i just can't get enough of it!!!

I can't thank you all enough for the info...of course I was in a haze when I typed the question...I meant "Tourist in Paradise" LP and the sounds created do sound suspisciously made from a DX7...although I still hear them or something similar to that sound on other Rippingtons LPs since. I have a triton that does not even come close to that sound and it is frustrating to search for. Yes, I had tried asking the same question on the Rippingtons.com website but sadly, received no answer from anyone as of yet. You guys here are the best and again, thanks for the welcome.
Amor Sabor