I want to bring up a specific example of an album I love, but most of the time have no idea who's playing what. Tangerine Dream's Tangram in this case. Lineup is Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke, and Johannes Schmoelling. Problem is, they're all credited with keyboards. Being dominated with the synthesizers obviously, I can never be like "man, Edgar is killing it. Or Johannes really is making good effect with that synth patch there" 

Another, more difficult way is to look at the instrument credit lists, as some instruments have a distinctive sound, like a Moog synthesizer, Hammond organ, Mellotron, etc. For example, on Phaedra, only Froese plays Mellotron. Similarly, on Stratosfear, only Franke is listed on harpsichord, which is featured on The Big Sleep in Search of Hades.

Another thing that helps is watching video recordings, such as this live recording of Logos Blue. It can get somewhat tricky because the sequencer tracks are prerecorded and there's no guarantee each player is playing his own contribution. In this case, Schmoelling is playing the organ-like chords (he was previously a professional church organist), Froese handles the solo, and Franke is twiddling with the Moog.


Edited by Replayer - October 13 2015 at 00:57

Todd Rundgren's Utopia is a stellar album. It makes me think Todd is something of a wizard - perhaps even a true star.

The same happened with Camel in the late 70s, first touring with Dave Sinclair and Jan Schelaas, and then recording with Kit Watkins and Schelaas.  Even when I saw the band live I couldn't figure out who did what in the keyboard department!

...er, it's all coming out now.  Soft Machine - whereby first Elton Dean and then Karl Jenkins augmented Mike Ratledge.  Similarly, Wigwam when Jim Pembroke's electric piano first supplemented Jukka Gustavson and then Hessu Hietanen.

I saw King Crimson on April 20, 1973 at the late/great Kinetic Playground in Chicago!  At one point, both Bob Fripp and David Cross were playing dueling Mellotrons, it was great!  

There was a good project made by guys from Landberk and Anekdoten some years back, Morte Macabre, where everyone in the band played Mellotron (four of them). I don't know if they ever played live, but it would have been something to see if they did.  

Edited by Mascodagama - October 13 2015 at 14:05

Banco... oh gosh. The band was the best when both keyboard brothers were in the band!

RockHound wrote: ansas had 1.5 keyboard players in Steve Walsh and Kerry Livgren, and the same could be said about Styx with Dennis DeYoung and James Young. What was it about those radio-friendly US proggy bands?

Don't forget Toto

The Dark Elf wrote: Jethro Tull with John Evan and David Palmer together on Songs from the Wood, Heavy Horses and Storm Watch. Their interplay was marvelous.