1985 SF Music Scene: Sam Rosenthal

I'm kickstarting a re-release of my 1985 electronic album recorded when I lived in Cooper City. Islands pulses with a Philip Glass and early Kraftwerk influence. The electronics emerge from a time capsule of the era's vintage sound. Discogs classifies it as “Electronic, experimental, minimal.” You can give it a listen right now at Bandcamp.

I was 19 years old in November 1985 when I release Islands on cassette, the last album in South Florida before moving to California for my final two years of college. I recorded in my bedroom at my parents' house in Ft Lauderdale.

A few months ago, I respectfully gave that college kid's album a proper mix. I stayed true to the original flow, while providing the discrete attention and shaping I wasn't capable of with the primitive studio equipment (and mixing skills) I had in '85.

What surprises me all these years later is how good the recordings sound considering my parts were recorded with two synths and some shoddy microphones through a cheap Radio Shack mixer to an open-reel tape machine. I'm amazed the master tape held up 40 years, considering it was stored in less than pristine conditions.

I used a 1/4" 4-track Teac open-reel borrowed from my college friend Vic Velt. In turn, Vic had it on long-term borrow from Steve Eliot, the head of the Art Department and one of our professors at Broward Community College. Steve introduced me to the music of Philip Glass. By then I was already listening to Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, and Tangerine Dream. Steve would play all of these artists in his life drawing class to expand the minds of students accustomed to hearing 38 Special and REO Speedwagon on the radio!

[Aside: I saw Philip Glass in April 1985 in Miami. I brought along my cheap tape recorder. You can hear most of the show in my post on youTube.]