Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

6. Raymond ScottManhattan Research Inc.

‘Vicks: Formula 44’ has been my ringtone for many years. It’s this singing bird, and then comes, "Vicks, formula 44", which he says in Spanish. As he recorded this in 1958 it’s unbelievable, what this guy prepares himself, building instruments by putting oscillators together to create one of the first synthesisers of the time, it’s fantastic. And also he had a hobby playing in a jazz band, and he did very strange orchestrations in that music too. He wouldn’t be conventional or old fashioned even playing with acoustic instruments, in bands. The videos I have seen of him with his belly dancing girls… very, very unusual.

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