40 years later it's STILL great
even though it's been 40 years since it was released, Switched on Bach by Wendy (formerly Walter) Carlos is one of the best musical performances ever recorded. Anyone even remotely into classical music would enjoy this CD. I had this as a kid (on a record - ask your parents what those were) and it disappeared in all the moves. I was SO glad to find it again.
Chris

Switched-On Bach
This is some Bach songs played on a synthesizer back in the 80's. Synthesizers were still in their infancy, so the recording is less than great by today's standards.

Scary Music
I can honestly say that I've never heard another album or song in my life that transports the listener to such an alien realm. The music is so byzantine, layered, precise, fast....its a trip. I jokingly told my son that this is the music that robots listen to. Its more like what robots might dream. Amazing and breathtaking in its complexity, heightened by the precision of programming and machinery. Maybe its heresy, but there's NOTHING else out there like this...at least that I know of.

Just as I remember
I first heard this groundbreaking recording when it was first released and it turn me on to music of the baroque period. As an 8 year old piano student, I took it to my teacher and told her "I want to learn how to do THIS!" While she did not get the import of Wendy (then Walter) Carlos' work, she did help me learn some of the more accessible pieces and I went on to major in music. This recording was one of the factors in my learning to love music.

The CD is every bit as warm as the vinyl I wore out years ago. beautifully rendered, these treatments of Bach's work are heartful and artistic. A magnum opus to be certain.

Great re-invention of Bach in the 20th Century
Wendy Carlos' album was ahead of its time, and is still listenable today. Those familiar with the score from Tron will recognize Wendy's style immediately. Highly recommended both for the fans of Bach and the progressive rockers who like hearing classical music updated for "our generation."

The updated version of the album features a final track spoken by Wendy herself on what items never made it to the album, what worked and why, etc. Interesting to hear her voice after all these years!