The Word: The story of Leon Theremin's amazing electronic instrument has been well covered in documentaries. The records featuring theremin always have numbered in just the dozen or so, depending on format (78 to LP), so for completist collecting theremin is a fairly easy target. The records do not turn up very much, however, so it is wise to seize opportunities.
Further below: Theremin 45s
Links: are to subpages or artists bio/discog pages in the Hyp Records guide:
Images: accurately represent items but are not always the exact copy listed/purchased
Discount: ALWAYS try to buy more than one item at a time
Les Baxter subpage (under exotica) includes Billy May's Music for Peace of Mind
Frank Comstock: Project Comstock--Music from Outer Space; Warner Bros. W-1463; 1962; E-/E- $40 -- space/theremin; best-of-breed (music, concept, jacket, production); easily the best space/theremin LP and among the best of either (space or theremin); features Paul Tanner's new type of theremin, Elliot Fisher's electric violin, and Buddy Cole and Bobby Hammack on Novachord and Hammond; Comstock' theme for "Adam 12" is another of his many successes; Out of this World, Stella by Starlight, A Journey to a Star, Deep Night, From Another World, Galaxy, Out of Space, On the Dark Side of the Moon, When You Wish Upon a Star, Journey to Infinity, Stairway to the Stars, The Moon is Blue
Lew Davies & his Orchestra: Strange Interlude; Command RS-829-SD; 1961; gatefold; N/N S $20 (or N/E- S $15, specify) -- theremin/ondioline/strange pop; a classic of early stereo electronica and one of the most interesting items on Command at the time, and not just bc of the tunes with theremin (Walter Sear, Paul Lippman) and ondioline (Sy Mann)--it packs some very creative arrangements and mysterious tunes besides!; it sold well, so even perfect copies are inexpensive for that reason alone, but it's still an essential "odd pop" treasure you should have; Riders in the Sky, Wild Goose, The Riddle Song, The Witching Hour, Spellbound, In a Mist, Strange Interlude..
Ferde Grofé/Dr. Samuel Hoffman: Rocketship X-M ST; Starlog SR-1000; 1977/1950; E/E+ $50 -- sci-fi/space/theremin; one of those great "from the vaults" projects that brings to a light a rare, previously unreleased ST; made from the original tapes, faithfully kept in mono; sensational color jacket of weird '50s rocket, bold lettering, & 4 b/w scenes from the film; copious notes, some on theremin star Dr. Hoffman & more stills; the compelling "Theremin Solo" (never used in the film!) is a highlight, & there's more theremin in the rest of the score (orchestra arr. & cond. by Albert Glasser): Exploring the Red Planet, None Came Back, Romance in Space, Floating Free, The Martian Mutants..
Ray Heindorf/Dr. Samuel Hoffman: Spellbound as Performed by Heindorf; Warner Bros. BS-1213; 1958; E/E S $30 -- theremin; Miklos Rozsa's "Spellbound"; one of the tiny handful of full-length, theremin LPs, and one of very few in modern, stereo, hi-fi sound (with gorgeous jacket to boot); and, clean stereo copies, such as this, are especially scarce--snap it up!
Lothar & the Hand People; Capitol ST-2997; cutout as is/V+ S S $20 -- psyche/rock/theremin; incredible, unique, rare LP in "accessible" shape (it plays); Machines (FANTASTIC!!!--WAY ahead of its time, sounds like Television channelling Captain Beefheart), This is It, This May Be Goodbye, That's Another Story, Kids Are Little People, Ha (Ho), Sex and Violence (too fun!!!), Bye Bye Love, Milkweed Love (featuring "Lothar," the band's theremin--ergo the "Hand People" are the band members), You Won't Be Lonely, Woody Woodpecker (45-second cue), It Comes On Anyhow, Paul in Love
Lothar & the Hand People; Capitol SM-2997 (abridged REISSUE of ST-2997); cutout N/N- shrink S $75 -- psyche/rock/theremin; incredible, unique, rare LP here reissued way-back-when in top shape (recommended also for anyone with the original in less-than-perfect condition, which is typical in something like this); Machines (FANTASTIC!!!--WAY ahead of its time, sounds like Television channelling Captain Beefheart), This is It, This May Be Goodbye, That's Another Story, Ha (Ho), Sex and Violence (too fun!!!), Bye Bye Love, Milkweed Love (featuring "Lothar," the band's theremin--ergo the "Hand People" are the band members), You Won't Be Lonely, It Comes On Anyhow
Neil Norman & his Cosmic Orchestra: Greatest Science Fiction Hits 2; GNPS-2133; 1981/1980-81 (w/Les Baxter); orange label N/E+ shrink S $30 -- space/sci-fi/theremin; Neil Norman's obsession with sci-fi perseveres, and besides all the great movie stills all over the jacket (collaged on the face, separate on the rear), dig his original (Vampire Planet), Neil on theremin (Dark Star), and two by the mighty Les Baxter; Star Wars/Empire Strikes Back, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Daughter of the Lesser Moon (Les Baxter!), Sinbad & the Eye of the Tiger, The Time Tunnel, Twilight Zone, Star Trek the Motion Picture, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, War of the Satellites, Vampire Planet, Dr. Who, Adventures of Superman, Dark Star, March of the Lizard-Men (Les Baxter!)
The First Theremin Era: The Barnabas Theme from "Dark Shadows"/Sunset in Siberia; Epic 5-10440; N- $60 -- theremin/space-funk/electronic horror/television; "The Barnabas Theme" is a terrific rare groove and the seemingly impossible: a vintage theremin record that's good for DJs
Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman w/Billy May: Music for Peace of Mind set of 3 45s; Capitol CCF-221; E+ $25 -- theremin/orchestral; no box or sleeve but with the discs in top shape, it's ideal for anyone seeking an upgrade to the LP or to get the superior, high-gain sound you get only with this format; nicely priced, too!
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