Eurythmics Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) recording equipment

(last updated: 18/08/24)

Instruments

Drum Machines/electronic drums:

Movement MCS Drum Computer Mk. 1
Oberheim DMX: ‘Wrap It Up’, ‘Somebody Told Me’ and ‘I Could Give You (A Mirror)’
Simmons SDS-V: “Somebody Told Me” intro

Sequencers:

Synthesizers:

Pianos:

Bechstein 6’ 8” acoustic grand piano
Yamaha CP-70/CP-80 acoustic/electric piano – heard on “The Walk”, around 2-minute mark

Other:

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff distortion
Farfisa Combo: “The Walk” strings
Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar: David A. Stewart’s, originally custom-built for Scotty Moore as a larger version of Clubman. e.g. slide guitar on “This City Never Sleeps”.
Suzuki Omnichord OM-27: harp sound on “Love Is A Stranger”

Studio equipment

Tape recorders:

TEAC 144 4-track portastudio
TEAC 80-8 8-track /w B.E.L Electronics BC-3-8T noise reduction
Unknown 16-track – “The Walk”
Unknown 24-track (3M M79 or Studer A800 from Wessex Studio) – “Wrap It Up”, “Somebody Told Me”

Outboard gear:

Other:

Beyerdynamic M-201 microphones (x2) – used for all acoustic recording, including vocals, piano & percussion
Soundcraft Series 2 console

Sources:

Various photos

Classic Tracks: Eurythmics ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’ (note: Dave recalled using a Roland SH-101, but that was released in late 1982 while the album came out in January 1983, so it’s more likely he meant an SH-09 instead)

International Musician and Recording World, July 1983

Musician, November 1983

Modern Recording & Music, December 1983 – note: incorrectly lists Beyer mics as M20, not 201

One Two Testing, February 1984

Keyboard, December 1984

International Musician & Recording World, August 1985 (confirms Beyer mic model)

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This: A Life In Music by David A. Stewart – mentions Omnichord

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