Double's Captain Of Her Heart

For a while there has been very little information as to what synthesizers and equipment had been used on “Captain Of Her Heart”, besides the mention of a demo containing the catchy melody played on an Oberheim synthesizer (which could have been any model).

Having recently confirmed with Kurt Maloo (one half of the duo), the song’s basis was provided by an Oberheim system: Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer, Oberheim DSX sequencer and the Oberheim DMX drum machine.

The Oberheim OB-Xa provides the main synthesizer pad throughout as well as the sequenced bassline. In addition to that, there’s also a harp sound from a Jupiter synth (probably a Jupiter-8) that’s heard just before the instrumental middle section.

Then the rest of the song is acoustic. Other equipment they had at their disposal included a small Yamaha grand piano, a couple of acoustic guitars, two wind instruments and a Fender Stratocaster (though it wasn’t used on this number). There was also a drum kit but Felix Haug – the other half of Double and the duo’s drummer/keyboardist – preferred to program rhythms on the Oberheim DMX.

It’s worth noting that the piano part was originally recorded by Haug as a guide track for the vocals, and was going to replace it later with another sound. But thanks to engineer Phil Carmen’s ears and Maloo’s persuasion, it was eventually kept on the final record.

Sources – a synthesis of info from the following:

Kurt Maloo

http://www.kurtmaloo.com/media/Captain_d.pdf (page 95)

Songfacts “Captain Of Her Heart” page