Brian Eno Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks (1983) gear

(last updated: 01/05/24)

Instruments:

Sho Bud Professional lap steel guitar – Daniel Lanois’, played on “Deep Blue Day”
Fernandes Stratocaster copy – Brian's, possibly used someplace
Suzuki OM-27 Omnichord: basis of “Deep Blue Day” (slowed down)
Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer
Yamaha DX7(?) – see below
Unknown acoustic piano (possibly Yamaha C7?)

Note: it’s often claimed that the Apollo soundtrack makes extensive use of the Yamaha DX7 (Roger Eno even said so in one interview as well), but the authenticity of this claim is dubious. As always, the source sound has been heavily treated to the point it significantly changes the character of the sound. The timelines don’t add up either: the DX7 was introduced in May 1983, whereas the soundtrack was released in July 1983. Also, Eno didn’t have his own DX7 until 1985, so until then he’d used one belonging to Grant Avenue studios. In a report from the ‘International Musician & Recording World’ (US) December 1984 issue, collaborator Daniel Lanois said Eno had been playing the DX7 for six months and developed beautiful tones with it on U2’s ‘Unforgettable Fire’ (recorded May-August 1984): so he’d been playing it since November 1983 at the earliest (a few months after the soundtrack’s release). Overall, it seems relatively unlikely a DX7 does appear on ‘Apollo’, if at all. The other synthesizer mentioned so far is the Yamaha CS-80, which seems a more likely candidate.

Outboard effects (partial list):