DX7 Famous Examples

F A M O U S E X A M P L E S

Yamaha DX7 was one of the most used synth during the mid 80's. Trying to make a complete list would be fastidious and nearly impossible.
So, here are only a few examples. Keep in mind that thousands of others are ignored here...

ELECTRIC PIANOS: click here to go to the detailed page

FM BASSES: click here to go to the detailed page

PERCUSSIVE KEYS: click here to go to the detailed page

FM BELLS
DX church bells, tubular bells or chimes sounds are very famous and were used a lot during the 80's because FM synthesis permitted to imitate these sounds with more realism as other analog synthesizers from this time. Here are a few examples.

Artists (alphabetical order):

Laura Branigan	Kate Bush	"Dirty Dancing" soundtrack	Enya	Daryl Hall & John Oates
Howard Jones	Kansas	Bette Midler	New Order	Nu Shooz
Billy Ocean	USA for Africa

Enya "Enya" (Atlantic ©1986 / 81842-2)
Enya
This is the first album from this irish artist. DX7 was largely used on it. For example, you can hear the ROM#1A 26 "TUB BELLS" patch during "The Celts" (Track 1) introduction:

The "Self Control" (Track 2) bells sound is the ROM#3A 27 "TUB ERUPT" patch:

This Kate Bush album uses the ROM#1A 26 "TUB BELLS" patch as background arpeggios during the guitar riff from the song "Waking The Witch" (Track 8):

Many thanks to the internaute who kindly mentioned it to me !

Even if it's a very short apparition, this song was such a famous 1986's club top hit that I had to mention it. The ROM#1A 26 "TUB BELLS" patch is used during the intro (0'09'') of "I Can't Wait" (Track 2) song as a melodic line:

Many thanks to the internaute who kindly mentioned it to me !

This famous 80's soundtrack and film gathers some new original song. Eric Carmen sang the "Hungry Eyes" (Track 4) song where a DX7 bells sound is used during the introduction (audio example) and choruses:

This Bette's song begins with the Sound Sources SLOE BELLS patch during the intro:

Many thanks to the internaute who kindly mentioned it to me !

Kansas "The Best Of Kansas" (CBS ©1984 / EPC 461036 2)
Kansas

This american rock group compilation includes a new original song ("Perfect Lover" / Track 6) released in 1984 and where you can hear the ROM#3A 27 "TUB BELLS" patch used as a subtle melodic background line during the verses. If you hear it with attention, you can also note a marimba sound panned in the opposite of the DX7 bells sound and that is certainly an FM patch too:

Many thanks to the internaute who kindly mentioned it to me !

A good transition example between "FM Bells" and "Percussive Keys", because this Lionel Richie/Michael Jackson song includes several DX7 patches. At first, the high chimes, the low bell and the brassy horn sounds you can hear during the introduction are FM patches. The marimba sound used during the chorus to play the melodic responses is also a DX7 patch:

DIVERSE
Here are a several examples using diverse DX7 sounds.

Artists (alphabetical order):

Gregory Abbott	Baltimora	Bronski Beat	Crowded House	The Cure
Dead Or Alive	Dire Straits	Foreigner	Boy George	Jean-Jacques Goldman
Elton John	Grace Jones	Loose Ends	Men At Work	New Kids On The Block
Niagara	Prince	Queen	Lionel Richie	"Running Scared" soundtrack
Starship	Tina Turner	USA for Africa

Serge Gainsbourg "You're Under Arrest" (Philips ©1987 / 834 034-2)

Serge Gainsbourg used a lot the DX7 on this electro-funk album dedicated to a young lady named Samantha. The best example is during the "Mon Légionnaire" beginning (Track 10) where you can hear a bass sound (introduction) and an electric piano (verse - listen well to the subtle harmonic progression!):

This very popular french singer/composer used a lot the DX7 in studio and on stage during the 80's. Here's a great punchy slappy bass sound on the "Je Marche Seul" (Track 10) song:

Brass ensemble sound from the "Pas Toi" (Track 6) song is also a typical DX7 patch:

The "Money For Nothing" (Track 2) top hit includes a DX7 metallic FX which appears during almost the whole song (verses + final). These are very short interventions, mixed with the electric guitar riff. You can remark it well during this short extract:

Mory Kante "Akwaba Beach" (Barclay ©1987 / 833 119-1)
Mory Kanté

The "Yé Ké Yé Ké" (Track 1) top hit includes DX7 african mallets, electric slap bass and electric pianos (with an interesting unusual pitch bend variation) sounds:

The "What's Love Got To Do With It" (Track 2) song is a veritable DX7 sounds demonstration. You can for example recognize the ROM#3A 01 "FLUTE 1" patch just before the chorus and the ROM#3A 14 "HARMONICA1" patch as a solo line. The subtle electric piano background is the ROM#3A 08 "E.PIANO 1" patch:

Many thanks to the Internaute who kindly mentioned this album to me!!

This Peter Hyams film included a song sang by Michael McDonald and named "Sweet Freedom". In this song, you can clearly recognize the typical DX7 marimbas during the introduction/verse:

ROM#3A 14 "HARMONICA1" patch during the solo part:

Many thanks to the Internaute who kindly mentioned this album to me!!

The "Shake You Down" (Track 3) top hit ballad contains DX7 electric piano and harmonica sounds:

Queen "The Works" (EMI ©1984 / EMC 24 0014 1)
Queen

Queen uses the DX7 on nearly all the songs from this album. For example, you can hear the ROM#2B 14 "SYN-ORCH" patch during the introduction from "I Want To Break Free" (Track 6). Particularity: there are two versions from this song. A short one (on the album) and a long one (on the single). This introduction appears only on the long version:

Queen "A Kind Of Magic" (EMI ©1986 / CDP 7 46267 2)
Queen

Another Queen album where Freddie Mercury and Brian May used the DX7. For example, the "One Vision" (Track 1) song begins with an FM bowed strings section sound:

"Hard Day" song (Track 5) from this George's album contains a DX7 bassline and soft rythmic clavinet sounds:

The Cure uses a lot the DX7 on this album. "Kyoto Song" (Track 2) includes an FM japanese koto patch:

This autralian band used a DX7 on its third album. The harmonica sound you can hear at the end from "Still Life" (Track 10) is an FM synthesis sound:

The "Smalltown Boy" top hit (Track 6) contains a DX7 harp sound:

Daryl Hall & John Oates"Big Bam Boom" (RCA ©1984 - PD 85309)
Hall & Oates

The "Out Of Touch" (Track 2) bass and bells sounds are DX7 patches:

©2023-2024
This cool Pop/Folk group used a DX7 on this album. For example, you can hear a Fretless bass and electric piano sounds during the "I've Got A Feeling" (Track 9) song:

The "You Spin Me Round" (Track 1) bass and synthetic organ sounds are DX7 patches:

Baltimora "Tarzan Boy" (EMI ©1984 - 14 1186926)

This italo dance top hit used DX7 sounds for the whole song bassline and the verses brass sound (ROM#1A 01 "BRASS 1" ) :

Top hit slow "Say You, Say Me" (Track 8) includes several DX7 sounds such as the ROM#4B 07 "BELL-FLUTE" patch during the intro:

The Fretless bass sound which appears at the 1st verse and I suppose the piano chords sound are DX7 patches too (but this last one must still be confirmed) :

DX7 has been largely used for top hit "Sara" (Track 2). Electric piano and harmonica sounds from the intro are FM patches:

During the bridge, electric bass and marimba/vibe type sounds (arpeggiated stabs) are DX7 patches:

This british funk/R'n'B' group used the DX7 ROM#3A 11 "E.ORGAN 1" patch during the introduction+verses from their "Hangin' On A String" (Track 6) top hit:

Many thanks to the Internaute who kindly mentioned this album to me!!

Boy George certainly used a DX7 before 1987. But here is a particular example, because it includes a breath controlled sound: the sax patch from the introduction of the "I Asked For Love" (Track 2) song:

Many thanks to the Internaute who kindly mentioned this album to me!!

The referee whistle sound you can hear during the "Hangin' Tough" (Track 6) song (0'11'' and 0'21'' in this extract) is the ROM#3A 29 "REFS WHISL" patch:

Many thanks to the Internaute who kindly mentioned this album to me!!

The "I'm Not Perfect" top hit (Track 1) contains a typical DX7 male voice simulation patch used as comping chords during the verses (keybaords parts played by french musician Philippe Saisse):

This Prince & The Revolution single includes a song named "She's Always In My Hair" on the B-Side. Introduction begins with a 4/4 drums rhythm and then a sound effect (0'03'') which is the ROM#4B 30 "..GOTCHA.." patch:

Many thanks to the Internaute who kindly mentioned this album to me!!

Elton John also used a DX7 during the 80's. For example, the trumpet solo from top hit "Nikita" (Track 4) is an FM sound. You can alos recgnize a DX7 electric piano as background chords:

This british and american group used the FM synth on this album. For example, in the "I Want To Know What Love Is" (Track 3) Pop/Rock ballad, you can hear an organ type sound during the pre-chorus which came from a DX7:

On this australian group first album, FM synthesis is present. The electric organ solo played during the "Don't Dream It's Over" (Track 4) top hit is a DX7 patch:

AND THERE ARE STILL HUNDREDS OF OTHER EXAMPLES...!

DX7 Synthesis Description

DX7 Soundbanks Listing

DX7 All The Web Patches

DX7 Video Demos