Level 42 "Running In The Family" (Polydor ©1987 / 831 593-2)

Mike Lindup (Level 42's synth player) used a lot the DX7 (jointly with a Prophet 5 and E-MU Emulators) during the mid 80's. Here is the "To Be With You Again" (Track 5) introduction where you can recognize a typical chorused rich FM metallic synclav :

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Janet Jackson "Control" (A&M Records ©1986 / 395 106-2)

Here is a use of the famous "vibe/marimba" DX7 sound as rythmic background during the "When I Think Of You" (Track 6) introduction (bass line was also played by a DX7):

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Niagara "Encore Un Dernier Baiser" (Polydor ©1986 / 831 310-2)

Here is another DX7 "marimba/xylo" use during the "Tchiki Boum" (Track 5) introduction from pop french group Niagara. I also think that short brass hits you can hear (since 0'17'') are FM sounds:
 

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Sting "The Dream Of The Blue Turtles" (A&M Records ©1985 / 393 750-2)
Here is another DX7 "marimba/xylo" use during the "Love Is The Seventh Wave" (Track 2) song:

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Cyndi Lauper "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" (Portrait ©1985 / A-6239)

This Cyndi Lauper's single contains a title extracted from the original motion picture soundtrack "The Goonies". Rythmic chords comping - that you can well hear during the introduction - has been played with the ROM#3A 07 "MARIMBA" patch:

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

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Exposé "Exposure" (Arista ©1987 / 258 147)

Here is a DX7 "marimba/vibe" use during the "Come Go With Me" (Track 1) song:

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

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Michel Polnareff "Kâmâ Sutrâ" (Epic ©1990 - 466125 2)

One of the most terrific DX7 synth sound is a sort of hybrid clavinet/electric guitar with bright metallic character and punchy attack (it seems to me that it was originally named "PLUCK 13" or something like that). You can hear a good demonstration of this groovy sound during the introduction of french singer Michel Polnareff "Toi Et Moi" (Track 3) song:

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Lionel Richie "Dancing On The Ceiling" (Motown ©1986 / ZD72412)

Another good use of this DX7 punchy clav patch is during the introduction of the Lionel Richie "Se La" (Track 2) song:

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Françoise Hardy "V.I.P." (Flarenasch ©1986 / 721 837)

And finally a third example of this patch mentioned just above (but in a more discrete use) during the introduction of the french singer Françoise Hardy top hit "V.I.P.":
 

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Harold Faltermeyer "Axel F" (MCA Records ©1984 / 259 074-7)

DX7 marimbas appear in this "Beverly Hills Cop" famous theme. You can also hear a LinnDrum rythmic programmation and a Moog Modular synth bass:
 

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Tangerine Dream "Underwater Sunlight" (Jive Electro ©1986 - WD 75216)

A variation of the sound I mentioned in the Michel Polnareff example has been largely used in this TD album (with a longer release and sometimes doubled with an analog pad). Here is an example with the "Ride On The Ray" (Track 4) song. At the end, you can also recognize a sequenced line played with a DX7 slap bass:
 

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Michel Jonasz "En Concert Au Palais des Sports de Paris" (WEA ©1985 / 240810-2)

This Michel Jonasz live album contains a variation of the famous punchy digital synclav I mentioned just above. J©2023-2024ean-Yves d'Angelo (Michel's keyboard player on stage) used it for the "Y'A Rien Qui Dure Toujours" (Track 1) introduction:

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Franck Lorentz "Music City" (Philips ©1985 / 880 876-1)

Franck Lorentz is a french singer who published a unique single in 1985 with a song called "Music City". This was not a real "top hit", but I placed it here because this song begins with one of these terrific punchy sound you can get on a DX7. This patch is between the metallic slap bass/overdrived guitar-like sound. It is played "dry" at first and then with a delay FX added:

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Supertramp "Free As A Bird" (A&M Records ©1987 / 395181-2)
©2023-2024
An interesting use of one of these typical DX7 soft brassy digital piano/keyboard sound during the whole "Thing For You" song (Track 5) as rythmic comping chords:

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Bernard Wright "Mr. Wright" (Manhattan Records ©1985 / MTL 1000)

Introduction of the "Who Do You Love" song (Track 2) includes a typical marimba/vibe DX7 sound as rythmic chords:

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

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Basia "London Warsaw New York" (Epic ©1989 / 463282 2)
©2023-2024
Basia largely used the Yamaha DX7 (with a Roland D-110) on this album. Introduction of the "Best Friends" song (Track 2) has been certainly played with a DX7 clavinet sound:

 

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