Indigo has been looking over my shoulder while I Google alesis qs8 synthesizers. There was a great music party held here in our community tonight with big bands playing and topped off by fireworks.
Surprisingly fireworks do not greatly concern our Indigo, she was quite happy sitting back with us enjoying the music.  It was the Australia Day celebrations and what is a party without music.

I find it hard to comprehend what a powerful instrument the alesis qs8 is as I am not a musician nor technically minded but I was impressed by its performance. I can best describe it as an incredibly responsive keyboard combined with its huge library of sounds and extensive interfacing capabilities make it the choice of any serious musician desiring a powerful synthesizer with the sound and feel of a fine acoustic piano.  I don't know how but apparently you can connect it via a  serial data port to a Macintosh or PC - unbelievable for somone like me who can remember the old gramophone days. 

Do you remember the 'His Master's Voice Label?"  I remember them in fact my own family member musicians made recordings in the old 78 format. It was considered as big an advance in its day.

His Master's Voice in abbreviation HMV , is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone. In the photograph on which the painting was based, the dog was listening to a phonograph cylinder.  Gosh I remember playing old 78 records and I am amazed at the progress in the music industry during my lifetime.

One of the first songs I can remember is "How Much is the Doggie in the Window.

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How Much is the Doggie in the Window.

The history behind this popular golden oldie.  I would have been six years old when this song hit the Australian music charts and it would have increased my yearning for a dog and nagging my mother to get us one.  The nagging worked and I have had a dog in my life ever since. This is a popular novelty song written by Bob Merrill and Ingrid Reuterskiöld in 1952.
The best-known version of the song was recorded by Patti Page on December 18, 1952 and released by Mercury Records
Patti Page later released another version that said, Have you looked at that puppy in the animal shelter? That was an effort to  undo what had been seen as the advertising of pet shops and puppy farms in the title of the song. The song was considered a novelty but it made top of the charts in the US, England and Australia for many weeks.


How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
The one with the waggley tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale

I must take a trip to California
And leave my poor sweetheart alone
If he has a dog, he won't be lonesome
And the doggie will have a good home

How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
The one with the waggley tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale

I read in the paper there are robbers (roof! roof!)
With flashlights that shine in the dark
My love needs a doggie to protect him
And scare them away with one bark

I don't want a bunny or a kitty
I don't want a parrot that talks
I don't want a bowl of little fishies
He can't take a goldfish for a walk

How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
The one with the waggley tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale
I do hope that doggie's for sale

Note:
Arf! Arf! sounds like a small dog.
Roof! Roof! sounds like a bigger dog.