Yamaha CS-80

The Yamaha CS-80 is an analog synthesizer released in 1977 and discontinued. It is an 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer with 2 layers per note and a variety of control panels at the front. It also housed a velocity & pressure-sensitive keyboard (for polyphonic aftertouch) and a ribbon controller at the front to allow pitch bending and glissandos. The CS-80 is considered one of the most renowned synthesizers of the 70s and 80s for its control and rich, organic sound, featuring prominently in music by the likes of Vangelis, Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Michael Jackson, Toto and many more.

Besides, the synthesizer was on the contrary notorious for its weight (of 100kg), high price, unreliability and its inability to remain in tune. Nonetheless it remains one of the most sought-after synthesizers.

Tony Banks' Yamaha CS-80
The Yamaha CS-80 was one of Tony Banks' main studio keyboards in the late 70s & early 80s; he liked it for its fat sounds, and also pitch bending capabilities. He first worked with it on his debut solo album A Curious Feeling (1979), then again on Genesis album Duke (1980) and lastly Abacab (1981).

Of those albums, the CS-80 features most prominently on Duke. For example, on "Turn It Again" a sound from the CS-80 was triggered by Phil Collins via microphone using a duck call - hence the "duck" credit on the album. And it is also heard on "Duke's Travels". And the CS-80 also appears on "Duke's Travels". However, as much as Tony liked its sounds, he wasn't into as much as other synths like the Prophet at the time. Also, it was difficult to fit into his stage rig - it was too heavy to be placed top of other keyboards, and due to the layout of the controls on one panel he couldn't place any keyboards on top.

As of 2022, the CS-80 is up for sale for an extremely high price of around £60k-80k.

Peter Gabriel's Yamaha CS-80
Peter Gabriel played a Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer on the So record, specifically on the song "Mercy Street". Even though the Prophet-5 was his go-to synthesizer at the time, Peter liked the "great breathiness" and the organic character of the CS-80 sound. Simon Clarke also played the CS-80 in the choruses of "Don't Give Up" - probably the subtle pitch gliding (portamentos).

The CS-80 was an instrument which was re-introduced to Peter by producer Daniel Lanois. Peter was quoted as having previously playing it on his first album, but that was recorded in 1976 (before the advent of the CS-80). Therefore the conclusion is he likely played a borrowed CS-80 on his second album.