Guest Zeenat Aman Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 For fans of the Mellotron, or for those who've never heard of one, check out this very polite pathe news film from circa 1965: The Mellotron To think that this thing later became one of the key instruments in Progressive Rock... bizarre! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marillionboy Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 The wonderful mellotron. Okay, it was technically a nigthmare, but what a sound. I'll never forget Phil Collins describing is on early Beatles, Genesis and Traffic records as "sounding pretty ropey but was the only way you could get strings".Cobblers. The choir sound has never been surpassed and the strings and flute sound lovely too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Mellotron momentsThe wonderful mellotron. Okay' date=' it was technically a nigthmare, but what a sound. I'll never forget Phil Collins describing is on early Beatles, Genesis and Traffic records as "sounding pretty ropey but was the only way you could get strings".Cobblers. The choir sound has never been surpassed and the strings and flute sound lovely too.[/quote']Whats your favourite songs with Mellotron? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marillionboy Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Well Stairway to Heaven is one of my favourite songs although not especially for the mellotron. I think no band used the mellotron as beautifully as Genesis, and on no album more than Trick of the Tail. The closing two minutes of Entangled are some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.King Crimson's first album for the strings: also IQ have always been fond of the mellotron choir, although in later years tended to use it as a power backing to uptempo numbers rather than as streams of choirs softly invading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Whats your favourite songs with Mellotron?One of them must be Kites - Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (who became Gentle Giant) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Well Stairway to Heaven is one of my favourite songs although not especially for the mellotron. I think no band used the mellotron as beautifully as Genesis' date=' and on no album more than Trick of the Tail. The closing two minutes of Entangled are some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.King Crimson's first album for the strings: also IQ have always been fond of the mellotron choir, although in later years tended to use it as a power backing to uptempo numbers rather than as streams of choirs softly invading.[/quote']Ah, stairway aint tron, a common error, it was used only for the live renditions. Some of my fav's are Epitaph from the first KC album, We Love You by the stones and the very subtle use of it on Gentle Giants 'Three Friends' album and George Harrison's Wonderwall soundtrack album, it has loads of great and weird mellotron moments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marillionboy Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Pardon's begged, now you come to mention it, I've been told this before. My mistake. Nice flute sound all the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Pardon's begged' date=' now you come to mention it, I've been told this before. My mistake. Nice flute sound all the same![/quote']I've read that it's either Ocarina's, or recorder's play by JPJ's. I love his tron playing on The Rain Song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest davetherave Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Ah' date=' stairway aint tron, a common error, it was used only for the live renditions. Some of my fav's are Epitaph from the first KC album, We Love You by the stones and the very subtle use of it on Gentle Giants 'Three Friends' album and George Harrison's Wonderwall soundtrack album, it has loads of great and weird mellotron moments.[/quote']Ah the mellotron, Epitaph would have to be one of my fav examples, but of course I'm biased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Ah the mellotron' date=' Epitaph would have to be one of my fav examples, but of course I'm biased. [/quote']It makes me happy to have met the man who wrote(most of it) and played the mellotron on that very song, make that, wrote most of In The Court! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marillionboy Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 That would be Ian McDonald? There was an incident at a Crimson gig once where whoever was playing keys at the time had dysentry and had to get through all ten minutes of ITCOACK for trhe encore. Apparently he had to exit the stage backwards at the end of the gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 The film was great....good ol' David Nixon! I particularly liked the shots INSIDE the Mellotron...could've done with more of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain44s Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 funny you should mention that...i aquired a nice set of mellotron samples the other day...have used the choir sound on my album.favourite mellotron moment has to be exit music by radiohead...totally haunting. sent shivers down my spine when i first saw them do it live Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 funny you should mention that...i aquired a nice set of mellotron samples the other day...have used the choir sound on my album.I'd be interested to hear that' date=' any online mp3's?favourite mellotron moment has to be exit music by radiohead...totally haunting. sent shivers down my spine when i first saw them do it live Yeah, definitely one of the better modern uses of the tron. They didn't use a real one when I saw them in 1997 sadly, not sure if they tour with their M400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain44s Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 I'd be interested to hear that' date=' any online mp3's?QUOTE']its not quite finished yet...its my honours project for uni whichi hand in in 2 weeks time...will stick it online after that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouse Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Mellotrons are ace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammer Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Strawberry Fields Forever - lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodast Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Mellotron "They're an absolute cunt to maintain in a usable condition, but what else can make that delicious, dreamy sound?"It's so true... The Mellotron is like the Angel Delight of the musical world (in that it's dreamy and delicious.. not in that it's hard to maintain, particularly). I spoke to Thijs van Leer about them when Focus came to Aberdeen but I can't remember what he said because I was struggling with star struckness. As for songs, Kites by Simon Dupree and Entangled by Genesis are both great.. gotta love some of the Rick Wakeman stuff too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
...mole... Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Whats your favourite songs with Mellotron?id have to say epitaph by king crimson as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumpy Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 id have to say epitaph by king crimson as well you and your friggen king crimson! WHY I OUGHTA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 I have never really seen one in action. I am enlightened now though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeenat Aman Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 http://perso.wanadoo.fr/egrefin/Mellotron/sonsmel.htmlhttp://members.aol.com/tronbros/about.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MKII Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 http://egrefin.free.fr/audio/Mellotron/El%20Cumbanchero.mp3ace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouse Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I just love the sound of the Mellotron. It's got a kind of dreamy sound to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeornothing Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 If you have 3 grand burning a hole in your pocket.....http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Aug02/articles/mellotron.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.