Andy H

I know there are plenty of music fans here, so I'll pop this in.

"Mellotron - the machine and the musicians that revolutionised rock."

Oh Yes! I've been waiting about two years for this book, and it finally arrives in September, although if you're desperate you can send a cheque to Desert Heart Books and get one by the middle of July.

Desert Hearts and info@desertheartscom

The book (592 pages) contains over 300 photos and countless interviews with famous users of the instrument. Sounds like a real treat for those of us with an interest in this ground-breaking beast! Can't wait.

batman

You just reminded me of all those great 70s Barclay James Harvest albums. Superb sound.

Andy H

I know. I was trying to describe the sound of a mellotron to a young colleague a few months ago (it did have a sound of its own, no matter what kind of tapes were loaded) and I could only say 'it's a kind of 'pulling, stretching sound'. I should have lent him a few BJH and Moody albums, that would have done it.

I've long been aghast at the sheer inventiveness of the Mellotron's makers. They had no way of electronically storing the sounds, so they resorted to tape - and the problems of playing a length of tape and then quickly snatching it back ready to be played again were quite something. A real labour of love. And when you think these machines were carted around on world tours and set up on stage AND WORKED!!!
Sorry, too much coffee.

Freddie Freeloader

Possibly the most well-known Mellotronistic moment in popular music is the intro to Strawberry Fields.

Any Prog-Heads will be familiar to the intro to Watcher Of The Skies.

Andy....if you are enamoured with it's Heath Robinson technology then perhaps you'd dig Delia Derbyshire, John Baker et al at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Fred

Andy H

Oh yes indeed, Freddie. I have a book somewhere about the history of the RW and its wonderful array of 'string and chewing gum' lash-ups.
Of course it all became rather ho-hum when they went digital. The sound changed from human/organic/real objects to cut n' paste wizbang.
Me and my schoolfriends were very much into analogue tape in the mid-late 60's and I know just how much work can go into producing a 'simple' effect. Not so much fun when you can just hit a key...
They don't call me 'Mr set-in-his-ways' for nowt!

charliekane

Is no-one going to mention King Crimson ?
'The Court of the Crimson King' must be the greatest mellotron-soaked album of all, and to see them perform live at any time between 1969 and about 1975 was a spellbinding experience.

Freddie Freeloader

Yes....you are!

If you want a giggle, check out the Venerable Fripp's on-line diary
Artist Diaries

BTW....did you ever see Genesis with Gabriel ?

charliekane

Yes, saw Genesis in Liverpool the day before seeing King Crimson in about October 1974 - loved Crimson, hated Genesis !

Fripp's diaries are always worth a visit - an excellent site, too

Freddie Freeloader

Oh.......that's the end of that enquiry then!

In an effort to avoid an all-out Crim/Gen battle of the bands I shall divert your attention with this EXTREMELY bizarre informercial.



David Nixon displays a remarkably dextrous right index finger technique....


Fred

Andy H

That's amazing, Freddie - a good find.
I never new the Mellotron was capable of such 'quick' playing. Unless the film is a con of course.

Freddie Freeloader

Far out stuff, eh ???

Those of a musical bent will notice, upon close inspection, that David Nixon is playing Bye Bye Blues in two seperate keys....the right hand in A flat major and his left hand in C major !

The professional pianist is Mr.Geoff Unwin who went on to compose the theme song for the 1971 film "On The Buses".

charliekane

That's fantastic !!

Who'd have thought it ? David Nixon and Eric 'Music For You' Robinson the founders of prog rock ! And not an Ali Bongo in sight !

As for my previous post, I should qualify it a little I suppose - when I saw Genesis I really wasn't familiar with their stuff up to that point and, while the remainder of the audience seemed to love all of it (even the mistakes), I somehow felt I wasn't 'getting it' - found all the costume changes, the stocking over the head and that stuff....well, a bit silly.
King Crimson on the other hand ran through ferocious, full-blooded versions of Larks Tongues in Aspic (which I'd seen/heard for the first time in the same theatre about a year before), Fracture and the like, so that I - rather pompously - compared the two shows by telling somebody that it was a bit like separating the men from the boys..........
Anyway, I never did get to be all that fond of Genesis although I did like much of Peter Gabriel's solo stuff - but then again, to this day I still find him a bit irritating on stage for some reason.
Ever see Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come ?

charliekane

On a similar note, I remember seeing an ad in the back of Melody Maker in the early 70s for a company that sold mellotrons, and was sorely tempted to get one, even though I was only on about 7 quid a week at the time (if I was working at all) and I think it cost £ 400.
Still sorry I didn't - I probably would have finished paying for it by now !

dogstar

For one delirious moment I thought someone had uncovered evidence that David Nixon had once played with Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come. My disappointment when I realised my mistake was enormous!

Only a fool looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart....

charliekane

You mean to say he didn't ?