The mellotron's finest moment - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Posted: May 13 2014 at 11:31

The OP can edit their post to change it as well.

Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.

Mirror Image View Drop Down

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Posted: May 13 2014 at 11:43

dr wu23 wrote:

I wish one of the mods would take a minute or so and correct the spelling of 'mellotron' in the title of the thread.

It's kind of embarrassing on a prog board.

Indeed. If there's anything a prog rock fan should know how to spell it's mellotron! LOL

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cstack3

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 00:19

Mirror Image wrote:

dr wu23 wrote:

I wish one of the mods would take a minute or so and correct the spelling of 'mellotron' in the title of the thread.

It's kind of embarrassing on a prog board.

Indeed. If there's anything a prog rock fan should know how to spell it's mellotron! LOL

Now come on, we all make mistakes! Clap

My list includes:

a) "For My Lady" by the Moody Blues, Mike Pinder channels a mariner's concertina elegantly!

b) "Hero & Heroine" by the Strawbs, for the lovely use of the 8 voice choir Mellotron!

c) "Between The Walls" by UFO on their LP "Force It"....Leo Lyons plays amazing 8 voice choir!

etc. This is a fantastic resource for those of us addicted to the Melon Tron!

http://www.planetmellotron.com/index.htm

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 00:25

S$%t ... too many to mention.

zachfive wrote:

Matching Mole's Immediate Curtain has to be mentioned. Robert Wyatt is amazing.

+1.

Svetonio wrote:

I was actually thinking "The Big Top". Big smile

Other candidates: PF's "See Saw". KC's "Trio" is always a winner for me on many levels.

Edited by Dayvenkirq - May 14 2014 at 00:27

Tom Ozric

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 01:02

There's just soooo many amazing performances on this instrument.....
Melotron. Mellontron. Melatron. Melontron. Mellow Drone. MELLOTRON !!!!!
We know the familiars - Crimso, Genesis, Yes, Tangerine Dream, Moody Blues etc.
Some lesser known things that I love dearly :
Spring's album is just a pure showcase for the 'tron
Silver Peacock Intro from Beggar's Opera 'Waters Of Change' album
Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come 'Journey' - particularly the track 'Superficial Roadblocks'.
Anglagard, Anekdoten, Wobbler, The Smell Of Incense all feature amazing 'tron play.
Flamen Dialis from France with the 'Symptome Dei' album.
Just to name a few great examples.

Edited by Tom Ozric - May 14 2014 at 01:03

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 01:10

Do you like Rubicon by Tangerine Dream, Thom ozrick ( They obviosly influenced Ozrick Tentacles)

Lots of delifhtfull mellotron on it....and organs.

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 01:25

Icarium wrote:

Do you like Rubicon by Tangerine Dream, Thom ozrick ( They obviosly influenced Ozrick Tentacles)

Lots of delifhtfull mellotron on it....and organs.

Yes Sir !!! Edgar & his buddies produced amazing music with Mellotrons. His solo album called Macula Transfer is heavily played on the 'tron, even Ypsilon In Malaysia Pale. As good as quality Tangerine Dream.
I equally love the sounds of a well played Farfisa organ (Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulz, VDGG, Dom, Amon Duul II....)
Even Elton dabbled with Mellotrons and Farfisas occasionally

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 01:30

Oi know Daniel is a center piece in tron and Fender Rhodes work , a rulebook exanple (even a short tron solo)

But most famous is ARP intro of Funeral for a Friend ( imagine that in tron, goosebump)

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 01:42

Spelling edited:)

I actually thought it was some kind of play on words that I didn't quite get. The OP is from the UK....

Anyway back to the tron: one tune I haven't seen mentioned is Janus' floating epic Gravedigger. The mellotron is simply to die for in that piece!

“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

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Tom Ozric

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 01:58

^^ The ARP on Funeral For A Friend was played by Dave Hentschel, unfortunately not Reggie, but yes, 'Daniel' is a very likeable song, even though the dash of ARP synth was played by Ken Scott. Take it then Elton didn't 'grasp' complex synthesisers at the time. He is (and always will be), a Pianist.
Getting back to 'trons though, Steve Winwood played some gorgeous lines on Traffic's 'Dream Gerrard' track, so serene and effective......
(David, you came between mine and Iccy's post......

)

Edited by Tom Ozric - May 14 2014 at 02:04

Icarium

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 02:39

No QRP on Daniel "Arp"

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 02:48

Yup Tom - I noticed I ninja'd you there. I'm a sneaker Approve

Here's the Janus tune I was on about:

aaaand work calls Dead

See ya PA!

“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

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Posted: May 14 2014 at 03:00

cstack3 wrote:

Mirror Image wrote:

dr wu23 wrote:

I wish one of the mods would take a minute or so and correct the spelling of 'mellotron' in the title of the thread.

It's kind of embarrassing on a prog board.

Indeed. If there's anything a prog rock fan should know how to spell it's mellotron! LOL

Now come on, we all make mistakes! Clap

My list includes:

a) "For My Lady" by the Moody Blues, Mike Pinder channels a mariner's concertina elegantly!

b) "Hero & Heroine" by the Strawbs, for the lovely use of the 8 voice choir Mellotron!

c) "Between The Walls" by UFO on their LP "Force It"....Leo Lyons plays amazing 8 voice choir!

etc. This is a fantastic resource for those of us addicted to the Melon Tron!

http://www.planetmellotron.com/index.htm

Good call on UFO. I love that song (and album).

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Posted: May 15 2014 at 00:58

Edgar Froese - Epsilon In Malaysian Pale

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Posted: May 15 2014 at 05:45

dudes, what about f**king "Epitaph"!!!!

besides that there's "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles (yes it does have mellotron), and also some of the "The Remembering" and "Ritual" from Yes' Tales album, i especially like the latter

Progrockdude

Tom Ozric

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Posted: May 15 2014 at 07:31

Clearlight - Symphony

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Posted: May 15 2014 at 23:10

If you can stand another KC entry, there’s Trio, one of the subtler ones.
For a couple non-prog tracks that are quite well-known:

Bob Seger – Turn the Page (live version)
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird

Caption: We tend to take ourselves a little too seriously.

Silly human race! Yes is for everybody!

cstack3

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Posted: May 15 2014 at 23:27

Michael678 wrote:

dudes, what about f**king "Epitaph"!!!!

besides that there's "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles (yes it does have mellotron), and also some of the "The Remembering" and "Ritual" from Yes' Tales album, i especially like the latter

I believe we've kicked all of those around on PA numerous times, and I wanted to bring up some lesser-known works by the Strawbs etc.

Wakeman was truly one of the masters of the 'tron....his work on TFTO was sublime! Also, he used 'tron on "Six Wives" as I recall.

There were a number of primitive sampling keyboard instruments back in the 1970's, including something called the "choir organ," which is heard on Amon Duul's "Wolf City" and the soundtrack to "Aguirre Der Zorn Gottes" by Popul Vuh.

This is a fascinating read about this particular instrument, and the genius who played it (American Jimmy Jackson):

http://www.popolvuh.nl/pvchoir

Edited by cstack3 - May 15 2014 at 23:27

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Posted: May 16 2014 at 00:05

Oooo! How could I forget PFM – The World Became the World and Have Your Cake and Beat It!!!

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Tom Ozric

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Posted: May 16 2014 at 00:05

^^ Indeed, Jimmy Jackson was one of the few people who 'knew' how to use the 'choir organ' effectively. Let's not forget Jimmy's contribution on the outrageous ADII album 'Tanz der Lemminge' as well.
And who could forget Wakeman's Hallelujah chorus on his solo slot featured on the Yessongs live extravaganza !!
..........ninja'd again...........
And I must say, Strawberry Fields Forever is a tad overrated on the 'tron front. Sure it's a great song, by the 'tron is minimal. Try Rolling Stones' Satanic Majesties album. Wall-to-wall 'tron-fest.

Edited by Tom Ozric - May 16 2014 at 00:10