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erik neuteboom 
Prog Reviewer 
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
 Topic: A big hand for the MELLOTRON !!Posted: July 27 2006 at 14:45 |
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Last week a progrock dream came true: I was introduced to somebody who owned a Mellotron M400 and allowed to play on it. Although I only know a few chords, I could get a bit of an impression how impressive a Mellotron sounds but also how vulnerable it is: some tapes were lost, it took a hell of a time before 'the machine was warm', some keys didn't function and indeed, after 8 seconds the sound simply stops because the tape stops ... I have experienced it now by myself, it's incredible but true!
Playing on the Mellotron I was overwhelmed by progrock memories: the choir Mellotron evokes Rick Wakeman's solo piece on Yessongs and Tony Banks on Afterglow (Seconds Out version), the violin Mellotron evokes In The Court Of The Crimson King and The Moody Blues and the flute sound evokes Strawberrry Fields Forever by The Beatles and Julia Dream by Pink Floyd, what an amazing sound!  I also realised that this both unsurpassed as infamous keyboard has contributed hugely to the story of the progressive rock and at this moment it's more and more becoming popular, mainly because it sounds so unique, just listen to Anekdoten, Willowglass, La Maschera Di Cera ... to name a few! I am curious to your opinion about the Mellotron like it's role in the progrock history, your experiences with playing on it or simply which are your favorite Mellotron compositions? I am looking forward to your reactions, fellow Tron-manicas     ATTENTION: MELLOTRON SPECIAL ON PAGE #6 !!!
 Edited by erik neuteboom - September 21 2007 at 13:52 |
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pirkka
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: December 06 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 191 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 14:56 |
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When you talk about Mellotron there are two bands that stand out:
- Moody Blues
- Spring
Everybody knows Moody Blues and the way it championed the instrument but Spring is probably in the list of forgotten bands. They only made one record in 1971: Spring but it included 3 mellotrons. It is a must for a Mellotron fan and actually great prog to whom so ever. It gets average of 4.26 points.
But as I notice that it was you Eric who added Spring into PA you are familiar with it
 .My all time favourite mellotron songs are from The Moody Blues greatest album Seventh Sojourn: New Horizons, For my lady, Isn't life strange. But then they were not played with a mellotron but with a Chamberlain made by the same guy who invented the mellotron.
Pirkka Edited by pirkka - July 27 2006 at 15:13 |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 15:22 |
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On the DVD Isle Of Wight Festival you will see a mellotron Mark II on stage while The Moody Blues are performing Nights In White Satin, the violin-Mellotron is so typical and added an extra dimension to their sound.
Yes Pirkka, it was me who added Spring, I have always loved their Mellotron drenched sound and I also added Lift because this overlooked USA band features some great Mellotron!
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pierreolivier
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 31 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 222 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 16:16 |
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Pretty sorry to correct you Pirkka but some of your informations that you stated here are false.First,Spring didn't have 3 mellotrons,they have one(a Mark II) but was played by 3 different members of the band.Andy Thompson mellotron website clear the myth.
Secondly,Chamberlin was not invented by the guy who invented the Mellotron.It was invented by an american named Harry Chamberlin from Ontario,California.He patented it's first model in 1952 and developped it in his garage.In 1962,a guy who was working for Mr.Chamberlin as a saleman,Mr.Bill Fransen,went to England in order to find a company that manufactured tape heads.He went to Birmingham and found Bradmatic owned by the 3 Bradleys brothers: Leslie,Frank and Norman,who made tape heads.Fransen order a set of 70 matched replay heads to the Bradley brothers and the brothers were very curious about this strange request and one brother guess it rightly that it must be for something like a music machine.Then,they asked Fransen about the usage of theirs tape heads and Fransen bring 2 Chamberlin MusicMaster 600 to the Bradmatic workshop and the Bradleys were very impressed with it.Fransen then ask if they were interested to manufacture the machine in mass production and the Bradleys agreed to help Fransen.But,Fransen didn't say that this machine was invented by Harry Chamberlin and the Bradleys thaught that it was Fransen who invented it.They eventually develloped the Mellotron Mark I,who is almost a Chamberlin MusicMaster 600 replica and developped it further and update some of the components with the Mark II.Originally,the Mellotron were supposed to be called the "Franson" in honour of Bill Fransen but choose the name "Mellotron" for commercial reason.Harry Chamberlin eventually heard of the Mellotron in 1965-1966 and was very mad at Bill Fransen(who was still working for Mr.Chamberlin in the US during the Mellotron developpement) but was not angry about the Bradley brothers because they didn't know about it and thaught it was Fransen invention.Chamberlin agreed that the Mellotron should go further and a monetary arragement was set between the 2 firms in 1966 and the 2 companies devellopped products independantly trought the 80's.
Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues use a Chamberlin on the "Seventh Sojourn" album but also use a Mellotron Mark II and M300 on the album.
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akin
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 06 2004 Location: Brazil Status: Offline Points: 976 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 16:44 |
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I wish I could own a mellotron, but I can't afford one. Sometimes one
or another mellotron is avaiable on sale in eBay, but they do not ship
overseas and as the value of the money in my country is lower than in
US and the conditions for a common man too, let's say that a mellotron
that costs $1,500 represents to me something like $7,000.
I am fascinated by the mellotron sounds and the band which best uses the Mellotron is The Moody Blues. It is almost impossivel to hear The Voyage, House of Four Doors, for example, and believe that it is only mellotron. At least I could afford an Alesis Micron which can emulate perfectly analog sounds. There are some sounds that sound like a mellotron. I'm starting to use it in my psychedelic band (ridiculous, because it is only me playing bass (poorly), guitar (so-so) and keyboards (poorly))... I'm interested now in hearing Spring. It will go to my "wishlist". Fortunately, although imported, the cd is not so expensive, less than 20% more expensive than a cd made in Brazil. I will just way till the cds I have already purchased to arrive and them I'll check this band out. |
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pirkka
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 06 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 191 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 17:00 |
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Don't be sorry at all. I am extremely happy to be able to read the information you write here. Most interesting indeed! My knowledge was based on the liner notes from the CD.
Pirkka
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maani
Special Collaborator 
Founding Moderator Joined: January 30 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2632 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 17:10 |
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I also had the privilege of playing a real Mellotron when I fronted a Genesis/Yes cover band in the late 70s. I have no idea how our keyboardist got his hands on it. It was one of the most amazing feelings to play it, especially the vox.
As an aside, the reason the Moody Blues had the first Mellotron in rock was that Mike Pindar was friends with Harry Chamberlin, who actually developed the MK-I and MK-II models.
There is no question of the Mellotron's place in the history of prog. It allowed proto-prog and early prog bands to incorporate actual orchestral (string) and chorus (vox) sounds into their already quasi-orchestral arrangements. And it provided "color" in a way that organs and early synths did not.
If there were a Hall of Fame for prog instruments, the Mellotron would have to be the first instrument inducted.
Peace.
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 17:12 |
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Thanks for your warm reactions till so far but I forgot to mention some of my favorite Mellotron drenched pieces/albums: Museo Rosenbach-Titletrack from the album Zarathustra
Outer Limits-Titletrack from their album The Scene Of Pale Blue
Fantasy-Alanderie from the CD Beyond The Beyond
Greenslade-Live 1975
Schicke Fuhrs & Frohling-Live 1975
Barclay James harvest-Live (1974)
Standarte-Curses & Invocations
.....
 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Edited by erik neuteboom - July 27 2006 at 17:14 |
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elpprogster
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 02 2005 Location: Portugal Status: Offline Points: 463 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 18:14 |
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Hey Erik,
Congratulations for another great thread (we´re all waiting for it but were afraid to ask
 ) after the ELP inspired bands one!Ahhh the Mellotron...Simply the pillar of Progressive Rock... Youmay not believe, but I carry a photo of a Mellotron in my wallet instead my girlfriend´s one
 !! |
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Liquid Len
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 28 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 247 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 18:21 |
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Great 'Tron site.
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Can you tell me where my country lies?
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pierreolivier
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 31 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 222 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 19:03 |
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That's almost the truth.Mike Pinder worked for Streetly electronics(Mellotron makers) for 18 months in 1963-1964.He tested the finished Mark II at the end of the production line.Mr.Pinder have a lot of knowledge in electronic and like very much working for the Bradley brothers.When he left the job to form the Moody Blues with Dennis Laine and Ray Thomas(the "Go now"formation),he wanted to use a Mellotron but couldn't afford a new one.A little later,in 1966,Mr.Leslie Bradley called him and say that the Dunlop Tires company social club had a Mark II that they didn't want anymore,so Mr.Pinder was able to brought his first Mark II at a reasonnable price.It's probably more Leslie Bradley that you are refering as he was the person who called him and Mike Pinder was always grateful to Leslie Bradley for that and eventually became friend and Mike Pinder was also a Mellotron Prime ambassador in the 60's-70's,even now..He met Harry Chamberlin later in the beginning of the 70's when he brought his first Chamberlin.
For me,the real starter for my love of the Mellotron is the fabulous Harmonium album "Si on avait besoin d'une cinquième saison".I discoverd this album when I was about 15 years old and it was the first I really noticed his presence on an album.I was already a Yes,Genesis and King Crimson listener and remarked the Mellotron in the credits but didn't know about the instrument at the time.Later,in about 1993-1994,swedish bands like Anekdoten and Anglagard reinforced my love for the instrument and want a mellotron.In 1995,I met a collector here in Montreal and was able to buy an M400 in 1996.
For those intrested in Mellotron,I recommended the buy of " the Mellotron book" by Frank Samagaio,where I learn all the infos that I talked to you before about the Chamberlin and the story about Mike Pinder working for Streetly in the 60's before forming the Moody Blues.It's quite an interesting reading for Mellotron fans.I also recommanded the visit of the Andy Thompson's Planet Mellotron website(wich I help bringing him some Quebecois prog albums)who is full of informations about Mellotron famous recordings.
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pierreolivier
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 31 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 222 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 20:05 |
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Thanks Pirkka!
I find these informations on "The Mellotron book" by Frank Samagaio and on the PlanetMellotron website. |
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el böthy
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 27 2005 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 6336 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 20:11 |
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When I think of the tron "Epitaph" inmediatly pops into my head...
Wow, erik Im soooooooooooo jealous   |
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"You want me to play what, Robert?"
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Minimalist777
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 19 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 293 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 20:52 |
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Man, I wish I could play a Mellotron someday, its such a great instrument!
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WWOSD?
What Would OliverStoned Do? |
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chamberry
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 24 2005 Location: Puerto Rico Status: Offline Points: 9008 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 20:54 |
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This pretty much sums my feelings for the mellotron. . . . I just wish I could at least see one  |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46833 |
Posted: July 27 2006 at 21:12 |
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same here for all the 'I wishes' I'd love to rattle the windows with the intro to PFM's Appena Un Po'
some other 'tron favs of mine of the top of my head.. Uriah Heep - Lady in Black The Moody Blues - The Voyage Genesis - The Fountain of Salmacis of course Museo Rosenbach - The Zarathustra title track |
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 28 2006 at 02:45 |
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I remember when I was at about 11-12 years old I founded a playback trio on the primary school and played the song Hi Hi Said The Clown by Manfred Mann on selfmade wooden instruments (guitars and keyboards, no drums). I think that was the moment that the Mellotron (flute sound) entered my brains and settled itself in my subconsience. When I discovered progrock" it broke free and flooded my brains and soul", it's incredible how strongly the Mellotron can evokes warm and pleasant feelings to me, especially the choir-section is so impressive.
Some nice non-prog Mellotron pieces: Seasons Of The Sun by Terry Jacks and Halo Of Flies by Alice Cooper and did you know that the bag pipes on Mull Of Kintyre by Paul McCartney and the starting motor on the intro of Love Is The Drug by Roxy Music are also produced by the Mellotron
?! THE MIGHTY TRON IS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!
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pirkka
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 06 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 191 |
Posted: July 28 2006 at 03:55 |
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Great album this Harmonium. I made a trip to europe this summer in my car and had this among a couple of other CD's with me and played it a couple of times. Beautiful music! And about the book of tron, I'll got to buy it. Thanks for advise, again.
I'm sorry but I must correct
 Actually it is Frank Samagato not Samagaio... But found it in Amazon and ordered it, about £10.Pirkka Edited by pirkka - July 28 2006 at 03:59 |
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Terra Australis
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 03 2006 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 809 |
Posted: July 28 2006 at 04:18 |
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Once in the 80s I was in a music shop in Melbourne with my band mates and there was a Mellotron MK II there. We had a play on it. What doesn't generally come out on recordings is the volume of it. The shop almost shook and the power of it amazed us!
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pierreolivier
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 31 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 222 |
Posted: July 28 2006 at 04:52 |
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Hi pirkka
 ,sorry to contradict once more by my copy said Frank Samagaio as the author.I know Frank by reputation because he his a regular writer at the Mellotron forum,wich i am also a member.Anyway,you will had the truth when your copy will be shipped.There's will be another Mellotron Book due this fall with apparently more photos but Frank's book is full of useful and interesting infos for Mellotron fans.
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A big hand for the MELLOTRON !!
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pirkka wrote: