Way cool, I just got this reply from one of the sons of the original Mellotron makers who now refurbish old machines etc...

[www.mellotronics.com]

"We know for definite that Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman had MKIIs. The first was featured in the film Performance and we restored Bill's a few years back. Recently Mick J donated his to the Rock Hall of Fame or some such organisation and Bill still has his at his 15th century manor house in Suffolk."



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-04-01 18:06 by His Majesty.

Somebody told me a while ago that what (to my ears) sounds like a flute on the intro of Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven in reality is a Mellotron. Is this true?

turnersmemo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Somebody told me a while ago that what (to my
> ears) sounds like a flute on the intro of Led
> Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven in reality is a
> Mellotron. Is this true?

No, the studio version features multi tracked recorders by JPJ's. He did use the flute sound with MKIV and later on the MKV when they played live though. I think he switched to a synth during the very last years.

> No, the studio version features multi tracked recorders by JPJ's.
> He did use the flute sound with MKIV and later on the MKV when theyplayed
> live though. I think he switched to a synth during the very last years


Thank you, His Majesty, for clearing up this misunderstanding!

Our Church Lady plays the Mellotron during Sunday service.

NumberOneStonesFan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Our Church Lady plays the Mellotron during Sunday
> service.

Wow, that must be a bit of a strange experience!?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-04-01 22:35 by His Majesty.

There's a mellotron on Exile: Let It Loose. Nicky played it. You can hear it come in after Mick sings the first verse "Who's that woman on your arm?" Fades up, slides out. Same on the next line.


J

Just before reading this fantastic thread, I was spinning "Welcome" by Santana, and I was surprised to see the mellotron listed as one of the instruments in the opening track, "Going Home" (no link with the Stones' piece).

What I'm getting at is I don't know which if these keyboard sounds in this track is the mellotron's or the Yamaha organ's (also listed).

Is it the bizarre, slightly nasal, primitive african horn-sounding lead voice - I would guess maybe a bassoon stop on the mellotron - or something else in there?

JMARKO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's a mellotron on Exile: Let It Loose. Nicky
> played it. You can hear it come in after Mick
> sings the first verse "Who's that woman on your
> arm?" Fades up, slides out. Same on the next
> line.
>
>
> J

I don't own exile any more, what sound is it?



Odd-beat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just before reading this fantastic thread, I was
> spinning "Welcome" by Santana, and I was surprised
> to see the mellotron listed as one of the
> instruments in the opening track, "Going Home" (no
> link with the Stones' piece).
>
> What I'm getting at is I don't know which if these
> keyboard sounds in this track is the mellotron's
> or the Yamaha organ's (also listed).
>
> Is it the bizarre, slightly nasal, primitive
> african horn-sounding lead voice - I would guess
> maybe a bassoon stop on the mellotron - or
> something else in there?

There was various reed/woodwind sounds available, Oboe/bassoon etc, so it's possible. I haven''t heard the track to be able to say though.

Taken during filming of 2000 Light Years From Home promo. Humphing that beast just to mime, far out!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-04-15 12:31 by His Majesty.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-05-01 01:53 by His Majesty.

....dang, this thread keeps coming back like that stray dog I feed from my back porch.....you're doing the Lord's work today aren't you, His Majesty?...keep up the good work



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-05-01 02:02 by Lukester.

... and here's a short clip of Brian playing the Citadel chorus on the MKII Mellotron using the mandolin setting.

[www.esnips.com]

Much appreciated!!!!!

wow thanks, His Majesty........but here's my question, if Brian could program the damn Mellotron with a mandolin, why not just play the mandolin in the song?.....it would sound more organic (to me)......I know during that time (1967 or whenever) hip musicians such as Brian were into experimentation....and maybe therein lies the answer, but it seems like an awful waste of time, effort, and simplicity to not just play the mandolin instead of running it through the mellotron...........

I'm off work with a screwed up shoulder, can't do anything but sit about on the internet!

....yeah, and I'm off with a hangover....sitting around with the internet.......

Luke know just how to cure a hangover



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-05-01 02:35 by Baboon Bro.

.......thanks bro..........



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-05-01 02:44 by Lukester.

Lukester Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wow thanks, His Majesty........but here's my
> question, if Brian could program the damn
> Mellotron with a mandolin, why not just play the
> mandolin in the song?.....it would sound more
> organic (to me)......I know during that time (1967
> or whenever) hip musicians such as Brian were into
> experimentation....and maybe therein lies the
> answer, but it seems like an awful waste of time,
> effort, and simplicity to not just play the
> mandolin instead of running it through the
> mellotron...........

To play what he's doing there would require 3 or 4 separate mandolin takes, plus maintaining such constant picking speed would be pretty ferkin hard going.

Most importantly, it has it's own sound, just like the flute and brass etc, it's unique.

It's easy to get the sound as it is just recorded notes on tape(the MKII's came fully loaded with the sounds on the tapes btw), no programming required. Select the sound, play the notes you wish to play on the keyboard, simple.

The whole point of the instrument is to allow people to have an orchestra at their finger tips.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-05-01 02:35 by His Majesty.

Lukester Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> thanks bro.....those little green smileys are
> about to make me puke............

OK... I'll remove'em.

thank you your Majesty.........good explanation......I didn't realize the Mellotron came with the instruments already prgrammed in.......party on....

Beat Instrumental - 1968



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-29 23:11 by His Majesty.

Someone has uploaded these rather cool MKII Mellotron clips...


















This clip features the mandolin sound(played on a MKIV) as heard on Factory Girl...

hey, I wouldn't mind taking a lesson from that interviewer! (if she ever figures out the mellotron.)

what Kinks song features the guitar sound he demonstrates in Part Two?

They fell out of favor with a lot of people because they were such a pain in the arse to take on tour. Apparently, when moved around, they wouldn't stay in tune, and they were difficult to tune. Robert Fripp opines at length on this topic in the liner notes of Crimson's Great Deceiver box.

Quote
cc

what Kinks song features the guitar sound he demonstrates in Part Two?

It's used on Magical Cat from the village green album during a middle 8 or something. I'm not sure if they used it on other tracks, doesn't one of them mumble a title?

It's one a lot of stuff from the Kinks' Village Green era.
Phenomonal Cat, Mr. Songbird, Days, a few others.
The flamenco guitar bit from Bungalow Bill on the White Album
is one push of a Mellotron key. Does the above video show that?
I think it does, if I remember correctly.
The Magical Mystery Tour film has a snippet of
some beautiful atmospheric backwards/forwards Mellotron flutes.

Yes the kinks used the MKII on lots of other tracks, but not sure if they used the bizarre electric guitar sound.

Quote
tomk
The flamenco guitar bit from Bungalow Bill on the White Album
is one push of a Mellotron key. Does the above video show that?
I think it does, if I remember correctly.

yes, he shows her that bit.

thanks for the Kinks info.