No Offense, But Why...

Originally posted by jammun Hey I am not laughing...did you miss the part where I actually own a pedal-steel. So who are some of the prog-country bands?

in the culmination of what has been a two year search.... and a running joke between Ivan and me.

 I have found one...

I present to you... Wally.  You have to hear it to believe it

from Planet Mellotron

Wally  (UK)

	Wally  (1974,  40.10)  ***/T The Martyr I Just Wanna Be a Cowboy What to Do Sunday Walking Lady To the Urban Man Your Own Way
	Valley Gardens  (1975,  41.15)  ***/T Valley Gardens Nez Percé The Mood I'm in The Reason Why   Nolan   The Charge   Disillusion

Current availability:

• Both titles: Atlantic (Japan)

Wally suffered the rather dubious distinction of being championed by The Old Grey Whistle Test's 'Whispering' Bob Harris, these days known best for being a country music DJ (he sneered at the New York Dolls when they appeared on the Whistle Test, so he was hardly going to go for anything too energetic, was he?). In fact, Wally was produced by Harris and Rick Wakeman, which doesn't exactly inspire much confidence. While the band fitted (very) broadly into the 'progressive' category, there was more than a hint of country/rock about them, especially with Paul Middleton's steel guitar; West Coast Prog, anyone? Actually, the album isn't that bad, just rather forgettable, with a regrettable lack of energy. Paul Gerrett plays Mellotron on one track only, the twelve-minute To The Urban Man, with a string part drifting in and out of the song. Pete Sage's electric violin confuses the issue in places, but it's definitely only the one 'Tron track.

Second (and last) album, Valley Gardens, carries on in a similar vein to their debut, including a side-long track, The Reason Why, which was probably the best thing the band recorded. Gerrett was replaced by Nick Glennie-Smith, who gets marginally more 'Tron in this time round, with strings on the title track and the first part of The Reason Why, Nolan, but it's all pretty minor, to be honest. So; so-so albums, minimal 'Tron. Not that exciting, really, although I've heard an awful lot worse. I believe that's called 'damning with faint praise'. Oh well.

Originally posted by micky Originally posted by jammun Hey I am not laughing...did you miss the part where I actually own a pedal-steel. So who are some of the prog-country bands? in the culmination of what has been a two year search.... and a running joke between Ivan and me.  I have found one... I present to you... Wally.  You have to hear it to believe it from Planet Mellotron Wally  (UK) Wally  (1974,  40.10)  ***/T The Martyr I Just Wanna Be a Cowboy What to Do Sunday Walking Lady To the Urban Man Your Own Way Valley Gardens  (1975,  41.15)  ***/T Valley Gardens Nez Percé The Mood I'm in The Reason Why   Nolan   The Charge   Disillusion Current availability: Both titles: Atlantic (Japan) Wally suffered the rather dubious distinction of being championed by The Old Grey Whistle Test's 'Whispering' Bob Harris, these days known best for being a country music DJ (he sneered at the New York Dolls when they appeared on the Whistle Test, so he was hardly going to go for anything too energetic, was he?). In fact, Wally was produced by Harris and Rick Wakeman, which doesn't exactly inspire much confidence. While the band fitted (very) broadly into the 'progressive' category, there was more than a hint of country/rock about them, especially with Paul Middleton's steel guitar; West Coast Prog, anyone? Actually, the album isn't that bad, just rather forgettable, with a regrettable lack of energy. Paul Gerrett plays Mellotron on one track only, the twelve-minute To The Urban Man, with a string part drifting in and out of the song. Pete Sage's electric violin confuses the issue in places, but it's definitely only the one 'Tron track. Second (and last) album, Valley Gardens, carries on in a similar vein to their debut, including a side-long track, The Reason Why, which was probably the best thing the band recorded. Gerrett was replaced by Nick Glennie-Smith, who gets marginally more 'Tron in this time round, with strings on the title track and the first part of The Reason Why, Nolan, but it's all pretty minor, to be honest. So; so-so albums, minimal 'Tron. Not that exciting, really, although I've heard an awful lot worse. I believe that's called 'damning with faint praise'. Oh well.

Yep, quick search sez these will be hard if not impossible to find.  Damn.  Ya never know though, looks like they were originally released on Atlantic which gives some hope, since it's not a totally obscure label.

you do have to wonder how they went down ... on THAT bill...

http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-75.html

Originally posted by micky Originally posted by jammun Yep, quick search sez these will be hard if not impossible to find.  Damn.  Ya never know though, looks like they were originally released on Atlantic which gives some hope, since it's not a totally obscure label. exactly...  for curiosities sake... it is an interesting listen.  But the review is dead on. Now the fun is proposing them to Symphonic Would give anything I have.. but Raffaella's love of course .... .. to see Ivan's expression as he listened to it hahhahahhaha.

Originally posted by micky hmmmm... pretty well I guess  The time honoured 'double moon', bravely delivered from the safety of our tent. Heck, I bet a few of us crazy kids were even shouting 'Wally' around the site later too!

Hey guys regarding albums with Mellotron and pedal steel, just go on this web site (PA) and type in mellotron pedal steel guitar and you will see quite a few albums, for instance London Underground.

In addition to that, you might want to check Pete Sinfield's Still album, although I think he uses a Symphoniser (high end Lowrey organ) instead of a Mellotron. You might also want to check Shawn Phillips, an early 70s folk artist who did some long songs that ended up on US progressive rock radio.

There are probably some country songs from the late 60s and early 70s that use Mellotron instead of strigs. It sure sounds to me like a lot of soul music from this period used Mellotrons. A friend of mine used to work on Isaac Hayes' Mellotron. Isaac was involved in many songs as a producer and writer so I bet his Mellotron shows up on a lot of songs.

I'm just guessing that there were probably some country songs on a budget that decided to use Mellotron instead of strings.

Edited by Easy Money - March 03 2008 at 07:47

I don't like it
I've heard it, bue I dont like it
maybe cause I've heard only 2000's hi-hop, maybe I should listen to 80's hip hop...

good thread

Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Originally posted by micky Originally posted by jammun Yep, quick search sez these will be hard if not impossible to find.  Damn.  Ya never know though, looks like they were originally released on Atlantic which gives some hope, since it's not a totally obscure label. exactly...  for curiosities sake... it is an interesting listen.  But the review is dead on. Now the fun is proposing them to Symphonic Would give anything I have.. but Raffaella's love of course .... .. to see Ivan's expression as he listened to it hahhahahhaha.   Sh¡t....You did it Micky   If you got samples, send them, if I'm a Kansas fan, I have no problem with Country Symph Mellotron.   Iván

I'll get some samples uploaded for you this evening...  to be honest.... I don't think they fit Sympho.. .but what the hell do I know . Since sympho had first dibs on them back then..was submitted to you.... you all get first dibs...if you reject... just let me know and I'll find a home for them under the AR blanket I'm sure.

  saw that tour