A big hand for the MELLOTRON !!

 

Actually I believe you more than Amazon. The book is listed there under Samagato name.

 

The Mellotron Book by Frank Samagato (Paperback - 10 Jun 2002)

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I was just joking anyway.

 

Pirkka

 

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!!!!!!

 

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.

 

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 !!

 

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.