The Mellotron

I love keyboards, and I'm slowly getting into prog, so can someone point me in the direction of some good mellotron music?

I can't say that I've heard the mellotron properly, but from descriptions I've heard i get the feeling it is an instrument I'm going to adore.

king crimson uses it a lot in their earlier stuff. esp. their s/t album.

It's used really well in Magical Mystery Tour era Beatles, especially in the outro to 'Flying'

  On 8/10/2010 at 1:13 PM, disparaissant said:

king crimson uses it a lot in their earlier stuff. esp. their s/t album.

yep, i'd go with kc.

fripp is the man when it comes to mega mellotron abuse.

Spring - s/t

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=2543

Line-up / Musicians

- Pat Moran / vocals, mellotron

- Ray Martinez / guitars, mellotron

- Adrian 'Bone' Maloney / bass guitar

- Pick Withers / drums

- Kipps Brown / piano, organ, mellotron

Yes, that's 3 mellotrons. This album may not appeal to everyone, and it's not what the average person would think of when they think "prog".

Anyway the list of great mellotron-driven prog albums is endless. Truthfully I can't pick the sound apart from other keyboards but I assume the great majority of 70s prog bands were using one.

There's some tasty/spooky/atmospheric new-ish mellotron work on Guapo - "Five Suns" and Guapo - "Black Oni." IMO. Mellotron isn't the main draw but it's nicely integrated and adds a sort of timeless quality to the proceedings.

I like Guapo's Black Oni, haven't heard any others. Speaking of more recent stuff then, this is an amazing retro prog album. AMAZING!

Änglagård - Hybris

Some other 70s stuff:

Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra

Premiata Forneria Marconi - Storia Di Un Minuto

Schicke, Führs & Fröhling - Symphonic Pictures

Van der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts

clearly Goblin wins this thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpAAQrJ93w8

or Tangerine Dream depending on what mood you're in

^^ that ain't a mellotron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX8Ol2QYlUE

this is though.

More of a '60s pop record but the Mellotron is all over this one.

Also most (all?) the Beatles albums Revolver on. Moody Blues too.

Lots of albums listed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellotron

lolol

zombie

zombi 2

the zombies.

I'd name the melletron the instrument of 70's (and so forth) progressive music.

  On 8/10/2010 at 10:30 PM, disparaissant said:

lolol

zombie

zombi 2

the zombies.

One thing is for certain now!

What that is, I don't know.

  On 8/10/2010 at 1:13 PM, disparaissant said:

king crimson uses it a lot in their earlier stuff. esp. their s/t album.

Yes! Fallen Angel from Red is one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJzA9l1C2Xg&feature=related

Co-sign on Odessey & Oracle as well, some nice Mellotron in Changes (Great lyrics too)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLorQbTf7tU

^^ Top tunes.

  On 8/10/2010 at 10:27 PM, disparaissant said:

^^ that ain't a mellotron

please enlighten me, what is it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XOd6Uajh-4

Here's another one. I remember reading that when the Zombies recorded this album, they knew they were breaking up, so in order to save money they used the Mellotron instead of an orchestra to save money. It really makes the album in my opinion. I would guess that all of the many symphonic/orchestral sounds on Odessey and Oracle came from the Mellotron.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A4r2RU1u3g

Have you not heard this? Probably my favorite usage of the Mellotron ever.

I always loved how they used the tape slow-down for that pitchbend.

  On 8/10/2010 at 10:28 PM, scones to die for said:

I second this motion.

And early King Crimson.

  On 8/10/2010 at 10:27 PM, disparaissant said:

^^ that ain't a mellotron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX8Ol2QYlUE

this is though.

fuckyes this theme is wonderful.

probably one of the most amazing ambient pieces i've heard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARTBss53pQk

epic as fuck, long mellotron intro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57HicYcY4Ow

this one from about 4:30 onwards is really great:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01CnBGWvBpE

actually most pre-1980 genesis!

oh and my track 'from the rooftops' has some (vst) mellotron and bass pedal action:

http://rooftopaccess.bandcamp.com/track/from-the-rooftops

What decent Mellotron VSTs are the knocking about, other than Tapeworm ?

  On 8/11/2010 at 8:08 PM, Jimbob said:

What decent Mellotron VSTs are the knocking about, other than Tapeworm ?

I think the way to go is loading up Mellotron patches into a sampler.