----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 10:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] NEIL MERRYWEATHER Space Rangers
All I know about Merryweather himself was that he was Lita Ford's guitarist / bassist in the 80's. "EDGEMONT" is probably supposed to Ed Gemont (the credits are all capitals / cluttered together)
For those not familiar with Space Rangers - it is a good album to hear how the Chamberlin library differs from the Mellotron since so many sounds are used. The choirs in particular are played as both chords / solos, and the album closes nicely with a downward trumpet pitch bend (you can't really bend upwards).
It's not a classic for strong song melodies, and there's isn't anything beautiful like Genesis "Entangled" but it's worth a listen if you really want to hear upfront Chamberlin. And it was made in 1974 so it's the genuine article - there isn't any sample masquerades going on. I could never find it on CD, I had to buy the LP which you might find in the bargain bin at your local used record store. This was one of the few albums that convinced me the Mellotron / Chamberlin are really their own respective instruments and not a substitute for each other.
Chris
Well put, Chris - I think I described this as 'virtually a Chamberlin demo', or similar, although as chris says, it's not that great an album, ditto his follow-up, 'Kryptonite' .
Andy T.