Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists

Harrisongs via Capitol (USA) is on the verge of putting out a
multiple CD (I believe four discs) set around spring break of his
Dark Horse history...a new single I got as a Dutch promo is a love
song that came out just before Valentine's Day. I asked the Capitol
guy if any Splinter or Apple/Bangaladesh era stuff will be on it,
but he doesn't know yet.

I hope some Wonderwall Music outtakes are on it! Lots of MkII
Mellotron mixed in with India/sitar leanings, sillyness and
experimental ethereal passages.

Interesting that The Beatles and Michael Jackson CD's are never
offered through recod/CD clubs like BMG Music and Columbia House,
etc. I guess they want top dollar and not to be part of the six or
twelve for the price of one deals. I hear (unconfirmed & I hope is
very well an urban legend) that musicians never get royalties from
music sold via record/CD clubs anyway. Same with Paul
McCartney/Wings. George Harrison and Ringo Starr are not included.
IMHO the only decent Starr LP I heard was Starling Music (after the
first two LP's were duds...in the flavor of the first two Bryan
Ferry albums, agreed?)

David Kean. When I hear that guy's name, I immediately think of a
man who eats breathes etc., etc., etc. Mellotrons. He sunk
everything he had financially and every minute of his waking life
making damn sure Mellotrons would not die. This is evident in the
flurry of new recordings that feature Mellotron that I noticed
upwelling about eight years ago and is still rising today. He
secured the masters, the parts, a number of various makes and models
(see Driveway Full Of Mellotrons in the photo section here) along
with related machines like a Birotron, a solonoid fired Chamberlin,
and other toy-to-antique keyboards. The only income he had when I
met him twelve years ago was from playing in a bar band on the
weekends and getting a stipend from renting out karaoke machines.
Later on, I know he was real conscious about lining up quality
manufacturers to assemble racks, cut high quality recording tape to
the precision width, upgrade the amps, the servo motors, capstans,
heads, etc., and make sturdy repros from high quality woods to make
them as close to solid state and durable as they can get.

Dropping just about everything to start something as ambitious at
the Audities Foundation and fill it with the quivver of collectable
keyboards (and keep them alive and well) as Kean and crew has done
is about as dedicated as any headstrong troupe can get.