Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists

Right after reading the topic yesterday I jumped in my car &
drived down to Cologne to get this record (I have a japanese vinyl
pressing and enjoy it since more than 20 years and was VERY
concious how the alternative takes would sound). The complete
CD is beautiful made, the booklet, the notes, packaging etc. &
the sound is definatly more precise in details. The "intro"-section
to "The Revealing Science of God" was the first big surprise. I
only miss notes about the fact why it has been left on the original
record. The alternative take of "The Ancient" is... weird. Its such a
"skeleton" version of the song that even for me the guitar/vox
often doesn't really fit to drums/bass/keys. Maybe this take was
obviously not played exactly enough (regarding the timings) that
it was never intended to be used. Or are the overdubs
neccassary to understand the musical idea??? I'am not sure...
The other alternative take (TRSoG) is much closer. Nice to hear
that Jon Anderson sang the "deeper" voice through the whole
song, never switched between the voices. The complete piano is
overdubbed. The piano bits often makes the song a bit more
"spicy" IMHO.
And the Mellotron... sound only a bit more dry. Otherwise it's very
close to the final version.

Thanks for this interesting hint. I also bought "Relayer". Nice
price (the single CD = 12 Euros).

Thomas
(# 1018 & his keyboarded friends: waiting in the rehearsing
room for tomorrow evening)