Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: The Mellotron Group

Their new keyboardist is using a Memotron in his rig. But still...it was Mike's "cosmic spirituality" that really shaped the first 7 albums. You can replace him with another guy wwith a tron but not that psychedelic spirit.

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "tron400" <tron400@...> wrote:
>
> You have some juicy tidbits for the group, Martin?
>
> Bernie
>
> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, tronbros@ wrote:
> >
> > When you distill the Moodies down, you have an astonishingly good
> > songwriter in Hayward, a good songwriter in Pinder and a sound the two of them
> > masterminded. The rest are not so talented but the sum of parts produced
> > albums that I loved. The myth is greater than the truth. They got away with it
> > live but the limitations revealed how produced the albums were. We spoke
> > with Tony Clarke and he told us some revelations that would flatten the
> > die-hard fan. And Lodge is a hideous songwriter most of the time.
> >
> > M
> >
> > Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
> > www.mellotronics.co.uk
> > NEW for iPad!
> > MELLOTRONICS M3000HD
> > US Sales East: Jimmy Moore (http://JMoore6397@/)
> > US Sales West: Paul Cox (http://pjc56@/)
> > myspace.com/chloesmithmusic
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 01/06/2011 06:58:58 GMT Daylight Time,
> > unobtainiumkeys@ writes:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I think the problem was between Graham and Mike back when Mike left in 78,
> > but the others were not happy with Pinder remaining in LA. anyway.
> >
> >
> > At this point it makes almost no difference though. The Mellotron is long
> > gone, Mike is not writing or performing with them, and Ray is now gone and
> > his replacement is a young girl flute player - nowhere near the talent,
> > presence or feel that Ray had contributed.
> >
> > It's nice for them to carry on the way they do, but it isn't the same.
> > It's more like a cabaret version of them. I'll stick to the original records
> > when I want to hear them.
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 10:10 AM, john barrick <_barrickjohn262@_
> > (mailto:barrickjohn262@) > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Sorry - if whatever the deal is between Mike and Justin was going to get
> > patched up, it would have happened by now, and that's why I'll never see the
> > Moodies.
> > john
> >
> >
> > PS - I find the idea of Mr. Edge dancing at all to be very disconcerting.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 7:15 PM, Ms. Janet Strauss
> > <_jandjstrz@_ (mailto:jandjstrz@) > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike Pinder.
> > Yeah………………IF only.
> > I might actually get out and see them again in that case.
> > Would like to see him just play the oldies, rather than watch Graeme dance
> > to Higher and Higher.
> > Ughhhhh.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) [mailto:_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ] On Behalf Of David Jacques
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 8:59 AM
> > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> >
> >
> >
> > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: MOODY BLUES voices EEEEEK
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > They sound great for their age... Still miss Mike...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On May 30, 2011, at 10:42 PM, Bruce Daily wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks. That was very good.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Bruce D.
> >
> >
> >
> > --- On Mon, 5/30/11, Ms. Janet Strauss <_jandjstrz@_
> > (mailto:jandjstrz@) > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Ms. Janet Strauss <_jandjstrz@_
> > (mailto:jandjstrz@) >
> > Subject: RE: [newmellotrongroup] Re: MOODY BLUES voices EEEEEK
> > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> > Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 8:05 PM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > They sounded pretty good here…acoustic guitar in hand.
> > Almost unplugged.
> > Background vocals tad subdued…but ok.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Music starts at 1:50
> >
> > _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98vekNwqpIg&feature=related_
> > (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98vekNwqpIg&feature=related)
> >
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) [_mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ] On Behalf Of Charles
> > Sent: Monday, May 30, 2011 9:20 AM
> > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> > Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: MOODY BLUES voices EEEEEK
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > It wouldn't be that difficult to get Justin, John, Ray, and Mike to record
> > the notes (as far as their range could go), auto-tune them, and layer them
> > into some awesome Moodies samples. They wouldn't even have to be in the
> > same room...Mike could do his at home.
> > Okay Martin, how about it? :)
> >
> > --- In _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) , "tron400" <tron400@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Since they've been using professional backup singers for years now,
> > their live vocals are just fine.
> > >
> > > Bernie
> > >
> > > --- In _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) , Bruce Daily
> > <pocotron@> wrote:
> > > >
> >
> >
> > > > Ā Yeah, they wereĀ vocally out of tune in concert.Ā Their studio
> > brilliance sure didn't come through on stage (for theĀ most part).Ā It was
> > too bad Justin Hayward didn't use an acoustic guitar live once in a while.Ā
> > Mic systems weren't great for acoustic instrumentsĀ back then.Ā They
> > sure could've used some vocal coaching.Ā I saw them in 1981 (with Moraz),
> > and the vocals were just as bad, and JH was still all electric.Ā I bet
> > they had some good nights, though.
> >
> > > > Ā Ā I wonder if they use Autotune live now.Ā I hate the current
> > constant misuse of Autotune as a vocal effect, but, hadĀ it been available then
> > Ā it could've helped the old Moodies.
> >
> > > > Ā
> > > > Ā -Bruce D.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- On Sun, 5/29/11, Ms. Janet Strauss <jandjstrz@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > From: Ms. Janet Strauss <jandjstrz@>
> > > > Subject: RE: [newmellotrongroup] MOODY BLUES voices EEEEEK
> > > > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> > > > Date: Sunday, May 29, 2011, 5:44 PM
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ā€¦heh heh.
> > > > Ā
> > > > You mean, Ā like at the 1:05 mark in this vidā€¦ā€¦..?Ā LOL
> > > > Ā
> >
> > > > _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY9msQztHSI_
> > (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY9msQztHSI)
> > > > Ā
> >
> > > > Ray sure gets into it ā€¦.physicallyā€¦ā€¦and the ā€ Tron sounds ok
> > ā€¦
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > > Jim
> > > > Ā
> > > > Ā
> >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> > [mailto:_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ] On Behalf Of john barrick
> > > > Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2011 7:35 PM
> > > > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> > > > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] MOODY BLUES voices
> > > > Ā
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> > > > It must have been considered. Ā Just listen to any of their live
> > performances and not cringe when Lodge cuts loose with those descant falsettos
> > that overpower Hayward's leads.Ā
> >
> > > >
> > > > john
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, May 29, 2011 at 6:10 PM, Bruce Daily <pocotron@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi all-
> > > >
> >
> > > > Ā Maybe Mike Pinder resisted the idea of using aĀ 'Tron or Chamby
> > choir when it became available.Ā The Moodies were known for their vocal
> > harmonies.Ā Would the group have resented the use ofĀ pre-recorded vocals
> > over their own?Ā I wonder if the idea was ever brought up.Ā If so,Ā maybe
> > they considered recording their own vocals for the 'Tron.
> >
> > > >
> > > > Ā It's ask an ex-Moodie time, I guess.
> > > >
> >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > > Ā Pondering-
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> >
> > > > Ā Ā -Bruce D.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- On Sat, 5/28/11, Chris Dale <unobtainiumkeys@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > From: Chris Dale <unobtainiumkeys@>
> > > > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] MOODY BLUES voices
> > > > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> > > > Date: Saturday, May 28, 2011, 11:12 PM
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> > > > I don't think the idea was given serious consideration because both
> > the Mellotron and Chamberlin were thought of as ' home organ' type units
> > doing big band music largely. The Chamberlin 'Voices' are only a single Female
> > and single Male - not quite a choir until the two sounds are put togetherĀ
> > which is what happened on the M1 model.
> >
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > > The idea was first advertised in the late 60's on Chamberlin brochures
> > but only as 'voices' and not as a choir. The Mellotron really nailed the
> > choir sound.
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 8:23 AM, Charles <charel196@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I was always surprised Mike Pinder never used any choirs with the
> > Moodies, or had the band members do Mellotron tapes. Imagine Justin, John, Ray,
> > and Mike making vocal tapes for that massed "OM" effect or the backing
> > ahhhs on Melancholy Man....a missed opportunity.
> > > > If Harry did the solo voices in the 50s and Mellotron used Music
> > Masters as a guide, why didn't Mellotron add human voices to their units until
> > the M400?
> > > > Ā
> > > > Ā
> > > >
> > >
> >
>