Mellotronists

In a message dated 2/13/03 4:34:53 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
capt_carbonarc@... writes:


> So perhaps a mind immeasurably superior to mine can answer this:  
> Supposedly the first song that Pinder used the 'tron was "Love and 
> Beauty" however, I have yet to identify the instrument that was the 
> lead in the short solo section of "Boulevard de La Madeleine".  All 
> the pre-Hayward/Lodge Moodies stuff featured the piano but this
> sounds more like an organ and a very distorted one at that but even 
> so, it doesn't sound quite like an organ....any thoughts?

Don't know about the first part, but let me offer this:  First, I realized I 
don't have a copy of "Boulevard" (how in hell did that happen?) so I can't 
give a direct opinion on what the solo instrument is.  I can tell you this 
(taken from the full transcript of my interview with Mr. Pinder) - The MkII 
was still a dream, a desire, a yen, an obsession with Mike at the time he 
re-formed the band, however, he did not actually acquire one until after the 
solidification of the Hayward-Lodge lineup), Moodies, MkII, and he did 
reference "Love and Beauty" as the first using one.  By that admission and 
timeline, it would appear that "Boulevard" is something other than Mellotron. 
 Perhaps there was one collecting dust in the corner of the studio at the 
time of the recording.  A memory lapse, perhaps?  Mike did say that no one 
kept track of these things back then, and who would ever think that after all 
these years there'd be a group of frustrated, wanna-be Pinder/Wakemans with 
OCD and schizotypal tendencies who desperately need to get a life asking such 
questions!  That shoots to hell the notion that there is a "mind immeasurable 
superior" within this group.

Frank Samagaio
M400 #908
author, The Mellotron Book