Mellotronists

None. It's been an entire week, and nothing new to report--but:

I just happened to be listening to an old Deep Purple album, and 
caught "Anthem" from the second LP, "Book of Talesyn" released in 
December, 1968. It's the only Mellotron Jon Lord ever played with the 
band. Light strings is all. I always wondered why such a fantastic 
hit like "Black Night" was so big in Europe, but was never released 
on an album besides an import greatest hits package, and was unknown 
in the States. I would think it would have wound up on Deep Purple In 
Rock...after all, the single's flip did. What a turnaround--when 
their first three stateside LP's were huge here in the USA and 
relatively unknown in their homeland. Hmmmm--come to think of 
it "Shakin' All Over" never made a Guess Who best of either. Must be 
an RCA inclusive thing.

Sad about Wooly Wolstenholme...the double live BJH has such a heavy 
dose of his Mellotron prowess in particular, but over the Holidays, I 
pulled out the first four albums and listened to them again after 
what seems to be at least two decades of gathering dust.

I remember being asked if Keith Emerson ever played Mellotron--and I 
said that he had not, but upon reading recent commentary here, I had 
completely overlooked his contribution with The Nice. Doh!

And another rediscovery is the incredible cover of "Losing My 
Religion" from Slowdive--so lush, seraph and gorgeous with simple, 
yet strong deep and dark M-400 strings for the last two 
minutes...I've heard their first two CD's from around ten years ago, 
but I believe this particular R.E.M. cover was originally on one of 
those "Sounds Like Plastic" compilations...The group is basically a 
shoegaze band (Creation UK, SBK in the USA) akin to maybe Cocteau 
Twins or Cranes, but have some beautiful extruded moments--no mention 
of keyboards even being played. At least I was able to lift it from 
the days of Napster when I couldn't find the compilation it was on.