Mellotronists

Well, Clay, you've got two problems here. One is that Ray Thomas is a
bad
flutist. Ian Anderson was not bad. Gabriel, well...he put on a hell of a

show. Would these songs have benefited from a better flutist? Have you
heard
the Genesis Revisited or Hackett's Tokyo Tapes stuff? Ian McD makes a
HUGE
difference to the Genesis songs.

In 'ITWOP', 'Epitaph' and the 'Rain Song', the keyboard parts are not
difficult and are played VERY well. Just because you're a great session
player doesn't mean you have to race all over the damn instrument. As a
matter of fact, the players most in demand are the ones who keep it
simple
(Benmont Tench, anyone?). On the other hand, the flute pieces you
mentioned
are simple (with the exception of 'Thick as a Brick') and are played
poorly.

Don't confuse good playing with difficult playing. Many of the best
pieces
are simple to play, but nonetheless deserve to be played well.

Rick

PS Did I mention that Ray Thomas is a bad flutist?

ceccles_ca wrote:

> --- In Mellotronists@y..., Rick Blechta <rick@r...> wrote:
> "...most rock players (especially) figure if that can make a bit of a
> whistle and wiggle their fingers around a bit, they know what they're
> doing..."
>
> The point is... A lot of our favorite tunes with flute wouldn't have
> been better songs if played by a great flautist.  Songs like "Timothy
> Leary", "The Actor","Are You Sitting Comfortably","Thick as a
> Brick","Firth of Fifth".... None of this material would have
> benefited if a "great session Flautist" had been brought in.  (IMHO).
>
> Would "ITWOP", "Epitaph" or "The Rain Song" been better if a session
> keyboard wizard was brought in?
>
> Clay