Mellotronists

Hi gang!

I've had so many questions from people--non-mellotron people, that is--about our favourite topic that I've put up a page on my site designed to give enough information in one short burst to satisfy their questions. Also, at the bottom of the page is something a bit new, as well, since I put up shots of the various artists who played on the new voices we recorded here in Toronto almost two years back now. (It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)

Anyway, check out http://rickblechta.com and look for the link to "mellotron" if you have the inclination, and let me know what you think.

Cheers!

Rick (SFX 10030--Hey, bozo! You didn't tell them there are some shots of me on your damned page!)


Hey! You!
Check out my website. rickblechta.com
It’s really great. Trust me…

(It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)

Jon E Salley
MiloJohnson@...
M400 #886

Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3 violins, is actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I believe, for his new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via Bill Fransen who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used for the new mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did not belong to Mr Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron violins went on to, the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of the music which was created using this sound! What no one knew was that Harry had hired 3 middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers to record the notes.

Life is full of small ironies, isn't it?

Cheers!

Rick

JS wrote:

"Lawrence Welk violinists?????????" This is an apparently new detail. Any more information about that, and the provenance of the information?

(It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)

Jon E Salley
MiloJohnson@...
M400 #886

Hi again
Lovers of Lawrence Welk may find some interest here:
http://www.oeta.onenet.net/welkrelease.html

and after some delay I have more to come on the Birotron saga,
I've found 2 and a half, and a rebuild project is underway........piccys,
replys to earlier postings and general chit chat will follow over the
next week end, sorry it's been so long!)

Nic

At 19:22 26/02/02 -0500, Rick Blechta wrote:

>Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3 violins,
>is actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I believe, for
>his new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via Bill
>Fransen who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used for the
>new mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did not belong
>to Mr Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron violins went
>on to, the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of the music which
>was created using this sound! What no one knew was that Harry had hired 3
>middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers to record
>the notes.
>
>Life is full of small ironies, isn't it?
>
>Cheers!
>
>Rick
>
>JS wrote:
>>"Lawrence Welk violinists?????????" This is an apparently new
>>detail. Any more information about that, and the provenance of the
>>information?
>>>
>>>(It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk
>>>violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)

The part of the story I get a kick out of is the noise of the women shifting around in their chairs as they played the notes. I think someone else pointed that out on the list, wasn't that you Martin? I was just playing some serious sounding chords, using MKII strings/brass, and occasionally I'd hear the odd click or two. Can't help but chuckle at that point, thinking about the Lawrence Welk ladies and their clacking chairs. Probably voicing their disapproval at what I'm doing with their recordings ;-).

Ken M.


In a message dated 02/26/2002 7:25:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, rblechta@... writes:

Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3 violins, is actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I believe, for his new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via Bill Fransen who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used for the new mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did not belong to Mr Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron violins went on to, the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of the music which was created using this sound! What no one knew was that Harry had hired 3 middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers to record the notes. Life is full of small ironies, isn't it? Cheers! Rick JS wrote:

"Lawrence Welk violinists?????????" This is an apparently new detail. Any more information about that, and the provenance of the information?

(It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)

Jon E Salley
MiloJohnson@...
M400 #886


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On the Chamberlin Flute recordings, I hear
the sound of trucks rumbling by outside.
... and I am sure there is a cat meow on
one of the tapes.

Clay

--- In Mellotronists@y..., kenmerb@a... wrote:
>
> The part of the story I get a kick out of is the noise of the
women
> shifting around in their chairs as they played the notes. I think
someone
> else pointed that out on the list, wasn't that you Martin? I was
just
> playing some serious sounding chords, using MKII strings/brass, and
> occasionally I'd hear the odd click or two. Can't help but chuckle
at that
> point, thinking about the Lawrence Welk ladies and their clacking
chairs.
> Probably voicing their disapproval at what I'm doing with their
recordings
> ;-).
>
> Ken M.
>
>
> In a message dated 02/26/2002 7:25:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> rblechta@s... writes:
>
> >
> > Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3
violins, is
> > actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I
believe, for his
> > new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via Bill
Fransen
> > who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used for the
new
> > mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did not
belong to Mr
> > Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron violins
went on to,
> > the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of the music
which was
> > created using this sound! What no one knew was that Harry had
hired 3
> > middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers
to record
> > the notes. Life is full of small ironies, isn't it? Cheers! Rick
JS wrote:
> > >> "Lawrence Welk violinists?????????" This is an apparently new
detail.
> >> Any more information about that, and the provenance of the
information?
> >> >>> (It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence
Welk
> >>> violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't
it?)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Jon E Salley
> >>> <A HREF="mailto:MiloJohnson@p...">MiloJohnson@p...</A>
> >>> M400 #886
> >>>
> >>
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> > ADVERTISEMENT
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> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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