Mellotronists

Now that I've got your attention...
After seeing a fun little video clip on the web site of Mike Keneally 
playing at the "Museum of Making Music's" fifth anniversary, I decided 
to pay this museum a visit last weekend since I was in the area 
visiting (Carlsbad, CA [USA]).  I hoped but didn't think I'd actually 
see a 'tron inside, but low and behold, they had an M400 that had been 
cut in half, supposedly by original owner, (as the tour guide explained 
it) Karen Carpenter!  He said she cut it in half so that she could fit 
it in the trunk of her car.  As the story goes, she "toured" with it 
for awhile and eventually decided she didn't need it (or it didn't need 
her) so she took it back to the store where she bought it and asked 
what they'd give her for it.  He says the told her they'd give her half 
of her money back, since she only brought half of the mellotron back.  
(This might have only been a retired volunteer's dry attempt at humor.)

I had my camera phone with me so I took a picture of the plaque, but 
unfortunately didn't think to take a picture of the full tron (what's 
left of it).  But according to the plaque, after the Carpenters ditched 
it, it was sold to Michael Lloyd, a studio musician, who used it on 
tracks by The Monkeys, the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, Belinda Carlisle 
and Donny and Marie Osmond tune.  This tron truly has been through 
hell.

In case you want to visit:
http://www.museumofmakingmusic.org/
(and get a better picture!)

JimA/m400#680

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Jim Anderson" <jimanderson@...>
To: <mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 8:05 AM
Subject: [Mellotronists] Are The Carpenters prog?


>   Now that I've got your attention...
> After seeing a fun little video clip on the web site of Mike Keneally
> playing at the "Museum of Making Music's" fifth anniversary, I decided
> to pay this museum a visit last weekend since I was in the area
> visiting (Carlsbad, CA [USA]).  I hoped but didn't think I'd actually
> see a 'tron inside, but low and behold, they had an M400 that had been
> cut in half, supposedly by original owner, (as the tour guide explained
> it) Karen Carpenter!  He said she cut it in half so that she could fit
> it in the trunk of her car.  As the story goes, she "toured" with it
> for awhile and eventually decided she didn't need it (or it didn't need
> her) so she took it back to the store where she bought it and asked
> what they'd give her for it.  He says the told her they'd give her half
> of her money back, since she only brought half of the mellotron back.
> (This might have only been a retired volunteer's dry attempt at humor.)

Jim

Er, what *exactly* did she do to it? Unlike a Hammond, I can't think of any
way you could 'split' a 'Tron and get a useable instrument out of it!

Andy T.

Hey, all!
     I was also at the Museum of Making Music recently
(visiting Carlsbad as well) and delighted in seeing
the Carpenter's half-'tron.  Maybe I can shed a bit of
light on the situation.  As it turns out, the museum's
"curators" were a touch loose on a lot of things
there.
     The tape frame was removed and the unit was cut
at the point where the top of the removable front
panel meets the body of the 'Tron.  The bottom half of
the cabinet and the two panels were discarded.  The
power supply/preamp was then bolted to the inside-back
of the unit, further up inside.  The motor panel was
cut and fitted with wingnuts so it could be removed
and refitted at will.  The 'tron is now around 12"
tall. The tapes/motor would travel in a case.
     For use, the unit would be propped on either side
(by road cases or some kind of makeshift legs) and the
tape-frame replaced along with the motor.  And there
it is, the Carpenters Chop-a-tron.  It does cut the
space the unit takes up by half and I have seen folks
do it 'trons before, with much success.
     It is currently displayed without the tape-frame
or motor.  The keyboard looks suspiciously new (?!?).
Happy chopping!
-Jack Younger  

--- Jim Anderson <jimanderson@...> wrote:
>   Now that I've got your attention...
> After seeing a fun little video clip on the web site
> of Mike Keneally 
> playing at the "Museum of Making Music's" fifth
> anniversary, I decided 
> to pay this museum a visit last weekend since I was
> in the area 
> visiting (Carlsbad, CA [USA]).  I hoped but didn't
> think I'd actually 
> see a 'tron inside, but low and behold, they had an
> M400 that had been 
> cut in half, supposedly by original owner, (as the
> tour guide explained 
> it) Karen Carpenter!  He said she cut it in half so
> that she could fit 
> it in the trunk of her car.  As the story goes, she
> "toured" with it 
> for awhile and eventually decided she didn't need it
> (or it didn't need 
> her) so she took it back to the store where she
> bought it and asked 
> what they'd give her for it.  He says the told her
> they'd give her half 
> of her money back, since she only brought half of
> the mellotron back.  
> (This might have only been a retired volunteer's dry
> attempt at humor.)
> 
> I had my camera phone with me so I took a picture of
> the plaque, but 
> unfortunately didn't think to take a picture of the
> full tron (what's 
> left of it).  But according to the plaque, after the
> Carpenters ditched 
> it, it was sold to Michael Lloyd, a studio musician,
> who used it on 
> tracks by The Monkeys, the Dirty Dancing soundtrack,
> Belinda Carlisle 
> and Donny and Marie Osmond tune.  This tron truly
> has been through 
> hell.
> 
> In case you want to visit:
> http://www.museumofmakingmusic.org/
> (and get a better picture!)
> 
> JimA/m400#680
> 
> 

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I find, after repeated listening, that the Carpenters are only slightly  less 
prog than Herman's Hermits. Anyone care to comment?
 
Frank Stickle (heading first thing in the morning to introduce my Mellotron  
to a saws-all)

> From: Jim Anderson <jimanderson@...>
   > Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 00:05:49 -0700
   > Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Are The Carpenters prog?
   > 
   >   Now that I've got your attention...

Well, they did cover Klaatu's "Calling Occupants of Interplanatery Craft".

:-)

   -- Don

-- 
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California
don@...
http://www.till.com

In all seriousness, I am a Carpenters fan and was seriously disapointed 
with the 30th year retrospective that featured many "remixes" that 
Richard Carpenter produced. For the most part, the remixes were awful. 
He triggered alternate, more contemporary drum sounds off the original 
recordings. Not only were the sounds way to big for the rest of the 
arrangement, there was no time correction...just awful.\ufffd
\ufffd
\ufffdI do believe Herman's Hermits were more prog than The Carpenters just 
by their association with their producer, John Paul Jones, if I'm not 
mistaken\ufffd
\ufffd
fd\ufffd
\ufffd

-----Original Message-----
From: lsf5275@...
To: e4103s@...; jimanderson@...; mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 21:57:06 EDT
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Are The Carpenters prog?

       I find, after repeated listening, that the Carpenters are only 
slightly less prog than Herman's Hermits. Anyone care to comment?
 \ufffd
  Frank Stickle (heading first thing in the morning to introduce my 
Mellotron to a saws-all)

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In a message dated 4/30/2005 11:01:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
fdoddy@... writes:

> In all seriousness, I am a Carpenters fan and was seriously disapointed 
> with the 30th year retrospective that featured many "remixes" that 
> Richard Carpenter produced. For the most part, the remixes were awful. 
> He triggered alternate, more contemporary drum sounds off the original 
> recordings. Not only were the sounds way to big for the rest of the 
> arrangement, there was no time correction...just awful. 
> 

Carpenters prog?

I believe that the Carpenters did a version of Klaatu's "Calling 
Occupants...", the original containing nice mellotron flutes and 3-violins.  Not sure 
about the Carpenters version, probably no 'Tron there, but I always liked that 
song, as did the Carpenters, apparently.

I recently saw a Jethro Tull tribute band, and the "Ian Anderson" guy started 
talking between songs about drummers who should be in the Rock 'n Roll Hall 
of Fame, and he mentioned Karen Carpenter and Sandy Duncan.  People thought he 
was joking and laughed, he mumbled something like "well that's my opinion 
anyway, who gives a rat's ass....", so apparently he was serious.

I guess musical influences come from all over.


Ken M.