The Mellotron Group

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lane - 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lan...

View on www.youtube.com

Preview by Yahoo

 

This is the best video I have found of Woolly playing, I only wish they had shown more of him playing.

Mark

_

 

Hi Pete,

My favourite album is BJH Live 1974 and it is the only one I would whole heartedly recommend. The youtube clip is taken from the video of the same concert. Apart from Mockingbird, She said, Galadriel and Medicine Man are standout mellotron performances in my opinion. The album is on Youtube  as a sound only recording and the there are several other song clips from the video available there as well.

I found most of the studio albums disappointing. They were one of the local groups when I was a lad and I saw them half a dozen times between 1971 and 1975, the mellotron only broke down once. I thought they were very good live particularly if they didn't have the orchestra with them!

Woolly's mellotron arrangements then seem much more interesting than in later years, as he added more keyboards to his set up he didn't seem to take as much trouble with them. In the early days the tron was all he had and the arrangements were much better to my ears.

After 1974 they moved to a more AOR type sound and I lost interest.

Of the studio albums I think "Once again" and "And other short stories" are worth a listen. The mellotron is much less to the fore however. The live sound is the one that has been my obsession for over 40 years. Listening to Woolly's later performances with BJH and Maestoso I am convinced you need an M300 to get it. When Woolly uses the M300a tapes in an M400 it sounds just the same as mine.

I should have got an M300 selected the M300a violins and never changed stations again!

Cheers

Mark

From: "marabus marabus@charter.net [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 4 January 2015 11:14 PM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Mark,

Thanks for sharing. Great song and Mellotron. I never really got into BJH.What album would be a good place to start?

Pete

On 1/4/15 1:31 AM, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] wrote:

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lane - 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lan...

View on www.youtube.com

Preview by Yahoo

 

This is the best video I have found of Woolly playing, I only wish they had shown more of him playing.

Mark

_

I, particularly love, Once Again from the Harvest years and Everyone is Everybody Else from the Polygram era, both for strong Tron presence. As a matter of fact, Harvest has issued a triple CD, very cheap, with all the BJH in the vaults. Worthwhile.

Roberto

To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 05:14:00 -0500
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Mark,

Thanks for sharing. Great song and Mellotron. I never really got into BJH.What album would be a good place to start?

Pete

Hi Pete,

My favourite album is BJH Live 1974 and it is the only one I would whole heartedly recommend. The youtube clip is taken from the video of the same concert. Apart from Mockingbird, She said, Galadriel and Medicine Man are standout mellotron performances in my opinion. The album is on Youtube  as a sound only recording and the there are several other song clips from the video available there as well.

I found most of the studio albums disappointing. They were one of the local groups when I was a lad and I saw them half a dozen times between 1971 and 1975, the mellotron only broke down once. I thought they were very good live particularly if they didn't have the orchestra with them!

Woolly's mellotron arrangements then seem much more interesting than in later years, as he added more keyboards to his set up he didn't seem to take as much trouble with them. In the early days the tron was all he had and the arrangements were much better to my ears.

After 1974 they moved to a more AOR type sound and I lost interest.

Of the studio albums I think "Once again" and "And other short stories" are worth a listen. The mellotron is much less to the fore however. The live sound is the one that has been my obsession for over 40 years. Listening to Woolly's later performances with BJH and Maestoso I am convinced you need an M300 to get it. When Woolly uses the M300a tapes in an M400 it sounds just the same as mine.

I should have got an M300 selected the M300a violins and never changed stations again!

Cheers

Mark

From: "marabus marabus@charter.net [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 4 January 2015 11:14 PM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Mark,

Thanks for sharing. Great song and Mellotron. I never really got into BJH.What album would be a good place to start?

Pete

 

The M300 keyboard is "split", but as far as I know, you can't simultaneously have strings and brass without custom tapes.

Bernie

 

I Think there are two parts to the cycling too…so it would be possible to vary the two different sounds or a rhythm track

On Jan 6, 2015, at 8:41 AM, Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Thanks Bernie.

I'm pretty sure I hear mk2 brass. As we know, Woolly had a great relationship with Streetly, so maybe he did have custom tapes made. Martin?

Andy K

Sent from my iPad

On 6 Jan 2015, at 13:21, "tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

The M300 keyboard is "split", but as far as I know, you can't simultaneously have strings and brass without custom tapes.

Bernie

 

Hi Martin,

Do you mean an M400? I thought Woolly had a Mark II before the M300 in the late 1960's. They initially hired it then bought it for next to nothing. I think it was used in the early singles and perhaps the first album. This was the tron that got pushed down at flight of stairs allegedly.

Mark

From: "tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

I've missed this thread but Woolly never had custom tapes in any of his MKIIs or M300s. Custom tapes were never available for these instruments until we started recording them about 12 years ago. Woolly did have a MKII mid 70s which he used but not extensively and only for one album, maybe X1.

 

M

 

mellotronics.com

1963 - 2013 The 50th anniversary of the mellotron

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 13:41
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Thanks Bernie.

I'm pretty sure I hear mk2 brass. As we know, Woolly had a great relationship with Streetly, so maybe he did have custom tapes made. Martin?

Andy K

Sent from my iPad

On 6 Jan 2015, at 13:21, "tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

The M300 keyboard is "split", but as far as I know, you can't simultaneously have strings and brass without custom tapes.

Bernie

 

Thanks Martin, I wonder why he wanted a Mark II and an M300. Was the station switching less dangerous on the Mark II? :)

From: "Martin tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongrou p]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: "newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Hi Mark

Woolly bought another during the mid 70s which was at his home in Greenfield. It was only used briefly.

Best

M

Mellotronics.com on my iPad

Celebrating 51 years of mellotrons

On 6 Jan 2015, at 18:33, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongro up@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hi Martin,

Do you mean an M400? I thought Woolly had a Mark II before the M300 in the late 1960's. They initially hired it then bought it for next to nothing. I think it was used in the early singles and perhaps the first album. This was the tron that got pushed down at flight of stairs allegedly.

Mark

From: "tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

I've missed this thread but Woolly never had custom tapes in any of his MKIIs or M300s. Custom tapes were never available for these instruments until we started recording them about 12 years ago. Woolly did have a MKII mid 70s which he used but not extensively and only for one album, maybe X1.

 

M

 

mellotronics.com

1963 - 2013 The 50th anniversary of the mellotron

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 13:41
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Thanks Bernie.

I'm pretty sure I hear mk2 brass. As we know, Woolly had a great relationship with Streetly, so maybe he did have custom tapes made. Martin?

Andy K

Sent from my iPad

On 6 Jan 2015, at 13:21, "tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

The M300 keyboard is "split", but as far as I know, you can't simultaneously have strings and brass without custom tapes.

Bernie

On Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:14:00 -0800, marabus marabus@charter.net [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Mark,

Thanks for sharing. Great song and Mellotron. I never really got into BJH.What album would be a good place to start?

Pete

On 1/4/15 1:31 AM, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] wrote:

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lane - 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lan...

View on www.youtube.com

Preview by Yahoo

 

This is the best video I have found of Woolly playing, I only wish they had shown more of him playing.

Mark

_

--

 

Mark -

Ahhhh, that was heartbreakingly beautiful. I needed that.

Thanks....

Vance

--
____
On Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:14:00 -0800, marabus marabus@charter.net [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Mark,

Thanks for sharing. Great song and Mellotron. I never really got into BJH.What album would be a good place to start?

Pete

On 1/4/15 1:31 AM, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] wrote:

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lane - 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lan...

View on www.youtube.com

Preview by Yahoo

 

This is the best video I have found of Woolly playing, I only wish they had shown more of him playing.

Mark

_

--

 

I love this album, the m300 violin still give me goosebumps after 43 years from first hearing them and goodness knows how many plays on tape, vinyl and ram.

From: "'vance@juniperpacific.com' vance@juniperpacific.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 4:20 PM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Mark -

Ahhhh, that was heartbreakingly beautiful. I needed that.

Thanks....

Vance

--
____
On Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:14:00 -0800, marabus marabus@charter.net [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Mark,

Thanks for sharing. Great song and Mellotron. I never really got into BJH.What album would be a good place to start?

Pete

On 1/4/15 1:31 AM, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] wrote:

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lane - 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird - Live at Drury Lan...

View on www.youtube.com

Preview by Yahoo

 

This is the best video I have found of Woolly playing, I only wish they had shown more of him playing.

Mark

_

--

 

The choir did not appear until the the M400 was manufactured. Most of the MK II library was re-equed for the M400.

Wooly did have a vinyl covered M400 model. There's even a picture of it on the inside of the 1977  'Live Tapes' album. 

If Norm is still on this list, I think he could answer more questions about it.

On Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 10:45 PM, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hi Martin,

I read somewhere, Planet Mellotron I think, that Woolly never changed stations on the M300 to avoid tape mangling. He seldom seemed to use any other sound than violins. There is an early  BBC recording of the "Swansea Song" which features clarinet, certainly on Ra which is much later he uses the 8 choir so I assume this was from the Mark II.

Is it it true that he avoided changing stations? Did the M300 really not have the choir?

Cheers

Mark

From: "Martin tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: "newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 12:34 PM

Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

They had different sounds. Variety!

M

Mellotronics.com on my iPad

Celebrating 51 years of mellotrons

On 6 Jan 2015, at 20:37, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Thanks Martin, I wonder why he wanted a Mark II and an M300. Was the station switching less dangerous on the Mark II? :)

From: "Martin tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongrou p]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: "newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Hi Mark

Woolly bought another during the mid 70s which was at his home in Greenfield. It was only used briefly.

Best

M

Mellotronics.com on my iPad

Celebrating 51 years of mellotrons

On 6 Jan 2015, at 18:33, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongro up@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hi Martin,

Do you mean an M400? I thought Woolly had a Mark II before the M300 in the late 1960's. They initially hired it then bought it for next to nothing. I think it was used in the early singles and perhaps the first album. This was the tron that got pushed down at flight of stairs allegedly.

Mark

From: "tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

I've missed this thread but Woolly never had custom tapes in any of his MKIIs or M300s. Custom tapes were never available for these instruments until we started recording them about 12 years ago. Woolly did have a MKII mid 70s which he used but not extensively and only for one album, maybe X1.

 

M

 

mellotronics.com

1963 - 2013 The 50th anniversary of the mellotron

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 13:41
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Thanks Bernie.

I'm pretty sure I hear mk2 brass. As we know, Woolly had a great relationship with Streetly, so maybe he did have custom tapes made. Martin?

Andy K

Sent from my iPad

On 6 Jan 2015, at 13:21, "tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

The M300 keyboard is "split", but as far as I know, you can't simultaneously have strings and brass without custom tapes.

Bernie

Trying not to be churlish but ALL or most of this info. is out there. You can find MKI, MKII and M300 sounds listed and that answers what has been asked. 

M

Mellotronics.com on my iPad

Celebrating 51 years of mellotrons

On 7 Jan 2015, at 07:15, Chris Dale unobtainiumkeys@gmail.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

The choir did not appear until the the M400 was manufactured. Most of the MK II library was re-equed for the M400.

Wooly did have a vinyl covered M400 model. There's even a picture of it on the inside of the 1977  'Live Tapes' album. 

If Norm is still on this list, I think he could answer more questions about it.

On Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 10:45 PM, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hi Martin,

I read somewhere, Planet Mellotron I think, that Woolly never changed stations on the M300 to avoid tape mangling. He seldom seemed to use any other sound than violins. There is an early  BBC recording of the "Swansea Song" which features clarinet, certainly on Ra which is much later he uses the 8 choir so I assume this was from the Mark II.

Is it it true that he avoided changing stations? Did the M300 really not have the choir?

Cheers

Mark

From: "Martin tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: "newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 12:34 PM

Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

They had different sounds. Variety!

M

Mellotronics.com on my iPad

Celebrating 51 years of mellotrons

On 6 Jan 2015, at 20:37, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Thanks Martin, I wonder why he wanted a Mark II and an M300. Was the station switching less dangerous on the Mark II? :)

From: "Martin tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongrou p]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: "newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Hi Mark

Woolly bought another during the mid 70s which was at his home in Greenfield. It was only used briefly.

Best

M

Mellotronics.com on my iPad

Celebrating 51 years of mellotrons

On 6 Jan 2015, at 18:33, Mark Pring markpringnz@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongro up@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hi Martin,

Do you mean an M400? I thought Woolly had a Mark II before the M300 in the late 1960's. They initially hired it then bought it for next to nothing. I think it was used in the early singles and perhaps the first album. This was the tron that got pushed down at flight of stairs allegedly.

Mark

From: "tronbros@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2015 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

I've missed this thread but Woolly never had custom tapes in any of his MKIIs or M300s. Custom tapes were never available for these instruments until we started recording them about 12 years ago. Woolly did have a MKII mid 70s which he used but not extensively and only for one album, maybe X1.

 

M

 

mellotronics.com

1963 - 2013 The 50th anniversary of the mellotron

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 13:41
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Woolly on m300 1974

 

Thanks Bernie.

I'm pretty sure I hear mk2 brass. As we know, Woolly had a great relationship with Streetly, so maybe he did have custom tapes made. Martin?

Andy K

Sent from my iPad

On 6 Jan 2015, at 13:21, "tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

The M300 keyboard is "split", but as far as I know, you can't simultaneously have strings and brass without custom tapes.

Bernie

 

3 Bill. I've still got mine. 

Rick

From: "Bill Rudloff doctorwho8@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 4:14 PM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: [Chicago Mellotron

 

Noooooooo!!!! Why do I have to be poor?!  Well, that's 2 Mellotrons in the Chicago area.

Bill Rudloff

-----Original Message-----
From: william Beith wbeith@sbcglobal.net [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Apr 23, 2015 4:11 pm
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: [Chicago Mellotron

 

   Just saw this Chicago Craigslist post

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/4992725862.html

The ad states "I have a vintage Mellotron M-400s for sale. It comes with the original tape set. Flute, 3 violins and choir. I'm the 3rd owner, It's in great shape, fully functional no work needed. Everything works great, functions and plays as it should. It also has the upgr aded SMS motor board and comes with extra a belt. Currently the original legs are removed and the mellotron is on wheels for easy maneuverability but the original legs are included. I also have a muff cover, schematics, manual and maintenance manual for it. This is really as complete of a package you'll find.

It's a very cool and unique instrument and really fun to play and only 1,800 originally made. Samples and plugins definitely do not do the Mellotron sound justice. The real thing sounds way better.

Asking $4500. Cash only and price is firm. I'm not really interested in trades but you can try me. Nothing music related please as I'm getting out of the music business.

Thanks"

And no I am n ot the seller nor do I know the seller.

Bill