Mellotronists

Hi everyone!
 
I'm sure I've seen mention of this before here, but it's worth re-
mentioning, the PlanetMellotron.com mellotron owners/players site. 
It's got a most comprehensive list of owners and players, and what 
instruments they used. I can tell the discography's aren't 
necessarily complete, as far as the few that I've followed a bit, 
such as Rick Wakeman, but I was greatly amused (and appreciative) to 
find mention of some of my work on a 1980 album called "Nightwing." I 
was referred to as "...the mysterious Berington Van Campen..." HA! 
EXCELLENT! The reviewer went on to say I "played extra keys, as well 
as writing 'Fantasia.' As a result, I assume it's him playing the 
Mellotron flutes on both parts of his piece, plus occasional choirs 
on 'You Keep Me Hanging On', although all the strings appear to be 
real." In fact, the real strings were transcribed from my Mellotron 
parts and mixed WITH them, not replacing them, which we loved doing, 
and the title song "Something In The Air," was also done the same 
way. Only exception was the end piece, where we did pull the 
Mellotron flutes & violins, 'cause it was so cool to hear the real 
string section floating from chord to chord without the melodies. For 
the record, I also played a lot of synth and guitar stuff on there, 
too, and arranged b/g vocals on the L.A-recorded songs. 
 
Hey, if anyone wants to hear M-400 #1485 a little more currently, you 
can check myspace.com/berington. It's on 3 songs, "Goes The Way It 
Goes," "Hearing How You Breathe," and at the very end of "Waiting In 
The Wings." Unfortunately, as I wrote when I first joined this group, 
ol' #1485 is now on the blink. Needs serious motor work (ALMOST 
frozen motor), and I'd suspect a good housecleaning. Just got a call 
from a guy who wants some Mellotron on a session though, so I think 
it's time to get 'er up 'n' runnin' again!
 
Anyway, thanks for the great, and so-often amusing site you guys 
carry on here. It's excellent. I really DID write just to remind you 
of the PlanetMellotron site, too. It's pretty interesting. Ah yes, as 
a guitarist myself, I'd have to opine too, that Pete Townsend really 
is a terrific guitarist & writer, certainly responsible for a ton of 
iconic music and sounds. Too bad he wasn't sold on Mellotrons, but 
hey, one or two more for the rest of us who WERE! Wouldn't want him 
playing mine anyway; I'm sure his right hand fingers were thrashed 
and bloody!
 
Cheers to y'all
Berington Van Campen, M-400 #1485



Berington Van Campen 
Van Campen Productions / VCMusiCorp 
VCMusiCorp1@...
www.myspace.com/berington