Mellotronists

>I recently asked 1960s Mellotron demonstrator Geoff Unwin about the
> recording of the original Tron sounds, and he had this to say:
>
> Mike
>
> We recorded all of the Mellotron sounds at our own studios - I.B.C.
> studios - at Langham Place opposite the B.B.C. Originally 'International
> Broadcasting Company' the home of 'Radio Luxemburg' where all the radio
> programmes were recorded then shipped out to the continent from where
> they were broadcast. This was in the days before Radio Caroline and
> other 'pirate' broadcasters.
>
> The recording of analogue samples in the early sixties was undertaken in
> a kind of partial secrecy and most of the musicians never really fully
> understood just what they were doing - it was just another session. I
> don't remember the names of every session musician and of those who
> survive most wouldn't care to remember either. You must remember that
> this was almost half a century ago when British jazz musicians were
> forbidden to play in the states and vice versa for American performers.
> Eventually there was a kind of 'exchange' system whereby the import and
> export of musical talent had to be finely balanced.
>
> We ignored such stifling control and secretly recorded big band sound
> tracks to numerous American TV series which were shipped over to the
> states and presented as home grown over there. The reason was simple -
> our sessions were much cheaper to produce. This was all very naughty and
> against MU rules - the players were never told and they never asked
> anyway - it was just another session. Consequently the Mellotron and all
> it stood for in those days just had to find its way to I.B.C. studios.
> Eric Robinson and George Clouston were the principal shareholders and
> the financial backing was provided largely by millionaireArthur
> Hurlstone, chairman of the 'Lentherique' cosmetic empire. 'Hurley' as he
> was known was smitten by show-biz and pumped cash into the 'Eric
> Robinson' empire for years. His son Robin, who was just an Eton
> schoolboy at the time, eventually grew up to be the live-in partner of
> Joan Collins for ten years before she tired of him.
>
> Don Rendell (tenor sax) Duncan Campbell (trumpet) Ronnie Verral (drums)
> all played at I.B.C. but I cannot be absolutely sure theymade
> contributions to the final takes. There were other ex 'Ted Heath'
> orchestra players I do recall using myself for instance. Ex- Ted Heath
> pianist Frank Horrox played on various titles of mine - most notably my
> film score for 'On the Buses' -and I do recall Frank recording the
> 'sweet' piano fills for the Mellotron MK11 in the early sixties.
>
> The Latin rhythms were rendered by the boys from the Edmundo Ross
> orchestra and the violin solo voice was scraped into shape byDavid
> McCallum who had a Stradivarious. His son, also of the same name, became
> well known ona TV series as a blonde detective by the name of Naloleon
> Solo I believe. Th fiddel sounds were recorded singley and then as a duo
> and then overlaid as if there were three violins playing in unison.
>
> The Hammond organ voice was produced from a Lowrey actually. The string
> fills were arranged by Arthur Wilkinson whe went on to do his famous
> orchestral arrangements of Beatles hits later in the decade. Bill
> Franson as you may know provided the 'Yeah' on the rag-time tape.
>
> Throughout the sixties I thickened out puny brass and string
> arrangements on numerous tracks (annonymously) with the Mellotron and
> this was usually done as an overlay when the other guys had gone home -
> I was cheaper than a complete string sectionor brass section. It was a
> simple as that. And this was almost a punishable offence in those days.
>
> I remember when a message came through from George Martin who was
> recording Sargent Pepper at the time - he was looking for pointers as to
> the possibilities of using the Mellotron just then. I was eventually
> asked to go to John Lennon's house in Weybridge to check his instrument
> over and give hime a little guidance etc. In 1967/8 Stevie Wonder came
> to my office (28-30 Market Place, W1) for coaching. He visited me quite
> a few times but I never found out if he utilised the Mellotron on his
> recordings.
>
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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