The Mellotron Group

Their new keyboardist is using a Memotron in his rig. But still...it was Mike's "cosmic spirituality" that really shaped the first 7 albums. You can replace him with another guy wwith a tron but not that psychedelic spirit.

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "tron400" <tron400@...> wrote:
>
> You have some juicy tidbits for the group, Martin?
> 
> Bernie
> 
> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, tronbros@ wrote:
> >
> > When you distill the Moodies down, you have an astonishingly good  
> > songwriter in Hayward, a good songwriter in Pinder and a sound the two of them  
> > masterminded.  The rest are not so talented but the sum of  parts produced 
> > albums that I loved.  The myth is greater than the  truth.  They got away with it 
> > live but the limitations revealed how  produced the albums were.  We spoke 
> > with Tony Clarke and he told us some  revelations that would flatten the 
> > die-hard fan.  And Lodge is a hideous  songwriter most of the time.
> >  
> > M
> >  
> > Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic 
> > www.mellotronics.co.uk
> > NEW for iPad!
> > MELLOTRONICS M3000HD 
> > US Sales  East: Jimmy Moore  (http://JMoore6397@/) 
> > US Sales  West: Paul Cox  (http://pjc56@/) 
> > myspace.com/chloesmithmusic  
> > 
> >  
> > In a message dated 01/06/2011 06:58:58 GMT Daylight Time,  
> > unobtainiumkeys@ writes:
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > I think the problem was between Graham and Mike back when Mike left in 78,  
> > but the others were not happy with Pinder remaining in LA.  anyway.
> > 
> > 
> > At this point it makes almost no difference though. The  Mellotron is long 
> > gone, Mike is not writing or performing with them, and Ray  is now gone and 
> > his replacement is a young girl flute player - nowhere near  the talent, 
> > presence or feel that Ray had contributed. 
> > 
> > It's nice for  them to carry on the way they do, but it isn't the same. 
> > It's more like a  cabaret version of them.  I'll stick to the original records 
> > when I want  to hear them. 
> > 
> > 
> > On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 10:10 AM, john barrick <_barrickjohn262@_ 
> > (mailto:barrickjohn262@) >  wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > Sorry - if whatever the deal is between Mike and Justin was going to get  
> > patched up, it would have happened by now, and that's why I'll never see the  
> > Moodies. 
> > john
> > 
> > 
> > PS - I find the idea of Mr. Edge dancing at all to be very  disconcerting.  
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 7:15 PM, Ms. Janet Strauss  
> > <_jandjstrz@_ (mailto:jandjstrz@) > wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > Mike  Pinder. 
> > Yeah………………IF  only. 
> > I might actually  get out and see them again in that case.  
> > Would like to see  him just play the oldies, rather than watch Graeme dance 
> > to Higher and  Higher. 
> > Ughhhhh. 
> >  
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)  [mailto:_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ] On Behalf Of David  Jacques
> > Sent: Tuesday,  May 31, 2011 8:59 AM
> > To:  _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re:  MOODY BLUES voices EEEEEK
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > They  sound great for their age... Still miss Mike... 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > 
> >  
> >  
> > On May 30, 2011, at 10:42 PM, Bruce Daily  wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> >  
> > Thanks.  That was very  good.
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > -Bruce D.
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > --- On Mon, 5/30/11, Ms. Janet  Strauss <_jandjstrz@_ 
> > (mailto:jandjstrz@) > wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > From: Ms. Janet Strauss <_jandjstrz@_ 
> > (mailto:jandjstrz@) >
> > Subject: RE:  [newmellotrongroup] Re: MOODY BLUES voices  EEEEEK
> > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
> > Date:  Monday, May 30, 2011, 8:05 PM 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > They  sounded pretty good here…acoustic guitar in  hand.
> > Almost  unplugged.
> > Background  vocals tad subdued…but ok.
> >  
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Music  starts at 1:50 
> >  
> > _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98vekNwqpIg&feature=related_ 
> > (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98vekNwqpIg&feature=related) 
> >  
> > 
> > Jim 
> >  
> > 
> > -----Original  Message-----
> > From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)  [_mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ] On Behalf  Of Charles
> > Sent: Monday,  May 30, 2011 9:20 AM
> > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
> > Subject: [newmellotrongroup]  Re: MOODY BLUES voices EEEEEK 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > 
> > It wouldn't be that  difficult to get Justin, John, Ray, and Mike to record 
> > the notes  (as far as their range could go), auto-tune them, and layer them 
> >  into some awesome Moodies samples. They wouldn't even have to be  in the 
> > same room...Mike could do his at home.
> > Okay Martin, how  about it? :)
> > 
> > --- In _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ,  "tron400" <tron400@> 
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Since they've  been using professional backup singers for years now, 
> > their live  vocals are just fine.
> > > 
> > >  Bernie
> > > 
> > > ---  In _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ,  Bruce Daily 
> > <pocotron@> wrote:
> > >  >
> > 
> > 
> > > > Ā  Yeah,  they wereĀ vocally out of tune in concert.Ā  Their  studio 
> > brilliance sure didn't come through on stage (for  theĀ most part).Ā  It was 
> > too bad Justin Hayward didn't  use an acoustic guitar live once in a while.Ā
> >   Mic systems  weren't great for acoustic instrumentsĀ back then.Ā   They 
> > sure could've used some vocal coaching.Ā  I saw them in  1981 (with Moraz), 
> > and the vocals were just as bad, and JH was  still all electric.Ā  I bet 
> > they had some good nights,  though.
> > 
> > >  > Ā Ā I wonder if they use Autotune live now.Ā   I hate the current 
> > constant misuse of Autotune as a vocal effect,  but, hadĀ it been available then
> > Ā it could've helped the  old Moodies.  
> > 
> > > > Ā 
> > > > Ā  -Bruce D.
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > --- On Sun, 5/29/11, Ms. Janet Strauss  <jandjstrz@> wrote:
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > From: Ms. Janet Strauss  <jandjstrz@>
> > > > Subject: RE: [newmellotrongroup]  MOODY BLUES voices EEEEEK
> > > > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
> > > >  Date: Sunday, May 29, 2011, 5:44 PM
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > 
> > > > Ā  
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > ā€¦heh heh.
> > > >  Ā 
> > > > You mean, Ā like at the 1:05 mark in  this vidā€¦ā€¦..?Ā  LOL
> > > > Ā 
> > 
> > > > _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY9msQztHSI_ 
> > (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY9msQztHSI) 
> > >  > Ā 
> > 
> > > > Ray sure gets into it ā€¦.physicallyā€¦ā€¦and the  ā€ Tron sounds ok
> > ā€¦
> > > > Ā 
> > >  > 
> > > > Jim
> > > >  Ā 
> > > > Ā 
> > 
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > >  From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)  
> > [mailto:_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ]  On Behalf Of john barrick
> > > > Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2011  7:35 PM
> > > > To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
> > > >  Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] MOODY BLUES voices
> > > >  Ā 
> > > > Ā  
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > 
> > > > It must have been  considered. Ā Just listen to any of their live 
> > performances  and not cringe when Lodge cuts loose with those descant falsettos  
> > that overpower Hayward's leads.Ā   
> > 
> > > > 
> > > > john
> > >  > 
> > > > On Sun, May 29, 2011 at 6:10  PM, Bruce Daily <pocotron@> wrote:
> > >  > 
> > > >  Ā  
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > Hi all-
> > >  > 
> > 
> > > > Ā  Maybe Mike  Pinder resisted the idea of using aĀ 'Tron or Chamby 
> > choir  when it became available.Ā  The Moodies were known for their  vocal 
> > harmonies.Ā  Would the group have resented the use  ofĀ pre-recorded vocals 
> > over their own?Ā  I wonder if  the idea was ever brought up.Ā  If so,Ā maybe 
> > they  considered recording their own vocals for the 'Tron.  
> > 
> > > > 
> > > > Ā  It's  ask an ex-Moodie time, I guess.
> > >  > 
> > 
> > > > Ā 
> > >  > 
> > > > Ā  Pondering-
> > >  > 
> > > > Ā 
> > >  >   
> > 
> > > > Ā Ā  -Bruce D.
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > --- On Sat, 5/28/11, Chris  Dale <unobtainiumkeys@> wrote:
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > From: Chris Dale <unobtainiumkeys@>
> > > >  Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] MOODY BLUES voices
> > > >  To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
> > (http://us.mc1259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
> > > >  Date: Saturday, May 28, 2011, 11:12 PM
> > >  > 
> > > > Ā 
> > >  > 
> > > >  Ā  
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > >  > 
> > 
> > > > I don't think the idea  was given serious consideration because both 
> > the Mellotron and  Chamberlin were thought of as ' home organ' type units 
> > doing big  band music largely. The Chamberlin 'Voices' are only a single  Female 
> > and single Male - not quite a choir until the two sounds  are put togetherĀ 
> > which is what happened on the M1 model.  
> > 
> > > > 
> > > > Ā 
> > >  > 
> > > > The idea was first advertised  in the late 60's on Chamberlin brochures 
> > but only as 'voices' and  not as a choir. The Mellotron really nailed the 
> > choir  sound. 
> > > > 
> > >  > Ā 
> > > > 
> > > >  Ā 
> > > > 
> > > > On Fri, May  27, 2011 at 8:23 AM, Charles <charel196@> wrote:
> > >  > 
> > > >  Ā  
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > 
> > >  > 
> > > > I was always surprised Mike  Pinder never used any choirs with the 
> > Moodies, or had the band  members do Mellotron tapes. Imagine Justin, John, Ray, 
> > and Mike  making vocal tapes for that massed "OM" effect or the backing  
> > ahhhs on Melancholy Man....a missed opportunity.
> > > > If  Harry did the solo voices in the 50s and Mellotron used Music  
> > Masters as a guide, why didn't Mellotron add human voices to their  units until 
> > the M400?
> > > > Ā 
> > > >  Ā 
> > > >
> > >
> >
>