The Smiley Smile Message Board
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
If you like this message board, please help with the hosting costs!
680597
Posts in
27600
Topics by
4068
Members - Latest Member:
Dae Lims
March 28, 2024, 02:10:03 PM
The Smiley Smile Message Board
|
Smiley Smile Stuff
|
General On Topic Discussions
|
Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.
« previous
next »
Pages:
1
[
2
]
3
4
5
Author
Topic: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron? (Read 26413 times)
John
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 801
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #25 on:
July 10, 2008, 11:16:58 AM »
Could At My Window feature a Mellotron, on the flute setting? The flutes at the beginning still sound a little keyboardy to me.
Logged
DonnyL
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1990
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #26 on:
July 10, 2008, 11:44:36 AM »
This topic has been discussed before, and most believe that any "mellotron-like" sounds you hear on BB recordings are most likely the Chamberlin or something else entirely. The flutes on "At My Window" have been verified as being real flutes. The intro to "All I Wanna Do" is a Fender Rhodes with Moog treatments. "Country Air", "Add Some Music To Your Day", and possibly "Forever" probably use Chamberlin (in addition to real strings in some cases). I am simply in awe of how talented and creative Desper and the Beach Boys were during this period ... to be able to get those unique sounds ... sounds that have never been replicated. this will keep us guessing for decades.
Logged
http://www.trounrecords.com
TdHabib
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 1150
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #27 on:
July 10, 2008, 12:17:13 PM »
Quote from: DonnyL on July 10, 2008, 11:44:36 AM
The intro to "All I Wanna Do" is a Fender Rhodes with Moog treatments.
The entire sound of that record is incredible--one of the best uses of keyboards ever and one of the best productions of the era period. If Desper's reading this, that's a job truly well done.
Logged
I like the Beatles a bit more than the Boys of Beach, I think Brian's band is the tops---really amazing. And finally, I'm liberal. That's it.
brianc
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 444
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #28 on:
July 10, 2008, 12:31:59 PM »
This might sound like a stupid question, but wasn't the Chamberlin company somehow involved with the Mellotron? I might be mistaken, but I thought the Chamerlin was the US version of the Mellotron.
Logged
Andrew G. Doe
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 17767
The triumph of The Hickey Script !
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #29 on:
July 10, 2008, 01:18:07 PM »
Quote from: John on July 10, 2008, 11:16:58 AM
Could At My Window feature a Mellotron, on the flute setting? The flutes at the beginning still sound a little keyboardy to me.
May I remind you that Steve Desper, who engineered
Sunflower
, has stated categorically in this thread that the band never, to his knowledge, used a Mellotron. The simplest answer, in the light of this evidence, is that the advert is wrong.
Logged
The four sweetest words in my vocabulary: "This poster is ignored".
newsrover222
Smiley Smile Newbie
Offline
Posts: 5
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #30 on:
July 10, 2008, 01:23:02 PM »
Did anyone ever notice that the distortion so often mentioned in Country Air is exactly the same as in Sagitarius's Musty Dusty ? Both the same rented Chamberlin machine I'M SURE.
I think.......
«
Last Edit: July 10, 2008, 01:24:09 PM by newsrover222
»
Logged
DonnyL
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1990
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #31 on:
July 10, 2008, 01:46:25 PM »
Harry Chamberlin invented the tape sampler instrument. He produced and marketed several versions (in very limited quantities) ... one of his employees took the concept to England in the mid-60s, looking for a distribution deal. The salesman ended up essentially "stealing" the idea and producing the Mellotron with an small independent British company. They eventually had to pay Chamberlin for use of his patent. The Mellotron is basically a rip-off of the Chamberlin, in fact using the same taped samples in some early versions. In my opinion, the Chamberlin is a superior instrument in construction and sound.
Logged
http://www.trounrecords.com
roll plymouth rock
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 549
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #32 on:
July 10, 2008, 02:17:21 PM »
Quote from: newsrover222 on July 10, 2008, 01:23:02 PM
Did anyone ever notice that the distortion so often mentioned in Country Air is exactly the same as in Sagitarius's Musty Dusty ? Both the same rented Chamberlin machine I'M SURE.
I think.......
Now that you point that out, very interesting! I love LA's sunshine pop strands...Musty Dusty was co-written by Tandyn Almer (of Along Comes Mary and Sail On Sailor co-write fame), a portion of Musty Dusty is also played backwards at the end of The Millennium's record (in Karmic Dream Sequence #1 I do believe)
Logged
http://barnabybennett.snack.ws
humanoidboogie
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 185
deer
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #33 on:
August 19, 2013, 12:48:59 AM »
What about those strings on "Winter Symphony"? That's definitely a Chamberlin, Mellotron, Optigan organ or something...
Logged
humanoidboogie
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 185
deer
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #34 on:
August 19, 2013, 01:16:40 AM »
Also, there
is
obviously a Mellotron or a Chamberlin on "Country Air". This is clearly heard in the stereo mix of the song. Plus, someone is playing a few stray notes on it at the start of the take so you can hear it in isolation. If that isn't a tape-based keyboard instrument, I'll eat this entire forum. Without salt.
Logged
chris.metcalfe
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 340
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #35 on:
August 19, 2013, 01:51:18 AM »
Blimey - my 6-year old thread resurrected.
Can I go back to 2007 please?
Logged
humanoidboogie
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 185
deer
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #36 on:
August 19, 2013, 02:33:27 AM »
Quote from: chris.metcalfe on August 19, 2013, 01:51:18 AM
Blimey - my 6-year old thread resurrected.
Can I go back to 2007 please?
Hope you don't mind me bumping your thread, but this is such an important topic.
Logged
puni puni
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 885
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #37 on:
August 19, 2013, 06:17:48 PM »
In the documentary 'Mellodrama', BW appears for about five minutes. He doesn't mention that it was a Chamberlin, and says that he never recorded a Mellotron's strings alone, only to embellish real strings. He then plays an out-of-key version of California Girls on it (I can only guess his voice was in tune and the knobs on the unit were accidentally transposed) and quips that he hadn't played it in 35 years (seemed to have been filmed 2006/2007) and that it had brought him back a load of memories.
The doc also says that a "Mellotron/Chamberlin" was used on Add Some Music To Your Day and Country Air.
Logged
If Mars had life on it...
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 45
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #38 on:
August 19, 2013, 07:12:40 PM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCabuis6t2w
1:36
Logged
Pablo.
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 221
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #39 on:
August 19, 2013, 08:59:36 PM »
Quote from: humanoidboogie on August 19, 2013, 12:48:59 AM
What about those strings on "Winter Symphony"? That's definitely a Chamberlin, Mellotron, Optigan organ or something...
An ARP String Ensemble, IIRC
Logged
Amazing Larry
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 552
There's a new daddy in town...
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #40 on:
August 20, 2013, 03:55:37 AM »
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,15495.0.html
This thread should answer some questions.
Logged
A discipline daddy.
humanoidboogie
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 185
deer
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #41 on:
August 20, 2013, 04:19:22 AM »
Quote from: Pablo. on August 19, 2013, 08:59:36 PM
Quote from: humanoidboogie on August 19, 2013, 12:48:59 AM
What about those strings on "Winter Symphony"? That's definitely a Chamberlin, Mellotron, Optigan organ or something...
An ARP String Ensemble, IIRC
You're probably right. I just thought it sounded a bit too "wobbly" for an ARP/Solina, but it would fit in with the equipment used during 15BO/Love You era.
Logged
humanoidboogie
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 185
deer
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #42 on:
August 20, 2013, 04:20:04 AM »
Quote from: Discipline Daddy on August 20, 2013, 03:55:37 AM
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,15495.0.html
This thread should answer some questions.
Ah, thanks a lot for the link. Strange how I could miss that one...
Logged
leggo of my ego
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 1453
Beach Boys Stomp
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #43 on:
August 20, 2013, 12:04:42 PM »
Harry Chamberlin's samples were considered superior to anything Streetly Electronics (Mellotron) ever did on their own
There is no downside to the BB's having used the Chamberlin as opposed to it's rather shoddy "cousin".
Logged
Hey Little Tomboy is creepy. Banging women by the pool is fun and conjures up warm summer thoughts a Beach Boys song should.
Necessity knows no law
A bootlegger knows no law
Therefore: A bootlegger is a necessity
DonnyL
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1990
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #44 on:
September 01, 2013, 04:40:26 PM »
Some potentially new info:
I've corresponded with a fellow who recorded at Brother Studio circa '76, who mentioned there was a Mellotron there that was owned by Brian and not allowed to be touched. Of course, could be the Chamberlin ... he couldn't remember specifically.
A lot of sounds could be attributed to many other keyboards as well, as the group used just about every keyboard available at the time. In the home studio, they had a Baldwin Electric Haprischord, Chamberlin, RMI Rock-si-Chord, Fender Rhodes Celeste, Brian's Baldwin organ, and a Hammond as well.
«
Last Edit: September 01, 2013, 04:48:36 PM by DonnyL
»
Logged
http://www.trounrecords.com
monicker
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 746
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #45 on:
September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM »
Quote from: DonnyL on September 01, 2013, 04:40:26 PM
Fender Rhodes Celeste
Is that what Bruce plays on This Whole World?
Also, where is the Hammond heard in the home studio years?
Is the harpsichord on Time To Get Alone the electric one or is that an acoustic? It has such an odd sound to it. Even the way in which it's played sounds odd.
Logged
Don't be eccentric, this is a BEACH BOYS forum, for God's sake!
DonnyL
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1990
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #46 on:
September 01, 2013, 07:22:40 PM »
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is that what Bruce plays on This Whole World?
No, I don't think so. Sounds like a real celeste or glockenspiel to me. The Fender Rhodes Celeste is shown in the 'Time to Get Alone' sessions footage on American Band (Bruce is in fact playing it!). It's basically just a Fender Rhodes without the full range (I think 49 keys) ... they just called it 'Celeste' for some reason. I suspect it's the Rhodes used on 'The Nearest Faraway Place'. Denny is playing a full 73-key Rhodes in the 'Don't Go Near the Water' clip, but this may have been a prop for the clip.
http://www.fenderrhodes.com/img/models/silvertop/pianoceleste-front.jpg
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Also, where is the Hammond heard in the home studio years?
I might be making an assumption here, or thinking of the later home studio recordings ... could be the Baldwin through a Leslie, but I feel like we don't hear the Baldwin much after '69-ish. They also had a Clavinet by '69.
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is the harpsichord on Time To Get Alone the electric one or is that an acoustic? It has such an odd sound to it. Even the way in which it's played sounds odd.
I think it's an acoustic harpsichord, maybe two. The Baldwin really sounds kind of more 'electric guitar'-like. I don't really know for sure that they recorded with the Baldwin, as I can't think of any examples, but I know they had one that they took on tour in late '67 or '68.
Logged
http://www.trounrecords.com
Amazing Larry
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 552
There's a new daddy in town...
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #47 on:
September 01, 2013, 07:41:03 PM »
Quote from: DonnyL on September 01, 2013, 07:22:40 PM
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is that what Bruce plays on This Whole World?
No, I don't think so. Sounds like a real celeste or glockenspiel to me. The Fender Rhodes Celeste is shown in the 'Time to Get Alone' sessions footage on American Band (Bruce is in fact playing it!). It's basically just a Fender Rhodes without the full range (I think 49 keys) ... they just called it 'Celeste' for some reason. I suspect it's the Rhodes used on 'The Nearest Faraway Place'. Denny is playing a full 73-key Rhodes in the 'Don't Go Near the Water' clip, but this may have been a prop for the clip.
http://www.fenderrhodes.com/img/models/silvertop/pianoceleste-front.jpg
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Also, where is the Hammond heard in the home studio years?
I might be making an assumption here, or thinking of the later home studio recordings ... could be the Baldwin through a Leslie, but I feel like we don't hear the Baldwin much after '69-ish. They also had a Clavinet by '69.
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is the harpsichord on Time To Get Alone the electric one or is that an acoustic? It has such an odd sound to it. Even the way in which it's played sounds odd.
I think it's an acoustic harpsichord, maybe two. The Baldwin really sounds kind of more 'electric guitar'-like. I don't really know for sure that they recorded with the Baldwin, as I can't think of any examples, but I know they had one that they took on tour in late '67 or '68.
They were already using the Clavinet on Friends.
Logged
A discipline daddy.
DonnyL
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1990
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #48 on:
September 01, 2013, 07:46:05 PM »
Quote from: Discipline Daddy on September 01, 2013, 07:41:03 PM
Quote from: DonnyL on September 01, 2013, 07:22:40 PM
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is that what Bruce plays on This Whole World?
No, I don't think so. Sounds like a real celeste or glockenspiel to me. The Fender Rhodes Celeste is shown in the 'Time to Get Alone' sessions footage on American Band (Bruce is in fact playing it!). It's basically just a Fender Rhodes without the full range (I think 49 keys) ... they just called it 'Celeste' for some reason. I suspect it's the Rhodes used on 'The Nearest Faraway Place'. Denny is playing a full 73-key Rhodes in the 'Don't Go Near the Water' clip, but this may have been a prop for the clip.
http://www.fenderrhodes.com/img/models/silvertop/pianoceleste-front.jpg
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Also, where is the Hammond heard in the home studio years?
I might be making an assumption here, or thinking of the later home studio recordings ... could be the Baldwin through a Leslie, but I feel like we don't hear the Baldwin much after '69-ish. They also had a Clavinet by '69.
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is the harpsichord on Time To Get Alone the electric one or is that an acoustic? It has such an odd sound to it. Even the way in which it's played sounds odd.
I think it's an acoustic harpsichord, maybe two. The Baldwin really sounds kind of more 'electric guitar'-like. I don't really know for sure that they recorded with the Baldwin, as I can't think of any examples, but I know they had one that they took on tour in late '67 or '68.
They were already using the Clavinet on Friends.
I don't believe so -- I think you're referring to the Rocksichord.
Logged
http://www.trounrecords.com
Amazing Larry
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 552
There's a new daddy in town...
Re: Did Brian ever use a Mellotron?
«
Reply #49 on:
September 01, 2013, 07:49:11 PM »
Quote from: DonnyL on September 01, 2013, 07:46:05 PM
Quote from: Discipline Daddy on September 01, 2013, 07:41:03 PM
Quote from: DonnyL on September 01, 2013, 07:22:40 PM
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is that what Bruce plays on This Whole World?
No, I don't think so. Sounds like a real celeste or glockenspiel to me. The Fender Rhodes Celeste is shown in the 'Time to Get Alone' sessions footage on American Band (Bruce is in fact playing it!). It's basically just a Fender Rhodes without the full range (I think 49 keys) ... they just called it 'Celeste' for some reason. I suspect it's the Rhodes used on 'The Nearest Faraway Place'. Denny is playing a full 73-key Rhodes in the 'Don't Go Near the Water' clip, but this may have been a prop for the clip.
http://www.fenderrhodes.com/img/models/silvertop/pianoceleste-front.jpg
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Also, where is the Hammond heard in the home studio years?
I might be making an assumption here, or thinking of the later home studio recordings ... could be the Baldwin through a Leslie, but I feel like we don't hear the Baldwin much after '69-ish. They also had a Clavinet by '69.
Quote from: monicker on September 01, 2013, 07:02:35 PM
Is the harpsichord on Time To Get Alone the electric one or is that an acoustic? It has such an odd sound to it. Even the way in which it's played sounds odd.
I think it's an acoustic harpsichord, maybe two. The Baldwin really sounds kind of more 'electric guitar'-like. I don't really know for sure that they recorded with the Baldwin, as I can't think of any examples, but I know they had one that they took on tour in late '67 or '68.
They were already using the Clavinet on Friends.
I don't believe so -- I think you're referring to the Rocksichord.
I'm pretty sure it's a clavinet. It's got a different tone than the Roxi stuff on the rest of the album. It's only on the song Friends and It's much more audible on the SOT stuff.
«
Last Edit: September 01, 2013, 07:51:10 PM by Discipline Daddy
»
Logged
A discipline daddy.
Pages:
1
[
2
]
3
4
5
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
Smiley Smile Stuff
-----------------------------
=> BRIAN WILSON Q & A
=> Welcome to the Smiley Smile board
=> General On Topic Discussions
===> Ask The Honored Guests
===> Smiley Smile Reference Threads
=> Smile Sessions Box Set (2011)
=> The Beach Boys Media
=> Concert Reviews
=> Album, Book and Video Reviews And Discussions
===> 1960's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1970's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1980's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1990's Beach Boys Albums
===> 21st Century Beach Boys Albums
===> Brian Wilson Solo Albums
===> Other Solo Albums
===> Produced by or otherwise related to
===> Tribute Albums
===> DVDs and Videos
===> Book Reviews
===> 'Rank the Tracks'
===> Polls
-----------------------------
Non Smiley Smile Stuff
-----------------------------
=> General Music Discussion
=> General Entertainment Thread
=> Smiley Smilers Who Make Music
=> The Sandbox
Powered by SMF 1.1.21
|
SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Page created in 0.456 seconds with 22 queries.
Helios Multi
design by
Bloc
Loading...