Favorite Mellotron performances.

[OB-XaMinimoog]

I'm a huge fan of the Mellotron. Its my favorite keyboard instrument. While only somewhat realistic, its sounds have their own character and are like no other. These are some of my favorite performances of it.

The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin



I'm a huge Moody Blues fan and the Mellotron really gave them their own sound especially on this song. It really sets the mood for this song along with Justin's vocals, and is frankly one of the most emotional pieces of music I've ever heard. The bit at 2:50-2:58 gets me every time.

Another Moodies song, The Story in your Eyes. I love the Mellotron in the choruses.



I love really all their Mellotron songs, but those two are my top.
I really think something was lost in the band when Mike Pinder left. I like some their late 70s and 80s stuff, but it doesn't compare to their first seven albums. They are true classics. In my book, Mike was a good portion of the genius behind the band. Along with Justin's song writing and vocals, of course.

Yes - Awaken


My favorite Yes song. Its absolutely epic.

Yes- And you and I



Some really good Mellotron/Minimoog interplay here.

Rick Wakeman's keyboard solo in Yessongs 1973



John Paul Jones Mellotron solo



Rush - Tears



Very sad song, and the Mellotron Violins and Flute really add the mood.


If anyone has anyone favorites, feel free to post them

[CZ Rider]

Always thought the Melotron made "In the Court of the Crimson King". Something about the sound of the Mellotron? Sounds spookey or distant.


Like Aerosmith's "Dream On" use of the Mellotron too.
Here is one of my own, using a sample set I found way back in the late 90's. I don't think too many people purchased that set as it was very dirty sounding and many sounds ended abruptly. Some of the samples sounded like the tape had jammed before, so it was authentic.
Loaded into my Soundblaster played along with a real 1969 Moog. Lots of Mellotron.

[ppg_wavecomputer]

Edgar Froese -- Epsilon in Malaysian Pale
Tangerine Dream -- Oedipus Tyrannus / Desert Dream, Phaedra
Peter Baumann -- Haunted Heights
Cosmic Hoffmann -- Gate of Lahore (not only because I played on this one as well)
['ramp] -- Astral Disaster (off the "return" album... my own stuff, I confess)

Stephen

[meatballfulton]

Golf Girl...dig the mellotron solo after the last verse.

[redchapterjubilee]

The epitome of Mellotron for me.

[Syn303]

Tangerine Dream - Fauni Gena, from 'Atem' (1973)

[tekkentool]

Me when I rip samples of it.

[V301H]

The Zombies 1968 Odessey and Oracle album has lots of Mellotron. One of my favorites:

[walkathon]

the choir on Zebra's "Who's Behind the Door?"

[salwa]

Tarwater - No More Extra Time
Probably samples, but it doesn't matter.

[mpa1104]

Okay, I'll take the fall and say:

(I'll confess to being a teensy bit surpised that with the Prog standards that have met the cut in this list, that Genesis are yet to rate a mention - mind you, I don't disagree one bit with the posts already made!)
There are plenty of other wonderful Tony Banks textures to be had on the early Genesis stuff.
Mellotron strings in Fountain of Salmacis and the choir during the playout of Entangled to name but two more.

[themilford]

The epitome of Mellotron for me.

DING DING DING!

All though I prefer the studio cut.

[V301H]

Film Soundtrack music with extended Mellotron Flute solo featuring Don Gallucci (Kingsmen "Louie Louie"). Touch was likely America's first true Prog/Rock band and have been cited as an influence on Yes, Kansas, Uriah Heep, and others.

[Shutoku]

No mention of arguably the most heard mellotron line...the flute in Strawberry Fields? Brief but iconic.

I'm not sure there is a bad mellotron line though. I have always loved the sound of them.

[smcumber]

No mention of arguably the most heard mellotron line...the flute in Strawberry Fields? Brief but iconic.

I'm not sure there is a bad mellotron line though. I have always loved the sound of them.

To be a stickler, a Chamberlin, not a Mellotron....