# Less cowbell! More MELLOTRON!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620 "2017-03-20T16:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/21 "2017-03-21T11:38:54Z")
There’s always Roxy Music. [Ladytron](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cTJKb6xuhA) for instance. ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/22 "2017-03-22T10:53:06Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > While I don’t know if I would call it a “great song” here is a contemporary song that youtube randomly played and I found enjoyable. > > I do like the tiny desk concert version of Agnes Obel’s song “Happening” > > [https://youtu.be/MAqIrCjOxws](https://youtu.be/MAqIrCjOxws) > > She is 5× Platinum in Denmark but I find her albums way over produced, but that is true of lots of artists these days but this version is nice. Is that a _modern_ Mellotron in the background? Interesting. I never would have noticed if it hadn’t been pointed out to me. Coincidentally I have tickets to see Agnes Obel a week from Saturday. I agree that her music is rather over-produced but I guess I kinda like that. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/23 "2017-03-23T02:08:20Z")
[quote=“nearwildheaven, post:13, topic:782620”] “Electrolite” by R.E.M. [/QUOTE] What’s the mellotron sound? The viola sound in the latter part of the song? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/24 "2017-03-23T02:14:39Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > Well early (version 1 and 2) KC. > > Personal favourite for the OP would be [Starless](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfR6_V91fG8) off Red. Indeed an all time favourite. Just noticed that John Wetton died two months ago. Crapolawitz. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/25 "2017-03-23T02:18:52Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > A real one, not the digital version they’re making nowadays? Man, I don’t know a lot of people who’ve been willing to take on that much heartache. Favorite quote about the tron, from Robert Fripp: “Tuning a Mellotron doesn’t.” > [@rat\_avatar](#): > > That said if you want to own it as a piece of history I am not trying to talk you out of that. But if you want it to play and to work within the creative limitations of the original it would be a worth your time to take a long hard look at the M4000D. I appreciate the cautionary notes, but you have to understand that I’m the sort of idiot that thought it would be a good idea to buy and rebuild a [Linotype](http://www.rockpaperink.com/content/column.php?id=261&catid=88) a few years ago. Hopelessly over complicated and obsolete technology seems to be my deal. It’s a dumb idea and that’s _precisely_ why I like it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/26 "2017-03-23T03:01:32Z")
They didn’t have an arty, classical or progressive sound, but the Kinks used a mellotron semiregularly. For example, check out “Phenomenal Cat” or “Starstruck” from The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/27 "2017-03-23T15:52:17Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > Is that a _modern_ Mellotron in the background? Interesting. I never would have noticed if it hadn’t been pointed out to me. > > Coincidentally I have tickets to see Agnes Obel a week from Saturday. I agree that her music is rather over-produced but I guess I kinda like that. There is no wrong in music, but I do have my preferences. Enjoy it but yes note how she has a second midi controller with some choir sounds that run much longer than you could do on a Mellotron. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/28 "2017-03-23T15:54:15Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > I appreciate the cautionary notes, but you have to understand that I’m the sort of idiot that thought it would be a good idea to buy and rebuild a [Linotype](http://www.rockpaperink.com/content/column.php?id=261&catid=88) a few years ago. Hopelessly over complicated and obsolete technology seems to be my deal. > > It’s a dumb idea and that’s _precisely_ why I like it. Yep, no problem with that I just wanted to share in case playing it for the sound or the limitations that push creativity were the primary motivators. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/29 "2017-03-23T15:56:59Z")
Elton John’s “Daniel” has “flute” Mellotron. There are probably other EJ songs with Mellotron. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/30 "2017-03-24T11:15:13Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Just noticed that John Wetton died two months ago. Crapolawitz. Darn. Didn’t know that. I loved John’s bass playing. And Greg Lake only a while ago too. Time seems to be caching up with altogether too many. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/31 "2017-03-24T16:07:44Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > Darn. Didn’t know that. I loved John’s bass playing. > > And Greg Lake only a while ago too. Time seems to be caching up with altogether too many. Boz Burrell died years back. Gordon Haskell, Adrian Belew and now Jakko are the only Crimson vocalists left. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/32 "2017-03-24T16:58:23Z")
Chris Collingwood (formerly of Fountains of Wayne) uses quite a bit of mellotron in his recent solo album _Look Park_. ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/33 "2017-03-24T17:16:32Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Gordon Haskell, Adrian Belew and now Jakko are the only Crimson vocalists left. If one song guest appearances count, Jon Anderson, who did the vocals on **[“Prince Rupert Awakes” on _Lizard_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdzYMKnGS5Q)** (IMO, EASILY the best song on that, and a good mellotron candidate to boot too!), is still with us as well. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620/34 "2017-03-24T18:26:35Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > Yep, no problem with that I just wanted to share in case playing it for the sound or the limitations that push creativity were the primary motivators. Well then, bring on the Dumb! I mean later, when I actually have cash. And my wife’s not looking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-cowbell-more-mellotron/782620.md?page=1)