Mellotron MkII - Space Oddity

[@emnigmamachine]

This thing give me chills. I remember my dad playing Moody Blues records for me and being amazed by these sounds. Thanks for preserving such an amazing instrument.

[@bwdrums1]

It's funny, I couldn't figure out where they were in the song until about halfway through, then it clicked. Towards the beginning I thought it sounded like the Moody's "Watching and Waiting"....lol. It's an amazing instrument, I can't believe that I wasn't more aware of what it did intol about 15 years ago.

[@-danR]

"Timothy.... Leary..... ..... Timothy....Leary....... 🎵🎶"

[@MEATYOKERRable]

I'm amazed that this instrument existed as early as it did. It sounds so warm even with the reverb it still sounds better than a synth. I had always thought that those sounds were created with real orchestras and heavy editing in the studio. This makes me want to learn how to play the keyboard now.

[@bingola45]

The sounds ARE created by a real orchestra. The Mellotron is a sampling instrument.

[@eva.cassidy]

Brian Jones used the tron for some Stones songs such as 2000 Light Years from Home.

[@dussie920]

@@eva.cassidy Yeah and Beatles and Led Zeppelin too. Stairway to graven is awesome with the mellotron flute intro

[@Keyboardman88]

Your quote; "I'm amazed that this instrument existed as early as it did". Please remember that before the Mellotron, there was the Chamberlain. Chamberlain had a 4 manual instrument.

[@KC9UDX]

Yes. The Mellotron was actually a rip-off of the Chamberlin, really.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

These need to be brought back into production. The sooner the better!

[@steviemusic1]

They are in production! (Well, the single-manual version) I'm picking mine up next week!! :-)

[@MrMellotronman]

See www.mellotronics.com for real new and restored Mellotrons! I'm not on commission, honest!

[@jimrinaldo6886]

MrMellotronman

[@dariocaporuscio8701]

MrMellotronman hey Mr mellotronman sing a song to me

[@カスカディア国人]

I wish I had one of these but I'm just a poor southern boy

[@paulchaplin73]

Mr Wakeman would be proud! Amazing!

[@patricklemeur6360]

il en a joué !

[@Big_Sierra]

I’ve never had another instrument make me weep besides the Mellotron.

[@LudwolfBeethozart1485]

Electric organs such as Vox Continental, Farfisa or Hammond would like to have a word with you.

[@ronlee2606]

I played this song in a band in the mid 70s. We were the only band in the area with a mellotron. It was one of the white ones though. Sounded killer. Only thing is the tapes would stretch sometimes and it was very touchy about cold weather. Nice job on the song!

[@edhartman5466]

Which was the unique and (sometimes) sound we all love!

[@perrykaleb6]

Pure analog can never be beat by digital reproductions. I love it!

[@punypoppy9147]

I'm not ashamed to say that i never ever knew, that Wakeman played the orginal in the track? Omg...

[@filmusikchannel7596]

Wakeman did it

[@jduff59]

Rick also played some memorable piano on the Hunky Dory album.

[@nickbarber2080]

Piano on "Life on Mars" as well....

[@herbertschmidt1719]

easily the best-sounding Mark 2 I've heard in a long while. And using lead voices for the left-hand keyboard rather than those silly rhythm accompaniment tracks is so much more useful

[@dalebaker6256]

Absolutely love the mellotron! It's on all my faverite songs of all time, like a lot of early genesis, and yes.

[@TheBadappel]

Amazing sound, and beautifully performed. It's been a tragic year, losing Bowie, in January, and my father, just recently

[@psychedelicanxiety8011]

TheBadappel I hope your life is better now :(

[@taylorwcollins]

Hope ur all good mate

[@cwlkjez578]

Great job! And I didn't know Rick Wakeman played on this. Wow.

[@dharmabum8888]

this thing is beautiful

[@filmusikchannel7596]

Simply beautiful and move me to tears. The sound of Mellotron can take your heart and put it on a different planet

[@NormanPeterson]

Best Mellotron demo.. KUDOS!!

[@dhpbear2]

Those opening chords brought to mind the Moody Blues' "Watching and Waiting" :)

[@shyshift]

They are identical. Fmajor7 to E minor.

[@BP-kx2ig]

I was a fan of the Moody Blues after hearing their use of the mellotron. That was 55 years ago and still a fan.

[@ElegantJP]

beautiful chord

[@normkirk65]

Absolutely beautiful and chilling !!

[@threalismaradona9899]

along with the Hammond B3/Leslie and Minimoog the Melorton created rock history

[@Keyboardman88]

Beautiful Mellotron.

[@lennon1331]

Just one word describes this instrument "BEAUTIFUL".

[@janie166]

OMGosh, this so reminds me of the opening of Watching And Waiting, by the Moody Blues. Beautiful! :)

[@DeniseHewitt]

Beautiful & Awesome Analogue Sound! Perfect Performance! Thanks!

[@BP-kx2ig]

I loved the mellotron sound ever since I hear the Moody Blues in 1968. Still a fan.

[@lundsweden]

Not a great fan of Wakeman, but I have to admit his Mellotron playing on Space Oddity was superb! Great job of recreating this track on one of the early Mellotrons with the split manuals (keyboard). I think these are not as common as the single manual M400 that came later, which, I think was slightly more portable... as long as you had four strong roadies!

[@johnkavanagh3830]

Saw him live last Saturday night. If it wasn't for him and Ronson Life On Mars wouldn't be as good.

[@lundsweden]

Yeah Rick certainly can play keys!

[@cl5619]

There’s a great mood of and feeling of mystery the mellotron creates.

[@BenStoneking]

Wow, i had such chills I was bristling like a little hedgehog! This is beautiful.

[@ssoonnyymm]

Ben Stoneking gotta go fast

[@BenStoneking]

I wondered if I'd get a sonic comment

[@nicolastherrien]

Very moving. My favorite instrument.

[@davekingmusic1994]

That is a beautiful sound. I would love to play a mellotron.

[@mkii1964]

Beautiful!

[@pinstripedclips]

Sounds sublime!

[@patrickbuzzo1970]

BEAUTIFUL !!

[@zibbybone]

Beautiful. I'd love to hear a direct audio recording.

[@Lemopalm]

This is amazing please upload more

[@davidpancerev9658]

@2:34..never thought glissando was possible. Thanks for proving me wrong.

[@vicshere99]

Thank you. It is sublime.

[@rh3426]

Very nice! Hope that you will upload more songs!!

[@cablevamp3163]

Damn goosebumps...

[@rekkinregen]

superb sounds

[@megazoned3973]

So gorgeous

[@Asymmatrix]

Gorgeous.

[@RaphaelSater]

Changes by Black Sabbath would indeed be awesome!

[@1954rgcf]

Unparalleled musical instrument.

[@adamoliver82]

this is beautiful.

[@massimomarchesin8708]

Le sonorità del MELLOTRON vero come in questo caso un MK 2 non si battono usando le tastiere emulatore messe in modalità archi che scimmiottano il sound del MELLOTRON , questo CAMPIONATORE a tastiera è la cosa più vicina ad una vera orchestra di archi e fiati oltre ad avere anche vari effetti speciali es CORI maschile e femminile , bambini , effetti strani di diverso tipo. Grande invenzione di carattere musicale che ha portato nuove sonorità anche sorprendenti e rivoluzionarie nella musica contemporanea !!!!!!!! E tutto questo grazie ad un ingegnere elettronico USA che si chiamava HARRY CHAMBERLIN RIP .

[@roni1934]

Beautiful

[@seventscott3945]

Subscribed ! I am in awe of just how other worldly this instrument sounds .. this comment is coming from a very fussy audiophile btw :)

[@BillDerBerg]

Gorgeous

[@Twice_Marvel]

That thing looks great

[@1171karl]

Great job. I'm going to have a try at this now!

[@jaytabac6525]

amazing !!

[@vlixesispunk]

that thing looks like a freaking space ship love it

[@charleswidmore5458]

I was waiting for you to star singing 'Watcher in the Skys' for a min there in the beginning.

[@massimomarchesin8708]

Space oddity è uno dei brani di David Bowie RIP da me preferiti Grande epica melodia uso di Mellotron che rende molto il senso dello spazio infinito Il testo invece come ben sappiamo è drammatico parla di una missione spaziale che finisce in modo tragico Anche in Italia i Dik Dik e il Balletto di Bronzo realizzarono due pezzi che parlano di una tragedia nello spazio I Dik Dik Help Me ed il Balletto di Bronzo Missione Sirio 2222

[@mikelichteveld4604]

And still 2 dislikes... Unbelievable... Beautiful playing and instrument!

[@myautobiographyafanfic1413]

I always wanted a mellotron, I had no idea the hammers were so beautiful though.

[@massimomarchesin8708]

Thanks Mr Harry Chamberlin For the Mellotron's idea since 1946 year?

[@charlesnolan7602]

I have been a progressive rocker, and Mellotron fan for decades. Mellotron albums SPRING - S/T (1971) ANEKDOTEN ( their entire catlogue!) Willowglass TRION

[@Entropy_prod]

superb

[@daveidmarx8296]

Incredibly cool cover version. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrHankulley]

A little bit too fast... If I may....

[@matthewguralsky]

Don't

[@Twice_Marvel]

Hank Ulley a fair criticism. Tempo creates emotion in a song possibly more than anything.

[@delepiane]

Yes, i try to sing along and was imposible. But sound great!

[@BryceRogers_]

Just a tad. yes

[@Craig-dv3ji]

Speaking as a drummer for over 30 years, it's very annoying how way off tempo he is. But I'm loving the demo and the instrument.

[@luisalonsonaranjo3529]

thank you!

[@PaulVarricchione]

Can you please please please do changes by black sabbath?

[@jsilence418]

Nice job !

[@johnbreedlove3245]

Watcher of the Mellotron?

[@vyper2112]

John Breedlove Fuck, beat me to it.

[@pIacehoIders]

The tiles look so squishy lol

[@bwdrums1]

I always thought that "Starman" had mellotron on it, but apparently it doesn't, those are real strings.

[@TreborArrabi]

nice

[@diegopereira6862]

Nice. Saludos desde Chile

[@pjguer-coe3071]

great

[@DeanWhipper]

When I loaded this up, I wholeheartedly hoped it was Space Oddity with Mortal Kombat 2 soundbites.

[@nicholasfaith8999]

does anyone knew which mellotron library reels were used here off hand?

[@nicholasfaith8999]

John K Beresford did the chamberlain used a fixed sound library aswell?

[@nicholasfaith8999]

btw, a lovely instrument you have there

[@glendale6]

Sounds likeWatching and waiting

[@desoxido]

This is cool! Please play Watcher of the skies!

[@johnkavanagh3830]

Hardly a stretch for Rick Wakeman was it?

[@NeilVanceNeilVance]

What would you like for christmas? The Mellotron MKII ... or a Fairlight CMI series 1?

[@raymatthews4319]

Mark II hands down.

[@childrenofminervaofficial4316]

Mk 2, no contest.

[@bryanwilkinson6859]

the fairlight cmi was remade in hardware and software. with modern cpus and sound cards.

[@bryanwilkinson6859]

also an android app.

[@mattiasputtonen8982]

Again wow!

[@mellotrongirl]

Some of this reminds me of Martin Kitkat/Gracious!

[@shyshift]

I own a 4000D Mini. What settings did you use?

[@md1jkb]

Sorry for the late reply. MkII violins on the right and MkII church organ (which is really a Hammond) on the left.

[@gareebee]

Mark 11? Woah. You must be rich :-)

[@MrJMS814]

Garry Byrne Mark 2

[@pIacehoIders]

Joel Sanford lmao thanks for makimg him look like an idiot for a year

[@infoana7871]

Joke

[@massimomarchesin8708]

Credo che i PROCOL HARUM il Mellotron non lo hanno quasi mai usato eppure la loro musica si poteva prestare al suo uso in quanto spesso molto sinfonica !!!!!! Credo che in MAGDALENE MY REGAL ZONOPHONE lo abbiano usato nel finale del brano e credo anche qualcosa in BROKEN BARRICADES SIMPLE SISTER e credo anche LUSKUS DELPH !!!!!! L'effetto che si sente in SIMPLE SISTER una SPECIE di percussione con una frequenza velocissima che non si può ottenere con normali percussioni e quindi credo che abbiano usato il MELLOTRON che ha nei suoi effetti anche delle sonorità percussive !!!!!

[@dette-envers-les-animaux]

this instrument is nearly the only one (some rare time electric guitar, violin and piano too but much less) that can speak to my soul

[@mellotrongirl]

Has kind of Gracious! sound also...

[@RoadKing21-e1p]

Just wondering if you would have a clue where I can get my hands on a mellotron just like yours

[@PeterMayer]

Did all mellotrons have two sets of keyboards?

[@yes_head]

No. This is a Mk II. They later came out with the 400 which was a touring model with just 1 (relatively small) keyboard.

[@walterkersting1362]

Neat.

[@maxheadroom3000]

Put some more videos out pls ❤

[@BookieKillah]

Sounds a bit like Moby's 'Go' at times; I thought the whole thing sounded a little rushed though...

[@24321619]

Often do rush a Mellotron it can only hold a note for 8 seconds!

[@matteoprog2298]

Sadness sounds.... Mellotron

[@andrewc.2952]

I'm realizing that Procol Harem probably used this for Whiter Shade of Pale.

[@patricklemeur6360]

non orgue Hammond B Leslie 122 !

[@topclub5373]

How would one add more sounds to a mellotron?

[@MrMellotronman]

You would have to change the tapes. The MkII like this one was not designed for the user to change the tapes because they are 50ft long each x 70 tapes. It would be a factory job if they got damaged. Only one set of sounds were originally available for the MkII. These days Streetly can do custom sets with your choice of sounds. On the later white M400s you could change the tape set in about 2 mins for different ones as they were only 6ft long each x 35 tapes.

[@ppsayl1235]

What are the keys you're playing after the count down but before the strings start?

[@soberhippie]

Are they sensitive to touch velocity? If so, how is it achieved?

[@charliebe28]

SoberHippie: ~ Yes -, I've seen it mentioned that Mellotrons _are_ somewhat "velocity sensitive". However, since they are "electro-mechanical" instruments, with very little actual "electric" parts, the way that a player achieves that "sensitivity" is simply by pressing harder on the keys, which in-turn presses the individual tape pick-up heads closer to the play-back tapes. It's just that simple; although you've got to understand, this _is_ 1960s-era technology that we're discussing.

[@robertofandino5358]

how much may cost an instrument like this?

[@yossipechenik300]

$21,000

[@delstanley1349]

The intro sounds like Moby in his early ambient (non electro-dance) days.

[@ErykMaler]

rewelka

[@dussie920]

Which presets/sounds did you use?

[@videotape2959]

I didn't know they made black MkIIs!

[@haakman123]

+VideoTape I think he made his own cabinet, watch his other videos

[@MrMellotronman]

Streetly Electronics originally made 1 in black lacquer and gold escuteons as a special order for Princess Margaret (the Queens late sister). They then decided it was so nice they made another 5-6 only. I can't remember where they ended up. Mine is sprayed black so not original. As the Palace apparently declined to pay for Margarets tron, it was later taken away!

[@bryanwilkinson6859]

@@MrMellotronman she would aparrently play very sad insrumentals on them....

[@chrismawson8935]

I'm jealous . . .