The Mellotron: A Keyboard with the Power of an Orchestra (1965) | British Pathé

British T.V. personalities, Eric Robinson and David Nixon, introduce us to an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard otherwise known as the 'Mellotron.'
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The personalities Eric Robinson and David Nixon introduce us to the musical instrument the Mellotron, London.
Various shots of large country garden. L/S of swimming pool. L/S of garden with white doves on the grass. M/S of large country cottage. The narrator introduces us to the personality Eric Robinson who explains to us from his living room armchair the new instrument we are about to see which can make all the sounds of an orchestra, but can be played by one person - The Mellotron.
The camera pans as Eric walks to introduce us to his son-in-law the magician David Nixon. M/S of David Nixon seated at the Mellotron that looks very much like a piano or organ. Eric and David talk about the complexities of the machine. Then David gives a demonstration and lets rip with two fingers only to produce an awesome sound!. C/U of Nixon's hands as he twists a few knobs to add a trombone sound, and starts to play again.
M/S of Eric asking David what other rhythms the machine can play. David replies by launching into a French accordion with a Viennese waltz. C/U from inside the machinery of the Mellotron. We see the various components at work as David plays.
Finally, Eric introduces us to Geoff Unwin an expert pianist to show what the machine can really do. M/S of Geoff playing great piece of music, the Mellotron produces a variety of amazing sixties musical sounds. M/S of Geoff finishing the piece. He turns to the camera and smiles.
Note: this is one of the best! A rare Colour Pic almost completely in natural sound, and what funky natural sound it is! - SL.
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[@ProtoStage]

"well, David isn't a musician as you know" David is crying behind the camera

[@everythingexpert4795]

2112 ProtoStage yea that was cruel

[@spysearice5695]

f

[@nashvillegardener5695]

I thought the exact same thing LOL! The thing is I liked his playing better than the professional musical chap that followed him!

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

2112 ProtoStage I think it’s meant to say that you don’t have to be a virtuoso pianist or electrical genius to use a Mellotron

[@cesarmacotela]

@@tombstoneharrystudios584 Hahaha

[@marshallemmet1366]

The mellotron is basically the worlds first sampler.

[@jamesaron1967]

Yes, but a technological feat of its time in the sphere of music considering its complexity and the fact it was analog.

[@marshallemmet1366]

@@jamesaron1967 I am aware.

[@LegoDonut18]

Not basically, literally!

[@skummelkatt]

Marshallemmet Yeah, but it was a. ripoff of the Chamberlin. So the Mellotron was the first to get noticed. But Chamberlin deserve credit for being first since it was his idea and blueprints.

[@sxturnx_8767]

LET ME TAKE YOU DOWN CUZ I'M GOING TO...STRAWBERRY FIELDS

[@bobshultz5421]

Believe it or not, we have a mellotron. My Dad bought it in 67’. While not a musician, he loved it having gained keyboard experience with his accordion! I can still hear the thing warming up or resetting for about 10 minutes. It’s still at the family home in Norwalk in my Moms house.

[@GuyG.KTalesOfAnimals]

Does it still play?

[@jacquesmertens3369]

Are you selling it? Maybe life isn't too bad with just 1 kidney.

[@GooseCrack]

@@jacquesmertens3369 if OP wants 2 beans we can share the mellotron, if he wants 3, we can share a kidney

[@averyschick9011]

Norwalk Ohio?

[@erikavery8569]

😳🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯!!!!!!!!

[@thepaulhenderson]

That insert shot at 02:21 from inside the mellotron (of the old circuit boards and tube amps interacting with the mechanical elements) in then new, pristine condition, is simply sublime.

[@ocnb]

I dream of going into an old attic or dusty cellar one day and finding one of these in exactly that sort of condition.... "Ohh I think me grandad bought it but then got conscripted for his national service before he had a chance to play it."

[@dilfcurrie]

I'm old enough to remember fixing valve televisions and radios.

[@rossimarti]

That’s tape, no?

[@Muzikman127]

@@rossimartithe reels in the background are magnetic tape, yes

[@Muzikman127]

@@rossimarti​there's a lot going on there though! And it's the nick of all of the various components in that frame that OP is talking about, not just the tape loops

[@frk75]

It's fascinating how an instrument, advertised almost the same way as they would for a kitsch, home/living room organ, designed for frustrated non-musician , became one of the flagship for progressive rock

[@Derayes]

Always a question of using it a proper or bad way ;)

[@melomane2010]

I think you can thank Mike Pinder for that.

[@jeanchoco3155]

@@Derayes Yes but the irony is that it is not known because is has been played the "proper way" as the creators imagined, but because it was used the "bad way", for its strange fake sound...

[@HamptonGuitars]

They targeted the wrong audience, but sure found the right one!!

[@kingjellybeans7823]

@@HamptonGuitars just like the Roland 303. First made as a replacement for bass players but flopped so were deleted until one got into the hands of an early acid house producer who totally turned it upside down and created a new genre and new audience/customers resulting in it being put back into production with some moderations

[@helterskelter9670]

"Well, David isn't a musician as you know" He is doing his best, okay?

[@cazvekmusic3076]

HelterSkelter I’m dead 💀💀

[@helterskelter9670]

@TheRenaissanceman65 actually no :( Who was he? 👀

[@warrendoris9669]

@TheRenaissanceman65 We all are bro! 😎👍

[@JayVision4383]

I think David did a great job improving the Mellotron

[@warrendoris9669]

@TheRenaissanceman65 Lolol getting old bro!🙂

[@daland4920]

The mellotron's purpose is to play Strawberry Fields.

[@elchichosantana6410]

The Beatles made it popular.

[@brettnelson2698]

@@elchichosantana6410 Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues pioneered it. He showed it to the Beatles.

[@markstedman9099]

Da Land,nah watcher of the skies

[@daland4920]

@Jeremy Karnick ask me how I know you're a troll.

[@daland4920]

@Jeremy Karnick you could also ask me how I know you're an egomaniac who thinks he's smarter than anyone else.

[@victoza9232]

"And remember 007, pushing the lowest B-flat starts the timer on the bomb hidden in the speaker. You'll have 10 seconds to get out of the room before it explodes."

[@TheIceBallsGaming]

this comment is pure gold

[@PozieNayan]

Meanwhile on Looney Tunes... YOU IDIOT! That's the wrong key! I'll show you how it's playin!

[@DavidSmith-ze2wi]

A bomb in the speaker ! Your joking.

[@Crolis]

@@DavidSmith-ze2wi I never joke about my work 007.

[@IozziEric]

@@DavidSmith-ze2wi A bomb? No! It's a B-flat bomb!

[@nathancrosskey]

David plays some blues and a viennese waltz... "well, David isn't a musician as you know"

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

😂 it was as much to advertise the Mellotron as helping the less virtuosic musician to make music as much as it was for the serious performer! It’s not the best scripted advert I know...they clearly meant that anyone with a basic piano technique could make amazing sound with it

[@coelhoigor]

Tbh I like David's demos way more than the pro pianist's

[@AnjiKnutsen]

In the UK he was famous as a magician!

[@Asmuk]

@@tombstoneharrystudios584 Yes.. look how "David" plays it, using purposely one finger in each hand, but after that playing with the left hand in octaves.

[@cesarmacotela]

@@coelhoigor Same haha

[@johnnycats5157]

"come over and meet my son-in-law" And his son-in-law is older than he is.

[@arcana830]

Johnny Cats oh god I thought the same thing.

[@thefeelcompany]

Innit!!! Hilarious!!!

[@jackflash5659]

Johnny Cats, ROFLMFAO!!!!!!

[@yvesfrancoisritmo]

His daughter perhaps liked older men? 😆

[@yunussh5385]

LMFAO

[@ricsousamusic]

The Pro Pianist played with "technic" But David, most importantly, played with *SOUL*

[@G6JPG]

David Soul? 🙂

[@iamdamosuzuki_]

I was really getting into that waltz he played

[@m3rify]

what

[@WobblesandBean]

I just love the warbled imperfections the mellotron gives that you just can't get from a digital synthesizer. I hope to have one of my own some day.

[@olsmokey]

Just listen to the Moody Blues.

[@Kids_Scissors]

Until you replicate the wobble with a digital synthesizer lol but yeah I get what you mean

[@Jimmyknapp2]

@@Kids_Scissors I think we're there technologically, people haven't noticed yet. Modern synth programs are flexible enough, all they need is the lo-fi effect which is easily added.

[@DanielRoberts-vn6ox]

@@Jimmyknapp2 I've found the Arturia Mellotron software to be pretty good in capturing the ethereal essence of some of the samples, although I don't think they've quite cracked the imperfections.

[@troutmask6800]

@@olsmokeyalso king crimson court of the crimson king

[@StrykerTV]

"I have a professional pianist here" Proceeds to rack his fingers up and down the keyboard and hit the same notes over and over quickly.

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

He wasn't convincing.

[@sesclaytpoop8525]

He's not a *Pro* Not epic

[@sxturnx_8767]

Maybe if he practices more, one day he'll be as good as david

[@RyanTheHero3]

StrykrTV David was way better

[@salilsharma3722]

@@sesclaytpoop8525 needs more BASS

[@krzemian]

1:12 "I thought you'd never ask" the most sincere line ever

[@gj8683]

It's the kind of thing that happens when spontaneity is allowed to flourish.

[@andilouis8770]

That because he doesn't ignore it. Feedback is very important for them because it ensures the product's quality

[@asiamahebenezerjurgen7944]

I get it... How do you sell a new technology without showing how it really works? He obviously knew he would have to play it otherwise why was he sitting behind it. He probably had rehearsed what he had to play knowing he's not a "musician" 🤣 🤣🤣

[@alexanderkingtickle]

there’s one name that is very important to the history of the mellotron. Mike Pinder. he worked at the mellotron factory back in the day, then later went to use the instrument in a little-known band called the Moody Blues…and started a revolution in the process! The Beatles used it, King Crimson used it, Genesis used it, Yes used it, Black Sabbath used it…the list of names who used this instrument is endless!

[@chaplainmattsanders4884]

Very cool bit of music history.

[@egbront1506]

ABBA used one on the Waterloo album sampling a jangly guitar.

[@sandwhichism]

The Moody Blues are criminally underrated. And Pinder could definitely work magic on his mellotron. I hope your comment encourages at least a couple people to check them out! Really great band.

[@cuda426hemi]

Strawbs - Hero and Heroine Groundhogs - Who Will Save The World are other great 'tron bands/songs. Of course most people in late 60s heard Mellotron first early '67 on Strawberry Fields meant to be on Pepper but released earlier as a single; then it was King Crimson in '69 that put it on the map even though the Moody's great To Our Children's Children's Children LP had a LOT of 'tron on it same year but was only starting to break the band - after '69 we went back in time to late '67 for Days Of Future Passed with White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon making them hits years after they came out. King Crimson had 2 of 'em on stage not just for occasional dual blasts of majestic weird strings but because they were flaky as F with American AC not helping much...this during the Lark's Tongue/Red days of KC. Genesis bought a hand me down Mk II from King Crimson which you can obviously hear on Watcher Of The Skies opening. 🎹

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

The Rolling Stones also used it. Legend has it that Brian Jones was one of the first people in the U.K. to own one.

[@beez1717]

This instrument has a wonderful tone and you can't get it today in any modern synthesizer because you can't emulate the wow and flutter just right. It sounds so fun!

[@XIIMonkeysMusicGroup]

Chase Bliss Audio Generation Loss MkII gets really close though!

[@macaroon147]

Tone? It's not producing a sound, its just playing a tape recording

[@quantumleap359]

@@macaroon147 Rather wow and fluttery I might add. But that's its charm.

[@347Jimmy]

You can replicate it by sampling it All the flutter, wow, imperfections and warts of the tape come through The Mellotron was basically a sampler, use the same method

[@Jacklevics]

David: “Well, I’m a frustrated musician, Eric” Eric: “David isn’t a musician, as you know” Ouch

[@filipblaskovic9420]

Well what should he say to someone shagging his daughter, who is older than he himself? David is not a musician!😂😂

[@LesserMoffHootkins]

That must have been frustrating.

[@russellwhite1581]

Well, I enjoyed David's playing even if Eric was unimpressed.

[@notvalidcharacters]

No wonder he's frustrated, eh?

[@davewoolford6641]

David, every time I come round your house you're always playing with your organ!

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

Dave Woolford I asked the barmaid for an innuendo...and she gave me one 😂

[@wouterdeheus3626]

Dave Woolford weellll I'm a frustrated man you know!

[@chrishopkins209]

“David... stop looking up my lampshade”

[@mrlevhil]

And yet you always return

[@jimd2101]

David like playing with his organ ....he also enjoys playing the skin flute.......LOL !

[@countiblis1246]

At the Moody Blues first ever gig in the USA, just as they powered into their opening number the back of the Mellotron blew off and the insides spewed out all over the stage. It took 20 minutes for Mike Pindar the keyboardist to fix it so the lighting engineer played old cartoons to keep all the mashed hippies entertained. I'd loved to have seen that.

[@stoneyboyd]

I wish there was a video of that

[@humphreygruntwhistle3946]

Wonder if the stoned crowd enjoyed the cartoons more than the band.

[@Truckguy1970]

I heard about that. What I heard had happened was that it was originally set up to run on 230 volts 50hz which is common in the UK and other European countries. And when they bought it here to tour, they had it set for 120 volts 60 hz but in order for it to run correctly on 60hz they also have to change mechanical parts around which they weren't aware of. It was most likely running too fast which caused the tapes to jump out

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Amazing what a masterpiece King Crimson was able to produce with this toy just four years later.

[@SuperSpazYT]

So revolutionary people my age still talking about it

[@petcatznz]

So true. With people of the calibre of Greg Lake (RIP) and Robert Fripp on board, how could it be otherwise. 21st Century Schizoid Man still does it for me every time, amazing talent.

[@thatwastricky]

2:44 and thus, drum n bass was born

[@unknownboi.]

thatwastricky ies

[@joethompson1724]

thatwastricky s

[@TheMoogaloo]

Nah that was Amen Brother by the winstons. Only time an entire musical genre was based on one drum break. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4TEd4ejZ8eWl8U

[@TheMoogaloo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fam9pqRrbMSVj68

[@mutantfreak48]

@@TheMoogaloo it's a joke but also i'm pretty sure that while the amen break was indeed popular among dnb producers, they used other drum samples as well

[@hestheMaster]

The Mellotron was practically brand new here. What a couple of talented guys built became the cool instrument of the ages, well until digital sampling came along!

[@grendelum]

But digital sampling can’t quite (without some work) reproduce the natural wow and flutter of the tape each time it was played, was never really the same note twice.

[@shable1436]

Same with a guitarist tape echo called the echoplex, go have a listen to more 50s and 60s taped musicians devices

[@nanoloopbandit]

he's the Master yeah but nothing beats that textured tape sound

[@vgmaster9]

@@grendelum Is there a modern equivalent to that?

[@Persun_McPersonson]

@@grendelum Well they weren't talking about digital samples of the Mellotron, but digital sampling in general being the successor to using samples on tape.

[@keymaster430]

For someone who "isn't a musician", he did pretty good

[@tuckertucker1]

I love the optimism captured in this mid-20th-century film. At the time, is seemed like every problem known to man was just waiting to be solved with technology! Don't have an orchestra? No problem!

[@EduTerrataca]

The smile at the end :D

[@kentnebergall3156]

Fun stories - When The Moody Blues got one for the Days of Future Past tour, they pushed one note and all the tapes fell out of the back of the machine. The concert was delayed (an hour, IIRC), while they put it back together again. Seeing what the inside of it looks like finally, that story makes sense. Genesis got their first mellotron second hand from King Crimson. This, Moog synthesizers, effects pedals and overdubs combined to allow very small groups of highly creative and classically trained musicians to match the scope and volume that previously would have required the buy-in of entire symphonies, yet could be done in a garage on a hobbyist budget. This tech revolution was the musical equivalent to the Personal Computer revolution a decade later, or mechanical engineering revolutions a century earlier.

[@user-hr8us5ot8y]

is this a jojo reference

[@foxygrandpa_9139]

Июльマナハン 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@sustomusickillsyoutube]

Kent Nebergall , Fascinating! Do you know what songs or albums King Crimson used it on?

[@pmoris4405]

susto music the mellotron appeared on all early KC albums until Red. I'm pretty sure Fripp used it again in the 90s as well. It was a feature on tracks like ItCoCK, Epitaph, The Devil's Triangle, Starless, etc. I guess they only used brass and cello tapes.

[@sustomusickillsyoutube]

@@pmoris4405 excellent info, thank you! Back when I was listening a lot I never really sat down to think about what it would have taken for some of their instrumentation or arrangements, what a neat bit of history 😊

[@Mr.A_69420]

Song Titles 0:00 Charmaine 1:20 Bye Bye Blues 2:12 Under Paris Skies 2:38 El Cumbanchero (backing sounds kinda similar to Brazil at times)

[@Popitet]

Thanks so much for this! I really like Under Paris Skies (02:12).

[@brian.mcgroarty]

Yes, I absolutely expected Brazil at 2:38! But I think it's just the Mellotron backing, which might have been heard in a hundred different songs.

[@Mr.A_69420]

@@brian.mcgroarty yeah that makes more sense and is probably the case. Thanks for letting me know.

[@davidlincolnbrooks]

These gentlemen look like somebody's grand-dad, yet The Mellotron was heard on some of the most far-out Rock and Psychedelic reordings of the 60's and 70's.

[@everinward398]

Eric Robinson: "Notice how we don't bother pushing the Melotron against the wall. The repair technician is hiding off-camera ready and waiting for when the instrument needs servicing again (and again)".

[@michaelwertzy9808]

You know it, Ever! Moody Blues toured with at least 4, and always 2 of them at a time had to be serviced before their next gigs! -Visconti

[@shable1436]

Thats why the tops were always left off

[@lawrence18uk]

Melotron: the most optimistic instrument ever made!

[@jmalmsten]

Reminds me of router manufacturers just giving up and just put switches on all power-chords to make it easier to force an unexpected power outage.

[@tonyallen6510]

Did moody blues use one on Tuesday afternoon?

[@shable1436]

This is what the 60s sounded like, then add in a theramin and we have every movie and t.v. sound track ever made

[@DomesticHacks]

Thats exactly what I thought

[@willemvandeursen3105]

If it wasn't for the Theramin, we would never have conquered outer space....haha. I remember that in 1966 the Beach Boys employed it in their Good Vibrations recording. That must have been the last time it was used....the synthesizer stole everything.

[@fatroberto3012]

Wow! I came here via a Wikipedia page for Strawberry Fields Forever mentioning a Mellotron and discovered David Nixon, a man from childhood TV that I had completely forgotten about, demonstrating it. If only KZbin was like that all the time.

[@stevenclarke5606]

I remember David Nixon from sixties television , was he a magician?

[@Agnethatheredhairkid]

@@stevenclarke5606 Yes, Steven, he was. I never knew he invented the Mellotron though.

[@petcatznz]

I too remember David Nixon on TV from my childhood days and had also forgotten all about him. He did ‘magic tricks’ and was, I believe, a member of the UK magic circle. To memory, he came over as a quite refined and professional gentleman. Apparently, he died relatively young in 1978 of lung cancer, which is sad.

[@bobblowhard8823]

Dude at the end is smokin' on that thing! What a cool instrument!

[@abrahkadabra9501]

Now I know where all that cheesy music came from in all those low budget movies of the 1960s.

[@willemvandeursen3105]

I wouldn't call the Moody Blues and dozens of other symfopop en prog rock formations "cheesy". The mellotron didn't have a long life, though, as from 1969 the Moog Synthesizer elbowed it out of the way.

[@abrahkadabra9501]

@@willemvandeursen3105 Please read my post over again. I made NO MENTION of ANY musical group.

[@willemvandeursen3105]

@@abrahkadabra9501 Okay. Next time I'll add a :--) after every sentence I post on YT. :--)

[@captainantilles9094]

@@willemvandeursen3105 good.

[@Derayes]

Ha ha ha, true ;)

[@ianwoollard2063]

These guys must have had some totally lit parties 🤣

[@kevhead1525]

Mike Pinder's use of the mellotron was one of the earliest and most substantial.

[@dementedgamer0810]

The Mellotron is probably my favorite instrument now. I'm a guy who is heavily obsessed over tape loops, and this instrument is full of 'em. I actually want to play this instrument someday. The ACTUAL one.

[@chrisdale3087]

They're actually not tape loops, but lengths up tape that go up and down on a pulley system.

[@dementedgamer0810]

@@chrisdale3087 I know.

[@ErnestoAvilez92]

You can really see how far keyboard technology has come along way and back then, this was revolutionary for its time.

[@zagajan]

Imagine what David could play on it, if he was a musician lol

[@RexTorres]

Wow! So this is basically the ancestor of the modern keyboard.

[@jonahselwood7017]

id reckon the piano has that title

[@adamjacksonmedia]

Holy cow... Once Rick Wakeman, The Bealtles, King Crimson and Led Zeppelin got a hold of one of these... one of the most magical eras in music came to fruition.

[@javier.zelada]

King Crimson took the mellotron to one of its highest peaks. Fantastic instrument.

[@captaintrips2980]

As did the Moody Blues.

[@davidboult4143]

Google User you're not kidding!

[@alaincelos476]

Pinder was à far better usér than Ian Mc Donald or Fripp....

[@cybrunel1016]

Well...David isn't a musician as you know. David had my attention actually.

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

Cy Brunel David Nixon was one of the most famous entertainers and magicians at the time...he had a LOT of charisma and was obsessed with technology. In fact, he was one of the first to have pioneered the use of camera effects on tv shows as actual entertainment rather than hidden effects. He also did a terrific cut and restored rope trick with his microphone cable as part of his act...pantomime at its best!

[@britishcomposers]

Eric Robinson was a light and classical music conductor that did much with the BBC, and who also had a brother, Stanford in the same profession. Eric had a radio programme on the BBC Light Programme, (a forerunner of Radio 2), called, 'Music For You'. He was also often involved with electronics and backed the advertising advertisements of the then (1950's) vastly superior sounding VHF/FM German brand of table valve radio sets made by Grundig with the brochures proclaiming, 'Music For You'; a twist on his radio programme's title. David Nixon was a musician as well as a magician on television with his own weekly show throughout the 50's until the late 70's before Paul Daniels came into being in the early 80's. There's even a David Nixon Magic Show with Paul Daniels as an up-and-coming guest magician. David Nixon attended Westcliff grammar school in Essex and played Cello or Double Bass according to a friend who attended there years later, because his instrument was left to the school and kept in a display cabinet with a plaque. The young keyboard player at the end of this clip, as I found out some years ago when this Pathe clip went onto KZbin, actually went on to become a rep for Hammond, the home organ company, (a booming industry in the 60's until the early 80's), and would now be approaching 80 all told.

[@davidlincolnbrooks]

I love the way the British radio service, back in the day, had a musical category they called "Light"... That could be almost anything (besides Classical, which was considered, "Heavy", I suppose?)

[@pianoboylaker6560]

Yeah, it was, and still is called, jobs for the boys. The BBC has always been a closed shop. If you weren't in the clique or you didn't have a deep throat you didn't get anywhere

[@postscript67]

@@davidlincolnbrooks The Light Programme was for "Light Entertainment", not just music but less serious fare than served up by the main radio channel which was the BBC Home Service. Classical music was found on The Third Programme. In 1967 the Home Service became Radio 4, the Third Programme Radio 3, and the Light was divided into Radios 1 and 2. I think "light music" was stuff like the jaunty, easy-on-the-ear orchestral music often heard in the background of Pathe shorts etc. I remember Bob Monkhouse presented a programme of it on Radio 2 on Sunday afternoons just over 20 years ago.

[@misterk7_-]

Fun Fact: Samples off of The Mellotron were used to make tracks in Minecraft and Little Big Planet.

[@chrisdale3087]

Only because Mellotron owners made those sounds available digitally in the 1990's.

[@moleman1961]

Just a side note. David Nixon was a real good magician! Used to be on TV all the time!

[@CJCappella]

Son-in-law looks older!!!

[@beachmasterX]

CJCappella Greetings, yes that is how we roll on the big island

[@gp414]

He had a tough paper round.

[@MrSonofsonof]

Rock stars often have much younger wives. Mind you, he's not exactly giving off that Rod Stewart vibe.

[@Drchainsaw77]

Looks like the father-in-law (Robinson) is older by 8 1/2 years. His daughter is David Nixon's third wife.

[@BigDogCountry]

@@gp414 paper route?

[@tinderbox218]

DJs take note, you could really be the life of the party with an instrument like this.

[@alistersutherland3688]

What happened is that musicians built their own tape loops and libraries. Recording sounds they wanted - what we call samples today - so that there became a vast variety of possibilities. Swapping them in and out was a huge pain, but there was nothing else like it. Often, it was the left hand loops - the packaged rhythms were an easy target - because they served no purpose for creators like those mentioned previously. So after a while, each Mellotron played by a big time pro was unique, having its own set of custom tape loops. Rick Wakeman was an early pioneer, as was Tony Banks. I saw them both live in the early - mid 70s (Genesis in 73, Yes in 76. Also Pink Floyd in 73. All used Mellotrons). That it was developed at all seems somehow miraculous. That some middle-class Brits in the early-mid 60s with appallingly bad taste could create something that changed how music was created. High maintenance, lots of playback heads, guides and capstans to clean, and tape oxidizes over time, and the more you use it, the more material it leaves behind, eventually degrading whatever is on it. But hey, who had ever heard anything like it?

[@Garry_Adams_Music]

Thanks for the added insight!

[@L00PdeL00P]

Such a haunting and beautiful tone, what a unique instrument.

[@michaelcox5166]

I have a modern digital Mellotron, just because. I use it all the time. People just recognize that sound. Hilarious seeing what it was used for at first besides Beatles records.

[@Locke3OOO]

Bet. Where do you acquire one?

[@tacticalguy6473]

@@Locke3OOO trade secrets i guess

[@toninho7307]

@@Locke3OOO Arturia

[@retrofan42]

@@Locke3OOO you can also get a Mel9 pedal (made by Electro-Harmonix) and hook it up to a keyboard. Works pretty well.

[@SoundJudgment]

M4000D

[@wizardrystoryteller9714]

It is beautiful. It sounds like an orchestra from the 30's

[@unduloid]

A very tired & drunk orchestra...

[@chariotofthesun]

@@unduloid I think that’s the beauty of it

[@Alun49]

They had no idea what they brought in to the world of music. Mellotrons may have been notorious for breaking down on the the road, but their sound defined progressive rock in the UK. The sound has remained iconic and now modern mellotron mk vii's allow a whole new generation to explore this wonderful and more portable instrument.

[@pinballpeanut3015]

The polite British accents just kill me. Jolly good!

[@gardnerberry113]

I say, it would be jolly good to have a spot of tea and some crumpets right now! Pip-pip, cheerio and all that sort of rot!

[@leopoldbluesky]

Sadly, no one here speaks like that any more. Even Eton schoolboys sound like they come from 'Sarf Landan'

[@smfvmd]

The things you learn from KZbin! I never knew that Eric Robinson was David Nixon's father-in-law and they were responsible for the Mellotron. Respect!!

[@lemming9984]

Can't remember what David Nixon did on TV, but I do remember seeing him through sixties.

[@stevehay964]

It's magical.

[@lemming9984]

@@stevehay964 Oh Yeah!! Now I remember.

[@arthurvasey]

David Nixon’s Magic Box, which morphed into The David Nixon Show - featuring other magicians besides himself and people from the world of entertainment - used to replace Opportunity Knocks in the summer months at one time!

[@aussiebaron]

I owned one once.. 1972 when i was in NZ.. It had four large banks of tapes that needed to be lifted in and out to change sound. strings, male choir, female choir and mixed choir. supposedly recorded each note with real sounds on to 1/4 inch tape. I loaned to a recording studio to be used by Spit Enz to be used on one of their early recordings.

[@aussiebaron]

@@contemporaryviola... !974 was when i loaned Split Enz the Mellotron from my music store in Glen Innes. Their drummer then was a Kiwi working for Beverly Bruce and Goldi, an importer and wholesaler of Lowery organs, and many other brands of musical instruments; also the manufacturer of Janzen amps. I'm blowed if i can remember the drummers name. He was a wonderful tech chap who did all the servicing of my amps, organs and the like, tall slim, long hair. When Split Enz left for England he remained in NZ as he thought he had a very well paid job at BB&G, a family etc and wasn't prepared to take the chance. That is why split Enz employed a Pommie drummer when they arrived in Britain. The rest is as they say is History.

[@omegalpha777]

I was living in a lie, this whole time. I bet that most of the soundtrack of movies from the late 60s and 70s used this impressive instrument. Wow

[@MrPeter3011]

Mellotron for me is always remembered with the MOODY BLUES "Days of future passed".......

[@jerrytheracecardriver1100]

I've listened to the Moody Blues for years, and never knew how the Mellotron worked. Cool. It's like an early version of sampling.

[@retrofan42]

Michael Pinder worked in the factory that made Mellotrons for 18 months.

[@abyhmahou]

Moody Blues brought me here, hihih 🖤

[@TheloniousCube]

It IS an early version of sampling

[@Waltiswicked]

This is one of the funniest, most incredibly Anglo videos of all time. Just brilliant.

[@rocdocs]

Thank you so much- what a wonderful look at the Mellotron in action at the very start! And boy does that pianist have some balls!

[@dalebaker9109]

Without this, there would have not been prog rock. Look at the sounds, that Genesis, yes, and many others, got out the mellotron! A fellow, even did 2 albums of classic music, using just the mellotron, and it sounds amazing. Love it.

[@alanmusicman3385]

Was that "Fellow" Wendy Carlos with "Switched on Bach"?

[@alanmusicman3385]

@ghost mall I wasn't making any kind of gender point or "Jerk" comment - I was attempting to dispel the anonymity in the original comment in case anyone wanted to go and check out the work referred to. You might want to back off that hair-trigger a little bit.

[@alanmusicman3385]

@ghost mall No problem

[@LUKERJ]

@ghost mall às 😅 as aaaa as q as as a as😊 😊😊a gf mcccccccxqqqxqlq da has cyppnl am😢ssQsq my

[@tonycook1624]

@@alanmusicman3385 No because Switched On Bach was highlighing the Moog Modular Synthesiser

[@joe6096]

Two years after this was filmed, a group of guys from Liverpool would try the flutes sound on this thing. Wonder how that turned out.

[@chieftp]

quite dastardly I dare say, old chap

[@1964ianb]

"Oi! 'oo put all these spliff burns on the Mellotron?"

[@georgew2014]

Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues introduced Lennon to the mellotron.

[@a2ndopynyn]

@@georgew2014 Exactly. To me, this sound will always remind me of the Moody Blues.

[@lenini056]

What about a group of lads from Birmingham mastering the instrument to new heights?

[@kaugusta1]

I don't know, I kinda prefer "not a musician" David to the professional. Puttin' the mellow in the ol'tron!

[@TheVelaRock]

Could this keyboard be the great grandfather of all keyboard arrangers and samplers? It's a very impressive work for what they were able to accomplish, with the limited technology, back in the days.

[@Meridian83West]

Ah yes, the Mellotron! Technically the first sample playback keyboard!

[@adatherton]

That's David Nixon the famous TV magician, isn't it. Loving the tape loops btw, mechanical nightmare.

[@unamacarana]

This never gets old. Thank you for posting.

[@BluesCat1980]

What a freaking cool instrument!

[@siler7]

Look up what Tony Banks did with it on Genesis records. Still feels like magic, 50 years later.

[@Hephasto]

If that is so cool, what the point of playing grand piano? Everyone should’ve been playing melloton instead, as long as it’s so cool

[@kppb6844]

@@Hephasto - Yes, they should. Cancel the grand piano.

[@Chrnan6710]

2:40 he's just thinking *"...this is going to be so awesome..."*

[@andygummybear123]

David had is own TV shows in the 60's he was a Brilliant Magician

[@SpeckleKen]

Wait - David Nixon the magician?! He was all over the TV in the 70s. Wikipedia describes him as "the best-known magician in the UK." No idea he was involved in this.

[@jensimaster]

That last bit the professional pianist plays is the most British thing I've ever heard. Move over Dr. Who opening theme song!

[@larrycooper5388]

I remember using these in the studio. Loved it.

[@ThaSupaHeroReD]

He roasted the first guy lol

[@pianokeyjoe]

Amazing! No latency no delay from note on to sound! And mostly electro mechanical! Its like playing a type of sampler drum or keyboard synth but very old fashion and very pretty looking too!

[@davidvincent1093]

This was many years ago and I should know because this machine was what got me into playing a jazz organ. It was kind of weird because I have not played in almost 35 years (I am 69 now) and TODAY I bought a new CONN 3 manuel organ with all the bells and whistles. I am gong to be able to create all those great memories again. I am so glad to have wondered the KZbin videos and found this. To the people that created this video over 8 years ago, you might have thought people forgot about your work, but it is still out here and THANK YOU

[@Garry_Adams_Music]

Did you buy the new CONN 3 before or after watching this video? 🤔

[@davidvincent1093]

@@Garry_Adams_Music After. I could have gotten one of the "sexier" new electronic models, but my feelings were that the CONN is a much sturdier model than the later models. So far the only thing I have had to do was replace the power chord. The firs time I plugged it in it blew a house breaker and when I check it out I found that the wire coverings that were wrapped under the chord had deteriorated to the point they made contact. So I simply removed the entire power unit and not only rewired by but also add the newer 3 prong cord with a ground to the control box for safety . I had forgotten what a pleasure it was to play a theater organ but I also remembered how much I had forgotten in over 40 years. Thank you for asking

[@toyotaprius79]

This is making me so happy, why is this, of all things on KZbin, make me laugh with tears?

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

Because you're weird.

[@neutralearth1061]

The power and the glory of our Mellotron Overlord on display! Reverence and praise to tape replay!

[@EnriqueLondaits]

One of the amazing things about its conception and creation was that it DIDN'T USE tape loops at all. It was an intricate system where every time you pressed a key, the corresponding tape would start playing FROM the attack of the note by the recorded instrument. And the attack is what defines most musical instruments' characteristics.

[@kiethblack3870]

George Harrison used that same accompaniment, with jazzy trombone as well, in his 'Wonderwall' film soundtrack. I thinks it's "Drilling At Home".

[@DreitTheDarkDragon]

I really like how much they enjoy it!

[@clemtoe]

This music always plays whenever I'm at a countryside hotel and me, my wife, my friend, his girlfriend and a french maid are chasing one another into and out of various doors in a hallway.

[@francishruszka7429]

Astounding! Just love Mike Pinder's playing the mellotron on the Moodie's album A Question of Balance. Wish I had a mellotron!

[@TimLynchNZ]

Yes, Mike Pinder was a master of this instrument as well as a lyricist. A question of balance is a very tight musical album.

[@mainorramirez6610]

What a technical master piece of its time! I've have had some digital pianos through the years, and it is great to re-discover how and when this technology started many years ago.

[@DennisMC1974]

The true instruments of all 60s theme songs

[@vanillarain711]

3:15 ... solo section to Highway Star!

[@scooboy]

Amazing video and hard to believe how far electronic keyboards have came

[@melomane2010]

Steve Hackett said it best I think, and I paraphrase "It sounds like a symphony orchestra performance broadcast from Mars".

[@ThisCreepingLife]

Actually, i liked more David's playing

[@mantriccaravan8228]

I love the liveliness of fine clicking keys! Oh party on Mr. Robinson!

[@martinarnold5239]

This is the greatest thing I have ever seen

[@holydiver73]

Mark Radcliffe once lovingly referred to the Mellotron as ‘an orchestra in a drinks cabinet’. He wasn’t far wrong. A wonderful instrument utilised by many of my favourite prog bands of the 1970’s. Sadly seldom used these days.

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

More like seldom working these days🤣I love them!!

[@chrisdale3087]

@@thepostapocalyptictrio4762 Actually we have more original working Mellotrons today than ever before because owners and collectors have been fixing them for the last 30 years.

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

@@chrisdale3087 well that’s good

[@BuildThreadsNorway]

It sounds pretty amazing.

[@rdhusband]

Dope af

[@Wistbacka]

Feels like this is the true forefather to the Yamaha CVP-series of pianos. Truly incredible device this

[@BluesCat1980]

It's the beginning of all keyboards that have auto accompaniment. The difference is that what you're hearing here is real recorded instruments.

[@beatewester4777]

It's just amazing. There is the sound of movie music directly in my ears. 😀Thanks for sharing😍

[@Halfstar3]

SO retro and SO amazing.

[@TheAnthraxBiology]

I love how they thought this would be used to replace the orchestra when really it took on a life of its own because it sounded NOTHING like real instruments.

[@MastersofMelody1]

I doubt if Eric Robinson thought it would replace the orchestra. he was,after all, a top orchestral conductor with his own series on both radio and television

[@antibodiesagainstkookery3871]

Well, to get it to sound like an orchestra you need to record an orchestra! I see this more as a sampler, or a way for a pianist to have a more full-featured backing and "play" other instruments.

[@michaelbauers8800]

But it was real instruments I bet. It wasn't a synthesizer, it was a magnetic tape sampler. But of course you could not fundamentally change anything in the tape "loop", like you could with a real instrument. In other words, limited or no modulation.

[@Ader1]

iTh zOundeD nhOtiHNg LyKe riAL Hynstrhument 🥵😈👌🏻

[@Ader1]

@@michaelbauers8800 Fix that wording, you make understand something else...

[@user-sq4pk4ir7h]

A friends parents in high school had one of these. Fascinating instrument when you sit in front of it for the first time. George Martin and the Beatles sure made amazing use of it.

[@richardlafontaine4124]

As this technology developed, the Mellotron spawned analog string synthesizers with a warmth digital synthesizers still struggle today to mimic. Used widely in the early 70's for demos and where live performance conditions (including budgetary constraints) precluded the use of an actual string ensemble, these analog keyboards were the next best thing.