This page is devoted to those albums that are frequently quoted as 'containing Mellotron', but it turns out to be a case of mistaken identity (although not as a result of using samples). Most of the cases I've run into have been simply string synth or real strings, but there's always a few interesting ones that deserve some sort of comment.
Ratings:
The * rating (½-5) is my personal, entirely subjective and completely partisan rating of the music.
There is, of course, no 'Tron rating.
| Amon Düül II (Germany, kraut) |
|
Dance of the Lemmings [a.k.a. Tanz der Lemminge] (1971) REVIEW (***½)
Wolf City (1972) REVIEW (***½) |
| Atonal (Argentina) |
|
Plegaria Urbana (1979) |
| Beatles (UK) |
|
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) REVIEW (****½) |
| Box Tops (US, pop) |
|
The Letter (1967 single): real strings |
| Brand X (UK, fusion) |
|
Moroccan Roll (1977): pictured but not used. Seems they'd intended to, but it broke down... |
| Crypto (Netherlands, fusion) |
|
Crypto (1975) - string synth REVIEW (***) |
| Lucio Dalla & Francesco de Gregori (Italy, pop) |
|
Banana Republic (1979): credits 'solina mellotron'. No, it's not a Mellotron, nor does it sound like one |
| Dalton (Italy, progressive) |
|
Riflessioni: Idea d'Infinito (1973) REVIEW (***½) |
| Deadsy (US) |
|
Phantasmagore (2006) - Leslie Hall credited on track cut from eventual release |
| Stefan Diestelmann (E.Germany, blues) |
|
Folk Blues Band (1978) REVIEW (***½) |
| Discipline (US, progressive) |
|
Push & Profit (1994) REVIEW (***½) |
| Druid (UK, progressive) |
|
Fluid Druid (1976): real strings/flutes/choir |
| Eddy Zoltan (Norway, progressive) |
|
Spelemannen (1974): credited, but string synth |
| Electric Light Orchestra (UK, progressive pop) |
|
A New World Record (1976) REVIEW (***)
Out of the Blue (1977) REVIEW (***) |
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer (UK, progressive) |
|
Trilogy (1972): the 'strings' on 'Abaddon's Bolero' are overdubbed Moog, according to Emerson |
| Espiritu (Argentina, progressive) |
|
Libre y Natural (1976) - Ciro Fogliatta |
| Frágil (Peru, progressive) |
|
Avenida Larco (1981) REVIEW (***½)
Frágil (1979) - César Bustamante
Serranio (1990) - César Bustamante
Cuento Real (1993) - César Bustamante
Alunado (1997) - César Bustamante
Sorpeso del Tiempo (2002) - César Bustamante |
| Fruupp (UK, progressive) |
|
Future Legends (1973): real strings/string synth
Seven Secrets (1974): as above
The Prince of Heaven's Eyes (1974): as above
Modern Masquerades (1975): as above |
| Gandalf (Austria, synth/new age) |
|
Visions (1980): before his Mellotronic purchase |
| Gentle Giant (UK, progressive) |
|
In a Glass House (1973): pictured on sleeve, but not heard (opening FX are apparently BBC tapes) |
| Haboob (US/Germany, progressive/kraut) |
|
Haboob (1971) REVIEW (***½) |
| Horizonte (Argentina, progressive) |
|
Horizonte (1977) |
| King Crimson (UK, progressive) |
|
Live at Summit Studios, Denver, 1972 (2000): credited, but not heard |
| Kraftwerk (Germany, synth) |
|
Radio-Activity [a.k.a. Radio-Aktivität] (1975): Orchestron |
| Led Zeppelin (UK, hard rock) |
|
Led Zeppelin IV (1971) REVIEW (****½) |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd (US, hard rock) |
|
Skynyrd's First &... Last [a.k.a. Skynyrd's First: the Complete Muscle Shoals Album] (1978) REVIEW (****½) |
| Máquina de Hacer Pájaros (Argentina, progressive) |
|
La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros (1976) |
| Gustave Montesano (Argentina, progressive) |
|
Homenaje (1977) |
| Mountain (US, hard rock) |
|
Nantucket Sleighride (1971): some harmony guitar, some distorted Hammond. No Mellotron |
| An Pierlé (Belgium) |
|
Helium Sunset (2002) REVIEW (***½) |
| Polifemo (Argentina, progressive) |
|
Polifemo (1976)
Polifemo II (1977) REVIEW (***½) |
| Popol Vuh (Germany, kraut/avant garde) |
|
Aguirre (1975): apparently the infamous choir-organ again, as heard on various Amon Düül II albums REVIEW (****) |
| Raul Porchetto (Argentina) |
|
Mundo (1979) |
| Predmestje (Yugoslavia) |
|
Brez Naslova (1977) REVIEW (***) |
| Rainbow (UK, hard rock) |
|
Rainbow Rising (1976) REVIEW (*****) |
| Rascal Reporters (US, avant-garde progressive) |
|
The Foul-Tempered Clavier (2001): credited but just... not REVIEW (***½) |
| Schicke Führs Fröhling (SFF) (Germany, progressive) |
|
Ticket to Everywhere (1978): pictured but not used |
| Sui Generis (Argentina, progressive) |
|
Pequeñas Anéctodes Sobre las Instituciones (1974) |
| Armando Tirelli (Uruguay, progressive) |
|
El Profeta (1978): credited but inaudible |
| Martin Wall (Canada) |
|
Metaphysical Facelift (1977): string synth REVIEW (***) |
| When (Norway) |
|
Black, White & Grey (1988): 'Death in the Blue Lake' - interesting samples, but no Mellotron |
| Barney Wilen & Dièse 440 (France) |
|
Live in Paris, 8 Janvier 1983 (1983) REVIEW (***) |
| Robert Wyatt (UK, progressive) |
|
Ruth is Stranger Than Richard (1975) |
| Yes (UK, progressive) |
|
The Yes Album (1970): it's a recorder. Tony Kaye allegedly complained enough about having to play Moog... |
| Zoppo Trump (Germany, progressive) |
|
Zoppo Trump (2009, recorded 1971-76) REVIEW (***) |
