Customer Reviews

The Mellotron Book (Music)

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"The Mellotron Book" by Frank Samagaio offers an in-depth look at a obscure but beloved instrument. The mellotron is a keyboard instrument that used pre-recorded tapes play back the sounds of flutes, horns, strings etc. In a way, it could be called the world's first 'analog' sampler. Many musicians in the mid to late '60s through the '70s used the mellotron including Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and Tangerine Dream. Perhaps the best known users of the mellotron were Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues and of course The Beatles whose "Strawberry Fields Forever" brought the sound of this instrument into living rooms around the globe. All of the above artists are mentioned extensively in this book. Also, Samagaio goes into great detail about the mellotron's history, manufacturing process and inner mechanics.
The book also features an extensive list of albums that all feature the mellotron in one fashion or another.
This book is an excellent history lesson of this revolutionary instrument. Without the Mellotron, the digital sampling heard in today's music would probably not exist. "The Mellotron Book" is definitely a must have.

This book really covers the history of the Mellotron, as also many great inside tips on the musicians/artists that have made great music with their hands all playing the Mellotron keyboard! Frank did a fabulous job of research and time taking events that included even the most recent history which includes the Mellotron Digital phase, of which I was a part of... This is a MUST READ for anyone who wonders where those great vocal,string,flutes and other background sounds came from when listening to their favorite tunes...groups like the Moody Blues, Genesis, Yes, The Beatles, to AeroSmith, Billy Joel, David Bowie and many, many, others! The sounds of the Mellotron are still being heard today, new artists are also using the great sounds made famous from this, a most unique musical instrument known as the Mellotron.Congratulations to Frank for a great job in presenting the history and facts of the Mellotron and the artists, songs that made it famous!

J.McNeely-Keyboardist/Founder/Past CEO Mellotron Digital Corp.

I've had this book for five or six years. It's one of those books about a relatively obscure subject that appeals to a small audience and has a small print run. Then, more people get interested, and the book that sold for about $20 now costs over $100 (new).

When I first read it, I got the distinct impression that author Frank Samagaio was thrilled that he was asked to write this book. That said, 'The Mellotron Book' is a good survey of the machine and its history and includes an extensive discography. What I found really interesting was the short interviews with various musicians who talk about the instrument and their approach to it, their tips, etc.

Recommended!