Mel Collins

griggsy · 09-22-2004, 06:57 PM

Could use your help on this one John L...
I was listening to the sax solo on Alan Parsons Project's "Don't Answer Me". The solo is great, and after I tried to work on it a bit, I did some research on who did it. I found out it was Mel Collins. There is another solo I really enjoy too that I have been trying to work out. It is from Dire Strait's live version of "Romeo and Juliet"- just phenomenal...and I learned yesterday that Mel did work with Alan Parsons. Can anyone confirm that Mel did that solo in the Dire Straits' tune? Also...any other background on Mel, and is he performing today? Thanks!

Big Nick · 09-22-2004, 08:11 PM

Mel Collins is currently playing with 21st Century Schizoid Band, a band consisting of (mostly) former members of King Crimson and performing songs from the old KC repertoire.
From the 21st CSB website:

Quote:

Mel Collins (Alto / Tenor Sax, Flute, Keyboards)

Having joined Crimson during the recording of ‘In The Wake Of Poseidon’ in 1970, Collins' aggressive brand of sax playing was an immediate success with fans and critics. It was also a passport to a successful post-King Crimson career as the first-call sax player for a stellar list of artists, including Bryan Ferry, Cliff Richard, Roger Waters, Tina Turner, Bad Company, Dire Straits and Eric Clapton. He also played on the King Crimson albums ‘Lizard’ and ‘Islands’
For all his success with other artists, Mel retains a deep respect and affection for the music of King Crimson, jumping at the chance to renew old acquaintances when Michael Giles made the call.

**John Laughter** · 09-22-2004, 11:29 PM

griggsy, you are correct about "Don't Answer Me" and thanks to Big Nick for the update. The following sites confirm that Collins was also on the Romeo and Juliet" recording;

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...988759-2939331

http://www.geocities.com/danielfjall/dire_straits.htm see Alchemy

**John Laughter** · 09-22-2004, 11:39 PM

Research also shows;

GIRL I’M GONNA MISS YOU-MILLI VANILLI-MEL COLLINS-SOPRANO

DANCE HALL DAYS-WANG CHUNG-MEL COLLINS-ALTO SOLO with SAX SECTION

MISS YOU-ROLLING STONES-MEL COLLINS-TENOR

However, I am not sure if the Milli listing is valid or if someone was making a joke during our research! Perhaps someone on the SOTW board has a CD that gives him credit?

**Hurling Frootmig** · 09-23-2004, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Laughter

Research also shows;

GIRL I';M GONNA MISS YOU-MILLI VANILLI-MEL COLLINS-SOPRANO

DANCE HALL DAYS-WANG CHUNG-MEL COLLINS-ALTO SOLO with SAX SECTION

MISS YOU-ROLLING STONES-MEL COLLINS-TENOR

However, I am not sure if the Milli listing is valid or if someone was making a joke during our research! Perhaps someone on the SOTW board has a CD that gives him credit?

You don't really expect any of our members to admit to owning such a CD!

**John Laughter** · 09-23-2004, 02:24 AM

Ha!!! I should have known better than to ask that Hurling

Big Nick · 09-23-2004, 08:52 AM

So, in the interests of research I actually listened to all 3.57 worth of Milli Vanilli.

The half dozen bars of sop could be anybody.

The rest is dire.

**John Laughter** · 09-23-2004, 10:51 AM

The following sites give credit to him on the CD. Perhaps this is where we found the info;

http://store.artistdirect.com/store/...7208%2C00.html

http://store.artistdirect.com/music/...416509,00.html

Albireo · 09-25-2004, 01:24 AM

allmusic.com IIRC, also mentioned the Milli Vanilli performance.

But forget that one, as it's easily ignored in the face of Collins' monumental Crimson work. Check out, in particular:

The sleazy, Ayler-ish tenor solos on "Ladies of the Road" (from Islands), raunchier than any other rock sax playing you'll ever hear and maybe my favorite sax soloing in any genre;

The raw emotional force of his baritone solo in "The Letters" (also from Islands) which for years I thought was actually a tenor;

The bump-and-grind bari on "Pictures of a City" (In the Wake of Poseidon);

Collins' gorgeous flute playing ("Cadence and Cascade from Poseidon and "Lady of the Dancing Water" from Lizard) and bass flute (the title track from Islands);

And, not to be overlooked, his flighty soprano work on Chris Squire's "Lucky Seven" (from Fish Out of Water).

Collins is a sadly underrated player, the dominant figure on Crimson's Lizard and Islands despite the presence of Robert Fripp. His live work with Crimson-- perhaps best documented on the Ladies of the Road 2-CD live set-- was simply superb. Anyone seeking great rock saxophone playing in a format other than the standard 3-minute pop tune should definitely check him out.

As mentioned above, Collins is currently a part of the 21st Century Schizoid Band. When not on the road, he's part of the house band for a German TV talk show, doing music he describes as being very different than the typical TV work. He's also appeared in the "Secret Policeman's Ball" series of live comedy benefits, and was an occasional guest with David Letterman's band during the NBC days. He's also played with Bad Company and a group called Snape with Alexis Corner, having gotten his start with a band called Circus in which he was the focus. (Circus performed music by everyone from The Beatles to Charles Mingus and Sonny Rollins.)

Collins' father was an in-demand professional sax player in England, sometimes doing five sessions per day. Mel considered Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, and his father his primary early influences, taking an interest in John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, and Albert Ayler later on.

Sorry to ramble-- I'm a big fan of King Crimson in general, and its two sax players in particular.

**spiderjames** · 06-13-2005, 03:24 AM

I know this thread is old but I was excited to see another Crimson fan. Mel Collins and Ian Mcdonald were two of reason I started playing sax in the first place. Along with Jaxonsax of Van Der Graaf Generator fame.

**John Laughter** · 06-13-2005, 04:30 AM

1972
#10 BANG A GONG (GET IT ON)-T. REX-IAN MCDONALD-BARITONE
Any others?

JMac · 06-13-2005, 02:19 PM

The first Mel Collins tune I was turned on to was 'The Core' on Eric Clapton's 'Slowhand' album. Next, his work on Chris Squire's 'Fish Out of Water'. Finally caught up with his work in King Crimson a year or so later (ok, back in the late '70's early '80s).

Here is a link to Mel Collin's discography for anyone interested - http://www.elephant-talk.com/discog/collins.htm .

John you are amazing with your encyclopedic knowledge

vick · 06-13-2005, 09:33 PM

Lots of Ian McDonald on early live Crimson. On the 2 CD set "Epitaph," you can hear Ian very well all over the album.

**John Laughter** · 06-13-2005, 10:55 PM

JMac, thanks but I have to give credit to 70 plus people over the past 5 years who contributed the info for a research document.

slaviad · 07-26-2007, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Laughter

griggsy, you are correct about "Don't Answer Me" and thanks to Big Nick for the update. The following sites confirm that Collins was also on the Romeo and Juliet" recording;

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...988759-2939331

http://www.geocities.com/danielfjall/dire_straits.htm see Alchemy

Hello John, I'm so sorry to find this topic too late. I mailed you some years ago about Dire Straits' song Your Latest Trick through Saxgourmet forum ( I'm sure you've already forgoten it

). Being a hard Dire Straits' fan since 1980 I have to disprove you about Mel...he never played the sax solo of Romeo and Juliet.
Yes, he played on Alchemy CD on the link you've posted. But the song was without sax solo there. Mel played on some other songs.

There is only one player performed Romeo and Juliet's sax solo and his name is Chris White ( the melody was created by him ). It can be found on Dire Straits DVD/CD On The Night.

griggsy, if you still like the solo you may check up my site about Chris - you can hear some different versions of it

http://www.chriswhite-saxophone.com/

I'm absolutelly agree Mel Collins is a great sax player - I love his solos played live only on other Dire Straits song - Portobello Belle - he did a great job. If somebody have an interest let PM me - I can send it like mp3.

**John Laughter** · 07-26-2007, 11:08 AM

Hey slaviad, good to hear from you. Yes I recall our messages on the Saxgourmet forum and I am always ready to be corrected on this history stuff. We want the credits to be correct. Several of the entries in the book have been corrected over the years as we gain more info. Also, send an email for the an updated list. We are still adding songs/names and corrections. JSAXL@aol.com

By the way, was "Romeo and Juliet" ever a Top 40 hit in the UK or any country? If so, did the hit version contain Chris' solo? I will add it if it did hit the charts.

slaviad · 07-26-2007, 02:56 PM

Hello John,

I will try to find out if Romeo and Juliet with sax was ever a Top 40 hit . Will ask also on the official Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler forum.
Will mail you if I get answer.

Best Wishes
Slavina

Tim Price · 07-26-2007, 10:25 PM

Mel Collins is on a DVD w/ 21st Centry Skiz' Man - and sounds very cool.

White plays inspirational I agree- I saw stuff from 88' he did with Pino. He sounds very inspired. ( my friends Allison -drums and my co-leader Rachel Z worked with Pino )

I am a huge Pino fan as well as CHRIS WHITE. He sounds very good and the soprano / Pino is really beautiful.