Mellotron in Smile's Earth

As far as I am concerned Queen never used a mellotron keyboard in their records or live. Today I was listening to Smile and noticed that Earth has a mellotron part in the backround!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJkBIGJpa2o
2.28-2.53

It was probably played by the unknown session musician who did the hammond organ work, but then again, Brian could have played it too.

The "strings" sound closely to MkII's 3 Violins, but as the album was recorded 1969, the mellotron could have been M 300 (1968) as well.

I think I read somewhere that it was a studio session musician.

Wasn't Chris Smith the Keyboardist on Smile?

He left the band before they first recorded.

My one connection to Queen - my name is Chris Smith!! :-)

[QUOTE] [b]cmsdrums wrote:[/b]
My one connection to Queen - my name is Chris Smith!! :-)[/QUOTE]
That, and you like their music.