By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:39 pm:

Just listening to ZZ Hill's epic "Nothing can change this love". One thing that strikes me about the song is the fabulous interaction between ZZ's powerful vocals and the organ.

What are your favourite organ grinders?

By MichaelOH (24.157.156.82) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:42 pm:

The late, great Earl Van Dyke on his instrumentals on the "That Motown Sound" LP....

Beautiful stuff.

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:47 pm:

WHEN I THINK OF GREAT ORGAN PLAYERS...MY THOUGHTS USUALLY STRAY TOWARDS SOME OF THE JAZZ GREATS...JIMMY SMITH...CHARLES EARLAND...AND THE LIKE...BUT FOR PURE ORGAN VIRTUOSITY...EARL "CHUNK OF FUNK" VAN DYKE CAN'T BE BEAT!!!...THE WAY HE "FLICKED" THOSE FINGERS AT THE HELPLESS KEYS... REMINDS ONE OF A HUNGRY LEOPARD ABOUT TO JUMP IT'S PREY!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:47 pm:

I used to love Jimmy Smith's LPs. But I'm trying to think o an interaction between a vocalist and the organ. I'll come back at cha with a response.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 03:06 pm:

Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" - straight from the church.

Must admit for some reason I don't really notice
the organ a lot on records from Detroit - must be
having three or four guitar players on tracks that
obscures it a bit. It seems to be a crucial
element in lots of southern records - probably to fill out the sound as they seem to use fewer musicians.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 03:18 pm:

The organ intro on the Supremes' "Stop! In The Name Of Love" as well as the organ track on their "You Keep Me Hanging On."

Any hit record by the Rascals featuring Felix Cavalierie on the Hammond B-3.

Anything from Booker T & the MG'S

Archie Bell & the Drells' "I Can't Stop Dancing"

Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" with Booker T on the organ

Finally, any record by Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff & Jimmy McGriff.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

I've always liked what I'll call (for a lack of a better term) organ doodling, like the little break in "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'".
Now I may be thinking of the Rascals, but the organ doodles behind Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally" show of the insturment in the way it should be played. Not flashy, but without it, the song would be shallow.

By JoeR (170.148.92.53) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 04:13 pm:

DOUGLASM - You beat me to it. I was going to mention Felix Cavalieri of the Rascals. He still has the chops on live performances. He did a wonderful job on his old hits "People Eveywhere Gotta Be Free" (title?) and "Good Loving". He even covered the Impressions' "People Get Ready".

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 04:30 pm:

JoeR:
"People Gotta Be Free" contains some of Felix's finest organ work with the Rascals.

When I was much younger (1970), my brother took me to see the Rascals perform an outdoor gig when the original line-up was still together (guitarist Gene Cornish was from my hometown) and they were so funky and soulful. Felix was wearing this long robe and his beard was long but he & Eddie sang their a--- off.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

I have a video of the Rascals of them playing "Carry Me Back" on the Music Scene tv program in 1969. Poor Felix was working overtime because was playing B-3 organ, B-3 bass pedals (No bass player in the Rascals), RMI Electric Piano, and singing backup on this particular song.

"Try A Little Tenderness" is one of my faves too, but somehow I think I like Booker's organ better on "Merry Christmas Baby" by Otis Redding.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 06:01 pm:

Steve:
I have that same video of the Rascals on the Music Scene as well as their earlier appearances on Hullaballoo! and Ed Sullivan (performing "Groovin'" with Felix on organ, Dino on congas, Gene on harmonica & guitar and Eddie on tambourine). In all the performances, Felix was the glue that held the band together.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By medusa9e (66.73.7.53) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 08:01 pm:

I don't exactly know the artist, but does anyone remember the song "I aint jiving, I'm Jamming", with a piano, basically all organ music, with a heavy/jazzy beat ( it was instrumental). I believe it was written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff.

By dvdmike (12.84.101.117) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 08:06 pm:

The artist was Leon Huff and it was from his one and only solo album released on P.I.R. in 1980.
The organist was either Huff or Lenny Pakula.

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:19 pm:

Sure Jimmy Mcgriff, Jimmy Smith, & Jack McDuff great artists. Does anyone remember Dave "Baby"Cortez from the 60s and his "Happy Organ"?

By acooolcat (210.200.105.227) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:05 pm:

"Billy's Bag" by Billy Preston

Graham

By Eli (141.151.24.11) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 01:40 am:

Hi Soul Sister...
I sure remember The Happy Organ..you beat me to it sis!!!!

Also Toussant Mc Calls..Nothing takes the place of you has a prominent organ.
Forever mine by the Ojays too.

By Keith Herschell - London (213.122.155.247) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 04:39 am:

Without a doubt, Billy Prestons organ work on Sam Cookes sublime version of 'Little red rooster'
Running a close second, Jimmy McGriffs 'The last minute'

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 05:07 am:

Not really a pure soul song... but imagine "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" by Procol Harum without that suggestive Bach organ...

Lars

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 05:58 am:

Yeah, Lars, Matthew Fisher's organ fills worked off Gary Booker's vocals to keep the intensity going and make that song a classic. I saw them do it live the week it hit number one. They were already booked to play our town before they shot to fame.

Stubass - brilliant description of the Earl. Has everyone got the Fred Jackson CD with Earl pre-Motown playing the B3?

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 08:20 pm:

Love Toussaint's vocals Bobby and been diggin'on Eddie Levert since 1964!(Smile)...Yeah, that organ on Forever Mine is bad! Catch you later J.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 08:44 pm:

Toussaint McCall was released in the UK on the Mojo label.

My Mother (and others) was always intrigued by my love of Soul Music. Having heard Toussaint from tape, I convinced her that this was her sound.

Truly a classic recording. Can anyone give me more detail on studios etc?

By Sly fan (64.169.107.185) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 08:55 pm:

Hip Hug Her..Booker T and The Mg's
all of the Willie Mitchell productions on HI
Our Day Will Come..Ruby and The Romantics
Hello Stranger..Barbara Lewis
The Champ..The Mohawks
Rock Dirge..Sly Stone

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.16) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 10:29 pm:

And, please... let's not forget the 1968 instrumetal hit by the 'Music Makers' and their rendition of the former Peaches & Herb vocal version of... "UNITED".

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 12:20 am:

Im glad you all mentioned Felix Cavaliere he was the best and Georgie Fame!!!
Stephanie

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 12:52 am:

I too remember "Happy Organ" well.

Without listening to anything, I can also remember quite well, the organ in Sam Cooke's "Little Red Rooster."

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 12:07 pm:

Stephanie:
Agreed on Felix - he was one of rock & soul's finest organists.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

THANKS "BANK HOUSE"!!!...ACTUALLY...MY BROTHER...WHO HAD THE PRIVILIDGE OF HAVING EARL ACCOMPANY HIM ON TOUR WITH PAUL ANKA...EXPLAINED EARL'S PLAYING STYLE TO ME IN GREAT DETAIL...AND IT'S MOST IMPRESSIVE!!!...STU

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 03:12 pm:

David,

Toussaint McCall - it was released by Ronn,
the Jewel/Paula subsidiary based in Shreveport,
Louisiana. I seem to remember that it was
recorded independently then the tapes were
given to Stan Lewis who ran Jewel. So it's
probably from somewhere in Louisiana but where
exactly I'm not sure offhand.

It was released on Pye International in the UK
while it was charting in the US.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.7) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Billy Preston-Midnight Hour,also on Gloria Jones cut of Heartbeat or Finders Keepers on UK Stateside.Billys bag is a gem.

Bill Blacks Combo-My girl Josephine.
Lorenzo Manleys superb 'I'm gonna swoop down on you'.
sounds as good today as it did back in 1972.
Mark 3 Trio with ''G'Wan'.
various Willie Mitchell cuts,
Barefootin'amongst others.
TKO's and The Charge.
not to my liking,but the other version of Sam Cookes great dancer'Sugar Dumpling'that features mostly an all organ backing.
I was amazed the first time I heard it.
Dance to the Music stomps along with some fine keyboard work by Sly and the family stone.

I Got a copy of Johnny Copelands
'suffering City' ages ago on Jetstream with a different backing than the more known one.
This starts with an organ and keeps with it all the way through.

And a couple of newer 45s from the last 10/20 years or so,
The Nomads and Somethin's Bad on Mo-Groove,
N Group with Keep on Runnin, on the Wes Mar Label and Linda Jones's dynamite 100 mph dancer with the organ well in overdrive on her 45 of 'you Hit Me,Like T.N.T.'For the Blue Cat Label.

Just one more,
Jnr Walkers moody and gripping track on the Soul Label of 'Satans Blues'.
Mel

By Ian W (194.75.128.2) on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 07:38 am:

Mel, I was going to add Sly's 'Dance To The Music' but you got there first! What a track!

Anybody heard Bert Keyes Orch. playing 'Doo Doo-Ooh Ba-Ah'? Apologies over (no doubt) incorrect spelling but it's a great record that'll put a smile on every face!

By Ian W (194.75.128.2) on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 07:43 am:

Sorry, just noticed Soultwine mentioned the Bert Keyes track on Bert's own thread. Will I ever get up-to-date on the Forum?

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 08:32 am:

IN THE EARLY DAYS THE TEMPS PUT THE ORGAN TO GOOD USE IN..BABY,BABY I NEED YOU,FAREWELL MY LOVE,THEY EVEN USED A HOPSECORD ON..DREAM COME TRUE WITH RANOMA GORDY PLAYING!