Ace of Spades HQ

April 07, 2012

Booker T. Jones, the Hammond B-3 Organ, and Leslie Speakers
— rdbrewer

When I was a kid, radio stations would play the same playlist every day at the same time. I guess it was on tape. So in grade school, for example, we would hear Tom Jones' She's a Lady on the school bus every morning. Just as we pulled in front of the school, we'd hear Tom Jones sing "she's a weaner" (winner). Of course, that was evergreen comedy gold for a third grader.

A few years later, another station played an incredible keyboard version of the theme to Clint Eastwood's Hang 'em High. I heard it every morning on the way to middle school. By then, I was playing piano, and the closest thing my teacher would let me play was the theme from Exodus. Same notes, same key. Lots of big, broad fifths. In fact, I think the Hang 'em High was based on it.

For years, I tried to find a copy of the keyboard version of Hang 'em High. Last time I looked several years ago, I Googled "hang 'em high organ" and "hang 'em high keyboard." Stuff like that. Couldn't find it. I could only find Hugo Montenegro's original orchestral version.

Last night I was following a link in the sidebar and found it by accident. It was Booker T. & the M.G.'s!

Like most keyboard players in the 60's, Booker T. Jones played a Hammond B-3 organ through Leslie speakers. Listen to Booker uncork it about halfway through this song.

Modern keyboards can make a lot of sounds, sure, but nothing else on the planet screams like a Hammond B-3 through Leslie speakers. I don't know why they don't make those anymore.

It's the Leslie that creates the warbling quality you hear. They are speakers mounted with variable-speed rotary horns. This video explains how they work. In short, the warbling sound is caused by the "Doppler effect."

I've never had the pleasure of playing a Hammond B-3, but I'm guessing the keys are touch sensitive. Why? Notice when the melody starts to echo at about 1:20 the echo is quieter. And you can see in this fascinating video, Booker played the melody and the echo in one take.

Hammond B-3's and Leslies are highly sought after to this day. There are shops with craftsmen who specialize in refurbishing them. Some acts still use them. (A quick note about Procol Harum: Wow, those guys haven't been sitting on their asses all this time. Apparently the guitar player likes Eddie Van Halen. Looks like the drummer has been lifting weights for 40 years. And the singer, Gary Brooker, sounds just like he did in the 60's.)

Once again, here's Booker T. Jones' first hit, Green Onions. Booker wrote this when he was in high school.

Added: @brianmckim tweets this documentary on the Hammond B-3. Also, our own Dave in Texas has written about the B-3.

Here is the documentary mentioned above. It's very good. One guy says the B-3 starts like an old car. Someone says it looks like a coffin. Another guy says you have to be kind of an octopus to play one.

Follow me on Twitter.

Posted by: rdbrewer at 10:42 AM | Comments (218)
Post contains 542 words, total size 4 kb.

Yep, the Hammond B-3 gives me an ear boner.

Posted by: BuckIV at April 07, 2012 10:44 AM (+4mBJ)

2 Bank of America filed a $1.5 million suit against the head of Congressional Black Caucus this week for repayment of a delinquent 2002 loan.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at April 07, 2012 10:45 AM (e8kgV)

3 o/t recommenting from last thread

184 One week ago, I freaked out in the comments here because my bank had apparently lost all record of my account with almost $7000 in it. I'd like to thank the moron community who helped me with their support and advice that stopped me from panicking and gave me a plan of action. The money is recovered now, and with a different bank.

Thank you.

Posted by: fozzy at April 07, 2012 10:47 AM (FEzSe)

4 Tim Robbins played bass in Booker's T's band?

Who knew?

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at April 07, 2012 10:48 AM (SV4OI)

5 Got to meet him a few times, even to play with him once. Great guy. He still looks very youthful.

Posted by: navybrat at April 07, 2012 10:48 AM (/eSN8)

6 Green Onions all over the place!

I love that song and I have it on my computer now transcribed from the album from American Graffiti

Posted by: Wolfman Jack at April 07, 2012 10:50 AM (YdQQY)

7 Check out "The Time Is Tight"

Posted by: navybrat at April 07, 2012 10:53 AM (/eSN8)

8 hang em high is one of my all time favorite movies...

Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 07, 2012 10:53 AM (Ho2rs)

9 Here's Booker T tearing up Outkast's Hey Ya. Guitar work is from Drive By Truckers and Neil Young:

http://tinyurl.com/y9wk96g

Posted by: Roachman at April 07, 2012 10:54 AM (ddxeV)

10
So, like are we going to form a rock band?

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 10:54 AM (Qjzkg)

11 Have always loved the B3, but they don't make it without what some of the old jazz dudes called "Lesbian" speakers.

The keys aren't "touch-sensitive," though. They're just electric switches, after all.

Nobody rocks the B3 like Barbara Dennerlein. She has the best legs in organ-playing world, too!

Posted by: MrScribbler at April 07, 2012 10:55 AM (MQc8e)

12 Actually, Steve Cropper wrote "Green Onions" and I think that is Cropper in the video on guitar. Might be Duck Dunn on bass too. I also followed that link earlier and there are some great videos around there!

Posted by: rockmom at April 07, 2012 10:55 AM (YPgCz)

13 The guitar player in the Conquistador video is Peter Frampton. He may be a fan of Eddie Van Halen, but he predates him by several years.

Posted by: huerfano at April 07, 2012 10:56 AM (bAGA/)

14 I have a 1961 B-3 for sale, no Leslie. Best offer.

Posted by: profligatewaste at April 07, 2012 10:56 AM (q5wLf)

I love the sound of the motor as the whirling speakers get up to speed. There's no other sound like it. Hit that Leslie button, whumwhumwhummmmm and get ready to soar.

Posted by: Huusker at April 07, 2012 10:58 AM (+GTBC)

16
Larry Elder used/uses Booker T bumper music.

Posted by: mike at April 07, 2012 10:59 AM (Qjzkg)

17 Check out Joey DeFrancesco, Tony Monaco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Groove Holms, Jimmy McGriff, and of course, Jimmy Smith.

Posted by: profligatewaste at April 07, 2012 11:01 AM (q5wLf)

18 The Hammond B-3, to me is just the quintessential rock and roll instrument. Screams from the Stratocaster set I know, but that sound... That sound! The instrumental break alone on Sugarloaf's classic "Greeneyed Lady" speaks for itself.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 07, 2012 11:01 AM (Af3Wg)

19 Charlie Musselwhite - Sad Day

Posted by: 13times at April 07, 2012 11:02 AM (h6XiD)

20 Posted by: profligatewaste at April 07, 2012 03:01 PM

It's also worth browsing YooToob to check out the guys who do gospel stuff on the B3. Some of them out-groove Groove, baby!

Posted by: MrScribbler at April 07, 2012 11:02 AM (MQc8e)

21 If you like jazzers, check out a fine young man, Wil Blades.

Posted by: navybrat at April 07, 2012 11:04 AM (/eSN8)

22
YouTube
Charlie Musselwhite - Sad Day

Posted by: 13times at April 07, 2012 11:04 AM (h6XiD)

23 Love the B-3. I think my favorite is still the Mellotron, though.

Quick note: Procul Harum's original drummer, B.J. Wilson, died a while ago. One of the great drummers.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at April 07, 2012 11:05 AM (i0App)

24 Frampton on guitar there.

Posted by: Tommygun at April 07, 2012 11:09 AM (cb4oU)

25 The Mellotron was the first "sample player". It had strips of recorded audio tape that played when the key was pressed, causing the tape to make contact with the tape heads.

The first generation was spring loaded, meaning that each key only had a short interval of time that sound could be produced before you had to release the key, which allowed the audio tape to be returned to the starting position.

It was a nightmare. I owned one around 1972. I had 3 racks of tapes, flutes, strings and voices.

Posted by: navybrat at April 07, 2012 11:11 AM (/eSN8)

26 Seen Rod Piazza's old lady, Honey Piazza, light a B3 on fire.

Posted by: 13times at April 07, 2012 11:12 AM (h6XiD)

27 6 Green Onions all over the place!

I love that song and I have it on my computer now transcribed from the album from American Graffiti

Posted by: Wolfman Jack at April 07, 2012 02:50 PM

Every time I hear Green Onions I think of Harrison Ford and Paul LeMat setting up on that desert road for the Big Race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOgqUHk-zDY

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:13 AM (Y+DPZ)

28 Love that swirling, grinding sound, and not only for the sound keyboard players get. Guitarists (myself included) can use the same cabinet to get amazing textures. Though I use the more modern Mesa Revolver, Badfinger's "No Matter What," & Clapton's work on "Badge" are among some of the most compelling uses of the Leslie cab with a guitar.

Posted by: Birdeye at April 07, 2012 11:15 AM (Feivh)

29 That was Peter Frampton?! Awesome.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:17 AM (Iyg03)

30 rdbrewer what are you talking about. Hammond still makes the leslie speaker and the B3, they call it the B3 Mk2 now but same thing.

Posted by: robtr at April 07, 2012 11:18 AM (MtwBb)

31 Mannheim Steamroller!

I make Snerdly play their music every XMas!

Posted by: Fat Rush Limpcock at April 07, 2012 11:19 AM (z0HdK)

32 Last of the Mohicans is my favorite all-time soundtrack CD.

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 11:20 AM (jUytm)

33 Wow! I never thought I'd comment on a Hammond B3 thread at AOSHQ.
http://www.gearslutz.com maybe but not AOSHQ......go figure.
Well here you go a, link to a VST software plugin for a B3:

http://syntheway.com/master_hammond_b3.htm

Here's a link to an article about the B3 and the re-issue they've made.

"Ace of Spades HQ Where Anything can Happen".

Posted by: ina_ginalsgip at April 07, 2012 11:20 AM (pBdSH)

34 I was just looking at Wikipedia. Robin Trower was also in Procol Harum.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:21 AM (Iyg03)

35 The top 40 station I listen to out of Tampa plays Reanna's "Hopeless Place" every day at 3:45 it seems.

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:22 AM (Y+DPZ)

36 Posted by: robtr at April 07, 2012 03:18 PM

I think the current B3 is all-digital, using samples to sound like the Real Thing.

Original Hammonds are heavy muthas, with all those iron parts inside. I've lugged 'em in and out of houses, up and down stairs....

A C3 (B3 in a dignified box for the more refined -- church -- crowd) is even heavier. The big-time pros get someone else to do the heavy lifting....

Posted by: MrScribbler at April 07, 2012 11:22 AM (MQc8e)

37 Robtr, they stopped making that in '74, IIRC. It's a different model now.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:22 AM (Iyg03)

38 Meh, B-3s through a leslie are ok, but I like a more shimmery, ethereal sound to my keyboards. I actually use a Roland guitar synth (not a keytar, but an effect box that actually uses your strings as a synth trigger, like a keyboard) to layer in a split between shimmery keys and what's called a "pad" sound. Even with a fairly dirty organic guitar sound on top, it's pretty cool, though as a rhythm git'ist, I prefer to play clean and get a bit of dirt from the volume knob on the git.

Posted by: SFGoth at April 07, 2012 11:23 AM (Q+6A8)

One of my personal faves....in the R 'n B category....for your consideration:

Ry Cooder...."The Very Thing That Makes Her Rich [Made Me Poor]"

http://www.youtube

.com/watch?v=

SvTb9UQJNJw

[since I have no linky-Fu....and Pixy won't let me put it in the URL box...I had to split the link to get it to post....sorry]

Posted by: wheatie at April 07, 2012 11:23 AM (+5U+B)

40 Posted by: Fat Rush Limpcock at April 07, 2012 03:19 PM

Our troll is here!

Tell us about your Bette Midler collection, Raykon!

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:23 AM (Y+DPZ)

41 The keys aren't "touch-sensitive," though. They're just electric switches, after all.

You sure about that? Because that echo melody is obviously quieter.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:25 AM (Iyg03)

42 The Happy Organ - Dave Cortez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNxpU_ITpMQ

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:25 AM (Y+DPZ)

43 Thanks SOOOO much for sharin' this!!!!

This is a big part of why I love this place. You folks seem to post stuff that's awesome.

You made my day!!!

Got any of Sam and Dave's stuff? Next week, please. :-)>

Posted by: dutch at April 07, 2012 11:25 AM (CoCyl)

44 Is that Nuke LaLoosh playing bass?

Posted by: somebody else, not me at April 07, 2012 11:27 AM (nZvGM)

45 YouTube gold, baby. YouTube gold.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:27 AM (Iyg03)

46 looks like the site won't let me post my link to the Hammond B3 Remake.
WeakSauce ass site.

Posted by: ina_ginalsgip at April 07, 2012 11:28 AM (pBdSH)

33
Last of the Mohicans is my favorite all-time soundtrack CD.

Some massively excellent tracks on that CD. .....I nearly wore mine out after I got it.

Posted by: wheatie at April 07, 2012 11:28 AM (+5U+B)

rdbrewerer,

maybe, they advertise it on their website as "the ledgend lives on though"

Posted by: robtr at April 07, 2012 11:28 AM (MtwBb)

49 You sure about that? Because that echo melody is obviously quieter.
Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 03:25 PM

Yup. Of course with two keyboards, you can vary the sounds considerably in both tone and volume, and use the volume control pedal (right foot).

Posted by: MrScribbler at April 07, 2012 11:28 AM (MQc8e)

50 Still my favorite use of electronic keyboards in rock

Baba O'Riley - The Who

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2KRpRMSu4g

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:30 AM (Y+DPZ)

51 http: //www.soundonsound.com /sos /jul03 /articles /hammondb3.asp

Just close the spaces before every forwad slash.
Great B3 article

Posted by: ina_ginalsgip at April 07, 2012 11:32 AM (pBdSH)

52 I know, I know, but it's a great techno song and it was the closing titles song for Heat

God Moving Over the Face of the Waters - Moby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IXg8t8Ybs

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:32 AM (Y+DPZ)

53 looks like the site won't let me post my link to the Hammond B3 Remake.

Go to tinyurl.com and shorten it.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:34 AM (Iyg03)

54 Two words: Lee Micheals

Posted by: nip at April 07, 2012 11:34 AM (uRVaX)

55 God Moving Over the Face of the Waters - Moby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IXg8t8Ybs

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 03:32 PM

Told ya I was never goin' back

Posted by: Neil McCauley at April 07, 2012 11:34 AM (Y+DPZ)

56 Of course with two keyboards, you can vary the sounds considerably in both tone and volume, and use the volume control pedal (right foot).

Yeah, you can't see his foot in the "fascinating video" link.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:35 AM (Iyg03)

57 You can still buy an original B3, reconditioned and with the right Leslie, for far less than $10K. The only advantages of the new ones I can see is that you don't have to oil them and you can play 'em through headphones, which is cool for apartment-type people.

Posted by: MrScribbler at April 07, 2012 11:36 AM (MQc8e)

58 Ray Manzarek, baby!

Light My Fire - The Doors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iSXrZYhJt4

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:36 AM (Y+DPZ)

59 Does the name Ishka Bibble mean anything to you? How about Kay Keyser? The Sonovox has been around for a long time. The linked yootoob vid is a clip from a 1940 flick and it has in it the Sonovox. Watch the clip, read the description, and learn about the Sonovox! http://tinyurl.com/7bpufke

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 11:38 AM (jUytm)

60 Thing is, even though you can't see his foot, he holds the last note of the melody *through* the echoed melody.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:38 AM (Iyg03)

61 Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn used Leslie speakers a lot too.

Posted by: booger at April 07, 2012 11:39 AM (HI6wa)

62 I've got Dittle-Heads all over the USA that listen three hours a day.

Mannheim Steamroller is #1.

Don't doubt me!

Posted by: Fat Rush Limpcock at April 07, 2012 11:39 AM (z0HdK)

63 btw, Ishka Bibble really has nothing to do with anything. I just like saying the name.

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 11:40 AM (jUytm)

64 Yeah this is cetrainly turning into a Gearslutz thread.
Well done rdbrewer.

Posted by: ina_ginalsgip at April 07, 2012 11:41 AM (pBdSH)

65 Dude, don't troll up my Booker T. thread.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:41 AM (Iyg03)

66 Oh, that actualy reminds me of when i got Stevie Ray Vaughn's first album Texas Flood and there were parts that seemed to warble, for lack of a better word, it sounded like maybe the tape was messed up. So, my aunt took me back to the record store and i told the guy there that it sounds like the tape is messed up and he listened to it and explained that was a Leslie speaker Vaughn was using and that's how it was supposed to sound.

Posted by: booger at April 07, 2012 11:41 AM (HI6wa)

67 Beach Boys classic using the Hammond.

The Little Girl I Once Knew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZWFItQPf_k

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:42 AM (Y+DPZ)

Steve Winwood

http://tinyurl.com/7sad45n

Posted by: robtr at April 07, 2012 11:44 AM (MtwBb)

69 70 - I was just looking for that one!

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:47 AM (Y+DPZ)

70 Thing is, even though you can't see his foot, he holds the last note of the melody *through* the echoed melody.
Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 03:38 PM

Due has two hands, rd. Unless Booker was scratching his nads or eating a sammitch during the take, both of 'em were free to push keys.

I wasted some of my yoot playing a Hammond, and I don't hear anything out of the way in the vid.

I mean yeah, the sumbish had chops, but then almost every sentient being could work a B3 better than I did.

Posted by: MrScribbler at April 07, 2012 11:48 AM (MQc8e)

71 Mr Marshall died, the inventor of the Marshall amp.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 07, 2012 11:48 AM (r4wIV)

72 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJeCjIwGFk

Music starts at 2:04

Check the Top Comments

Posted by: ina_ginalsgip at April 07, 2012 11:49 AM (pBdSH)

73 Procol Harum - Lighter Shade of Pale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:49 AM (Y+DPZ)

74 You can still buy an original B3, reconditioned and with the right Leslie, for far less than $10K.
--------------------------

LOL, you obviously haven't factored in O'Vomit's debasing of the currency. I went over to a Hammond dealer site and looked at the prices for orinal B3s with the leslie ran between 14K and 15K.

Posted by: Vic at April 07, 2012 11:50 AM (YdQQY)

75 I like this comment on Booker's Hang 'em High on YouTube:

Picture if you will..... this song can make any man feel like a running back or wide receiver. It is about chasing a dream, real or imagined. For those of us who actually did these things, it just re-enforce memories..............Jerry Kramer leading the Greeenbay Sweep.....the ultimate comeback of your choice. It is there.......sit down in your 1969 340 Dart and feel the Hurst in your grasp. Just waiting for instructions.........

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 11:54 AM (Iyg03)

76
List of Hammond organ players:

http://tinyurl.com/3j86lvt

I imagine most played the B3 with Leslies.

Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at April 07, 2012 11:54 AM (7+pP9)

77 try this one for the B3 Article

http://tinyurl.com/8rx8d

Thanks rdbrewer a thread not only entertaining but educational.

Posted by: ina_ginalsgip at April 07, 2012 11:55 AM (pBdSH)

78 "LOL, you obviously haven't factored in O'Vomit's debasing of the currency. I went over to a Hammond dealer site and looked at the prices for orinal B3s with the leslie ran between 14K and 15K. " So about the same as two loaves of bread, or a gallon of gas.

Posted by: StuckOnStupid at April 07, 2012 11:56 AM (R5yLq)

Ray Manzarek at Jim Morrison's indecency trial:

Judge: Did you see Mr. Morrison's organ?

Ray Manzarek: No, your honor, but I play one!

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 07, 2012 11:58 AM (vpe0k)

80 I remember a Journey tune from the 70s that had a rolling tune that sounded like a roller rink tune with Greg Rolie on the Hammond, but can't remember the title

Anyone remember the song or the title?

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 11:59 AM (Y+DPZ)

81 Got to go folks.

Posted by: Vic at April 07, 2012 12:05 PM (YdQQY)

82 The Beatles - Flying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFrpclWP3eQ

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 12:05 PM (Y+DPZ)

83 One of the first songs I learned as a bass player. Stopped playing for nearly 40 yrs and now I have started up again. Broke out my 1966 Vox sidewinder and 67 fender bassman. I love it. To bad I dont know any other old dudes that are trying to get the garage band feel again.

Posted by: UncleZeb at April 07, 2012 12:07 PM (+JbI2)

84 The worst thing about moving a B-3 is having to get under it and lock down the tone generator, other than that they really aren't that heavy; any two good men can tote it wherever you need it. Now a C-3 in the church cabinet or an A-100 (same as a B-3 but with the built in speaker....there is a line out for a Leslie if you want it) is a different story. They make special dollies to fit under the church cabinets so you don't have to pick them up...but the dolly itself is its own special nightmare.

As far as I know the keys on a B-3 are not touch sensitive but I can't say for sure, I don't play them I only move them.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living.... at April 07, 2012 12:07 PM (VW0I/)

85 There's nothing like the dirty growl sound of a B3. Booker is using a bit of it on Green Onions, but the classic example would be Spencer Davis's "Gimme Some Lovin" with Stevie Winwood on the keys.

The B3 was so versatile, it could go from that dirty sound to sounding like butter.. unbelievable.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 12:07 PM (UTq/I)

86 To bad I dont know any other old dudes that are trying to get the garage band feel again.
Posted by: UncleZeb
..........
Where ya located?

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 12:08 PM (UTq/I)

87 Hey, kids, Happy Easter weekend! My loser ex had a Hammond C-3 and a Leslie (as well as another gargantuan speaker for it) in our apartment for a long time. Along with the baby grand and a slew of guitars and recorders and a fiddle and a really nice old Haynes flute & piccolo set. Of course, it was party central for him and all his musician buddies, which was a lot of fun. That Hammond was amazing, even I couldn't make it sound bad and I am NO musician. The children LOVED it. We finally offloaded it onto one of the sisters-in-law, it took up a lot of space. It's probably been donated to a church by now . . .

Posted by: Peaches at April 07, 2012 12:10 PM (w407e)

88 I think we need to bring back the word "gnarly" to describe the sound.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 12:10 PM (Iyg03)

89 yeah.. gnarly works for me!

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 12:12 PM (UTq/I)

90 I didn't even know "gnarly" had fallen out of favor, I probably use that word at least a couple of times a week.

Posted by: Peaches at April 07, 2012 12:13 PM (w407e)

91 The keys were not touch sensitive but a good organist can make it sound like it with the volume pedal. You played the bass pedals with your left foot and the volume pedal with your right. The bass pedal board was removable and not used in most rock bands (excepting Rick Wakeman and maybe Kieth Emerson). By over driving
the preamp to the tube Leslie you could get the awesome filthy sound you hear in a lot of Deep Purple songs.

_{sniffs....Wish I still had mine.}

Posted by: A. Weasel at April 07, 2012 12:14 PM (RT6PT)

"I remember a Journey tune from the 70s that had a rolling tune that sounded like a roller rink tune with Greg Rolie on the Hammond, but can't remember the title."
===============

It might have been "Of a Lifetime", from Journey's first album, which I highly recommend. Check it out. Loved Rolie's stuff in Journey and Santana.

Oh, and Goldy McJohn was da MAN.

Posted by: Eric in Boise at April 07, 2012 12:15 PM (sP7Cx)

93 Oh, and the "touch" is incredibly light. You can almost trigger them by looking at them.

Posted by: A. Weasel at April 07, 2012 12:17 PM (RT6PT)

94 Im in North Alabama

Posted by: UncleZeb at April 07, 2012 12:18 PM (+JbI2)

95 None of Manzarek's Doors solos are on a B3. Vox Jaguar or Farfisa, I guess. They sounded "snotty." He made the Rhodes bass piano famous (or at least kept Doug Lubahn's name off the record). Long left arm.

The Hammond isn't really "electronic." The sound is produced by Masonite tone wheels rubbing together. They're not broken in until somebody has spilled a pitcher of beer in there, and you had to just let it dry out because you couldn't afford a teardown. The finish marfs easily, sure, but the guts of a Hammond can really take a beating -- fabric insulation and all.

The bottom end of a Leslie is also fascinating. The woofer is fixed, and fires down into a belt-driven drum with a curved ramp and a port. The thrill is in the belt slip as it can't keep up with the motor speed. Program away, sonny: there is nothing like it in the world.

Posted by: Famous Chinese Comedian at April 07, 2012 12:19 PM (ZOlM3)

96 Whipping Post - Allman Brothers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv3RWqFlvJs

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 12:20 PM (Y+DPZ)

97 Posted by: Peaches at April 07, 2012 04:10 PM (w407e)

Peaches, we don't have a baby grand or a Hammond, but your previous place sounds like my current one! (Thor does have an old honky tonk upright piano at my FILs and a ginormous Allen & Heath mixing unit in storage, though)

I am jealous of the piccolo set; we have a clarinet and a pflueger horn thingee under the couch, though.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 07, 2012 12:20 PM (SsG4J)

98 When Zeppelin would do their acoustic set, John Paul Jones would have the B-3 pedal board out and run the bass line with his feet while he was playing mandolin.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living.... at April 07, 2012 12:21 PM (VW0I/)

99 Wooden Ships - Crosby Stills + Nash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O69L2mO9y-4

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 12:23 PM (Y+DPZ)

100 Oh, the touch-sensitive thing? Not the keys, but there are settings for attack and percussion that greatly vary the "click rate." That's what you're hearing.

Posted by: comatus at April 07, 2012 12:24 PM (ZOlM3)

101 Hi, Tammy! That flute & piccolo set was a thing of beauty. The flute was pure sterling silver and the piccolo was the cutest little thing, iirc, African blackwood. Quite valuable, I had to insure it separately. Then, when the loser discovered heroin (after I'd left him), I think his brother bought it from him to keep it from being traded for smack. He also had beautiful Scottish bagpipes (parlor pipes), made by some revered pipe-maker. Ivory and chased silver and I think maybe more African blackwood. Most of this had been inherited from his father, along with a really smokin' old tuxedo (tails) that he ended up wearing a few times to swanky parties with me. Too bad he fucked his life up the way he did but everybody gets to make their own choices, eh?

Posted by: Peaches at April 07, 2012 12:25 PM (w407e)

102 http://tinyurl.com/nbshfh

ultimate leslie speaker effect

LZ No Quarter

Posted by: sTevo at April 07, 2012 12:25 PM (VMcEw)

103 Yeah.. the B3 could almost sound like a bell or a Fender Rhodes if you set that percussion or attack or whatever setting that was. Amazing.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 12:26 PM (UTq/I)

104 By over driving the preamp to the tube Leslie you could get the awesome filthy sound you hear in a lot of Deep Purple songs.

...

The Hammond isn't really "electronic." The sound is produced by Masonite tone wheels rubbing together. They're not broken in until somebody has spilled a pitcher of beer in there, and you had to just let it dry out because you couldn't afford a teardown.

It's great to read these little jewels of knowledge.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 12:27 PM (Iyg03)

105 o/t The establishment republicans are shitting all over themselves and Baltimore comes to the rescue.

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 12:30 PM (CMM9V)

106 Neil Young playing after the Gold Rush live on a Hammond church organ in 1992

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpfj30Np41Y

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 12:31 PM (Y+DPZ)

107 56 Two words: Lee Micheals Posted by: nip at April 07, 2012 03:34 PM (uRVaX) Thread Winner +++ Oh dear sweet Lord, YES! How the fuck could I forget Lee, with Frosty on drums. The album "5th" featuring "Do You Know What I Mean" is one of the seminal B-3 tunes.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 07, 2012 12:33 PM (Af3Wg)

108 Booker T. and the M.G.s Trivia time: what did "M.G." stand for?

Posted by: Doug at April 07, 2012 12:34 PM (q/08r)

109 Almost forgot to mention. Booker T. studied classical music at Indiana after his initial success, and has been an active teacher. I reckon him an Obama backer (literally -- that's him on TheWon's "Sweet Home), but he's been thumping the tub for self-sufficiency and standing on your own two feet, just like his namesake, as long as I can remember. Good guy.

In the "What if Garcia had all his fingers" dept, he says he's a guitar player first, and just sort of picked up the organ. No pressure, kid.

Posted by: comatus at April 07, 2012 12:34 PM (ZOlM3)

110 Mighty Good.

Posted by: comatus at April 07, 2012 12:35 PM (ZOlM3)

111 Don't click on that MacKeeper ad. It's a virus. Seriously.

Posted by: Sadder but Wiser at April 07, 2012 12:36 PM (Azv+q)

112 Just played Lee Michaels and on that one track he's playing piano, B-3, pipe organ and Mellotron. No guitar, organ foot pedals for bass and Frosty on the drums. What an amazing track. Whole album is great ("5th").

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 07, 2012 12:38 PM (Af3Wg)

113 btw, Ishka Bibble really has nothing to do with anything.

I just like saying the name. Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 03:40 PM

My two year old granddaughter says "Ishka Bibble" when she means mud. As in "Don't step in da ishkabibble, gramma!"

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 12:39 PM (P6QsQ)

114 Ever notice that the older Neil Young gets, the more he looks like Terry Gilliam's character in Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail?

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 12:40 PM (Y+DPZ)

115 Booker T and the Drive-by Truckers

http://tinyurl.com/89bd7km

Posted by: Jimilee at April 07, 2012 12:40 PM (p3E7t)

116 Wasn't Ish Kabbible a comic who played the cornet?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 07, 2012 12:41 PM (Af3Wg)

117 I saw Lee Michaels at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago in the early seventies (or maybe late 60's).. I couldn't believe it was just him and a drummer! He straddled in between a B3 and a piano on the other side. Just nuts.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 12:41 PM (UTq/I)

118 Its racist, but 2nd vid had white people in audience clapping off time

Posted by: New Comments Thingy at April 07, 2012 12:41 PM (Vg4Vv)

119 Much as I hate Springsteen, the B-3 playing on "Rosalita" is pretty damned good. I think it's Danny Federici. Might be David Sancious. Remember his ill-fated, but good, group David Sancious & Tone?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 07, 2012 12:44 PM (Af3Wg)

120 Im in North Alabama

Posted by: UncleZeb
........
Not too close! I've been thinking along the same lines of getting a band together.

I do get to jam with some old musician friends a couple times a year. Once a year we take over a bar for a big jam. It's a lotta fun, but I hanker for doing it more often.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 12:44 PM (UTq/I)

121 The Friday night at 10:00PM version of Inna Gadda Davida, the long version, was tremendous.

Posted by: dfbaskwill at April 07, 2012 12:45 PM (ndlFj)

122 Sounds like some of you are almost as old as I am. And gawd I miss the old days music-wise.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 12:46 PM (GJ/ww)

123 Wasn't Ish Kabbible a comic who played the cornet? Hahaha, yeah, he was the goof in Kay's band. And you got the name right, I didn't.

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 12:46 PM (jUytm)

124 John Lord with Deep Purple taught me sound was using his B3 and Leslies when I saw them live.

Posted by: Contemplative Lobster at April 07, 2012 12:47 PM (+rBDt)

125 taught me *what* sound was

Posted by: Contemplative Lobster at April 07, 2012 12:48 PM (+rBDt)

126 Kay "Ol Professor" Kyser Kollege of Musical Knowledge

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 12:49 PM (jUytm)

127 Too bad he fucked his life up the way he did but everybody gets to make their own choices, eh?

Posted by: Peaches at April 07, 2012 04:25 PM (w407e)

Peaches, that is so sad. Thor did his fair share of drugs, but he never got hooked. (He said he never did heroin, but only because he was never offered it in any form other than needles....he says he'd have snorted it for sure. Did you know you could snort it??) My Daddy was a raging alcoholic.....some people have the dependency gene, and won't fight hard enough to kick their habits, I guess.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 07, 2012 12:50 PM (SsG4J)

128 Well, if you're going to work your way through the whole B3 catalogue, you can't leave out Skip Knape, who I saw with four other bands in Toledo for $1.25, Bob Seger vocals. You'd know him if at all as "Van Winkle."

http://tinyurl.com/d2zj5fz

Posted by: comatus at April 07, 2012 12:50 PM (ZOlM3)

129 The song "Tomorrow Never Knows" by John Lennon of the Beatles' Revolver features Lennon, in what may be a first, singing his vocal through a Leslie. He sounds like he's singing from a mountaintop far away, but still clear.

Posted by: ABR-tard at April 07, 2012 12:52 PM (BB0/w)

130 Ever notice that the older Neil Young gets, the more he looks like Terry Gilliam's character in Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail? Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 04:40 PM

Worst concert I ever went to was Neil Young in St Louis. Must have been in the mid-70s. He was nasty and stoned and kept yelling at the audience. I think he only half-sang his songs that night.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 12:52 PM (P6QsQ)

131 New thread please. Ugh

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 12:53 PM (CMM9V)

132 Wow. And my husband thinks it's irresponsible to have more than one drink. Two on holidays. Whoo-hoo.

Posted by: dagny doesn't want to forget Andrew at April 07, 2012 12:55 PM (CMM9V)

133 Ish Kabbibble here: http://tinyurl.com/7lwrvem

Posted by: Doug at April 07, 2012 12:55 PM (q/08r)

134 Happy Passover!

Hava Nagila Dick Dale style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmxNulot-cg

Posted by: kbdabear at April 07, 2012 12:56 PM (Y+DPZ)

135 @132 I had a similar trying time in Santa Cruz with Young's "home" band, Snail. Just an insulting assault. I've thought him an asshole ever since.

Posted by: comatus at April 07, 2012 12:56 PM (ZOlM3)

136 131 The song "Tomorrow Never Knows" by John Lennon of the Beatles' Revolver features Lennon, in what may be a first, singing his vocal through a Leslie. He sounds like he's singing from a mountaintop far away, but still clear. Posted by: ABR-tard at April 07, 2012 04:52 PM (BB0/w) The making of: http://youtu.be/RkirE9uH5SE

Posted by: ABR-tard at April 07, 2012 12:56 PM (BB0/w)

137 I've thought him an asshole ever since.
Posted by: comatus at April 07, 2012 04:56 PM

Ya, he is kinda that. It's too bad, too. I really have always liked his music. My kids think he sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Clearly I have no taste.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 01:00 PM (P6QsQ)

138 @122 - Looks like I'm gonna get to do some playin' again with a couple guys I played w/4 years back in the 90's. We're going to go with an easy set up/tear down deal for smaller venues so I'll be doing more of a percussion thing than full kit stuff. But its going to be a blast. The singer songwriter guitarist is great and so is the bass player. Who knows, might even get to take my new Taylor out for a couple of songs a night so the front man can break out his mandolin.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 01:03 PM (GJ/ww)

139 house is 75% clean....and i haven't had to yell even one time!!!! today is awesome!!!!!!!

Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 07, 2012 01:04 PM (Ho2rs)

140 http://www .you tube.com/ watch?v=JvQKW2n90J0

---

We rise to greet the morning light
Well, can't find my shoes, but that's alright
All I knew just flew out the window
All I had gathered won't let my mind grow

Posted by: Hodge, Podge, Strained Through A Leslie at April 07, 2012 01:05 PM (0It32)

141 When I saw Pink Floyd, they'd put speakers all around the stadium, so on the part where the kids sind We Don't Need No Education, they shut down the lights and played that through the speakers. It was like being surrounded by a stadium full of singing kids all in a flash. Weird, but cool.

Posted by: Hydrocarbon Liberation Front at April 07, 2012 01:07 PM (NVu2l)

142 Well, you're talking the rock era.
<p>
My Dad was an acolyte of the real B3 genius, Jimmy Smith. Booker T could never jam out. Jimmy played soloes that are the eqivalent of heavy metal guitar solos: dramatic, dynamic, soaring, screaming, soothing, bluesy. Booker T got a cheesy, thin sound out of his organ. Jimmy Smith knew how to work the drawbars.
<p>
My Dad played jazz organ in NE Ohio 6 nights a week when I was growing up. At first he couldn't afford a B3, he started with a C3, but he had a Leslie, and finally did get a B3 when the bar he was playing burned down after the band had gone home for the night and our very nice insurance agent suggested Dad could claim the loss on his home owners' insurance, since the organ was often a home model.
<p>
My Dad was amazing to me in that he was playing the bass line, with his feet, the rhythm chords with his left hand and lead with his right. He had been an jazz accordianist and switched when I was a toddler, but I remember him practicing just the bass pedals in his stocking feet.

Posted by: ms. docweasel at April 07, 2012 01:09 PM (oTC8Y)

143 President Obama kicked off the sunny Easter weekend on Saturday with a trip to the golf course. ItÂ’s the second round of golf for Obama this Spring, and also the second time this week the White House has put golf on the agenda.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at April 07, 2012 01:09 PM (e8kgV)

144 I'm bored.....where's a troll when you need one?

Posted by: Tami at April 07, 2012 01:14 PM (X6akg)

145 flanging and phasing

http://www.youtube .com/watch ?v=VJzcF0v1eOE

Posted by: It's all too beautiful at April 07, 2012 01:17 PM (0It32)

146 The B3 was not touch sensitive. The Leslie had a speed switch (off, low, high) which accounts for the wildly different tones. Some people setup rigs to change speed (or at least on/off) by foot.

Posted by: Don't mind me, I enjoy being helpful at April 07, 2012 01:18 PM (YTGKQ)

147 Now that we've had an apolitical thread, we need an apocalyptical thread to balance everyone's chakra...or clean out the pipes...or whatever.

Posted by: Hydrocarbon Liberation Front at April 07, 2012 01:22 PM (NVu2l)

148 If you like you're music a little more simple sometimes, click on my name. Moronettes, Buy for you the Moon is how I feel about all of you. Guys, check out Something Wicked or South of Memphis. The Guy singing and playing acoustic is who I'm going to be playing with. That project was in front of over 20k opening for the band Perry. Some funny stories from that gig. Did some stage hand work. Worst part was when all the kids started screaming when Perry came out. Literally hurt so bad I had to get off the back of the stage.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 01:24 PM (GJ/ww)

149 Check out the complete extended album version of "Time is Tight" (not the truncated 'top 40' version)

The ending kicks ass from here to the moon.

Posted by: LeBron Steinman at April 07, 2012 01:25 PM (2ifp1)

150 Link no worky, teej.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 01:26 PM (P6QsQ)

151 Sorry, that projects last gig

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 01:27 PM (GJ/ww)

152 Here's a another kick-ass B3 artist , Barbara Dennerlein (she's German):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60ut7yIuCEY

Posted by: LeBron Steinman at April 07, 2012 01:28 PM (2ifp1)

153 HS garage band storytime, mid 70's. Had half the dream.. a Leslie 147 but stuck with a Farfisa combo organ. Later, because I was in the music industry, the Leslie was called into emergency service by Pure Prarie League for a local concert... my brush with greatness. Sad, ain't it?

Posted by: Tightie Rightie at April 07, 2012 01:32 PM (OfDMM)

154 Doesn't work? Hmm. Not really a surprise since I put it in there. Try going to true dash northmusic dot com. You can see a video on you tube also. If you search true north road to the country stampede it'll get you to it. Bad part about the video is you get assaulted with my ugly mug. Sorry I can't make it easier, this new phone is much smarter than me.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 01:35 PM (GJ/ww)

155 ItÂ’s the second round of golf for Obama this Spring, and also the second time this week the White House has put golf on the agenda. Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy

Any word on whether or not he invited female staffers to play with him? Or did he go jihadi on women by not inviting them?

Mebbe that's not over the top enough... Did Obama commit genocide on all sentient lifeforms by not inviting women to play golf with him?

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at April 07, 2012 01:37 PM (JEpGb)

156 Should have warned ya, video song is "cookie cutter" country. They don't do many like that.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 01:38 PM (GJ/ww)

157 Tower of Power--"There's Only So Much Oil in the ground." Best left protest song ever!

"You can't get loose without that juice"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpFHTYBV37Y

Posted by: FOWFan at April 07, 2012 01:38 PM (BLlji)

158 I meant "lefty"

Posted by: FOWFan at April 07, 2012 01:39 PM (BLlji)

159 poor Josh Beckett hahahaha

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 01:41 PM (Ba6aP)

160 Oh dear anothe HR off Josh Beckett

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 01:42 PM (LVtr+)

161 Recently on Pawn Stars they had an old Jensen 15" woofer withthe spinning speaker on top that they had to get all cleaned up. The guy who rebuilt it played some then switched on the spinner (I can't remember what it was called) and the sound was just amazing, it was so much richer I was stunned, even over TV.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 07, 2012 01:43 PM (r4wIV)

162 Love the older gear. I'be got an old Fender Super Twin Reverberations that kicks tail,,, especially when someone else, who actually knows what they're doing, plays through it.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 01:48 PM (GJ/ww)

163 Fu*@'n phone. Reverb

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 01:50 PM (GJ/ww)

164 speaking of Ginger Lynn...

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 01:55 PM (BUcLz)

165 Chi town jerry, what instrument you play? If you are from Chicago you probably remember the Buckinghams. Not the Buckingham Nicks. My band opened for them a few times. The road manager actually offered to let me and our Sax player travel with em for a month but we had other things going on so turned him down like young idiots. Their manager went on to start Chicago Transit Authority and Carribou records in Nederland CA.

Posted by: UncleZeb at April 07, 2012 01:59 PM (+JbI2)

166 Hope some of you remember Procol Harum. I stumbled into some of their videos on youtube a few years ago and couldn't believe my ears. I always used to think it would be great to hear the 60's and 70's rock done with modern sound equipment but those guys don't sound as good anymore. Brooker can fucking sing better than ever and has the same distinctive voice. Those guys are great musicians and are truly better than ever.

Posted by: Does this leg smell gammy? at April 07, 2012 02:00 PM (GZcaN)

167 OK, I give up. Who is Ginger Lynn.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 02:00 PM (GJ/ww)

168 teej, that's funny.

I've had the same experience. I'd always played my Fender Reverb with the "Overdrive" up cause I was such the little metal-head (this is 20 yrs ago). When I took it to a local show where the boys needed it in a hurry, the guitar player/singer turned that shit off turned the main volume all the way up and ran the 2x10s AND ran it through a Carvin 4x12 cabinet. I thought it would explode, melt or something. I was freaked out for a few seconds but...that SOUND. Who knew that little thing could sound like that.

Damn.

Posted by: Contemplative Lobster at April 07, 2012 02:04 PM (+rBDt)

169
Nice sweet trip down nostalgia lane, this thread. When it WAS music and you could understand the lyrics.

A good time to come of age.

Posted by: irongrampa at April 07, 2012 02:04 PM (SAMxH)

170 Can anyone understand the lyrics to Misty Mountain Hop? Not one word. Be honest, now.

Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 02:06 PM (GcwH1)

171 A thread about the Hammond B-3 and no one's mentioned...Keith Emerson? There, I said it.

Posted by: Max Wedge at April 07, 2012 02:07 PM (GsBJY)

172 That was a later all tube Fender Reverb built in the late 80s

Posted by: Contemplative Lobster at April 07, 2012 02:07 PM (+rBDt)

173 MGs stood for "Memphis Group". The MGs were basically the house rhythm section for Stax records. So most of the Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave stuff, etc, was recorded by these guys. Someone has already pointed out that the guitarist in the 'Procol Harum' video is Peter Frampton. The drummer is Simon Kirke of Free, and later Bad Company.
Since I'm a musician, I'll maybe hang it right there. Cuz a thread that contains long back and forths on Ish Kabibble and Kay Kyser, well...I guess there's always Rudy Vallee too. I mean, I know conservatives are routinely painted as squares by the lefties, but do we HAVE to make their case for them this strongly??

Posted by: papi mike at April 07, 2012 02:10 PM (Wg1db)

174 173 A thread about the Hammond B-3 and no one's mentioned...Keith Emerson? There, I said it. Posted by: Max Wedge at April 07, 2012 06:07 PM (GsBJY) I think of Emerson more of a Moog guy. Brilliant keyboardist though he is. Saw him up at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in '74 during the "Brain Salad Surgery' Tour. Favorite for me is "Hoedown" live. Amazing.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 07, 2012 02:17 PM (Af3Wg)

175 Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 07, 2012 06:17 PM (Af3Wg)

Brain Salad (pretty sure) was still in his B-3/C-3 days...then he moved over to the Moog's, Kurzweil's, etc. To me he's still the best of the 'prog-rock' keyboardists.

Posted by: Max Wedge at April 07, 2012 02:21 PM (GsBJY)

176 Chi town jerry, what instrument you play? If you are from Chicago you probably remember the Buckinghams. Not the Buckingham Nicks. My band opened for them a few times. The road manager actually offered to let me and our Sax player travel with em for a month but we had other things going on so turned him down like young idiots. Their manager went on to start Chicago Transit Authority and Carribou records in Nederland CA.
Posted by: UncleZeb
...........
Oh sure. They played at my high school (a college prep Catholic school with lots of influence when they were first coming up). "Kinda of a Drag" was a classic. Lots of horn bands in the Chicago area after that.
Cryan' Shames and The New Colony Six were all around the same time frame, with Ides of March and others coming a little later.

Here's one you never heard of.. a northern Illinois band called Aorta.

http://tinyurl.com/7frd42m

I think Pete Cetera from Chicago was with them originally under another name..

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 02:22 PM (UTq/I)

177 Some decent radio friendly, pre-teen lesle sounds that I remember - the young rascals, "I've been lonely too long", "midnight hour". Vanilla Fudge - just about everything they did. Later, Lee Michaels and his drummer, Frosty. Do you know what I mean? Finally, Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: MoeRon at April 07, 2012 02:22 PM (SzEI6)

178 Reverb damn thanks, my head feels like someone beat me with a bat all night and I can barely think straight. I never really liked reverb until I heard it there, it wasn't warbly just really rich.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 07, 2012 02:23 PM (r4wIV)

179 Oh.. I played bass back then.. then played mostly acoustic guitar in pubs and bars in the 70's & 80's with a partner and solo. But mostly I like to sing now.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 02:23 PM (UTq/I)

180 I think of Emerson more of a Moog guy. Brilliant keyboardist though he is. Saw him up at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in '74 during the "Brain Salad Surgery' Tour. Favorite for me is "Hoedown" live. Amazing. Posted by: J.J. Sefton
.....
He had both on stage with him.. But, yeah.. he's most known for his Moog stuff.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at April 07, 2012 02:25 PM (UTq/I)

181

Those of us who grew up in the 1940s and 50s have the sound of the Hammond organ etched in our brains thanks to Ken Griffin.

http://bit.ly/Hpr71c

Life was so simple then.

Posted by: 2SoonOld2LateSmart at April 07, 2012 02:45 PM (YFAMg)

182 Oh yeah. I liked the Buckinghams.

When I was in high school, the big local bar band was REO Speedwagon. Champaign Urbana circa '71. Then they went big time and lo and behold 30 years later they were my daughter's favorite band. They still play the Fair circuit in Illinois and Wisconsin. My daughter catches them every year.

Posted by: mama winger at April 07, 2012 02:45 PM (P6QsQ)

183 A couple of other unique non-keyboard examples of the Leslie speaker are the voices singing "yeah, yeah, yeah" in the early Kenny Rogers song "Just Dropped In". Also, the guitar playing in "It Don't come Easy" by Ringo Starr.

Posted by: El Zopilote at April 07, 2012 02:53 PM (vjZCS)

184 over the hills, where the spirits fly.....

Posted by: just another dave at April 07, 2012 02:53 PM (wwBrU)

185 Think I,LLC get the Taylor out and play a little before I have to get out of here. It's a DN8 and it is sweet. Not a McPherson but,,, $$ Now, what should I start with? Hmm, Behind Blue Eyes mayhaps? Have a good night morons.

Posted by: teej at April 07, 2012 02:56 PM (GJ/ww)

186 This is part of why I love the Classic Albums documentary series, having them pull apart the songs at the board to show all the stuff that was done in the background to build that sound. Like using a tray full of silverware to get the marching sound in "Metal Gods."

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 07, 2012 03:03 PM (r4wIV)

187 Booker T. and The M.G.'s are still active. I saw 'em at the Beale Street Music Festival almost a decade ago. They saved Hang 'Em High and Green Onions for last. I think Willie "Too Big" Hall was drumming that night. Then I hung around for Joe Cocker on the same stage. Great night. Al Green, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Guy, and Johnny Winter are playing the festival this year. I live a block from Tom Lee Park, so I'll walk over and listen from the bluffs. Might try to catch Son Volt and Megadeth, too. My border collie is named Booker T., after Booker T. Jones, and the long-haired tortoiseshell cat is Miss Gracie.

Posted by: Lurk Ness Monster at April 07, 2012 03:07 PM (J4jAP)

188

I can't believe someone had to look up the guitarist from Procol Harum...that's just sad.

Also, Steve Cropper is the man.

You know who loves a good organ solo?

Sandra Fluke.

Posted by: garrett at April 07, 2012 03:12 PM (lSmdC)

189

I enjoyed this post, rdbrewer, because I was just learning about the B3 a few months ago after I bought Jamie Grace's "One Song at a Time" CD; "Come to Me" features a B3 http://tinyurl.com/7gsoof8

I recommend Grace's CD to EVERYONE! It is fab-u-lous! She's an up-and-comer in the CCM world, and at only 20 years-old, was nominated for a GRAMMY this year!

Posted by: Aslan's Girl at April 07, 2012 03:18 PM (KL49F)

190 Fender had its own version of a Leslie -- the Vibratone. Smaller and more portable, it definitely had its own sound.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 07, 2012 03:34 PM (pyRCu)

191 Yep, it rocks. Sure does. Thanks for posting!

Posted by: F. Lee Bailout at April 07, 2012 03:44 PM (p1nKZ)

192 Thanks, R.D.!

My man Murv Seymour created a documentary about the Hammond B3, called "Killer B3" and, judging from <a href="http://www.killerb3.com/">the trailer</a>, it's awesome!

I urge all to check it out.

Posted by: Brian McKim at April 07, 2012 04:05 PM (VF4xh)

193 Gary Brooker sounds BETTER than he did in the 60s! Check out their comeback album, "The Prodigal Stranger." Almost the whole original gang was back--Matthew Fisher on organ, Robin Trower on guitar. Alas, BJ Wilson (one of the most brilliant and under-appreciated rock drummers of all time) died in a car accident some years before.
Gary never quit working and toured with such people as Ringo Starr, and his voice has become a far better instrument.
Alas, since Fisher's ill-advised lawsuit against Brooker, we'll never see the original lineup together again, methinks.

Posted by: Nemo from Erewon at April 07, 2012 04:18 PM (6UVqU)

194 Brent Mydland (RIP) Grateful Dead. Most awesomest B3 there ever was.

Posted by: Datou at April 07, 2012 04:19 PM (jUalk)

195

Booker T and the MG's, Jr Walker and the AllStars, that was music. Music pretty much died at the onslaught of MTV. Sad really, the last new album (heh, meant CD) I bought was Dave Matthews Band's first. I pretty much listen to nothing newer than Super Tramp, though I like 'Don't Want To Die Asking For Another Chance' by the Georgia Satelites. That is one good song to live by.

Posted by: EROWMER at April 07, 2012 04:19 PM (sIm3i)

196 GREAT POST ! Thank You for the info. I always wondered why that, almost haunting, organ music sounded so cool back then. It was the speakers. I wish I would have known about this when I knew Stan White in the early '80s. That would've been a great conversation. He'd talk your ears off about tech stuff. Smart man.

Posted by: AGreer at April 07, 2012 04:30 PM (b0Dmb)

197 Oh, yeah, regarding Keith Emerson--among professional keyboardists, he's generally considered a better organ player than synthesist. Being a drummer I can't say, but so I've been told by fellow musicians. He sounds pretty damn good on both to me, and his piano playing (such as on his "First Piano Concerto") seems more than competent!

Posted by: Nemo from Erewon at April 07, 2012 04:30 PM (6UVqU)

198 Re Procol Harum: They don't write 'em like that anymore.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 04:34 PM (Iyg03)

199 Procol Harum's stuff is good enough to read as poetry.

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 04:35 PM (Iyg03)

200 rdb- if you're looking for more Booker T, check out episode # 44 of Live From Daryl's House- it's a full episode of Booker T., including Green Onions. He also played keyboard on a couple of the other episodes (can't remember which).

Posted by: Moonbeam at April 07, 2012 04:38 PM (1k4dd)

201 Just remembered- he also plays an Episode #43 with Mayer Hawthorne (which is awesome!)

Posted by: Moonbeam at April 07, 2012 04:46 PM (1k4dd)

202 No, not touch sensitive, but it did have two rows of keys, so I assume that's what was happening here. And speaking as a guitar player, the B3/leslie combo sounded like the voice of God, but if you ever had to carry 'em up two flights of steps for a gig, you learned to hate 'em.

Posted by: RC at April 07, 2012 04:49 PM (o44Az)

203

Robin Trower on guitar here. Hammond B3 at its kick ass best.

http://tinyurl.com/842vqkv

Posted by: douger at April 07, 2012 05:05 PM (c5bN1)

204 I set stage for a lot of rock bands back in 1976, and I'd say half of them or more had B3s with the Leslies. There were a bitch to move around, but were they ever sweet to hear.

Posted by: Jeffersonian at April 07, 2012 05:05 PM (gxCRt)

205 May I also suggest checking out Bostons "Walk On Medley"? There is a section called "Get Organ-ized" and on the liner notes for the song it says "A Hammond B-3 is a BIG organ". Here is a youtube clip of the song. http://tinyurl.com/7eyvbbf

Posted by: Scuba Dude at April 07, 2012 05:16 PM (LrJ+q)

206 I do a radio show here in Anchorage and covered Booker T. when he came to town a couple of years ago for a concert. I met and conducted an interview with him and he was the coolest dude, unassuming, quiet and polite.

And he rocked the house, pretty good guitarist he is as well.

Posted by: Mudshark at April 07, 2012 05:16 PM (le6gW)

207 Sorry...not Robin Trower...

Posted by: douger at April 07, 2012 05:16 PM (c5bN1)

208 Maybe I missed it being mentioned , but the original , "You Can't Sit Down" , was instrumental , written and recorded by a Chicago R & B group (The Philip Upchurch Comb) before it was pirated and turned into a lame vocal .... It was a two sided ( y.c.s.d. part-1 , and y.c.s.d. part-2) tribute to both the B-3 , and the Selmer tenor sax ... (If you can find it , I know you'll enjoy it .... It runs about 3 min , each side .... frank k . (N.Va. , but originally Philly)

Posted by: frank at April 07, 2012 05:27 PM (zzk5c)

209 205
Robin Trower on guitar here. Hammond B3 at its kick ass best.

Not Trower--he did the studio work on "The Prodigal Stranger," but, alas, refused to tour. However, that is Fisher on organ. And Whitehorn acquits himself admirably on guitar.

Fisher did two solo albums just after he left PH, and they are pretty good ('Journey's End' (1973) and 'I'll Be There' (1974)--ignore his other, later releases) and still in print as a double CD. Sold well, too, but he couldn't handle the touring and pretty much left the music biz for many years. Got into web design earlier on and did that for a long time, strangely enough.

Posted by: Nemo from Erewon at April 07, 2012 05:47 PM (6UVqU)

210

Nice thread. I think I'll go set up my old Korg CX3.

Posted by: 66chevelle at April 07, 2012 06:11 PM (QjSgY)

211 200 Re Procol Harum: They don't write 'em like that anymore. Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 08:34 PM (Iyg03) No - that was The Greg Kihn Band - http://youtu.be/k8ePSJ44Fiw

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 06:18 PM (cYMja)

212 172 Can anyone understand the lyrics to Misty Mountain Hop? Not one word. Be honest, now. Posted by: soothsayer at April 07, 2012 06:06 PM (GcwH1) Walkin' in the park just the other day...whaddaya...whaddya think I saw? Crowds of people sitting on the grass with flowers in their hair...sayin'...hey boy, do you wanna score? etc.

Posted by: Paul Morphy at April 07, 2012 06:59 PM (cYMja)

213 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at April 07, 2012 07:17 PM (7W3wI)

214 I was right about the B-3 being touch sensitive. Fifth video in the group, staring about 1/3 of the way in: http://tinyurl.com/6thk9av

Posted by: rdbrewer at April 07, 2012 09:43 PM (Iyg03)

215 Booker T & the MG's was the great studio band at Stax - the greatest soul band of all time with Booker, Duck Dunn on Bass, and the incomparable Steve Cropper on guitar. They were often accompanied by an incredible horn trio and Isaac Hayes on piano. That is the band on all the great Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and other great recording artists from that label. Atlantic Records had an arrangement with Stax for a while where their soul acts recorded there also, and some of Aretha Franklin's greatest records were produced there.

Posted by: Jeffrey at April 08, 2012 09:46 AM (wGZ00)

216 "Trivia time: what did "M.G." stand for?"

It originally referred to the English sports car. One of the Stax producers had an MGA they liked a lot. They then became concerned about being sued for copyright infringement and changed the story to it stood for "Memphis Gang".

Posted by: Jeffrey at April 08, 2012 09:53 AM (PMtyQ)

217

In fact, I think the Hang 'em High was based on it.

I know this is a dead thread but you can also sing the theme from GIlligan's Island to it . Just sayin'.

Posted by: Bill R. at April 08, 2012 02:09 PM (ZjexS)

218 Boy, you guys really *are* morons! Especially the ones who actually know what's going on. No, a B3 is not touch sensitive. And those who mentioned that it's the B3 percussion you're hearing are correct. But they didn't explain it! The B3 percussion is something that only "re-triggers" after you release all the keys; it won't play for other notes if you've got one held. THAT is how Booker T. got the quieter echo, the sustained note keeps the percussion from re-triggering.

Posted by: swahl at April 09, 2012 02:15 PM (JvW7r)

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