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B3 Trivia


StanC

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Something I've often wondered about. This could start a debate (at the risk of sounding a bit evil I hope so! :evil: ) the question:

When and by whom did the B3 make it's first appearance in rock and roll?

Stan

Gig Rig: Yamaha S90 XS; Hammond SK-1; Rehearsal: Yamaha MOX8 Korg Triton Le61, Yamaha S90, Hammond XK-1

Retired: Hammond M2/Leslie 145, Wurly 200, Ensoniq VFX

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I would guess that the organ entered the world of rock in several ways. First there usually was a console organ in the recording studios... Second, they were in churches as well. So Church organists used them for rehearsals.

 

Plus the fact that Hammonds were used in jazz and blues long before rock. So it just seems natural that many soul and R&B bands used them... which naturally transferred to rock...

 

Early rock bands employing the Hammond from these jazz and soul roots include The Young Rascals, Vanilla Fudge, Deep Purple, Spencer Davis Group, The Beach Boys, and many others.

 

[video:youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mlj8nuJbNQ

'55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400; Wurlitzer 200; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module

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I will use any excuse to post this video. This is the first time I ever saw a B3 on TV... and I had to buy one after this....

 

[video:youtube]

'55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400; Wurlitzer 200; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module

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And this famous clip...

 

[video:youtube]

'55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400; Wurlitzer 200; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module

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And again, not a B3... but a Hammond.

 

[video:youtube]

'55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400; Wurlitzer 200; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module

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The bridge between R&B and Rock on a Hammond may have been Green Onions (1962).

 

You may be correct.

 

[video:youtube]

 

 

'55 and '59 B3's; Leslies 147, 122, 21H; MODX 7+; NUMA Piano X 88; Motif XS7; Mellotrons M300 and M400; Wurlitzer 200; Gibson G101; Vox Continental; Mojo 61; Launchkey 88 Mk III; Korg Module

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Dave, the question wasn't how many bands use a Hammond, the question was when did the B3 make its first appearance in rock and roll... You've pointed to 6 bands, and probably none of them were the first to make the appearance.

57 Hammond B3; 69 Hammond L100P; 68 Leslie 122; Kurzweil PC3; M-Audio Code 61; Voce V5+; Neo Vent; EV ELX112P; GSI Gemini & Burn

Delaware Dave

Exit93band

 

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Early users might also have been Joey Dee and the Starlighters (Peppermint Twist) I also recall an instrumentalist, Dave "Baby" Cortez who had some organ stuff out in the late 50's early 60's. First use of Hammond and leslie I recall hearing was

"David's Mood" by the Kingsmen (of Louie Louie fame). Also Bill Doggett with "Honky Tonk" was certainly an early one.

 

 

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Dave "Baby" Cortez had a hit with "The Happy Organ" in 1959. Wikipedia says this instrumental "was the first pop/rock hit to feature the electronic organ as lead instrument."

 

These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise.
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"David's Mood" by the Kingsmen (of Louie Louie fame)

_________________________________________________________________

The original David's mood was written and recorded by Dave Lewis on the Jerden Records label out of Seattle. Jerden was the label the Kingsmen recorded Louie Louie on....Jerden sold the master to Scepter/Wand Records for national distribution and the rest is history. The Dave Lewis version of David's Mood is far superior to the Kingsmen version. And I'm thinking Honky Tonk by Bill Doggett (1956) had to be one of the first hits using a B3 although Doggett just kind of chunked along on the record letting the guitar and sax play all the melody.

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In 1958 Lord Rockingham's X1 had a number one UK hit with "Hoots Mon!" featuring female B3 player Cherry Wainer.

 

[video:youtube]

 

The first all-female band with a B3 was likely Goldie and the Gingerbreads beginning in 1962. They were signed to Decca Records in 1963 and Atlantic Records in 1964. They had a minor UK hit with "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" in 1965. It is quite possible The Young Rascals were somewhat influenced by the format of this band.

 

[video:youtube]

 

 

C3/122, M102A, Vox V301H, Farfisa Compact, Gibson G101, GEM P, RMI 300A, Piano Bass, Pianet , Prophet 5 rev. 2, Pro-One, Matrix 12, OB8, Korg MS20, Jupiter 6, Juno 60, PX-5S, Nord Stage 3 Compact
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stax records recorded with hammonds , green onions has a hammond , though not a 3 series , you were hearing that sound all through the 60's

for sure . but i know ,in my neck of the woods , the rascals were the first band that really brought it to prominence . from there on out it exploded on the scene

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There had been plenty of " Rock and Roll" that had been played before Elvis Presley made appearances on national television in 1956 or Bill Haley recorded "Rock Around the Clock".

 

In the Top 40 oriented media, Rock and Roll is generally considered anything with a backbeat that was performed or recorded roughly around the time Presley and Haley began having million selling records.

 

In my opinion, " Honky Tonk" by Bill Doggett is definitely " Rock and Roll". Unless you put it in the category of Rhythm and Blues. But it was certainly a crossover hit and many people who bought it probably didn't actually know if Doggett was white or black .

 

Doggett performed on many sessions for King records artists such as Wynonie Harris, Billy Ward and the Dominoes ( 60 Minute Man - arguably rock and roll from 1951).

 

An early example of his organ playing can be heard on " The Bradshaw Boogie" by Tiny Bradshaw -also from 1951. Doggett played mostly piano on many early King sessions, but he did occasionally use a pre B-3 Hammond.

 

Give a listen to " Bradshaw Boogie" and see if it qualifies to you as being Rock and Roll. This was 5 years before Honky Tonk.

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Don't forget that "rock n roll" was added as a descriptor AFTER many of these songs had been released (as is the case with all genre names). Rocket 88 is in the mix because it features so many of the elements that LATER became associated with the genre called "rock n roll." But as far as Ike Turner knew, he was just doing jump blues and R&B. Same with Bill Haley's "Rocking Chair on the Moon." (I think this might precede Rocket 88, timewise.) It's got the "rock-" part nicely featured and sounds in retrospect like it must be "rock n roll," but at the time it was just good western swing.

 

www.joshweinstein.com

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Origins of rock and roll (Wikipedia) - Views on the first rock and roll record.

 

Way too much to share here. I'd say just read, check out the named tunes, and enjoy.

 

Anyway, when did the Hammond show up in all this?

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck

 

"The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI

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