Hammond Archives - Page 3 of 3

July 23, 2020August 15, 2020

The Happy Hammond Goes Pop – Phil Allen

Sleeve Notes:

There are some people for whom the sound of a Hammond organ means musical paradise on a grand scale, while for others it’s just another boring organ sound. But we’re not concerned with the latter-although it might surprise them to realise just how versatile the Hammond can be when it’s well played, and is matched with a selection of songs that bring out the best in it.

In fact that’s what the songs on this album have done, as the Hammond organ really goes “pop” in the direction of some of the most tuneful songs ever to feature in the pop charts of recent years. Songs like “The Pushbike Song”, “Sugar Sugar”, “Yellow River”, are pop at its purest, but alongside them are the pop songs like “My Way”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, and “My Sweet Lord”. that not only add lustre to the pop charts by being rather less obvious hits, but which go on to join that long and exclusive list of songs known in the business as standards.

But forget about categories of songs and where they figured in the charts. Instead just sit back and enjoy the dazzling sounds that come from the Hammond organ and if, by the time this album has ended, you’re not among the happy band of people who like their pop music played in a lively and different way, then we’ll be very surprised be very surprised.

Label: Hallmark SHM 734

1971 1970s Covers

July 20, 2020September 20, 2020

The Hammond Brothers – Hammonds In Harmony

Sleeve Notes:

When Laurens Hammond introduced his first organ, he certainly did not foresee that this instrument would mean a revolution in the world of music. Now, over thirty years later, THE HAMMOND ORGAN has a unique reputation as being the finest organ available. It is used in churches, concert-halls, recording studios and homes, and many musicians owe much of their reputation to the instrument, among them JIMMY SMITH, JACKIE DAVIS, ETHEL SMITH, EDDIE LAYTON and KEN GRIFFIN, world-famous artists in their particular styles.
Now, the Hammond Brothers (in reality well-known Belgian organists Jan De Nef and Co Pilley) have joined forces, with the aid of a Hammond Concert Organ and a Hammond Luxe Spinet, to produce, after long hours of experimentation and rehearsal, “Hammonds in Harmony’.
The arrangements (by T. Rendall) were made specifically with stereo reproduction in mind and the selection of titles was chosen for the possibility of unique chords and harmonies. No tricks have been employed in the recording, the organists played in the studios just as you hear it on the record.
Surely, a Hammond record with a little “something” extra.

Label: Studio2Stereo TWO 244
History of the Hammond Organ

1967 1960s Covers

July 19, 2020September 20, 2020

Howard Blake – That Hammond Sound

You may be under the impression from this cover alone, should you be unfamiliar with Howard Blake’s career, that this is just another throwaway cheapie like many others from the 60s and 70s. However this album is but one small piece of the Howard Blake jigsaw of career spanning highlights. Mr Blake is also the composer of the famous “Walking In The Air” song from the animated children’s film “The Snowman”. But alongside this Goliath of the music world he also wrote countless numbers for TV, radio, commercials and films. Those of a certain age may remember, for example, the Bounty chocolate bar TV adverts (“a taste of paradise”) and if you do you’ll almost certainly recall the tune that accompanied it. Hear it here for a quick reminder. In the meantime – “Sink back into that comfortable armchair and savour ‘That Hammond Sound’.

Sleeve Notes:

FOLLOWING THE INCREDIBLE SUCCESS OF HOWARD’S FIRST ALBUM, “HAMMOND IN PERCUSSION”, IT WAS DECIDED THAT A FURTHER ALBUM IN THIS SERIES SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE. “THAT HAMMOND SOUND” ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATES THE SUPERB ‘STUDIO 2 STEREO’ SOUND, AIDED BY THE MOST UP-TO-THE-MINUTE RECORDING TECHNIQUES AND BRINGING INTO YOUR OWN HOME THE EXCITING SOUNDS PRODUCED BY THIS GROUP OF LONDON’S TOP MUSICIANS. EVERY TRACK ON THE ALBUM HAS BEEN SPECIALLY ARRANGED BY HOWARD HIMSELF AND HE ALSO COMPOSED THE VERY WISTFUL TITLE, SCORPIO. SO, SINK BACK INTO THAT COMFORTABLE ARMCHAIR AND SAVOUR “THAT HAMMOND SOUND”.

Label: Studio2Stereo TWO 192

1966 1960s Covers