Rich here to talk about how an affordable church organ became an essential instrument for rock bands once the music started getting Heavy. But, first, some background: Back in the mid-1930's the Hammond Organ Co. began making an alternative for churches that could neither house nor afford the large pipe organs found in gigantic cathedral-like churches. It was a successful venture.
After Hammond Organs became particularly popular in small Black churches, many gospel-influenced Black jazz, soul, and R&B groups of the '60s made the Hammond Organ a central part of their instrumentation. Meanwhile, with a few exceptions, most White rock bands of the time were using easy-to-transport "Combo organs." They were popular, but their thin, skating-rink quality sounded somewhat cheesy. (For example, listen to "96 Tears.")
In 1967, rock music was getting heavier. The bass and drums were louder, and the guitars were fuzzed and distorted, and some bands began replacing their tinny-sounding combo organs with the fuller-and-deeper-sounding Hammond Organ. When played through a Leslie amplification cabinet with a rotating speaker that gave the organ a whirling sound, the Hammond Organ was perfect for the dreamy, slowed-down psychedelic music of the time.
And the sound caught on. Procol Harum had a hit record in 1967 that featured a Hammond Organ front and center, playing a quasi-classical counter-theme against the song's bluesy melody. Shortly afterwards, many bands interested in being taken seriously ditched their combo organs and invested in a Hammond Organ.
The following are four Hammond Organ-centric records from 1967-1968 that I consider essential, including the Procol Harum record I believe initiated the trend.
