Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Category: Organ instrumentals

"The Soul of JB"
Zeroto180

The Duel: Organ vs. Sax

In the early part of this century, reissue label, Hip-O, put out a comprehensive series of James Brown single releases that were issued from 1956-1981.  Historians & researchers will no doubt be studying these liner notes in decades to come as they try to organize and make sense of the

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"Soul Serenade"
Zeroto180

“Soul Serenade”: Beau Dollar + Coins

Seems like everyone’s covered “Soul Serenade” – so why does no one play it on the radio?  Don’t you think it’s about time for this tune to be rediscovered? “Soul Serenade“ Beau Dollar & the Coins (1966) This irresistible instrumental was produced by Lonnie Mack, one-time musical compatriot of Roger

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"Black Onion"
Zeroto180

“Black Onion”: Healing Organ

According to Doctors Across Borders, “when compared to every other natural remedy for auto-immune disorders,” black cumin (also known as black onion seed) “is the most effective” and “has the power to restore harmony.” Keyboardist, songwriter, and musical director, Jackie Mittoo, gets an organ workout, thanks to his musical compatriots

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"South Side Strut"
Zeroto180

“South Side Strut”: Grateful Funk

Today’s piece is a birthday tribute to my college roommate, Gavin Martin, who once rescued me from a very unpleasant housing situation, when he advocated successfully on my behalf for a vacancy that suddenly popped up in his much cooler adjoining dorm suite – and for that, I will be

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"Bumpin' on Sunset"
Zeroto180

“Bumpin’ on Sunset”: Organ + Strings

Thanks to brother Bryan for tipping me to a book that, amazingly, has only been written in the last couple years:  Rock ‘n’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip.  Most of us music fanatics who live on this side of the Mississippi, sadly, have never had the opportunity to see

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"Space Walk"
Zeroto180

“Space Walk”: Psychedelic Vibes, Man

Paul ‘Ollie‘ Halsall, as previously noted, was one of the rare rock musicians to utilize the vibraphone – an instrument that is often confined to jazz and 1960s pop and northern soul, sadly.  The vibes, when placed in the right context, can add such gorgeous tonal color to a song,

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"Stop the Drums"
Zeroto180

“Stop the Drums”: Inspiration for Muppet Drummer

It’s true:  John McLaughlin once worked the pop scene.  The guitarist, whose name would become synonymous with 1970s jazz fusion, started out in 1960s London as a session player for the likes of – Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach (What’s New Pussycat? soundtrack) Andrew Oldham Orchestra (“365 Rolling Stones (One

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"Fat Eddie"
Zeroto180

“Fat Eddie”: James Crawford’s Mighty B-Side

*Musical personnel info updated January 2023 Of course, no discussion about Cincinnati in song would be complete without a reference to the city’s storied indie label that helped give birth to rock & roll music – King Records. September 14, 1967 may not be a date that registers strongly in

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"Flaming Rock Steady"
Zeroto180

“Flaming Rock Steady”: It’s a Scorcher

In 1966 legendary session guitarist, Ernest Ranglin, released a fun and breezy set of instrumentals in Jamaica on the Federal label entitled, A Mod A Mod Ranglin. The original 12-song LP has since been reissued on CD with six additional tracks – including this one, “Flaming Rock Steady“:~ “Flaming Rock

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"Supersonics in Flight"
Zeroto180

“Supersonics In Flight”: Billy Mure’s Jet-Age Guitar Army

Before The Barclay Stars and their lone 1966 breakthrough album, Billy Mure was the first and last name in military guitar ensembles.  The title track from Billy’s 1959 RCA album, Supersonics in Flight, demonstrates the glorious sound of multiple guitars playing stereophonically in tandem. “Supersonics In Flight“ Billy Mure (1959)

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