Top Ten Organ Songs

Okay, stop you’re grade 8 snickering, I’m talking the musical instrument organ, not what ever you might be laughing at. The organ has had a pretty good run in rock. It’s not used regularly but when it is, it tends to be with great effect. And while this list is pretty much all classic rock, you might be surprised on what made it.Take a look at the list below and you’ll see what I mean.

10) The Wallflowers – 6th Avenue Heartache

A bit of a personal choice, I absolutely love the guitar and organ parts in this song. While not as stand out as on some of the other tracks, the organ gives 6th Avenue Heartache a nice backing track and feel to the tune. And don’t worry, Jakob Dylan’s Dad also makes the list.

9) Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Karn Evil 9

twenty nine minutes of prog rock organ greatness.

8) Yes – Roundabout

If I didn’t include a song by Yes, I’m pretty sure the cult of Rick Wakeman would show up at my door. To be fair however, this is really good work, Wakeman’s hands blazing through solos, cool stuff.

7) The Spencer Davis Group – Gimme Some Lovin’

Steve Winwood just wailin’ away, it’s an easy lock for this list. It may not be as flashy as his organ work with Traffic or his solo career but I think this may be the most fun. The first video is of the original take. The second is the re-recorded version (More organ! More cowbell!) that became a hit.

6) Led Zeppelin – Your Time Is Gonna Come

Epic is probably the best way to describe the organ work on this song and while Zeppelin did use the organ a fair amount (“Thank You” is another great example), “Your Time Is Gonna Come” is where it really gets noticed

5) Deep Purple – Hush

Deep Purple found great use for the organ on many of it’s tracks (the intro to Perfect Strangers is just fantastic) but on “Hush”, it’s really used as the driving force behind the tune. What a lot of people don’t realize is this is actually a cover of a song performed by Billy Joe Royal, best known for “Down In The Boondocks”.

4) Booker T and The M.G.s – Green Onions

Used in a metric ton of movie trailers and films, everyone and their grandmother can instantly recognize this tune but very few people can tell you it’s name.

3) The Doors – Light My Fire

One of the few rock bands to have the organ as a front row instrument, Ray Manzarek’s keys took front and centre on Light My Fire, that opening riff becoming one of the best rock songs intros ever.

2) Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade Of Pale

How can anyone not like this song? Okay, I may be a little biased (my Dad had a tape of this when I was a kid and it was heard on the way to the cottage from time to time when it was just the two of us) but honestly, it’s a great song with a tremendous use of the organ despite the fact that the lyrics don’t make a heck of a lot of sense.

1) Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone

Probably the most popular song in Dylan’s vast catalogue, it almost didn’t happen. Dylan was having issues with the song but felt they hit pay dirt with the organ sounds of session musician Al Kooper. The song also signalled the start of Dylan’s move away from strictly folk music and into a more rock oriented sound.

So my friends, did I miss any? Or do I have someone up there with the wrong song? Feel free to leave me your comments below!

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