Georgie Fame, Stevie Winwood, Ian McLagan and Brian Auger, in the 60’s these were the British masters of the Hammond Organ. Influenced by US Jazz and R’n’B players like Jimmy Smith, Booker T (of the MG’s), “Brother” Jack McDuff and Jimmy McGriff they added their own take on the style, just listen to Georgie’s “Yeh Yeh”, Mac’s performance on “Afterglow” or Stevie’s “Gimme Some Lovin’” to hear the different styles.

Brian Auger played the Hammond like a demon. He’d recorded with The Yardbirds and been a member of the legendary British R’n’B outfit Steampacket with Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart and Julie Driscoll. He formed the Trinity and then in 1967 added Julie Driscoll to the line up to become the tongue twisting Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity.

Julie Driscoll was the archetypal 60’s beauty. Short hair, panda eyes and mini skirts, oh and a voice that knew its way around soul and R’n’B. A Mod goddess, her picture would have adorned the wall of many a Mod boy back then.

The band are best known for their cover of Bob Dylan’s “This Wheel’s On Fire”, which is of course on this album. But they are revered in the Mod and Soul worlds for two other tracks here. First up “Indian Rope Man” (which I also own on a now quite valuable 7”) was written and originally recorded by Richie Havens and later Reggae-fied by Bob Marley as “African Herbsman”.  It’s a Hammond-tastic mover which really highlights Auger’s thunderous style. The other is “Save Me Parts 1 & 2” (which is in my 7” wantlist) which was originally written and recorded by Aretha Franklin but has also appeared as “Help Me” by Ray Sharpe with the King Curtis Orchestra (possibly featuring a young Jimi Hendrix), as “Instant Groove” by King Curtis himself and finally as “Help Me” by Owen Gray. We’ve digressed but both tracks demonstrate the Trinity’s prowess all driven by Brian’s powerhouse Hammond and Julie’s blue-eyed vocals. The word “dancer’ could have been coined just to describe either. 

Other than those two this album doesn’t hold much more for me and if I ever track down a 7” of “Save Me” this album will almost certainly find it’s way to the shop. But it’s a great comp of an oft overlooked 60’s group that really did make some fabulous records.

Save Me Parts 1 & 2 - https://youtu.be/W07qQkigna0