A Day to remember: May 10th 1973

You have saved up £950, what do you do? I had a choice:

  1. Buy a Nikon F2 PhotomIc camera
  2. Buy a Hammond A100 and join a band

Being stupid and young the rest is history.

Now 2021 48 years later the same Hammond has probably appeared in more sessions, concerts recitals etc than any other Hammond in the UK.

So what did I do to celebrate? I did a 7 hour drive and delivered a fully restored Hammond RT3 to the client. Why, because its what I love doing, choose to do and am lucky to be able to still do it. Me I’m still stupid but not so naive.

The Octave Hire, Hammond Hire Company 1968 Split A100

The Octave Hire, Hammond Hire Company 1968 Split A100

Just a few of the thousands of sessions it has been used on.

PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

Gt More and the reggae guitars. Frankie Miller. Rory Gallagher. Ace. Paul Carrack. Nick Lowe. Elvis Costello. Squeeze. George Harrison. Hans Zimmer. Billy Preston. Vangelis. Tony Ashton. Little Richard. Junior Walker. Paul McCartney. Phil Collins. Mike and the Mechanics. Stockhausen. Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. Georgie Fame. Pink Floyd. Peter Gabriel. Tears for fears. Elton John. Gerry Rafferty. Deep Purple. Eddie Hardin. The Butterfly ball. Dire Straits. Sting. George Michael (Faith). Muscle Shoals. Ronnie Wood. Peter Tosh. Mick Jagger. Dave Stewart. Jon Lord. Mac.Ian McLagan. Roger Waters. Jools Holland. Tina Turner. Uriah Heep. Dennis Bovell. Godley and Creme. Trevor Horn. Jonathan Ross show. Bob Marley. Barry Blue. Chris Porter. Asia. Lulu. Tony O’Malley. Cliff Richard. Donovan. Texas. Howard Jones. Jimmy Cliff. Simply Red. Charlatans. BBC Proms. London Sinfonietta. London Symphony Orchestra. London Philharmonic Orchestra. Royal Philharmonic orchestra. Royal Opera House. Royal Variety performance. BBC Symphony Orchestra. BBC Concert Orchestra. Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Royal Opera House. Aldeburgh Festival..B.Ham Opera. Roy Powell.Van Morrison.Alicia Adams.Simon Clark.Bryan Ferry/Phil Manzanera.Wham.Rod Argent. Cat Stevens. Carlene Carter. Sugababes.The Selector. The Cure. Eric Clapton.Diane Tell.EMI KPM.Wet Wet Wet.The Smiths. John Porter. Mathew Cang. Joe Cang New Order.Carmel. Penguin Cafe Orchestra. John Reynolds. Sinead O'connor. Gerry Goldsmith. Steve Nieve. Bob Andrews. Madness. Nick Glennie-Smith. Mathew Fisher. Andy Wallace, Geoff Downes. Yes. Andy Fairweather Low. Aerosmith. Nicky Brown. Phill Brown. Carol Grimes. The Voice Squad. Eng producer Pete smith .Pete Walsh. Chris Potter. George Martin. Tony Visconti. Joe Cang, Jools Holland show. TOTP. THE TUBE, The White Room. BBC Maida Vale. Reggae regulars. Dingwalls .The Venue. Royal Command performance. Maidstone Prison featuring Nick Lowe. It even got a mention at the Oscar’s for the film Alfie. Mr Jagger apparently said I wasn’t there "The sessions went so well at Abbey Rd because of this Hammond".

Every major recording studio in London. Most long gone.

These are just some of the hundreds into the thousands of recording sessions and concerts it was used on.

I remember the first time going to AIR but not who used it 1975. AIR Studios first session was the Climax Blues Band we are restoring their Vox Cont. at the moment but that’s another story.

Ramport Studios The Who had just opened and the A100 went there and for years until it closed a great studio, great people and NO STAIRS but great tea. A few more: Michael Kamen . Spencer Davis Group. Georgie Fame with Guy Barker .Sir John Tavener.

BBC Proms. Desmond Dekker. Annabel’s 50th B.Day

During this whole time not once did it fail to work.

CV. Driver with muscles and other attributes like tea a lot.