Merit Hemmingson at the Hammond

Listen/Download Merit Hemmingson – Pata Pata

Greetings all

The end of the week is here, so I will take this opportunity to remind you that the Funky16Corners Radio Show hits the airwaves of the interwebs each and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you cannot join me at airtime, there are a variety of ways to keep yourself apprised of the soulful goodness, including subscribing to the show as a podcast in iTunes (or any other podcast handling program), in the TuneIn app, or as an MP3 here at the blog.

Today’s selection is one from the Hammond Internationale file.

You all know how much I dig the Hammond organ, and that I’m always in search of new (to me) organ 45s and LPs for the crates.

I knew of Merit Hemmingson for years before I was able to put my hands on one of her records.

She was a Swedish pianist who switched to Hammond in the 1960s, and recorded a couple of albums of soul jazzy grooves before switching over to new agey treatments of Swedish folk songs (no, really.).

I dig both of the albums that I have, but the track I bring you today stands out above all others.

‘Pata Pata’ was originally a hit for Miriam Makeba in 1967 (Top 10 Pop and R&B), and was covered by many jazz and pop artists over the next couple of years.

The version you’re hearing today was recorded by Hemmingson in 1968 on the ‘Merit Hemmingson Plays..’ LP.

Including a variety of pop and jazz covers, the LP features an all-Swedish band, with the exception of American conguero Sabu Martinez.

It is Martinez’ percussion and vocals that make Hemmingson’s version of ‘Pata Pata’ so groovy.

Opening with a lazy sounding organ, the peace is interrupted by Martinez and the band chanting, followed by his congas, and then the drums.

Then the guitarist comes in with a riff that sounds like it was lifted from the Spencer Davis Group’s ‘I’m a Man’.

Once Hemmingson’s organ comes in the song regains some of it’s bright, poppy feel, but thanks to the percussion a sharper edge remains through the arrangement.

It’s really unusual, and unlike pretty much everything else on the album.

If you’re a Hammond (or au-go-go) fan, Hemmingson’s first two LPs, ‘Plays…’ and ‘Discotheque Dance a Go Go’ are definitely worth picking up.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

 

 

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Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

One Response to “Merit Hemmingson – Pata Pata”

1. Kent Teffeteller says:

   October 26, 2014 at 9:45 pm

   A great cooking organ groover. I am getting very Funked up by this excellent groover. Love this all the way. Sweden gets Funked! And I am loving this! So bad, I want this wax in my selection of groovers.