The Velvet Forum

• John Cale used a Vox Continental combo organ to record Sun Blindness.

• In the photo below, you can see Lou Reed either miming or playing a Vox continental

• Meanwhile, the photo below shows Cale playing a Rheem Mark VII (possible with one hand in a cast)

• The Rheem has an interesting back story, as explained over on Combo Organ Heaven

Better known for their water heaters, the Rheem company sold two of the coolest combo organs ever. Well, one combo organ, the Mark VII […]

Fantastic post!

Always wondered which Organ was that played at the Retinal Circus (1968) but also in Boston (My best guess is "The Savoy" September 1967).

I think they signed with VOX in May during the first West Coast visit and they got at the Trip the VOX bass and guitars and the Continental Organ.

There are not that many pictures of Cale on the Organ . You can see the Continental (from top of my head) at The Trauma July 67, BTP August 67 (Warhol Film).

The Rheem can be seen at The Savoy Sept 67 and as you say at The Retinal Circus June 1968

Alwasy wondered too if Cale was with a cast at this picture in Vancouver!

Yes, there are surprisingly few images of John playing keyboard.

And while there is a lot known about the guitars the band played, there is very little attention given to keyboards, drums and viola.
I thought it would be fun to try and dig into these details further.

I'm not sure I'm familiar with the Savoy photo. Can you point me to a reference at all?

I only read up on Cale's accident this morning and wondered about that too.
It certainly looks like he's cradling his left arm in his lap while plugging away with his right.

alfredovu wrote: ↑12 Apr 2021 18:55 Fantastic post!

Always wondered which Organ was that played at the Retinal Circus (1968) but also in Boston (My best guess is "The Savoy" September 1967).

The Rheem can be seen at The Savoy Sept 67 and as you say at The Retinal Circus June 1968
Alwasy wondered too if Cale was with a cast at this picture in Vancouver!

Alfredo - I do not remember seeing any pics from The Savoy in 1967 - have they been published somewhere?