Eddie Dunstedter

Artist: Eddie Dunstedter

LP: Pipes and Power
Song: "Nola"
[ listen ]

I couldn't find much info about Mr. Dunstedter on the internet, but here's what I do know: He was born on August 2, 1897 in Edwardsville, IL and died in Van Nuys, CA on July 30, 1974. He taught at the MacPhail College of Music in Minneapolis at some point in his life and his incredible playing on this "Pipes and Power" LP transplanted an amazing range of sounds into my listening room. Here are some liner notes about the man behind the pipes and about the song "Nola"—along with some organ pictures I found on the web:

Eddie Dunstedter at the consoles of the Robert
Morton pipe organ and custom-built Hammond

[ The Robert Morton pipe organ in Glendale, CA ]

[ The 3-manual Hammond electric ]

This album features the 24-rank Robert Morton pipe organ
located in the Lorin Whitney Studio, Glendale, California. One
of the finest and best maintained in the nation, it is the largest
theater organ Eddie Dunstedter has recorded.

For selections in which speed is a factor, Eddie introduces a
three-manual Hammond electric, which speaks through five
Leslie loudspeakers, each with its whirling high frequency
unit set to rotate at a different speed. The Hammond is
also equipped with a Krueger (electronic) plucked bass
played from the pedals. On several tunes, multiple recording
lets us hear both organs simultaneously, thus transplanting
an amazing range of sounds into the listening room—all
molded by the unique musical artistry of Eddie Dunstedter,
one of the all-time masters of the console.

Much has been said of the "Dunstedter tone," but attempts
to analyze it seem futile. It's true that Eddie has a fondness
for an organ sound rich in mutation stops, such as the Quint,
Twelfth, Tierce, and mixtures in general—pipes which sound
notes other than the pitches of the keys pressed. Yet, other
organists playing on Eddie's favorite registration combinations
don't sound anything like the real Dunstedter. His playing is
reminiscent of no other organist, and he has no imitators.

* * * * * * *

Nola takes Eddie to the console of the Hammond, whose
special design enables him to play just about the fastest
version on records. For contrast he plays the more
legato middle section on pipes.

[ Eddie ]