What organ did Elton John use on Crocodile Rock?

Elton John used a Farfisa Compact Duo for the organ sound on "Crocodile Rock." This Italian combo organ was popular in the early 1970s and provided the song's distinctive reedy, slightly overdriven organ tone.

How to get Elton John's organ tone on Crocodile Rock?

Start with a Farfisa-style organ sound, add slight overdrive or distortion, and apply compression to help it cut through the mix. Boost the high frequencies and cut some low-mids for the characteristic brightness and clarity of the original recording.

Where was Crocodile Rock recorded?

"Crocodile Rock" was recorded at Strawberry Studios in France. The track was produced by Gus Dudgeon and engineered by Ken Scott, who used console processing to shape the organ's final sound.

Can you recreate Crocodile Rock organ sound with plugins?

Yes, modern Farfisa plugin emulations like Arturia Farfisa V can effectively recreate this tone. Combine it with overdrive and compression plugins to match the processed sound heard on the original recording.

What makes Farfisa organs sound different from Hammond organs?

Farfisa organs use transistor-based tone generation rather than Hammond's tonewheel system, creating a more aggressive, reedy sound. They have a brighter, more cutting tone that's particularly evident in the "Crocodile Rock" organ part.

organ from "crocodile rock" by elton john

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Tone Profile

The organ tone is a bright, slightly overdriven Farfisa combo organ sound, characterized by its distinctive reedy and slightly harsh timbre, providing a signature sound for the track.

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Farfisa Compact Duo(instrument)

The Story

The organ sound on "Crocodile Rock" was created using a Farfisa Compact Duo, recorded direct or through a small amplifier to achieve its characteristic overdriven quality. The track was recorded at Strawberry Studios in France with producer Gus Dudgeon and engineer Ken Scott, who applied console compression and EQ to enhance the organ's brightness and presence in the mix.

Production Credits

Producer: Gus Dudgeon

Engineer: Ken Scott

Recorded at: Strawberry Studios, France

Signal Chain

Instrument: Farfisa Compact DuoShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Use a Farfisa VST plugin if you don't have access to the real thing.
Experiment with overdrive plugins to achieve a similar level of grit.
Apply EQ to boost the high frequencies and cut some of the low-mids for clarity.
A touch of compression can help the organ cut through the mix.

Original Gear

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Farfisa Compact DuoShop on Reverb(keyboard)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia Farfisa VPlugin Boutique$99-$199

Alternative to: Farfisa Compact Duo

Accurate emulation of the Compact Duo's distinctive reed organ circuits and built-in overdrive characteristics

Crumar Mojo 61Shop on Reverb$1,200-$1,500

Alternative to: Farfisa Compact Duo

Hardware recreation specifically designed to capture vintage Farfisa tones with authentic transistor-based sound generation

Waves SSL G-Master Buss CompressorPlugin Boutique$29-$149

Alternative to: Console compression and EQ

Provides the console-style compression that helps the organ cut through the mix with appropriate punch

Electro-Harmonix Hot TubesShop on Reverb$75-$100

Alternative to: Small amp overdrive

Tube-style overdrive that can add the slight grit and warmth characteristic of the recorded organ tone

Sources

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