Shane’s Music Challenge: BOOKER T & THE MG’s – 1994 – Greatest Hits

Shane’s Music Challenge: BOOKER T & THE MG’s – 1994 – Greatest Hits
8.5/10

Classic R&B from back when ‘R&B’ meant real music, not over-processed dancepop dross. Booker T Jones assembled The MG’s from The Stax Studios in-house band of Steve Cropper, Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn and A Jackson Jr.

Between them they played on hundreds of classic sides, including tracks by Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Bill Withers and Sam & Dave, to name just a few. Suffice to say, these guys were the shit.

Opener Green Onions is probably their most famous track, Jones’ jaunty Hammond organ line worth the price of admission alone. Chinese Checkers, Groovin’, My Sweet Potato, Hip Hug-her and a smokin’ take on Simon & Garfunkle’s Mrs Robinson all seal the deal, driven by that fluid organ sound, Cropper’s perfect blues playing, and Dunn & Jackson’s tighter than a duck’s arse rhythm section.

Category: Shane's Rock Challenge