Booker T. & The MG’s | ||
| Allmusic Biography : As the house band at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, Booker T. & the MGs may have been the single greatest factor in the lasting value of that labels soul music, not to mention Southern soul as a whole. Their tight, impeccable grooves could be heard on classic hits by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Carla Thomas, Albert King, and Sam & Dave, and for that reason alone, they would deserve their subsequent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But in addition to their formidable skills as a house band, on their own they were one of the top instrumental outfits of the rock era, cutting classics like "Green Onions," "Time Is Tight," and "Hang em High." The anchors of the Booker T. sound were Steve Cropper, whose slicing, economic riffs influenced many other guitar players, and Booker T. Jones himself, who provided much of the groove with his floating organ lines. In 1960, Jones started working as a session man for Stax, where he met Cropper. Cropper had been in the Mar-Keys, famous for the 1961 instrumental hit "Last Night," which laid out the prototype for much of the MGs (and indeed Memphis souls) sound with its organ-sax-guitar combo. With the addition of drummer Al Jackson and bassist Lewis Steinberg, they became Booker T. & the MGs. Within a couple years, Steinberg was replaced permanently by Donald "Duck" Dunn, who, like Cropper, had also played with the Mar-Keys. The bands first and biggest hit, "Green Onions" (a number three single in 1962), came about by accident. Jamming in the studio while fruitlessly waiting for Billy Lee Riley to show up for a session, they came up with a classic minor-key, bluesy soul instrumental, distinguished by its nervous organ bounce and ferocious bursts of guitar. For the next five years, theyd have trouble recapturing its commercial success, though the standard of their records remained fairly high, and Staxs dependence upon them as the house band ensured a decent living. In the late 60s, the MGs really hit their stride with "Hip Hug-Her," "Groovin," "Soul-Limbo," "Hang em High," and "Time Is Tight," all of which were Top 40 charters between 1967 and 1969. Since the presence of black and white musicians made them a biracial band, the MGs set a somewhat under-appreciated example of both how integrated, self-contained bands could succeed, and how both black and white musicians could play funky soul music. As is the case with most instrumental rock bands, their singles contained their best material, and the bands music is now best appreciated via anthologies. But their albums were far from inconsequential, and occasionally veered into ambitious territory (they did an entire instrumental version of the Beatles Abbey Road, which they titled McLemore Avenue in honor of the location of Staxs studios). Though theyd become established stars by the end of the decade, the group began finding it difficult to work together, not so much because of personnel problems, but because of logistical difficulties. Cropper was often playing sessions in Los Angeles, and Jones was often absent from Memphis while he finished his music studies at Indiana University. The band decided to break up in 1971, but were working on a reunion album in 1975 when Al Jackson was tragically shot and killed in his Memphis home by a burglar. The remaining members were active as recording artists and session musicians in the following years, with Cropper and Dunn joining the Blues Brothers for a stint in the late 70s. The MGs got back into the spotlight in early 1992, when they were the house band for an extravagant Bob Dylan tribute at Madison Square Garden. More significantly, in 1993 they served as the backup band for a Neil Young tour, one which brought both them (and Young) high critical marks. The following year, they released a comeback album, arranged in much the style of their vintage 60s sides, which proved that their instrumental skills were still intact. Like most such efforts, though, it ultimately failed to re-create the spark and spontaneity it so obviously wanted to achieve. Jones continued with his own musical output through the following decades, often lending his instrumental skills to other artists and occasionally issuing his own albums, such as the 2009 solo effort Potato Hole. Bassist Dunn, intermittently active with festival and tour appearances after the turn of the millennium, had been touring with Cropper and Eddie Floyd in Japan during May 2012 when he died in his sleep in a Tokyo hotel. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 27 Title: Booker T. & The M.G.s + The Mar‐Keys Released: Tracks: 36 Duration: 1:33:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Rinky‐Dink (02:40) 3 I Got a Woman (03:33) 4 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 5 Twist and Shout (02:11) 6 Behave Yourself (03:54) 7 Stranger on the Shore (02:21) 8 Lonely Avenue (03:27) 9 One Who Really Loves You (02:24) 10 You Can’t Sit Down (02:49) 11 A Woman, a Lover, a Friend (02:33) 12 Comin’ Home Baby (03:12) 1 Morning After (02:14) 2 Diana (01:57) 3 Alright, Okay, You Win (02:26) 4 Sticks and Stones (02:00) 5 Misty (02:32) 6 Night Before (02:12) 7 About Noon (02:33) 8 One Degree North (02:14) 9 Sack‐o‐Woe (02:31) 10 Hold It! (02:07) 11 Ebb Tide (03:42) 12 Last Night (02:38) 13 Pop‐Eye Stroll (02:46) 14 Wimp‐Burger (02:33) 15 Straight From the Can (02:04) 16 Cause I Love You (02:39) 17 Squint-Eye (02:03) 18 Pop‐Eye Rider (02:26) 19 It’s Gonna Work Out Fine (02:36) 20 Sit Still (02:11) 21 Too Pooped to Pop‐Eye (02:33) 22 Sweet-P Crawl (02:06) 23 Muscles A‐Comin’ Home (02:22) 24 Sailor Man Waltz (02:42) |
 | Album: 2 of 27 Title: Green Onions Released: 1962-10 Tracks: 12 Duration: 34:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Rinky‐Dink (02:40) 3 I Got a Woman (03:33) 4 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 5 Twist and Shout (02:11) 6 Behave Yourself (03:54) 7 Stranger on the Shore (02:21) 8 Lonely Avenue (03:27) 9 One Who Really Loves You (02:24) 10 You Can’t Sit Down (02:49) 11 A Woman, a Lover, a Friend (02:33) 12 Comin’ Home Baby (03:12) |
| Green Onions : Allmusic album Review : Theres not a note or a nuance out of place anywhere on this record, which featured 35 of the most exciting minutes of instrumental music in any category that one could purchase in 1962 (and its no slouch multiple decades out, either). "I Got a Woman" is the single best indicator of how superb this record is and this band was -- listening to this track, its easy to forget that the song ever had lyrics or ever needed them, Booker T. Jones organ and Steve Croppers guitar serving as more-than-adequate substitutes for any singer. Their version of "Twist and Shout" is every bit as satisfying. Even "Mo Onions," an effort to repeat the success of "Green Onions," doesnt repeat anything from the earlier track except the tempo, and Jones and Cropper both come up with fresh sounds within the same framework. "Behave Yourself" is a beautifully wrought piece of organ-based blues that gives Jones a chance to show off some surprisingly nimble-fingered playing, while "Stranger on the Shore" is transformed into a piece of prime soul music in the groups hands. Just when it seems like the album has turned in all of the surprises in repertory that it could reasonably deliver, it ends with "Comin Home Baby," a killer jazz piece on which Steve Cropper gets to shine, his guitar suddenly animated around Jones playing, his quietly trilled notes at the crescendo some of the most elegant guitar heard on an R&B; record up to that time. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 27 Title: Soul Dressing Released: 1965-03 Tracks: 12 Duration: 30:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Soul Dressing (02:24) 2 Tic‐Tac‐Toe (02:32) 3 Big Train (02:32) 4 Jellybread (02:31) 5 Aw’ Mercy (02:38) 6 Outrage (02:35) 7 Night Owl Walk (03:14) 8 Chinese Checkers (02:27) 9 Home Grown (03:13) 10 Mercy Mercy (02:37) 11 Plum Nellie (02:07) 12 Can’t Be Still (01:57) |
| Soul Dressing : Allmusic album Review : Assembled mostly from (non-hit) 1963-65 singles, this is solid stuff, but a notch below their peak collections. The best tracks ("Soul Dressing," "Tic-Tac-Toe," "Cant Be Still") are usually included on their best-of anthologies, but "Plum Nellie," featuring some ferocious, cutting-edge solos by Cropper and Jones, is an overlooked highlight. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 27 Title: And Now! Released: 1966 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 My Sweet Potato (02:46) 2 Jericho (02:37) 3 No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In) (03:01) 4 One Mint Julep (03:05) 5 In the Midnight Hour (02:58) 6 Summertime (04:41) 7 Working in the Coal Mine (02:42) 8 Don’t Mess Up a Good Thing (02:44) 9 Think (02:58) 10 Taboo (04:25) 11 Soul Jam (03:05) 12 Sentimental Journey (03:13) |
 | Album: 5 of 27 Title: In the Christmas Spirit Released: 1966 Tracks: 12 Duration: 34:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Jingle Bells (02:37) 2 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (02:36) 3 Winter Wonderland (02:06) 4 White Christmas (03:04) 5 The Christmas Song (03:21) 6 Silver Bells (02:32) 7 Merry Christmas Baby (03:17) 8 Blue Christmas (03:13) 9 Sweet Little Jesus Boy (02:51) 10 Silent Night (03:26) 11 We Three Kings (02:37) 12 We Wish You a Merry Christmas (02:23) |
| In the Christmas Spirit : Allmusic album Review : Booker T. and the MGs find the groove to come up with funky instrumentals of Yule classics "Jingle Bells," "Silver Bells," and the percolatin "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Steve Cropper makes his guitar sing on the down n bluesy "Merry Christmas Baby." | ||
 | Album: 6 of 27 Title: Back to Back Released: 1967 Tracks: 10 Duration: 29:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (04:12) 2 Red Beans and Rice (01:55) 3 Tic‐Tac‐Toe (02:35) 4 Hip Hug‐Her (02:51) 5 Philly Dog (02:55) 6 Grab This Thing (02:25) 7 Last Night (03:18) 8 Gimme Some Lovin’ (02:55) 9 Booker‐Loo (03:18) 10 Outrage (02:40) |
| Back to Back : Allmusic album Review : Recorded live at Paris in 1967, when the Stax-Volt Revue was touring Europe. This is just about exactly what youd expect: solid, straight-ahead live versions of the instrumental groups best-known tunes, in good sound. Booker T. & the MGs take seven of the albums ten tracks, including their hits "Green Onions" and "Hip Hug-Her"; the Mar-Keys do "Last Night" and a couple of other numbers. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 27 Title: Hip Hug‐Her Released: 1967-05-23 Tracks: 11 Duration: 30:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 2 Soul Sanction (02:30) 3 Get Ready (02:45) 4 More (02:55) 5 Double or Nothing (02:51) 6 Carnaby St. (02:14) 7 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:25) 8 Pigmy (03:55) 9 Groovin’ (02:43) 10 Booker’s Notion (02:25) 11 Sunny (03:24) |
| Hip Hug‐Her : Allmusic album Review : Still riding high years after the success of "Green Onions," Hip Hug-Her is another 11-song solid session of Southern soul delivered by one of the best bands in the business. In an attempt to appeal to the up-and-coming mod movement, the cover features an alluring model flanked by fashionable faceless people. But not to judge the album by its cover, Hip Hug-Her finds the group diving deeper into soulful territories, no doubt aided by the addition of bassist Duck Dunn to the fold. The title track is clearly one of the stronger cuts on the album, but other tunes such as the midtempo Motown anthem "Get Ready" and the groups interpretation of "Groovin" make this one of the strongest full-lengths in the Booker T. & the MGs catalog. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 27 Title: Soul Limbo Released: 1968-10 Tracks: 11 Duration: 36:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy (03:07) 2 La‐La Means I Love You (02:43) 3 Hang ’Em High (04:01) 4 Willow Weep for Me (03:48) 5 Over Easy (04:10) 6 Soul Limbo (02:23) 7 Eleanor Rigby (03:40) 8 Heads or Tails (02:37) 9 (Sweet, Sweet, Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone (03:00) 10 Born Under a Bad Sign (03:12) 11 Foxy Lady (03:14) |
| Soul Limbo : Allmusic album Review : This 1968 album found the Memphis instrumental group running through the usual batch of then-current soul hit covers ("La La Means I Love You," "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"), pop tunes ("Eleanor Rigby," "Foxy Lady") and hits like "Hang Em High" and the title track in their own trademark style. Most interesting are the tracks where Booker T. switches over to piano and the band suddenly becomes a very jazzy outfit, like "Willow Weep for Me" and "Over Easy." One of the better albums in their discography. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 27 Title: The Booker T. Set Released: 1969-11 Tracks: 11 Duration: 36:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Horse (02:46) 2 Love Child (03:04) 3 Sing a Simple Song (03:36) 4 Lady Madonna (03:35) 5 Mrs. Robinson (03:42) 6 This Guy’s in Love With You (03:10) 7 Light My Fire (04:18) 8 Michelle (02:52) 9 You’re All I Need to Get By (03:56) 10 I’ve Never Found a Girl (02:52) 11 It’s Your Thing (03:01) |
| The Booker T. Set : Allmusic album Review : A fine collection featuring the great soul quartet putting their spin on classic numbers, ranging from Cliff Nobles "The Horse" to Motown, Beatles, Isley Brothers, and even some in-house songs like Eddie Floyds "Ive Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)." The original lineup is in fine form, particularly drummer Al Jackson, Jr. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 27 Title: Up Tight Released: 1969-12 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Johnny, I Love You (03:04) 2 Cleveland Now (03:12) 3 Children Don’t Get Weary (03:37) 4 Tank’s Lament (02:53) 5 Blues in the Gutter (03:28) 6 We’ve Got Johnny Wells (03:48) 7 Down at Ralph’s Joint (03:53) 8 Deadwood Dick (04:32) 9 Run Tank Run (02:38) 10 Time Is Tight (04:56) |
| Up Tight : Allmusic album Review : Through the score of Booker T. Jones, the soundtrack to the 1968 Jules Dassin movie Uptight reflects the story of a young black man living in the ghetto during the turbulent time after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Containing the hit single "Time Is Tight," the soundtrack moves from soft and contemplative ("Children, Dont Get Weary") to driving and urgent ("Run Tank Run"). Though not one of Booker T. & the MGs better albums, Uptight does contain the always exemplary musicianship that the MGs brought to their records, and it predates both the Superfly and Shaft soundtracks by three years. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 27 Title: McLemore Avenue Released: 1970 Tracks: 10 Duration: 58:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Medley: Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End / Here Comes the Sun / Come Together (15:50) 2 Something (04:12) 3 Medley: Because / You Never Give Me Your Money (07:28) 4 Medley: Sun King / Mean Mr. Mustard / Polythene Pam / She Came in Through the Bathroom Window / I Want You / She’s So Heavy (10:43) 5 You Can’t Do That (02:47) 6 Day Tripper (02:52) 7 Michelle (02:52) 8 Eleanor Rigby (03:40) 9 Lady Madonna (03:35) 10 You Can’t Do That (alternate take) (04:54) |
| McLemore Avenue : Allmusic album Review : Booker T. Jones was so taken with the Beatles Abbey Road, he claims he had to respond, just to say "thanks." He convened the MGs -- drummer Al Jackson Jr., bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, and guitarist Steve Cropper, and recorded McLemore Avenue, a cover version of the entire Abbey Road album in three long medleys (that approximated the structure of the Beatles album -- particularly its second side) with a cover of George Harrisons "Something" set aside as a single. The MGs even aped the Beatles cover photo, with one of them strolling down McLemore Avenue, the home of Stax Records. Booker T. & the MGs turned an already hip record into one that was funky as hell, and one that kept listeners guessing by rearranging the order of the tunes to suit the MGs as a band. The set begins with a medley of "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End/Here Comes the Sun/Come Together." The juxtaposition of the first two cuts is jarring but seamless. The quartet nails "The End," with fine soloing from Cropper and heated work from Jones on organ and electric piano, before a crescendo and a Moog intros "Here Comes the Sun," done as a summery Jimmy Smith-styled jazz number before turning all sinister on "Come Together." "Something" may have seemed a curious choice for a single, but with Croppers greasy, bluesy guitar break and Jones playing his organ rhythmically more than melodically, it works beautifully. "Because," wedded to "You Never Give Me Your Money," is a spacious blend of melody and psychedelic groove, setting up the final medley. It is the sets tour de force, commencing with a shimmering "Sun King," before Jacksons drums announce a sprightly, funky "Mean Mr. Mustard" that careens into the guitar overdrive of "Polythene Pam" and the breezy "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window," which morphs into a dramatic, blues-drenched, "I Want You (Shes So Heavy)" to close it out. Not only is McLemore Avenue a stellar interpretation of Abbey Road, its one of the finest Booker T. & the MGs albums to boot. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 27 Title: Melting Pot Released: 1971 Tracks: 8 Duration: 40:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Melting Pot (08:15) 2 Back Home (04:44) 3 Chicken Pox (03:26) 4 Fuquawi (03:43) 5 Kinda Easy Like (08:47) 6 Hi Ride (02:40) 7 L.A. Jazz Song (04:23) 8 Sunny Monday (04:35) |
| Melting Pot : Allmusic album Review : Melting Pot could be the most well-realized of all the albums by Booker T. & the M.G.s, a smooth and soulful, yet expansive 35 minutes of all originals, the latter in sharp contrast to their exploration of the Beatles Abbey Road album material on their preceding album. And the irony was that it was their swan song. Booker T. Jones, in particular, was increasingly unhappy working at Stax/Volt Records, owing his feelings to management and structural changes at the company, and also felt the need to change the groups formula somewhat. Steve Cropper was playing lots of session work that was keeping him from recording in Memphis as well, and the result was an album recorded mostly in New York City, far away from Stax/Volt and largely built on the groups (especially Jones) best impulses. That said, Melting Pot managed to be a sort of back-to-the-roots effort in the sense that they were back to doing originals, but was also a strikingly more expansive record, with Jones in particular playing with an almost demonic intensity and range, backed ably by Donald "Duck" Dunns rocksteady bass in particular. There were a few other touches, such as the wordless chorus on "Kinda Easy Like" and extended running times, showing the group stretching out on much larger musical canvases. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 27 Title: Universal Language Released: 1977 Tracks: 9 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sticky Stuff (?) 2 Grab Bag (?) 3 Space Nuts (?) 4 Love Wheels (?) 5 Moto Cross (?) 6 Last Tango in Memphis (?) 7 M.G.’s Salsa (?) 8 Tie Stick (?) 9 Reincarnation (?) |
 | Album: 14 of 27 Title: Booker T. & The M.G.’s Greatest Hits Released: 1980 Tracks: 11 Duration: 36:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hang ’Em High (03:53) 2 Eleanor Rigby (03:34) 3 Soul Limbo (02:23) 4 Over Easy (04:05) 5 Mrs. Robinson (03:38) 6 Something (03:38) 7 Time Is Tight (03:14) 8 Johnny, I Love You (03:00) 9 Heads or Tails (02:30) 10 Meditation (03:59) 11 Hip Hug Her (02:22) |
 | Album: 15 of 27 Title: The Best of Booker T. & The MG’s Released: 1984 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:03:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hang ’Em High (03:56) 2 Eleanor Rigby (03:40) 3 Soul Limbo (02:23) 4 Over Easy (04:04) 5 Mrs. Robinson (03:42) 6 Something (04:11) 7 Time Is Tight (04:59) 8 Johnny, I Love You (03:04) 9 Heads or Tails (02:32) 10 Meditation (04:00) 11 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 12 The Horse (02:46) 13 Slum Baby (02:37) 14 Born Under a Bad Sign (03:05) 15 Light My Fire (04:18) 16 It’s Your Thing (03:01) 17 Melting Pot (08:15) |
| The Best of Booker T. & The MG’s : Allmusic album Review : Somewhat confusingly, this disc is titled identically to a CD on Atlantic that concentrates on their earlier material. This 17-cut disc draws from 1967-1971, and includes three of their four Top 20 pop hits: "Soul Limbo," "Hang em High," and "Time Is Tight." This perhaps lacks a bit of the edge of their mid-60s recordings, concentrating on loping, relaxed grooves more than biting, incisive chops. The standard remains pretty high, though, with the interplay between Steve Croppers guitar, Booker T. Jones organ, and the rhythm section never less than telepathic. Most of the material is original, but even on the covers of period pop hits -- including unlikely versions of "Something," "Eleanor Rigby," and "Mrs. Robinson" -- the group is soulful and tight. This is perhaps better music for background and party listening than anything else, but within those confines its quite good. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 27 Title: Booker T & The MG’s in the Christmas Spirit Released: 1991 Tracks: 12 Duration: 34:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Jingle Bells (02:38) 2 Santa Claus is Coming to Town (02:36) 3 Winter Wonderland (02:05) 4 White Christmas (03:04) 5 The Christmas Song (03:21) 6 Silver Bells (02:34) 7 Merry Christmas Baby (03:17) 8 Blue Christmas (03:13) 9 Sweet Little Jesus Boy (02:51) 10 Silent Night (03:26) 11 We Three Kings (02:36) 12 We Wish You a Merry Christmas (02:29) |
 | Album: 17 of 27 Title: That’s the Way It Should Be Released: 1994 Tracks: 12 Duration: 53:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Slip Slidin’ (03:58) 2 Mo’ Greens (05:38) 3 Gotta Serve Somebody (04:24) 4 Let’s Wait Awhile (03:43) 5 That’s the Way It Should Be (03:22) 6 Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (04:39) 7 Camel Ride (06:15) 8 Have a Heart (04:31) 9 Cruisin’ (03:45) 10 I Can’t Stand the Rain (05:07) 11 Sarasota Sunset (04:00) 12 I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (04:31) |
| That’s the Way It Should Be : Allmusic album Review : Booker T. & the MGs do what they do very well. What they do is present a spare, funky sound in which each instrument, drums (here played by Steve Jordan or James Gadson), bass, guitar, and organ, is heard distinctly, playing medium tempo melodies with slight variations. Precision is a key, and the result, while impressive, is anything but showy. Seventeen years since their last outing, the group exhibits the same qualities and the same limitations it did in its heyday. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 27 Title: The Very Best of Booker T. & The MG’s Released: 1994-06-24 Tracks: 16 Duration: 46:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Chinese Checkers (02:29) 3 Groovin’ (02:43) 4 Soul Dressing (03:00) 5 Boot‐Leg (02:05) 6 My Sweet Potato (02:46) 7 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:30) 8 Booker‐Loo (02:29) 9 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 10 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 11 Soul Limbo (02:26) 12 Hang ’Em High (03:56) 13 Time Is Tight (03:15) 14 Mrs. Robinson (03:42) 15 Slum Baby (02:41) 16 Melting Pot (03:49) |
| The Very Best of Booker T. & The MG’s : Allmusic album Review : This 16-song CD, clocking in at 46 minutes, is the second-best, and the handiest and most easily affordable, compilation available on Booker T. & the MGs. Its not remotely as comprehensive as Fantasy Records three-CD set (although this disc does have two tracks, "Booker-Loo" and "Slum Baby," that dont appear on the triple-CD set) but is more comprehensive and better representative of their work (and offers better sound) than either Fantasys single-disc best-of or the old Atlantic Records best-of compilation. The collection does jump around a bit across history in the course of covering the years 1963-1971, bouncing between late-60s singles and album tracks and odd early/middle-60s tracks. "Booker-Loo," one of the pieces unique to this set, features some very crunchy rhythm guitar and flamboyant organ work in its intro, before Steve Cropper takes center stage with an unusually flashy lead guitar solo spot. "Slum Baby," from three years later, features a much smoother and funkier sound. "Slim Jenkins Place" shows off Booker T. Joness piano skills as well as his organ playing, and all of it is marked by virtuoso playing. The collection also makes a strong case for the bands members as composers -- hits like "Hang Em High" come off beautifully, especially in the crisply remastered version presented here, which brings out every nuance in the organ and guitar-dominated rendition of Dominic Frontieres theme from the Clint Eastwood movie of that name. But originals like the majestic, soaring "Time Is Tight" and the lyrical, playful "Soul-Limbo" are great pieces of pop-soul composition as well, and stand up just as well to repeated listening. Buy the triple-disc set if its in your budget, but at less than one-third of the cost, this collection shouldnt be dismissed for its compactness and range. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 27 Title: Play the “Hip Hits” Released: 1995-05-08 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:10:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Baby, Scratch My Back (03:12) 2 Harlem Shuffle (03:13) 3 Hi‐Heel Sneakers (03:05) 4 Downtown (02:45) 5 I Was Made to Love Her (02:41) 6 Georgia on My Mind (03:15) 7 Wade in the Water (02:31) 8 Fannie Mae (02:03) 9 Day Tripper (02:53) 10 You Left the Water Running (02:19) 11 Every Beat of My Heart (03:00) 12 Ain’t That Peculiar (02:41) 13 You Can’t Do That (02:47) 14 Wang Dang Doodle (02:51) 15 On a Saturday Night (02:49) 16 The Letter (02:43) 17 Oo Wee Baby, I Love You (03:02) 18 Spoonful (02:57) 19 I Hear a Symphony (02:13) 20 You’re So Fine (02:13) 21 Raunchy (02:50) 22 You Are My Sunshine (03:07) 23 Soul Man (02:46) 24 Gimme Some Lovin’ (03:00) 25 When Something Is Wrong With My Baby (03:40) |
| Play the “Hip Hits” : Allmusic album Review : This British-made archeological dig through the Stax archives is a major addition to the Booker T. & the MGs discography, a compilation of 25 cover tunes recorded on the wing and never released anywhere. In the course of backing the Stax rosters recording sessions, this tightly interlocked musical machine worked so efficiently that there was frequently plenty of studio time left over -- and not wanting to put it to waste, the quartet would come up with head arrangements of anything that happened to be on their minds. Theyre not fooling around or jamming aimlessly, either; these are all polished, concise, thought-out, radio-play-length performances that are at the very least up to the level of the filler on their mid-60s albums. All but one of the titles ("Fannie Mae") are new to the MGs canon, and many will be surprising, like Petula Clarks hit "Downtown," retrofitted for a driving Memphis soul stew treatment, or the transformation almost beyond recognition of "You Are My Sunshine." The down-home soul workout of the Beatles "Day Tripper" is especially effective, digging into the tunes blues roots, and Willie Dixons "Spoonful" gets a deep-pile backwoods tread. Most revealing are the MGs re-interpretations of two Sam and Dave hits on which they played: "Soul Man" sounds starkly stripped-down, shifting the balance of power over to Booker. Ts organ, and "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" spotlights Steve Croppers dignified guitar. Its doubtful, though, that there were any lost-long potential hit singles in this batch; nothing leaps out at you with the originality of, say, "Green Onions," "Soul Limbo," or the inspired cover of "Groovin." | ||
 | Album: 20 of 27 Title: Booker T. & the MG’s: Their Best Released: 1997-03-24 Tracks: 16 Duration: 45:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Soul Limbo (02:24) 2 Mrs. Robinson (03:39) 3 Green Onions (02:53) 4 Melting Pot (03:48) 5 Groovin’ (02:43) 6 Boot‐Leg (02:05) 7 Soul Dressing (02:56) 8 My Sweet Potato (02:39) 9 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:28) 10 Hip Hug‐Her (02:24) 11 Booker‐Loo (02:28) 12 Mo’ Onions (02:53) 13 Hang ’Em High (03:51) 14 Time Is Tight (03:13) 15 Chinese Checkers (02:27) 16 Slum Baby (02:37) |
 | Album: 21 of 27 Title: Time Is Tight Released: 1998-10-06 Tracks: 65 Duration: 3:55:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Behave Yourself (03:54) 3 Jellybread (02:27) 4 Home Grown (03:13) 5 Burnt Biscuits (02:16) 6 Chinese Crackers (02:27) 7 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 8 Tic‐Tac‐Toe (02:32) 9 Fannie Mae (02:09) 10 Soul Dressing (02:25) 11 Can’t Be Still (02:00) 12 Boot‐Leg (02:05) 13 Outrage (02:32) 14 Be My Lady (02:33) 15 My Sweet Potato (02:46) 16 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 17 Summertime (04:40) 18 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:25) 19 Groovin’ (02:43) 20 Soul Sanction (02:36) 21 Pigmy (03:55) 22 Booker’s Notion (02:24) 23 I Can Dig It (02:41) 24 Expressway (to Your Heart) (03:02) 25 You Don’t Love Me (02:46) 26 Never My Love (02:45) 27 Blue on Green (02:27) 28 Ode to Billy Joe (03:58) 1 Soul Limbo (02:23) 2 Heads or Tails (02:32) 3 Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy (03:02) 4 Hang ’Em High (03:56) 5 Willow Weep for Me (03:43) 6 Over Easy (04:04) 7 Time Is Tight (04:59) 8 Johnny, I Love You (03:04) 9 Lady Madonna (03:35) 10 Mrs. Robinson (03:42) 11 Soul Clap ’69 (02:40) 12 I’ve Never Found a Girl (to Love Me Like You Do) (02:50) 13 You’re All I Need to Get By (03:55) 14 It’s Your Thing (03:01) 15 Something (04:11) 16 Sunday Sermon (04:08) 17 McLemore Avenue (00:59) 18 Medley: Sun King / Mean Mr. Mustard / Polythene Pam / She Came in Through the Bathroom Window / I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (10:41) 19 Chicken Pox (03:26) 20 Melting Pot (08:15) 1 Gotta Serve Somebody (05:36) 2 Lay Lady Lay (04:02) 3 MG Party (02:27) 4 Terrible Thing (02:35) 5 Hole in the Wall (02:52) 6 (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (05:10) 7 Booker’s Theme (03:13) 8 Albert’s Rap (01:14) 9 Born Under a Bad Sign (03:38) 10 Medley (04:15) 11 Meditation (04:00) 12 Green Onions (05:06) 13 Sarasota Sunset (06:30) 14 I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now) (04:28) 15 Hang ’Em High (05:53) 16 Time Is Tight (11:19) 17 (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (05:23) |
 | Album: 22 of 27 Title: Green Onions and Other Hits Released: 2000 Tracks: 10 Duration: 28:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Hip Hug‐Her (02:26) 3 Jellybread (02:29) 4 Chinese Checkers (02:28) 5 Soul Dressing (02:58) 6 Groovin’ (02:44) 7 Boot‐Leg (02:06) 8 Behave Yourself (03:54) 9 Homegrown (03:14) 10 Mo’ Onions (02:54) |
| Green Onions and Other Hits : Allmusic album Review : If theres a problem with this collection, Best of Booker T. & the MGs, its that its way too short. One would be hard up to quibble with the main selections here, because tracks like "Green Onions," "Hip Hug-Her," "Soul Dressing," "Chinese Checkers," and the "Green Onions" sequel "Mo Onions" are all vintage Booker T. & the MGs sides, full of that greasy precision that makes them the best-ever instrumental soul band. This band is so good, however, that a best-of collection with only ten cuts just seems criminally brief. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 27 Title: The Essentials Released: 2002-08-06 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Jellybread (02:27) 3 Chinese Checkers (02:27) 4 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 5 Soul Dressing (02:32) 6 Boot‐Leg (?) 7 My Sweet Potato (02:46) 8 Jingle Bells (02:37) 9 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 10 Groovin’ (02:43) 11 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:30) 12 Booker‐Loo (02:29) |
 | Album: 24 of 27 Title: The Definitive Soul Collection Released: 2006 Tracks: 30 Duration: 1:28:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Behave Yourself (03:54) 3 Jellybread (02:31) 4 Home Grown (03:13) 5 Chinese Checkers (02:29) 6 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 7 Tic‐Tac‐Toe (02:34) 8 Soul Dressing (03:00) 9 Can’t Be Still (02:01) 10 Terrible Thing (02:35) 11 Boot‐Leg (02:05) 12 Outrage (02:38) 13 Be My Lady (02:35) 14 Summertime (04:41) 15 Jingle Bells (02:37) 1 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 2 My Sweet Potato (02:46) 3 Booker‐Loo (02:29) 4 Groovin’ (02:43) 5 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:30) 6 Soul Sanction (02:30) 7 Pigmy (03:55) 8 Red Beans and Rice (live) (02:01) 9 Soul Limbo (02:26) 10 Hang ’Em High (03:56) 11 Time Is Tight (03:15) 12 Mrs. Robinson (03:42) 13 Slum Baby (02:41) 14 Something (04:11) 15 Melting Pot (03:49) |
| The Definitive Soul Collection : Allmusic album Review : This two-disc, 30-track release documents the key years of one of the most important instrumental groups in the history of pop, Booker T. & the MGs. Serving as the house band at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, they backed soul greats Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding, among others, and beginning in 1963, when the MGs scored a huge hit with the infectious and joyful "Green Onions," they became a front-end draw in their own right. "Green Onions" is here, along with other timeless instrumental gems like "Soul Dressing," "Time Is Tight," and the soul-jazz version of George Harrisons "Something" from the 1970 MGs LP McLemore Avenue, itself a fascinating tribute to the Beatles Abbey Road. Heres the thing: you cant go wrong with the MGs. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 27 Title: Stax Profiles: Booker T. & The MG’s Released: 2006-04-25 Tracks: 15 Duration: 50:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Tight Is Tight (04:57) 2 Burnt Biscuits (02:16) 3 Jellybread (02:31) 4 Chinese Checkers (02:27) 5 Boot‐Leg (live) (03:13) 6 Heads or Tails (02:32) 7 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 8 Lady Madonna (03:35) 9 Over Easy (04:04) 10 Hang ’Em High (03:56) 11 Soul Clap ’69 (02:42) 12 Something (04:11) 13 Sunday Sermon (04:08) 14 Green Onions (live) (03:42) 15 Fuquawi (03:42) |
 | Album: 26 of 27 Title: The Platinum Collection Released: 2007 Tracks: 20 Duration: 57:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 3 Boot‐Leg (02:06) 4 Jellybread (02:30) 5 Tic‐Tac‐Toe (02:34) 6 Can’t Be Still (02:01) 7 Outrage (02:37) 8 My Sweet Potato (02:45) 9 Booker‐Loo (02:29) 10 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:30) 11 Soul Sanction (02:38) 12 Chinese Checkers (02:28) 13 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 14 Pigmy (03:58) 15 Home Grown (03:14) 16 Behave Yourself (03:54) 17 Be My Lady (02:36) 18 Soul Dressing (02:59) 19 Groovin’ (02:44) 20 Summertime (04:40) |
| The Platinum Collection : Allmusic album Review : Check it: if you are not one of those obsessive types that needs every classic side Booker T. & the MGs recorded for Atlantic (they cannot be blamed since the music is so utterly addictive), and dont already have the Rhino double-disc, this Warner collection will most likely fit the bill. Here are 20 killer cuts -- well, 19, the version of George Gershwins "Summertime" that closes the disc could have either been lopped off or replaced with something more fitting -- with all the hits and then some. It kicks off with "Green Onions" and "Hip Hug-Her" but its really just gathering steam. From the roiling fuzzed out funk in Steve Croppers guitar on Hoyt Axtons "Bootleg," to the lazy, gut bucket stroll of his in the original "Slim Jenkins Place," the steamy organ shimmy that is "Soul Sanction" and "Soul Dressing," to the bluesed-out "Home Gown" to the amazing version of the Rascals "Groovin," its an excellent comp, and well worth its price tag. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 27 Title: Original Album Series Released: 2012 Tracks: 58 Duration: 2:50:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Green Onions (02:53) 2 Rinky‐Dink (02:40) 3 I Got a Woman (03:33) 4 Mo’ Onions (02:54) 5 Twist and Shout (02:11) 6 Behave Yourself (03:55) 7 Stranger on the Shore (02:21) 8 Lonely Avenue (03:27) 9 One Who Really Loves You (02:24) 10 You Can’t Sit Down (02:49) 11 A Woman, a Lover, a Friend (02:33) 12 Comin’ Home Baby (03:12) 1 Soul Dressing (02:24) 2 Tic‐Tac‐Toe (02:35) 3 Big Train (02:32) 4 Jellybread (02:32) 5 Aw’ Mercy (02:38) 6 Outrage (02:35) 7 Night Owl Walk (03:14) 8 Chinese Checkers (02:27) 9 Home Grown (03:13) 10 Mercy Mercy (02:37) 11 Plum Nellie (02:07) 12 Can’t Be Still (01:59) 1 My Sweet Potato (02:46) 2 Jericho (02:37) 3 No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In) (03:01) 4 One Mint Julep (03:05) 5 In the Midnight Hour (02:58) 6 Summertime (04:41) 7 Working in the Coal Mine (02:42) 8 Don’t Mess Up a Good Thing (02:44) 9 Think (02:58) 10 Taboo (04:25) 11 Soul Jam (03:05) 12 Sentimental Journey (03:13) 1 Hip Hug‐Her (02:25) 2 Soul Sanction (02:37) 3 Get Ready (02:45) 4 More (02:52) 5 Double or Nothing (02:51) 6 Carnaby St. (02:14) 7 Slim Jenkins’ Place (02:25) 8 Pigmy (03:57) 9 Groovin’ (02:43) 10 Booker’s Notion (02:25) 11 Sunny (03:26) 1 I Can Dig It (02:42) 2 Expressway (to Your Heart) (03:05) 3 Doin’ Our Thing (04:01) 4 You Don’t Love Me (02:49) 5 Never My Love (02:47) 6 The Exodus Song (02:38) 7 The Beat Goes On (02:39) 8 Ode to Billie Joe (04:02) 9 Blue on Green (02:28) 10 You Keep Me Hanging On (04:50) 11 Let’s Go Get Stoned (02:54) |