<back - BOOKER T.& THE MGS - 'The greatest backing band in the universe' is one of the superlatives accorded Booker T.& The MGs. Steve Cropper, Booker T. Jones, Al Jackson Jr., and Donald 'Duck' Dunn were absolutely crucial in defining Stax, the label that embodied the synthesis of Soul and Blues. The story of The MG's is really the story of Memphis, that creative crucible of an R&B/Soul/Blues town. Here's the story: Memphis buddies, Steve Cropper and Donald Dunn were The Royal Spades.

They worked-up versions of latest hits by their musical heroes: The 5 Royales, Hank Ballard, Ray Charles, and Bill Doggett. Meanwhile, Satellite Records-- formed primarily as a Country label in the late 50’s by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton---would create Stax as an R&B offshoot in 1961. Combining a record store and studio in its McLemore Ave. building, it became the in-place for hipsters. Booker T. Jones debuted at 16 there--backing Rufus and Carla Thomas on sax--while Steve Cropper assisted engineer/producer Chips Moman, concurrently using the studio to rehearse an instrumental. That effort yielded Last Night, a 1961 Top 10 hit that gave Stax national credibility. Re-named The Mar-Keys, the band toured to capitalize on Last Night’s popularity. The seeds of The MG's dynasty were planted. During a studio break, Jim Stewart asked the band to fill in with an instrumental, and the unit responded by laying down a track with a definite Blues vibe. Green Onions became a massive seller (#1Pop/#3 R&B), becoming one of the most instantly recognizable instrumentals ever. The emerging decade had them appearing on over 600 Stax recordings, while including 10 albums of their own. A partial list of artists backed-up includes: Otis Redding, William Bell, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, and Sam & Dave. Sam Moore validated The MG's centrality when he shouted, 'Play it, Steve' on Soul Man. Born Under A Bad Sign and B-A-B-Y, recorded within a year of each other accentuated The MG's versatility. Atlantic arranged for Wilson Pickett and Don Covay to record with Stax, in hopes the magic would rub off. It did, with memorable outings like Midnight Hour, 634-5789, and See Saw. The MG's own output was equally impressive: 17 singles charting Top 50 R&B; while 8 made Top 40 Pop. Hip Hug-Her and Boot Leg were contagious funky offerings, while Soul-Limbo incorporated Afro-Cuban patterns. Stax was sold in 1968, a portent of The MG's disintegration. Cropper departed in 1969, followed by Booker T. Duck Dunn and Al Jackson Jr. soldiered on until the label’s demise in the mid-70s. A recording reunion was aborted when Jackson was murdered in 1975. Duck Dunn emphasized his importance: 'Al was the heart of the band. He kept the whole thing together and was our musical and spiritual leader'. Booker T & The MG's are hands-down the definitive Memphis Sound.  MP3- Green Onions |