Booker T and the M.G.’s: Green Onions

Booker T and the M.G.’s was the house band for Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, and as such they appeared on virtually every single that Stax released during its heyday in the Sixties and early Seventies. The band can be heard backing Stax’s star vocalists on recordings by Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Carla Thomas and others. 

As one of the most influential instrumental ensembles in American music, Booker T. and the M.G.’s pioneered the sparse, groove-heavy blueprint of the Southern soul sound. Operating out of the legendary Satellite studio in Memphis, this trailblazing, racially integrated quartet defined an era of cross-cultural musical collaboration during a time of intense social civil rights struggles. Their signature blend of interlocking rhythm patterns, driving bass lines, and piercing organ melodies became an indelible hallmark of twentieth-century popular culture. 

The band consisted of Booker T. Jones on organ/piano, Steve Cropper on guitar, Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass, and Al Jackson on drums. This versatile and talented ensemble was equally comfortable providing accompaniment for blues or ballads, rock, or R&B. In addition to providing Stax singers with a backing band, they released instrumental singles under their own name, including “Groovin,” Hip Hug Her,” “Time is Tight,” and their biggest hit, “Green Onions.” 

With the addition of the Memphis horns, the band also recorded instrumental tracks as the “Mar-Keys.” 

In the early eighties, the surviving members of the band, Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn, were members of Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi’s Blues Brothers band and were featured in the movie “The Blues Brothers.” They returned with Ackroyd in “Blues Brothers 2000.” 

The band recorded several fine studio albums in the Sixties, including "Green Onions" (1962), "Soul Dressing" (1965), and "Hip Hug Her" (1967), but "The Best of Booker T and the M.G.'s" (1968) may be all you require. 

Essential Album Review: Green Onions (1962) 

This sensational debut studio album stands as a definitive cornerstone of instrumental rhythm and blues. Built around the spontaneous genius of its title track, the record perfectly showcases the band's tight, minimalist approach to rhythm. Jones’s Hammond M-3 organ work provides a swirling, gritty texture that pairs seamlessly with Cropper's sharp, economic guitar stabs. It remains a timeless audio masterclass in groove and constraint. 

• Released: October 1962 
• Label: Stax Records 
• Producer: Jim Stewart 
• Core Personnel: Booker T. Jones (Organ), Steve Cropper (Guitar), Lewie Steinberg (Bass), Al Jackson Jr. (Drums) 
• Key Tracks: "Green Onions", "Behave Yourself", "Mo' Onions" 

Essential Album Review: Hip Hug-Her (1967) 

Marking a crucial evolutionary point in the ensemble's discography, this mid-1960s release captures the definitive lineup operating at the absolute peak of their collaborative powers. With Donald "Duck" Dunn fully locked in on bass, the rhythm section achieves an unparalleled level of syncopation. The tracking features a brilliant mixture of tight original grooves and soulful, transformed interpretations of contemporary pop and R&B hits. 

• Released: June 1967 
• Label: Stax Records 
• Producer: Jim Stewart 
• Core Personnel: Booker T. Jones (Organ), Steve Cropper (Guitar), Donald "Duck" Dunn (Bass), Al Jackson Jr. (Drums) 
• Key Tracks: "Hip Hug-Her", "Groovin'", "Slim Jenkin's Place" 

Essential Compilation Review: The Best of Booker T. & the M.G.'s (1968) 

For listeners seeking a comprehensive gateway into the definitive architecture of the Memphis soul sound, this landmark 1968 compilation is unmatched. The collection neatly aggregates the band's most influential instrumental hits alongside essential tracks that shaped the Stax legacy. It serves as an indispensable historical audio capsule, preserving the timeless, rhythmically precise tracks that soundtracked a generation. 

• Released: 1968 
• Label: Atlantic Records / Stax Records 
• Producer: Jim Stewart, Staff 
• Core Personnel: Booker T. Jones (Organ), Steve Cropper (Guitar), Donald "Duck" Dunn (Bass), Al Jackson Jr. (Drums) 
• Key Tracks: "Time Is Tight", "Green Onions", "Boot-Leg" 

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Ben E. King: Stand by Me

Ben E. King: The Velvet Voice of Smooth Mid-Century Soul 

Ben E. King remains one of the absolute cornerstones of American popular music, defining the elegant transition from late-1950s doo-wop to the sophisticated soul movements of the 1960s. Possessing a warm, deeply expressive baritone, he brought a rare blend of dignity, vulnerability, and romantic charm to the microphone. King's early work helped establish the foundational template for the "Brill Building sound," blending orchestral arrangements with gospel-infused rhythm and blues. His iconic recordings not only dominated the charts of their era but also became timeless cultural anthems that continue to influence generations of vocalists worldwide. 

Singer/songwriter Ben E. King is one of the best performers of the smooth soul singer set. King, who was born Benjamin Earl Nelson in Henderson, North Carolina, in 1938, got his start in music with a revamped version of the Drifters in 1958.

 

As the lead singer of this new incarnation of the Drifters, King lent his velvet pipes to the hits “There Goes My Baby” (which he co-wrote), “Save the Last Dance for Me,” and “This Magic Moment.” 

Due to a contract dispute with Drifters manager George Treadwell, King left the group and embarked on a solo career in 1960. King would soon find solo success with a number of classic hits, including the Phil Spector-produced “Spanish Harlem” and “Stand by Me.” Both of these songs are among the finest pop records made in the decade. King would score a number of lesser hits in the early sixties with the songs “Young Boy Blues,” “I (Who Have Nothing),” and “Here Comes the Night.”

 

King’s classic hits can be found on the compilations "Stand by Me: The Best of Ben E. King and the Drifters" (1986), “Stand By Me (The Ultimate Collection)” (1987), and “Anthology” (1993). 

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Spanish Harlem (1961) 

Released as his debut solo studio album following his departure from The Drifters, Spanish Harlem is a masterclass in early 1960s pop-soul production. The title track, co-written by Phil Spector and Jerry Leiber, became a massive crossover hit and showcased King's ability to carry a sophisticated, Latin-rhythm-infused orchestral arrangement. The album successfully transitioned King from a group-oriented doo-wop singer into a distinct, high-caliber solo star, blending standard pop ballads with raw, rhythm-and-blues emotional depth. 

• Released: July 1961 
• Label: Atco Records 
• Producer: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Phil Spector 
• Core Personnel: Ben E. King (Lead Vocals), Stan Applebaum (Arranger/Conductor) 
• Key Tracks: Spanish Harlem, First Taste of Love, Young Boy Blues 

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Don't Play That Song! (1962) 

King's sophomore solo effort consolidated his position as the premier voice of smooth uptown soul. Anchored by the monumental success of its opening track, "Stand by Me"—adapted from a spiritual hymn by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller—the album is an essential audio capsule of the era. The production leverages the famous Atlantic Records studio magic, utilizing lush strings, acoustic bass hooks, and gospel-style call-and-response dynamics that perfectly complemented King's pristine vocal delivery. 

• Released: August 1962 
• Label: Atco Records 
• Producer: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Ahmet Ertegun, Tom Dowd 
• Core Personnel: Ben E. King (Lead Vocals), Ernie Hayes (Piano), Al Caiola (Guitar), Lloyd Trotman (Double Bass) 
• Key Tracks: Stand by Me, Don't Play That Song (You Lied), Ecstasy 

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Stand by Me: The Best of Ben E. King and the Drifters (1986) 

Triggered by the massive cultural resurgence of the title track via Rob Reiner's classic 1986 coming-of-age film Stand by Me, this definitive compilation serves as the perfect historical bridge. It seamlessly curates King's dual legacies, capturing his brief but legendary tenure fronting The Drifters alongside the highlights of his early 1960s Atco solo catalog. The release re-introduced King's unmatched vocal legacy to a completely new generation of listeners, cementing his status as an immortal musical icon. 

• Released: December 1986 
• Label: Atlantic Records 
• Producer: Various (Atlantic/Atco Archival Staff) 
• Core Contributors: Ben E. King, The Drifters, Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore 
• Key Tracks: There Goes My Baby, Save the Last Dance for Me, I (Who Have Nothing) 

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