Steve Cropper offers his take on the Black Crowes’ 1990 hit version of an Otis Redding classic, and reveals a special connection with the band.

They had the luck of timing and a classic R&B cut. They also had something else.

The wonder, in listening to ageless sides from Stax Records stars like Otis Redding, was how often they came from one-take performances. Too, these songs were typically written just days, or even hours, beforehand. You May Also Like: Otis Redding tried something new with ‘Dock of the Bay,’ even ifRead More

It’s interesting that “Hometown Blues” is featured on two Heartbreakers best-of compilations — 1995’s five-disc, career-spanning box set Playback and 2000’s double-disc Anthology: Through The Years. Firstly, there are arguably better songs from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers that didn’t make the cut You May Also Like: Tom Petty andRead More

Largely self-taught, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones learned most of his early craft on the bass from listening to albums from the Stax and Motown legacy. You May Also Like: Paul McCartney says the Beatles used Motown as a template – for what not to do Durand Jones – DurandRead More

Blues Brothers 2000, the belated sequel to 1980’s blockbuster Blues Brothers, wouldn’t be as heralded as the first — and that’s in no small way because original star John Belushi was gone. Yet, Steve Cropper might just have better memories the second time around. You May Also Like: For SteveRead More

So much for the long-held notion that Elvis Presley had simply thrown away his own gifts by the 1970s. In fact, these soul-soaked sessions at Memphis’ legendary Stax Studios show an artist still deeply committed You May Also Like: Elvis Presley helped spark the Beatles’ ‘Love’: ‘I’d been getting aRead More

A sizzling outburst of lean pre-funk soul-rock, Green Onions introduced the world to the genre-jumping delights of Booker T, and the MGs. You May Also Like: Inside the naming of Booker T. and the MGs’ ‘Green Onions’ : ‘The stinking-est music I’ve ever heard!’ Booker T. and the MGs’ agelessRead More

So I’ve been spending some time recently filtering through “stuff.” That is, combing through piles, boxes, and closets full of belongings in the attempt to get our house ready for sale. One thing that’ll wreck our chance of a sale, even more so than walls painted in disturbing (read: notRead More

Steve Cropper, of Booker T. and the MGs and Stax Records fame, has trouble picking any one moment on his upcoming star-studded project Dedicated as his favorite. So, we went further back into his legendary soul-soaked career. You May Also Like: John Belushi’s death almost ended Steve Cropper’s career: ‘Man,Read More