60's legend, aided
by some famous pals, in fine return to form.
Back in the 60's when
soul music rivalled The Beatles in terms of world and chart
domination, two record labels both had very convincing claims to rule
the soul roost, each boasting an in-house recording studio and house
band. The first of these was Berry Gordy's Motown, a production line
set-up with a string of solo vocalists and vocal groups, smoothly
groomed for pop stardom, their music aimed at both a black and white
audience. The hidden, faceless, in-house studio band became known as
The Funk Brothers.
Deep down south in
Memphis, Stax Records put together an altogether grittier soulful
groove. During the time of the civil rights movement, the label staff
along with the in-house studio band were progressively mixed race.
The house band at Stax was Booker T. And The MG's, led by organist
Booker T. Jones. The MG's line-up was completed by bassist Donald
“Duck” Dunn, guitarist Steve Cropper, and drummer par excellence
Alan Jackson Jr. (Who died in tragic circumstances in 1975). Together
this super tight unit provided the backing on literally hundreds of
soul tracks for singers such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam and
Dave, The Staple Singers, and Johnnie Taylor. On top of this the
group also managed to find the time to make hit records of their own,
perhaps the best known of which is the classic “Green Onions”.
Click over the jump for more on The Road To Memphis.
