The West Australian catches up with former Stax Records mainstay Booker T. Jones, who recently followed up his Grammy-winning 2009 comeback effort, Potato Hole, with the star-studded Road From Memphis. The title of the new album refers to Jones' personal journey since leaving the city in 1971, an exit apparently tinged with some bitterness.
The story closes with a Jones vignette about growing up in Memphis and being influenced by so many great ones:
After nearly 40 years, and several years in which Jones was away from the music business, he has regained his form, with help from Roots drummer and in-demand producer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, who helped helm the similarly career-rejuvenating 2008 project Lay It Down for Al Green."He has the energy I need. He knows the old Memphis hits," Jones says of Thompson.
Despite the success of songs like "Green Onions," "Time is Tight" and "Soul Limbo," the combo were not afforded the freedoms usually given to hitmakers.
"I had a lot of problems in Memphis," Jones says. "At Stax, we were treated like employees and not musicians and they wouldn't let me sing."
The story closes with a Jones vignette about growing up in Memphis and being influenced by so many great ones:
"I was too young to enter the Beale Street clubs but I heard people like Blind Oscar playing piano when I was outside Club Handy," he says. "When I was delivering newspapers in Memphis I heard Phineas Newborn's piano drifting out of this modest house through an old wire door. It inspired me to play keyboards then. And today, I have the sound I want."
I'll say it again here as I told it to Booker T. himself at Issac Hayes' memorial service -- the music of Booker T. & the MG's was some of the best music EVER put down on wax in the history of music itself! I dare you to listen to any of their "hits" and some non-hits too and not get the "Memphis Groove" going. Booker, Steve, Duck, and Al Jackson, Jr. had a magical groove that had to come out! And thank God for it. Pure Genius! STAX was a Genie's lamp for Memphis wishes. Thanks to all that ever worked and played there; you have made Memphis proud for years!
I look for any cd edition of their music! I have the Mar-Key's. I have the Monterey Pop CD. I even have "The MG's" CD. This is the CD after Cropper and Booker T left. I am sure the CD was made to fullfill an obligation, but Duck Dunn does a great job assembling and working with musicians to maintain a quasi-Booker T & MG's style.
I would like to add one thing to Bill's Comment. What makes the music great is that is is timeless. Put it on now, and it sounds as good (if not better) than years ago!
Dont forget Lewie Steinberg was the original bass player with Booker T.& The M.G.s and co-writer of Green Onions.