Booker T. And The M.G.’s<div hidden>Booker T. And The MGs Booker T And The MGs</div>
Booker T. & the M.G.'s formed in 1962 in Memphis, Tennessee, as the house band for Stax Records, shaping the sound of Southern soul music through their instrumental R&B style. The group consisted of Booker T. Jones on organ and piano, Steve Cropper on guitar, Lewie Steinberg on bass (later replaced by Donald "Duck" Dunn), and Al Jackson Jr. on drums.?
The band emerged from informal studio jams at Stax, with their debut hit "Green Onions" recorded spontaneously in 1962 and topping charts the next year. This track, along with others like "Hip Hug-Her" and "Time Is Tight," defined their signature groove blending organ riffs, tight guitar licks, and rhythmic precision. They backed legends such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Wilson Pickett, influencing soul's evolution.?
Booker T. & the M.G.'s released over a dozen albums, peaking with Green Onions at No. 33 on the Billboard 200, and earned induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Their sound powered Stax's golden era, and later reunions included work with the Blues Brothers and a 1977 album Universal Language. The attached RnB Albums page highlights their work like Up Tight (Motion Picture Soundtrack), tying into their film scoring legacy.?
Tragedy struck in 1975 with Al Jackson Jr.'s murder, but Cropper, Dunn, and Jones continued sporadically, including Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary in 1986. Their economical, emotive style inspired generations of funk and soul acts, cementing them as Memphis soul pioneers.
And Now!
Written-By – Jackson, Jones, Cropper
2:40
A2 Jericho
Arranged By – Jackson, Jones, Dunn, Cropper
Written-By – Trad.
2:30
A3 No Matter What Shape
Written-By – Granville & Burland
2:50
A4 One Mint Julep
Written-By – Toombs
2:45
A5 In The Midnight Hour
Written-By – Cropper, Pickett
2:50
A6 Summertime
Written-By – Heyward, Gershwin
4:35
B1 Working In The Coal Mine
Written-By – Toussaint
2:40
B2 Don't Mess Up A Good Thing
Written-By – Sain
2:20
B3 Think
Written-By – Pauling
2:53
B4 Taboo
Written-By – Lecuona
4:20
B5 Soul Jam
Written-By – Jackson, Jones, Dunn, Cropper
3:00
B6 Sentimental Journey
Written-By – Homer, Green, Brown
3:10
Label: Stax – S 711
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1966
Genre: R&B Soul,
Style: Sixties Soul Instrumental
And Now! is the third studio album by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, released in November 1966 on Stax Records. It is significant as the first album to feature bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn on all tracks, bringing a funkier, more aggressive edge to their signature Memphis soul sound. The album features a mix of originals, like the Top 20 R&B hit "My Sweet Potato," and covers of popular hits, including "In the Midnight Hour" and "Summertime".
Marking a transition from Lewie Steinberg, the album cements the classic lineup of Booker T. Jones (organ), Steve Cropper (guitar), Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass), and Al Jackson Jr. (drums).
The album showcases a blend of Memphis soul, instrumentals, and pop/rock, characterized by Steve Cropper's sharp guitar work and Booker T.'s organ.
It includes a combination of originals and soul covers. Originals: "My Sweet Potato," "Coffee Cup," "Black," "Jive Man," "Soul Jam," and "Heads or Tails". Covers: "In the Midnight Hour," "Think," "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," "Summertime," "Working in the Coal Mine," "One Mint Julep," and "Daydream".
It is described as a "magnificent, made-in-Memphis LP" that offers a "relaxed and loose" yet "lively, forceful collection". The album was reissued by Sundazed Music from the original analog master tapes.
The album showcases the group's development of the "Memphis Sound" characterized by tight, soulful grooves, Steve Cropper's economic guitar licks, and Booker T. Jones's fluid organ and piano work. Critics often describe the album as having a "nightclub feel," shifting between aggressive soul-funk and sultry, atmospheric ballads.
Up Tight (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Vocals – Booker T. Jones
Written-By – B. Jones
3:00
A2 Cleveland Now
Written-By – B. Jones
3:08
A3 Children, Don't Get Weary
Vocals – Judy Clay
Written-By – F. Williams
3:35
A4 Tank's Lament
Written-By – B. Jones
2:49
A5 Blues In The Gutter
Vocals – Booker T. Jones
Written-By – B. Jones
3:24
B1 We've Got Johnny Wells
Written-By – B. Jones
3:46
B2 Down At Ralph's Joint
Written-By – B. Jones
3:51
B3 Deadwood Dick
Written-By – B. Jones
4:29
B4 Run Tank Run
Written-By – B. Jones
2:37
B5 Time Is Tight
Written-By – B. Jones
4:55
Label: Stax – STS 2006
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Soul, Stage & Screen
Style: Soul, Funk, Soundtrack
Booker T. & the M.G.'s Up Tight (1968) soundtrack album is a significant work, lauded for its atmospheric soul-jazz and funk, featuring the iconic, chart-topping "Time Is Tight," though some find it less consistently stellar than their other LPs, showcasing the band's instrumental depth in a film score context, bridging their early soul with their later experimental sounds like Melting Pot, and proving to be a vital, influential release despite some criticisms of occasional blandness or standard instrumentation compared to their peak.
Key Highlights:
"Time Is Tight": The album's centerpiece and the band's second-highest charting single, is a classic blend of soul, funk, and groove that became a signature track and influential piece, noted for its tight arrangement and impressive organ and drum work. It's a prime example of soul, soul-jazz, and funk, capturing the atmospheric mood of the film while delivering strong instrumental performances.
The album serves as a transitional record, moving from the earlier Stax sound towards the more experimental Melting Pot, with Robert Christgau calling it an exception to their sometimes "mechanical" LPs.
While praised as a "superb score" and a definitive work by some, others find it less consistent than their best albums, though still highly regarded for its musicianship. The album's sound, especially "Time Is Tight," has been covered by artists like The Clash, showcasing its lasting impact.
Overall Impression: Up Tight is considered an essential entry in the Booker T. & the M.G.'s discography, demonstrating their prowess as both session musicians and creative artists, delivering powerful instrumentals that defined a moment in soul music and set the stage for future classics, making it a must-listen for fans of instrumental soul and funk.