LAST LISTENED TO a few days ago
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT fair, rising
RATING
The classic line up of one of the most important soul groups ever. As house band for Stax records, they backed up almost everyone on the label, including most notably Otis Redding. As writers, organist Booker T Jones and guitarist Steve Cropper wrote or co-wrote some of the biggest soul hits of the '60s.
On their own records, they were something special too. Admittedly, there were times when they drifted into hammond-a-go-go cover territory, but even here they were cream of the crop. Indeed, a case could even be made for them haven started the whole thing off but that would be a little unfair on them.
Hip-Hug Her was recorded in 1967, at a time that many consider to be them at the height of their powers. It has a huge, bass-driven groove that is liberally sprinkled that starts with some very big hammond chords from Jones, before he takes fills the first half of the tune with a funky solo. In behind, Cropper cranks out the same chords, with a guitar sound that is rougher than his usual. For a short period in the middle, the roles are reversed with Cropper soloing, before the guys head back into the melody. Naturally, just before the end Jones and Cropper take time to squeeze in another short solo each, before it sadly fades.
This is without doubt the biggest, fattest groove that Booker T. & The MG's (bad punctuation and all) ever recorded. So a final mention must be made to the guys who really built it; Al Jackson, Jr. on drums (reputed to be more accurate than a drum machine!) and Donald 'Duck' Dunn on bass (soon to be owner of a ludicrous 'tache).
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