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legendary Booker T. & The MGs. I'd seen them live several
times before, both as solo acts and as back-up bands for
such stellar acts as Sam & Dave, and Otis Redding. I've
noticed that the Booker T. guys on record and performing
live are two different experiences. It seems that the
record producers toned down the group's sound to appeal
more to a general listening public. Live, they kick butt!
Booker T. was his usual masterful, meticulous self...playing
dead-on, perfecrly executed keyboard melodies. Bassist Donald
"Duck" Dunn gives a whole new dimension to "bottom" and "funk"
to his Fender bass...and he does it so effortlessly. Steve
Cropper's guitar work should be studied by every young
"Jimmy Page wannabee." Cropper mixes lead guitar lines with
rythym licks and fills so seamlessly that it defies mere
technique. No bombastics or in-your-face hot licks, just
the ultimate in electric guitar playing sense of timing
and taste.
What was of particular interest to me was that as a
result of Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn providing the
driving force to the Blues Brothers movies and live
shows, some people came to the Tokyo Blue Note thinking
that the Blues Brothers band's music would be played. One
guy even came wearing a Blues Brothers' get-up. What the
audience got was a healthy helping of Memphis Soul Stew.
I first heard "Green Onions", the MGs first hit in 1962,
around the same time as the Chubby Checker "Twist" craze.
To me, there was no comparison. A bunch of white people
doing the Twist looked ludicrous, whereas I could feel,
even taste, Green Onions. The Twist still looks absurd,
even more so than in the 60's, Green Onions still sounds
real. Give me that Stax/Volt sound anytime.
Yurz, Martin
