This is a compilation of early to mid 60’s instrumental recordings by the legendary Booker T and the MG’s and the closely affiliated Mar-Keys. Booker T and The MG’s are regarded as one of the tightest, most powerful backing bands of all time, having provided the sounds for countless Stax Soul Hits. The Mar-Keys shared Booker T guitarist Steve Cropper and other BT members in the studio. They were a hard core party group, straight out of high school, and pre-dated the Booker T and the MG’s.

The immediate vibe that this album gives off is a wild party atmosphere. The music of the Mar-Keys is geared towards dancing, the Booker T music also, but perhaps at a more sophisticated shuffle step. Tracks by the Mar-keys feature a little more horns and boogie piano, the Booker T’s more organ focussed. Overriding the differences is a universally hook laden groove. Mar-Keys trumpeter Wayne Jackson describes Al Jackson, drummer on all the music on this CD as “the best musician in the house… and the best R&B drummer there was ever gonna be…the secret of the Stax sound.”  This emphasises the importance and the quality of the groove in this music. It’s rock solid from the bottom end up. Top beats, top tunes. ]

Some of the standout tracks are: “Let’s Go” with its smooth upbeat vibe and infectious organ and guitar riffs; “Raw Hide”, a Link Wray cover and great R&B pounder; “Slidin”, a slide guitar chill-out track with a reflective feel, almost like the party’s almost over and people are chatting about what went down; “ Weird Stomp”, which is as the name says, but nonetheless has a great tune and is plain good fun;  and “Lawn Party” which I like mainly for its cool guitar sound, kind of jazzy and bassy. But all the songs make you move, they all have great beats and riffs, and they all possess a really cool simplicity - four great parts played extremely well and recorded with nice tones and sounds.

This album is great fun and you get 25 tracks. Play it twice and that’s a whole party’s worth of music.

Posted on Friday, December 1st, 2006 at 12:48 am
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