On December 3, 2025, Steven Lee Cropper died aged 84. He was musician, songwriter, record producer and actor, known as “The Colonel”. He was the guitarist of the “Stax Records” house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. He was also member of the Blues Brothers Band, and recorded and performed with many other artists including Alabama, Jimmy Barnes, William Bell, Barbi Benton, Big Star, Stephen Bishop, Frank Black, Bobby and the Midnites, Booker T. & MG.’s, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Burnette, Brian Cadd, Cate Brothers, Chicago, David Clayton Thomas, A. J. Croce, Patti Dahlstrom, Delaney & Bonnie, Ned Doheny, Yvonne Elliman, Jose Feliziano, Eddie Floyd, Peter Frampton, Richie Furay, Art Garfunkel, Cyndi Grecco, Levon Helm, Chris Hillman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Etta James, Wynonna Judd, Albert King, B.B. King, Al Kooper, John Lennon, Ann Margret, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Craig Morgan, Aaron Neville, Wayne Newton, Harry Nilsson, John Oates, Nigel Olsson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Wilson Pickett, Michel Polnareff, John Prine, Otis Redding, Bruce Roberts, Leon Russell, Sanford & Townsend, Leo Sayer, Poncho Sanchez, Guy Sebastian, Neil Sedaka, Paul Shaffer, Paul Simon, Percy Sledge, Broderick Smith, The Soul Children, The Staple Singers, Mavis Staple, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Livingston Taylor, Carla Thomas, Mickey Thomas, Wendy Waldman, Tower of Power, The Manhattan Transfer, Dale Watson and Jerry Lynn Williams. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him 36th on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists”. Cropper won two “Grammy Awards”, and as leader or co-leader Cropper released 13 albums.
Agitation Free: Malesch
In December 1972, “Vertigo” label released “Malesch”, the debut Agitation Free album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Audio-Ton Studio” in Berlin, and was produced by Wolfgang Sandner and Peter Strecker.
Personnel:
- Lutz “Lüül” Ulbrich – lead electric guitar, twelve-string guitar, Bavarian zither, Hammond organ
- Jörg Schwenke – rhythm guitar
- Michael Hoenig – EMS Synthi A, Vox Continental organ
- Michael Günther – Fender Jazz bass, live-tapes
- Burghard Rausch – congas, drums, marimbaphone, timbales
- Peter Michael Hamel – Hammond organ
- Uli Pop – bongos
Track listing:
All track by Lutz “Lüül” Ulbrich, Jörg Schwenke, Michael Hoenig, Michael Günther
And Burghard Rausch
- You Play for Us Today
- Sahara City
- Ala Tul
- Pulse
- Khan el Khalili
- Malesch
- Rücksturz
James Moody: Flute ‘N The Blues
In December 1956, “Argo” label released “Flute ‘n the Blues”, the ninth James Moody album. It was recorded in November 1956, in Chicago, and was produced by Dave usher.
Personnel:
- James Moody – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute
- Eddie Jefferson – vocals
- Pee Wee Moore – baritone saxophone
- Johnny Coles – trumpet
- William Shepherd – trombone
- Jimmy Boyd – piano, peck horn
- John Latham – bass
- Clarence Johnston – drums
Track listing:
- Flute ‘n the Blues – Harold Newboldt, James Moody, Arthur Boyd
- Birdland Story – Eddie Jefferson, James Moody
- It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
- I Cover the Waterfront – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green
- Body and Soul – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton
- Breaking the Blues – John Adriano Acea
- Parker’s Mood – Charlie Parker
- Easy Living – Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger
- Boo’s Tune – Florence Pleasant
- Richard’s Blues – Moody, Newboldt
Dizzy Gillespie: The Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Big Band
In December 1968, “MPS” label released “The Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Big Band”,a live album by Dizzy Gillespie. It was recorded in 1968, on “Berlin Jazz Festival” at “Berlin Philharmonic Hall” in Berlin, and was produced by Joachim-Ernst Berendt.
Personnel:
- Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet
- James Moody – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Sahib Shihab – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
- Chris Woods – alto saxophone
- Paul Jeffrey – tenor saxophone
- Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone
- Stu Hamer – trumpet
- Jimmy Owens – trumpet
- Victor Paz – trumpet
- Dizzy Reece – trumpet
- Curtis Fuller – trombone
- Ted Kelly – trombone
- Tom McIntosh – trombone
- Mike Longo – piano
- Paul West – double bass
- Otis Finch – drums
Track listing:
- Things to Come – Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Fuller
- One Bass Hit – Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Fuller
- Frisco – Mike Longo
- Con Alma – Dizzy Gillespie
- The Things Are Here – Dizzy Gillespie
- Theme – Birks’ Works – Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Kessel
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra: Sing Along With Basie
In December 1958, “Roulette” label released “Sing Along with Basie”, album by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra. It was recorded May – October 1958, at “Capitol” in New York City, and was produced by Teddy Reig.
Personnel:
- Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, Annie Ross, Joe Williams – vocals
- Count Basie – piano
- Marshal Royal – alto saxophone, clarinet
- Frank Wess – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
- Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell – tenor saxophone
- Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
- Wendell Culley, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Snooky Young – trumpet
- Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell – trombone
- Freddie Green – guitar
- Eddie Jones – bass
- Sonny Payne – drums
Track listing:
- Jumpin’ at the Woodside – Count Basie
- Goin’ to Chicago Blues – Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing
- Tickle Toe – Lester Young
- Let Me See – Count Basie, Harry Edison
- Every Tub – Count Basie, Eddie Durham
- Shorty George – Count Basie, Andy Gibson
- Rusty Dusty Blues – J. Mayo Williams
- The King – Count Basie
- Swingin’ the Blues – Count Basie, Eddie Durham
- Li’l Darlin’ – Neal Hefti
Rusty Bryant: Night Train Now!
In December 1969, “Prestige” label released “Night Train Now!”, the fifth Rusty Bryant album. It was recorded in October 1969, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Porter.
Personnel:
- Rusty Bryant – alto and tenor saxophone, varitone
- Jimmy Carter – organ
- Boogaloo Joe Jones – guitar
- Eddie Mathias – electric bass
- Bernard Purdie – drums
- Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Rusty Bryant except where noted.
- Cootie Boogaloo
- Funky Mama
- Funky Rabbits
- Night Train – Jimmy Forrest
- With These Hands
- Home Fries
Jaki Byard: Sunshine Of My Soul
In November 1967, “Prestige” label released “Sunshine of My Soul”, the ninth Jaki Byard album. It was recorded in October 1967, in New York City, and was produced by Don Schlitten.
Personnel:
- Jaki Byard – piano, guitar
- David Izenzon – bass
- Elvin Jones – drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Jaki Byard except where noted.
- Sunshine
- Cast Away
- Chandra
- St. Louis Blues – W. C. Handy
- Diane’s Melody
- Trendsition Zildjian
The Damned: Anything
On December 1, 1986, “MCA” label released “Anything”, the seventh Damned (The) studio album. It was recorded June – August 1986, at “Puk Recording Studios” in Denmark, and was produced by Jon Kelly.
Personnel:
- Dave Vanian – lead vocals
- Roman Jugg – vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Bryn Merrick – vocals, bass
- Rat Scabies – drums
- Blue Weaver – keyboards
- Paul “Shirley” Shepley – keyboards
- Paul Wickens – keyboards
- Kurt Holm – trumpet
- Suzie O’List – backing vocals
- Jon Kelly – engineer, mixing
- Henrik Nilsson – additional engineering
- Lance Phillips – additional engineering
- Alan O’Duffy – additional engineering
- Ken Thomas – mixing
- Nigel Walker – mixing
- Howard Raybould – album cover carving
- Jef Hartley – album cover painting
- Booce – album cover painting
- The Leisure Process – design, art direction
- Nick Knight – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Roman Jugg, Rat Scabies, Bryn Merrick and Dave Vanian, except where noted.
- Anything
- Alone Again Or – Bryan MacLean
- The Portrait
- Restless
- In Dulce Decorum
- Gigolo
- The Girl Goes Down
- Tightrope Walk
- Psychomania
Johnny “Hammond” Smith:That Good Feelin’
In December 1959, “New Jazz Label” released “That Good Feelin’”, the fourth Johnny “Hammond” Smith album. It was recorded in November 1959, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs”, New Jersey, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.
Personnel:
- Johnny “Hammond” Smith – organ
- Thornel Schwartz – guitar
- George Tucker – bass
- Leo Stevens – drums
- Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks Johnny “Hammond” Smith except where noted.
- That Good Feelin’
- Bye Bye Blackbird – Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
- Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert
- I’ll Remember April – Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye
- Billie’s Bounce – Charlie Parker
- My Funny Valentine – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
- Puddin’
Paul McCartney & Wings: Band On The Run
On November 30, 1973, “Apple” label released “Band on the Run”, the third Paul McCartney and Wings studio album, It was recorded August – October 1973, at “EMI” and “ARC” in Lagos, Nigeria, “AIR” and “Kingsway Recorders” in London, and was produced by Paul McCartney. In 2000, “Q” magazine placed “Band on the Run” at number 75 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”. In 2012, it was voted 418th on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.In 2013, it was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Personnel:
- Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, keyboards, drums, percussion
- Linda McCartney – harmony and backing vocals, organ, keyboards, percussion
- Denny Laine – harmony and backing vocals, co-lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
- Howie Casey – saxophone
- Ginger Baker – percussion
- Remi Kabaka – percussion
- Ian Horne, Trevor Jones – backing vocals
- 3 uncredited session musicians – saxophones
- Tony Visconti – orchestrations
- Geoff Emerick – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Paul and Linda McCartney, except where noted.
- Band on the Run
- Jet
- Bluebird
- Mrs. Vandebilt
- Let Me Roll It
- Mamunia
- No Words – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
- Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)
- Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
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