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.
Tag Archives: Alabama
Mike Harrison: Smokestack Lightning
In November 1972, “Island” label released “Smokestack Lightning”, the second Mike Harrison studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio” in Sheffield, Alabama, and was produced by Chris Blackwell and Mike Harrison.
Personnel:
- Mike Harrison – vocals, harmonica
- Pete Carr – guitar
- Jimmy Johnson – guitar
- Wayne Perkins – slide guitar
- Luther Grosvenor – acoustic guitar
- Barry Beckett – keyboards
- Clayton Ivey – keyboards
- David Hood – bass
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Harvey Thompson – tenor saxophone
- Ronald Eades – baritone saxophone
- Harrison Calloway – trumpet
- Mike Stacey – trumpet
- Charles Rose – trombone
Track listing:
- Tears – Jimmy Stevens
- Paid My Dues – Jimmy Stevens
- What a Price – Murphy Maddux, Jack Jessup, Fats Domino
- Wanna Be Free – Joe Tex
- Turning Over – Mike Harrison, Luther Grosvenor
- Smokestack Lightning – Chester Burnett
Cowboy: 5’ll Getcha Ten
In October 1971, “Capricorn” label released “5’ll Getcha Ten”, the second Cowboy studio album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Capricorn’s Studio” in Macon and “Muscle Shoals Sound Studios” in Sheffield, Alabama, and was produced by Johnny Sandlin.
Personnel:
- Scott Boyer – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, violin
- Tommy Talton – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, lead guitar
- Pete Kowalke – vocals, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, drums
- Bill Pillmore – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, fiddle
- George Clark – bass guitar
- Tom Wynn – drums, percussion
- Chuck Leavell — piano
- Duane Allman — dobro, electric guitar
- Johnny Sandlin – recording, remixing
- Steve Smith – recording
- George Marino – mastering
- Frank Fenter – executive supervision
- B.T. Brandhorst – artwork
- Jimm Roberts – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Tommy Talton, except where noted.
- She Carries a Child – Scott Boyer
- Hey There Babe
- 5’ll Getcha Ten
- The Wonder – John McKenze
- Shoestrings – Scott Boyer, Bill Pillmore
- Lookin’ for You – Scott Boyer
- Seven Four Tune – Bill Pillmore
- Right on Friend – Scott Boyer
- All My Friends – Scott Boyer
- Innocence Song – Scott Boyer, Bill Pillmore
- Please Be with Me – Scott Boyer
- What I Want Is You – Pater Kowalke
Blackfoot: No Reservations
On September 19, 1975, “Antilles” label released “No Reservations”, the debut Blackfoot studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Muscle Shoals Studio” in Sheffield, Alabama, and was produced by Jimmy Johnson and David Hood.
Personnel:
- Rickey Medlocke – lead vocals, rhythm, lead and acoustic guitars, dobro, mandolin
- Charlie Hargrett – acoustic, lead and rhythm guitar
- Greg T. Walker – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Jakson Spires – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Shorty Medlocke – lead vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar
- Barbara Wyrick, Laura Struzick, Suzy Storm – backing vocals
- Barry Beckett – keyboards overdubs
- Roger Hawkins – percussion overdubs
- George Marino – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Jakson Spires, except where noted.
- Railroad Man – Shorty Medlocke
- Indian World
- Stars
- Not Another Maker
- Born to Rock & Roll
- Take a Train
- Big Wheels
- I Stand Alone
- Railroad Man – Shorty Medlocke
Cher: 3614 Jackson Highway
On June 20, 1969, “ATCO” label released “3614 Jackson Highway”, the sixth Cher album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Studios” in Sheffield, Alabama, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Stan Vincent, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin.
Personnel:
- Cher – lead vocals
- Jimmy Johnson – rhythm guitar
- Eddie Hinton – lead guitar
- Barry Beckett – keyboards
- David Hood – bass guitar
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Jeanie Greene, Donna Jean Godchaux (née Thatcher), Mary Holladay, Sue Pilkington – backing vocals
- Greg Poree – arrangements assistance
- Bryan Lasley – art direction
- Patrick Pending – art direction
- Stephen Paley – photography
Track listing:
- For What It’s Worth – Stephen Stills
- (Just Enough to Keep Me) Hangin’ On – Buddy Mize, Ira Allen
- (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay – Steve Cropper, Otis Redding
- Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You – Bob Dylan
- I Threw It All Away – Bob Dylan
- I Walk on Guided Splinters – Dr. John Creaux
- Lay, Baby, Lay – Bob Dylan
- Please Don’t Tell Me – Carroll W. Quillen, Grady Smith
- Cry Like a Baby – Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn
- Do Right Woman, Do Right Man – Chips Moman
- Save the Children – Eddie Hinton
The Staple Singers: Be Attidude: Respect Yoirself
On February 14, 1972, “Stax” label released “Be Altitude: Respect Yourself”, the 19th Staple Singers (The) album. It was recorded 1971 – 1972, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Studios” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, “Ardent Studios” in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Al Bell.
Personnel:
- Mavis Staples – vocals
- Pops Staples – vocals
- Cleotha Staples – harmony and backing vocals
- Yvonne Staples – harmony and backing vocals
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
- Jimmy Johnson – guitar
- David Hood – bass guitar
- Barry Beckett – keyboards, Wurlitzer electric piano
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Staple Sisters – harmony and backing vocals
- Terry Manning – guitar, lead guitar, fuzz guitar, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, vibraphones, marimba, harmonica
- Eddie Hinton – guitar
- Raymond Banks – guitar
- The Memphis Horns (including Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love) – horns
- Ben Cauley – horns
- Al Bell – arrangements
- Johnny Allen – arrangements
- Terry Manning – engineer
- Jerry Masters – engineer
- Ralph Rhodes – engineer
Track listing:
- This World – William Friedman, Herb Schapiro
- Respect Yourself – Luther Ingram, Mack Rice
- Name the Missing Word – Horner Banks, Bettye Crutcher, Raymond Jackson
- I’ll Take You There – Alvertis Isbell
- This Old Town (People in This Town) – Don Convay, Wilson Pickett, William Stevenson
- We the People – Booker T. Jones, Carl Smith
- Are You Sure – Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson
- Who Do You Think You Are (Jesus Christ the Superstar)? – Pops Staples
- I’m Just Another Soldier – Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson
- Who – Jeff Barry, Bobby Bloom
Lulu: New Routes
On January 16, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “New Routes”, the fourth Lulu studio album. It was recorded September – October 1969, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio” in Sheffield, Alabama, and was produced by Arif Mardin, Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler.
Personnel:
- Lulu – vocals
- Duane Allman – guitar
- Cornell Dupree, Charlie Freeman, Eddie Hinton – guitar
- Jim Dickinson – guitar, piano
- Jimmy Johnson – guitar, engineer
- Barry Beckett – keyboards
- Michael Utley – organ
- David Hood, Tommy McClure – bass guitar
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Martin Greene – engineer
- Stephen Paley – photography
Track listing:
- Marley Purt Drive – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- In the Morning – Barry Gibb
- People in Love – Eddie Hinton, Grady Smith
- After All (I Live My Life) – Jim Doris, Frankie Miller
- Feelin’ Alright – Dave Mason
- Dirty Old Man – Delaney Bramlett, Mac Davis
- Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby) – Jim Doris
- Is That You Love – Jackie Avery, John Farris
- Mr. Bojangles – Jerry Jeff Walker
- Where’s Eddie – Donnie Fritts, Eddie Hinton
- Sweep Around Your Own Back Door – Fran Robins
John Coltrane: Live At Birdland
On January 9, 1964, “Impulse!” label released “Live at Birdland”, album by John Coltrane (the seventh album for Impulse!). It was recorded March, October and November 1963, at “Birdland” in New York City, “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Thiele.
Personnel:
- John Coltrane – soprano and tenor saxophone
- McCoy Tyner – piano
- Jimmy Garrison – double bass
- Elvin Jones – drums
- Rudy Van Gelder – studio recording
Track listing:
All tracks by John Coltrane, except where noted.
- Afro Blue – Mongo Santamaria
- I Want to Talk About You – Billy Eckstine
- The Promise
- Alabama
- Your Lady
J. J. Cale: Really
On December 4, 1972, “Shelter” label released “Really”, the second J. J. Cale studio album. It was recorded April – July, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, “Quadrophonic Studio” Nashville, Tennessee, “Quinvy Studio” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, “Bradley’s Barn” in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, “Moss Rose Studio” in Nashville Tennessee, and was produced by Audie Ashworth.
Personne:
- J. J. Cale – vocals, lead guitar, rhythm-guitar, piano, electric piano, bass, drums
- Bill Boatman – rhythm guitar, guitar
- Mac Gayden – lead and slide-guitar
- Jimmy Capps – rhythm-guitar
- Jimmy Johnson – rhythm-guitar
- Bobby Woods – piano
- David Briggs – piano
- Barry Beckett – electric piano
- Kossie Gardner – organ
- Charlie McCoy – harmonica
- Joe Zinkan – bass guitar
- Gary Gilmore – bass guitar
- David Hood – bass guitar
- Norbert Putnam – bass guitar
- Bob Ray – bass guitar
- Farrell Morris – drums, congas, percussion
- Jimmy Karstein – drums
- George Soulé – drums
- Kenneth A. Buttrey – drums
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Robert Tarrant – congas, tambourine
- Norman Ray – vocals, baritone saxophone
- Bob Phillips, Don Sheffield – trumpet
- Don Sheffield – trumpet
- Bill Humble – trombone
- Vassar Clements – violin
- Josh Graves – dobro
- Joann Sweeney – voice
- Bob Holmes – harmony vocal
Track listing:
All tracks by J. J. Cale, except where noted.
- Lies
- Everything Will Be Alright
- I’ll Kiss the World Goodbye
- Changes
- Right Down Here
- If You’re Ever in Oklahoma
- Ridin’ Home
- Goin’ Down
- Soulin’
- Playing in the Street
- Mojo – McKinley Morganfield
- Louisiana Women
Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves
On October 22, 1976, “Capitol” label released “Night Moves”, album by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band (the ninth Bob Seger studio album). It was recorded in 1976, at “Muscle Shoals” in Sheffield, Alabama, “Pampa” in Warren, Michigan, “Nimbus Nine” in Toronto, and was produced by Bob Seger, Punch Andrews, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Jack Richardson.
Personnel:
- Bob Seger – vocals, guitar
- Drew Abbott – guitar, backing vocals
- Robyn Robbins – piano, organ
- Alto Reed – alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute
- Chris Campbell – bass, backing vocals
- Charlie Allen Martin – drums, tambourine, maracas, backing vocals
- Pete Carr – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitar
- Jimmy Johnson – rhythm guitar
- Joe Miquelon – guitar
- Doug Riley – piano, organ
- Barry Beckett – piano, organ, ARP synthesizer, clavinet, melodica
- David Hood – bass
- Roger Hawkins – drums, tambourine, maracas, congas, timpani
- Jerry Luck – accordion
- Sharon Lee Williams – backing vocals
- Rhonda Silver – backing vocals
- Laurel Ward – backing vocals
- Jim Bruzzese – recording, mixing
- Brian Christian – recording
- Jerry Masters – recording
- Steve Melton – recording
- Greg Miller – recording
- Wally Traugott – mastering
- Tom Bert – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Bob Seger, except where noted.
- Rock and Roll Never Forgets
- Night Moves
- The Fire Down Below
- Sunburst
- Sunspot Baby
- Mainstreet
- Come to Poppa – Earl Randle, Willie Mitchell
- Ship of Fools
- Mary Lou – Young Jessie, Sam Ling
musicalphabet 