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: Albert King
John Mayall: A Special Life
On May 30, 2014, “Forty Below” label released “A Special Life”, the 33rd John Mayall album. It was recorded in November 2013, and was produced by John Mayall and Eric Corne.
Personnel:
- John Mayall – vocals, guitars, harmonica, organ, piano
- Rocky Athas – guitars
- C. J. Chenier – vocals, accordion
- Greg Rzab – bass guitar, percussions
- Jay Davenport – drums
Track listing:
- Why Did You Go Last Night – Clifton Chenier
- Speak of the Devil – Sonny Landreth
- That’s All Right – James Lane
- World Gone Crazy – John Mayall
- Floodin’ in California – Albert King
- Big Town Playboy – Eddie Taylor
- A Special Life – John Mayall
- I Just Got to Know – Jimmy McCracklin
- Heartache – John Mayall
- Like a Fool – Greg Rzab, Rocky Athas
- Just a Memory – John Mayall
David Sanborn
On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.
Savoy Brown: Shake Down
In September 1967, “Decca” label released “Shake Down”, the debut Savoy Brown studio album. It was recorded in 1967, at “Decca Studios” in West Hampstead, North West, and was produced by Mike Vernon.
Personnel:
- Brice Portius – vocals
- Kim Simmonds – lead and rhythm guitar
- Martin Stone – lead and rhythm guitar
- Ray Chappell – bass
- Leo Mannings – drums, percussion
- Bob Hall – piano
- Gus Dudgeon – recording
- Guy Fletcher – mastering
- Neil Slaven – liner notes
Track listing:
- I Ain’t Superstitious – Willie Dixon
- Let Me Love You Baby – Willie Dixon
- Black Night – Jessie Mae Robinson
- High Rise – Beverly Bridge, Sonny Thompson, Freddie King
- Rock Me Baby – B.B. King, Joe Josea
- I Smell Trouble – Deadric Malone
- Oh! Pretty Woman – Albert King
- Little Girl – Willie Dixon
- The Doormouse Rides the Rails – Martin Stone
- It’s My Own Fault – John Lee Hooker
- Shake ‘Em On Down – traditional, arranged by Bob Hall
Larry Taylor
On August 19, 2019, Samuel Lawrence Taylor aka Larry Taylor died aged 77. He was musician (bass), best known as a member of Canned Heat. He recorded and performed with a big number of musicians and bands, including The Gamblers, The Monkees, Jerry Lee Lewis, Boyce & Hart, Sunnyland Slim, Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Albert King, Leo Kotke, The Ventures, Shakey Jake Harris, Free Creek, Louis Myers, Mike “Hollywood Fats” Mann, The Grandmothers, Colin Winski, Chuck E. Weiss, John Lee Hooker, John Hammond Jr., Ry Cooder, Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Sam Phillips, Terry Evans, JJ Cale, Randy Resnick, Al Blake, Dale Hawkins, Kelly Joe Phelps, Tracy Chapman, Wanda Jackson, Buddy Guy, Chris Murphy, Solomon Burke, Harvey Mandel, John Mayall, and Tom Waits.
Albert King: I Wanna Get Funky
In June 1974, “Stax” label released “I Wanna Get Funky”, the eighth Albert King studio album. It was recorded in 1972 and was produced by Henry Bush and Allen Jines.
Personnel:
- Albert King– vocals, electric guitar
- Donald Kanzie (Donald Kinsey)– rhythm guitar
- The Bar-Kays & The Movement – rhythm section
- The Memphis Horns– horns
- Memphis Symphony Orchestra– strings
- Hot Buttered Soul, Henry Bush – backing vocal
Track listing:
- I Wanna Get Funky – Clifton William Smith
- Playing on Me – Sir Mack Rice
- Walking the Back Streets and Crying – Sandy Jones
- ‘Til My Back Ain’t Got No Bone – Eddie Floyd, Alvertis Isbell
- Flat Tire – Henry Bush, Booker T. Jones, Albert King
- I Can’t Hear Nothing But the Blues – Henry Bush, Dave Clark
- Travelin’ Man – Albert King
- Crosscut Saw – R.G. Ford
- That’s What the Blues Is All About – Bobby Patterson, Jerry Strickland
Bruce, Baker & Moore: Around the Next Dream
On May 17, 1994, “Virgin” label released “Around the Next Dream”, the only Bruce, Baker and Moore album. It was recorded 1993 – 1994, and was produced by Ian Taylor, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Gary Moore.
Personnel:
- Jack Bruce – vocals, cello, bass guitar
- Ginger Baker– vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards
- Gary Moore– vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Tommy Eyre– keyboards
- Arran Ahmun – drums
- Morris Murphy – trumpet
- Ian Taylor – engineer
Track listing:
- Waiting in the Wings – Gary Moore, Jack Bruce
- City of Gold – Gary Moore, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan
- Where in the World – Gary Moore, Jack Bruce
- Can’t Fool the Blues – Gary Moore, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan
- High Cost of Living – Alan Jones, Sherwin Hamlett
- Glory Days – Gary Moore, Jack Bruce
- Why Does Love (Have to Go Wrong) – Gary Moore, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker
- Naked Flame – Gary Moore
- I Wonder Why (Are You So Mean to Me) – Albert King
- Wrong Side of Town
Paul Rodgers: The Royal Sessions
On February 4, 2014, “429 Records” label released “The Royal Sessions”, the twelve Paul Rodgers solo album. It was recorded in 2013, at “Royal Studios” in Memphis, and was produced by Perry A. Margouleff.
Personnel:
- Paul Rodgers– vocals
- Michael Toles– guitar
- Perry Margouleff– guitar, mixing
- Lester Snell– piano
- Charles Hodges– Hammond B3
- Archie Turner– Wurlitzer
- Leroy Hodges– bass
- Lannie McMillan– tenor saxophone
- Gary Topper– tenor saxophone
- James L. Spake– baritone sax
- Marc Franklin– trumpet
- Royal Horns– horn
- Roy Brewer – violin
- Susanna Perry-Gilmore, Jessie Munson– violin
- Beth Luscombe– viola
- Michael Barar– viola
- Wesley Hovanec– electric bongos, engineer assistant, videography
- Jonathan Kirkscey– cello
- Mark Wallace – cello
- The Royal Singers– strings
- William Wittman– engineer, mixing
- James Robertson, Steve Potts, Daniel Bean– engineer assistant
- Ryan Smith– mastering
Track listing:
- I Thank You – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
- Down Don’t Bother Me – Albert King
- I Can’t Stand the Rain – Don Bryant, Bernard Miller, Ann Peebles
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
- That’s How Strong My Love Is – Roosevelt Jamison
- Walk On By – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Any Ole Way – Steve Cropper, Otis Redding
- It’s Growing – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson
- Born Under a Bad Sign – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
- I’ve Got Dreams to Remember – Otis Redding
Albert King
On December 21, 1992, Albert Nelson aka Albert King died aged 69. He was musician (guitar, drums) and singer, one of the most influential blues guitarists, one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar” (along with B.B. King and Freddie King). Because of his smooth singing and his large size, he was given the nick name “The Velvet Bulldozer”. In 2013, he was posthumously inducted in the “Rock and Roll of Fame”. King has recorded sixteen studio albums.
Albert King: Born Under A Bad Sign
In August 1967, “Stax” label released “Born Under a Bad Sign”, the second Albert King studio album. It was recorded March 1966 – June 1967, at “Stax Studios” in Memphis Tennessee, and was produced by Jim Stewart. In 1985, “Born Under a Bad Sign” was inducted into the “Blues Foundation Hall of Fame” in the “Classics of Blues Recordings” category In 1999, the album received a “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”; in 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 491 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Albert King– vocals, lead guitar
- Steve Cropper– rhythm guitar
- Booker T. Jones– organ, piano
- Isaac Hayes– piano
- Donald “Duck” Dunn– bass guitar
- Al Jackson, Jr.– drums
- Andrew Love– tenor saxophone
- Joe Arnold – baritone saxophone, flute
- Wayne Jackson– trumpet
Track listing:
- Born Under a Bad Sign – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
- Crosscut Saw – R. G. Ford
- Kansas City – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
- Oh, Pretty Woman – C. Williams
- Down Don’t Bother Me – Albert King
- The Hunter – Booker T. Jones, Carl Wells, Steve Cropper, Donald Dunn, Al Jackson, Jr.
- I Almost Lost My Mind – Ivory Joe Hunter
- Personal Manager – Albert King, David Porter
- Laundromat Blues – Sandy Jones
- As the Years Go Passing By – Deadric Malone
- The Very Thought of You – Ray Noble
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