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: B.B. King
Foghat: Sonic Mojo
On November 10, 2023, “Foghat Records” label released “Sonic Mojo”, the seventeenth studio Foghat album. It was recorded in 2023, at “Boogie Motel South” in Deland, Florida, and was produced by Bryan Bassett,
Personnel:
- Bryan Bassett – vocals, lead and slide guitar, engineer, mixing, mastering
- Scott Holt – lead vocals, lead guitar
- Rodney O’Quinn – lead vocals, bass guitar
- Roger Earl – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Eddie Lefebvre – percussion
- Linda Arcello-Earl – artwork, layout
Track listing:
- She’s a Little Bit of Everything – Bryan Bassett, Roger Earl, Scott Holt, Rodney O’Quinn, Kim Simmonds
- I Don’t Appreciate You – Bryan Bassett, Roger Earl, Scott Holt, Rodney O’Quinn
- Mean Woman Blues – Claude DeMetrius
- Drivin’ On – Bryan Bassett, Roger Earl, Scott Holt, Rodney O’Quinn, Kim Simmonds
- Let Me Love You Baby – Willie Dixon
- How Many More Years – Chester Burnett
- Song for the Life – Rodney J. Crowell
- Wish I’d Been There – Bryan Bassett, Roger Earl, Scott Holt, Rodney O’Quinn
- Time Slips Away – Brayn Bassett, Roger Earl, Scott Holt, Rodney O’Quinn, Kim Simmonds
- Black Days and Blue Nights – Bryan Bassett, Roger Earl, Scott Holt, Rodney O’Quinn
- She’s Dynamite – B.B. King
- Promised Land – Chuck Berry
B. B. King: Live In Cook County Jail
In January 1971, “ABC” label release “Live in Cook County Jail”, album by B.B. King. It was recorded in September 1970, at “Cook County Jail” in Chicago, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk.
Personnel:
- B.B. King – vocals, guitar
- Ron Levy – piano
- Booker Walker – alto saxophone
- Louis Hubert – tenor saxophone
- John Browning – trumpet
- Wilbert Freeman – bass
- Sonny Freeman – drums
- Aaron Baron – engineer
- Woody Woodward – art direction
- Chester Sheard – photography
- Geoffrey Harding – inner liner photography
Track listing:
- Introduction
- Everyday I Have the Blues – Memphis Slim
- How Blue Can You Get – Jane Feather
- Worry, Worry, Worry – Davis Plumber, Jules Taub
- Medley: 3 O’ Clock Blues, Darlin You Know I Love You – Jules Taub, B. B. King
- Sweet Sixteen – Ahmet Ertegun
- The Thrill Is Gone – B. B. King
- Please Accept My Love – B. B. King, Sam Ling
B. B. King: B. B. King & Friends 80
On September 13, 2005, “Geffen” label released “B. B. King & Friends: 80”, the forty-first B.B. King album. It was recorded in 2005, at “Avatar Studios” and “Right Track Recording” in New York City, “Caesar’s Palace Showroom” in Las Vegas, Nevada, “Conway Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, “O’Henry Studios” in Burbank, California, “Ocean Way Recording” and “Olympic Studios” in London. At the 48th “Annual Grammy Awards”, “B. B. King & Friends: 80” won “Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album”.
Personnel:
- B. B. King – vocals, guitar
- Van Morrison – vocals, harmonica
- Billy F Gibbons – vocals, guitar
- John Mayer – vocals, guitar
- Glenn Frey – vocals, guitar
- Eric Clapton – guitar
- Clem Clempson – guitar
- Mark Knopfler – guitar
- Davey Johnstone – guitar
- Larry Campbell – guitar
- Dean Parks – rhythm guitar
- Elton John – vocals, piano
- Chris Stainton – keyboards
- Brian Mitchell – keyboards
- Guy Babylon – keyboards
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, Hammond organ
- Luke Smith – Hammond organ
- Sheryl Crow – vocals
- Bob Birch – bass guitar
- Leland Sklar – bass guitar
- T-Bone Wolk – bass guitar
- Yolanda Charles – bass guitar
- Russ Kunkel – drums
- Billy Ward – drums
- Ian Thomas – drums
- Nigel Olsson – drums
- John Mahon – percussion
- Brandon Fields – saxophone
- Jerry Hey – trumpet
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trumpet
- Gary Grant – trumpet
- Nathaniel Kunkel – shaker
Track listing:
- Early in the Morning – Dallas Bartley, Louis Jordan, Leo Hickman
- Tired of Your Jive – Janet Despenza, Johnny Pate
- The Thrill is Gone – Roy Hawkins, Rick Darnell
- Need Your Love So Bad – Little Willie John, Mertis John Jr.
- Ain’t Nobody Home – Jerry Ragovou
- Hummingbird – Leon Russell
- All Over Again – Carl B. Adams
- Drivin’ Wheel – Roosevelt Sykes
- There Must Be a Better World Somewhere – Doc Pomus, Mac Rebennack
- Never Make Your Move Too Soon – Stix Hooper, Will Jennings
- Funny How Time Slips Away – Willie Nelson
- Rock This House – James A. Lane
Buddy Guy: The Blues Don’t Lie
On September 30, 2022, “RCA” label released “The Blues Don’t Lie”, the 19th Buddy Guy album. It was recorded in 2022, and was produced by Tom Hambridge.
Personnel:
- Buddy Guy – vocals, guitar
- Mavis Staples – vocal
- Elvis Costello – vocal
- James Taylor – vocal
- Bobby Rush – vocal
- Jason Isbell – vocal
- Wendy Moten – vocal
- Rob McNelley – guitar
- Kevin McKendree – Hammond B3 organ, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
- Reese Wynans – Hammond B3 organ, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano
- Michael Rhodes – bass
- Glenn Worf – bass
- Tom Hambridge – drums, percussions, tambourine, backing vocal, mixing
- Ducky Carlisle – recording
- Zach Allen, Jonathan Lackey, Dave O’Donnell, Casey Wasner, Steve Weeder – additional recording
- Michael Saint-Leon – mixing
- Brian Lucey – mastering
- Gavin Taylor – art direction, design
- Paul Natkin – photography
Track listing:
- I Let My Guitar Do the Talking – Buddy Guy, Tom Hambridge
- Blues Don’t Lie – Tom Hambridge
- The World Needs Love – Buddy Guy
- We Go Back – Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
- Symptoms of Love – Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
- Follow the Money – Tom Hambridge, Gary Nicholson
- Well Enough Alone – Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
- What’s Wrong with That – Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
- Gunsmoke Blues – Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
- House Party – Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
- Sweet Thing – Joe Josea, B.B. King
- Backdoor Scratchin’ – Tom Hambridge, Gary Nicholson
- I’ve Got a Feeling – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Rabbit Blood – Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
- Last Call – Tom Hambridge, Bill Sweeney
- King Bee – James Moore
Otis Rush: Mourning in the Morning
In August 1969, “Cotillion” label released “Mourning in the Morning”, the second Otis Rush album. It was recorded in 1969, at “FAME Studios” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and was produced by Nick Gravenites and Mike Bloomfield.
Personnel:
- Otis Rush – vocals, guitar
- Jimmy Johnson – guitar
- Duane Allman – guitar
- Barry Beckett – keyboards
- Mark Naftalin – keyboards
- Jerry Jemmott – bass
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Aaron Varnell – tenor saxophone
- Joe Arnold – tenor saxophone
- Ronald Eades – baritone saxophone
- Gene “Bowlegs” Miller – trumpet
- Mickey Buckins – recording
- Norris McNamara – photography
- Nick Gravenites – liner notes
Track listing:
- Me – Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites
- Working Man – Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites
- You’re Killing My Love – Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites
- Feel So Bad – Chuck Willis
- Gambler’s Blues – B.B. King, Jules Taub
- Baby, I Love You – Ronnie Shannon
- My Old Lady – Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites
- My Love Will Never Die – Otis Rush
- Reap What You Sow – Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites
- It Takes Time – Otis Rush
- Can’t Wait No Longer – Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites
Ray Charles: Just Between Us
In July 1988, “Columbia” label released “Just Between Us”, the 49th Ray Charles album. It was recorded in 1988, at “RPM Studios” in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was produced by Ray Charles and Quincy Jones.
Personnel:
- Ray Charles – vocal, piano
- B.B. King – guitar
- Kenny Carr – guitar
- Gladys Knight – vocals
- Lou Rawls – vocals
Track listing:
- Nothing Like a Hundred Miles – James Taylor
- I Wish I’d Never Loved You at All – K. Morrison Phelps, R. Hice
- Too Hard to Love You – Jim Johnson
- Now I Don’t Believe That Anymore – David A. Morgan
- Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
- Stranger in My Hometown – Percy Mayfield
- Over the Top – Tony Colton, Keith Christopher
- I’d Walk a Little More for You – Ken Hirsch, Doc Pomus
- If That’s What’cha Want – Dave Loggins
- Save the Bones for Henry Jones – Danny Barker, Vernon Lee
B. B. King: Completely Well
On December 5, 1969, “Blues Way” label released “Completely Well”, the 17th B.B. King album. It was recorded in June 1969, at “The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk.
Personnel:
- B.B. King – vocals, lead guitar
- Hugh McCracken – rhythm guitar
- Paul Harris – organ, acoustic and Fender Rhodes electric piano
- Jerry Jemmott – bass
- Herbie Lovelle – drums
- Bert “Super Charts” DeCoteaux – string and horn arrangements
Track listing:
- So Excited – B.B. King, Gerald Jemmott
- No Good – Ferdinand Washington, B.B. King
- You’re Losin’ Me – Ferdinand Washington, B.B. King
- What Happened – B.B. King
- Confessin’ the Blues – Jay McShann, Walter Brown
- Key to My Kingdom – Maxwell Davis, Joe Josea, Claude Baum
- Cryin’ Won’t Help You Now – Sam Ling, Jules Taub
- You’re Mean – B.B. King, Gerald Jemmott, Hugh McCracken, Paul Harris, Herbie Lovelle
- The Thrill Is Gone – Rick Darnell, Roy Hawkins
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
B. B. King: My Kind of Blues
In August 1960, “Crown” label released “My Kind of Blues”, the seventh B. B. King studio album. It was recorded 1959 – 1960, at “Chess Records Studios” in Chicago.
Personnel:
- B.B. King – vocals, guitar
- Lloyd Glenn – piano
- Ralph Hamilton – bass
- Jessie Sailes – drums
- Hobco Arts – design
- Joseph Tauber – photography
- John Marlo – liner notes
Track listing:
- You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now – B.B. King, Joe Josea
- Mr. Pawnbroker – B.B. King, Jules Taub
- Understand – Cecil Gant
- Someday Baby – Lightnin’ Hopkins
- Driving Wheel – Roosevelt Sykes
- Walking Dr. Bill – Doctor Clayton
- My Own Fault – B.B. King
- Catfish Blues – Robert Petway, Joe Josea, B.B. King
- Hold That Train – Doctor Clayton
- Please Set a Date – Minnie McCoy
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