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: Delaney & Bonnie
Bobby Whitlock
On August 10, 2025, Robert Stanley “Bobby” Whitlock died aged 77. He was musician (keyboards, guitar), vocalist and songwriter, best known as member of Derek and the Dominos (co-founder with Eric Clapton). Whitlock was known as the first white musician signed to Stax Records. He recorded and performed with many artists, including George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Doris Troy, John Simon, Manassas and Dr. John. As leader he released 14 albums.
Delaney & Bonnie: Home
In May 1969, “Stax” label released “Home”, the debut Delaney & Bonnie album. It was recorded 1968 – 1969, at “Stax Studios” in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Don Nix and Donald “Duck” Dunn.
Personnel:
- Delaney Bramlett – vocals, guitar
- Bonnie Bramlett – vocals
- Steve Cropper – guitar
- Leon Russell – keyboards
- Booker T. Jones – keyboards
- Isaac Hayes – vocals, keyboards
- Donald Dunn – bass
- Carl Radle – bass
- Al Jackson Jr. – drums
- Jimmy Karstein – percussion
- The Memphis Horns :
- Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
- Ed Logan – tenor saxophone
- Jim Terry – saxophone
- Joe Arnold – saxophone
- Dick Steff – trumpet
- Wayne Jackson – trumpet
- Jay Pruitt – trumpet
- John Davis – trumpet
- Ben Cauley – trumpet
- William Bell – vocals
- Phil Forrest – vocals
- Ron Capone – engineer
- Jamie Putman – art direction
- Tom Wilkes – design
- Barry Feinstein – photography
- Michael Point – liner notes
Track listing:
- It’s Been a Long Time Coming – Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett
- A Right Now Love – Bonnie Bramlett, Homer Banks
- We Can Love – Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd
- My Baby Specializes – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
- Everybody Loves a Winner – Booker T. Jones, William Bell
- Things Get Better – Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Wayne Jackson
- Just Plain Beautiful – Steve Cropper, Bettye Crutcher
- Hard to Say Goodbye – Bonnie Bramlett, Carl Radle
- Pour Your Love on Me – Homer Banks, Bonnie Bramlett
- Piece of My Heart – Bert Berns, Jerry Ragovoy
Duane Allman
On October 29, 1971, Howard Duane Allman died aged 24. He was singer, musician (guitar, slide guitar, dobro), recorded and performed with The Hour Glass, Allman Joys, Derek and the Dominos, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Jenkins, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Mann, Boz Scaggs, Delaney & Bonnie, and Eric Clapton, but was best known as founder, guitarist, and leader of The Allman Brothers Band.
Delaney & Bonney: The Original Delaney & Bonnie
In July 1969, “Elektra” label released “The Original Delaney & Bonnie”, the second Delaney & Bonnie studio album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Elektra Sound Recorders Studios”, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Delaney Bramlett and David Anderle.
Personnel:
- Bonnie Bramlett- vocals
- Delaney Bramlett- vocals, guitars, arrangements
- Leon Russell- guitars, piano, arrangements
- Jerry McGee – guitars
- Bobby Whitlock- organ, keyboards, vocals
- Carl Radle- bass guitar
- Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon- drums, percussion
- Bobby Keys- saxophone
- Jim Price- trombone, trumpet, horns
- Rita Coolidge- backing vocals
- Jimmie Haskell – string arrangements
- John Haeny: engineer
- Barry Feinstein: photography
Track listing:
- Get Ourselves Together – Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett, Carl Radle
- Someday – Delaney Bramlett, Jerry Allison, Bonnie Bramlett, Doug Gilmore
- Ghetto – Delaney Bramlett, Bettye Crutcher, Homer Banks, Bonnie Bramlett
- When the Battle Is Over – Mac Rebennack, Jessie Hill
- Dirty Old Man – Delaney Bramlett, Mac Davis
- Love Me a Little Longer – Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett
- I Can’t Take It Much Longer – Delaney Bramlett, Joey Cooper
- Do Right Woman, Do Right Man – Dan Penn, Chips Moman
- Soldiers of the Cross – traditional
- Gift of Love – Delaney Bramlett, Mac Davis
John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band: Some Time In New York City
On June 12, 1972, “Apple” label released “Some Time in New York City”, album by John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band. The double album features studio recordings and the live album “Live Jam”. “Some Time in New York City” is Lennon’s third post-Beatles solo album and fifth one with Yoko Ono. It was recorded on:
- Studio – December 1971 – 20 March 1972
- Live – 15 December 1969, at “Lyceum Ballroom” in London, and 6 June 1971, at “Fillmore East” in New York City
The album was produced by Phil Spector, Yoko Ono and John Lennon.
Personnel:
- John Lennon – vocals, guitars
- Yoko Ono– vocals
- Jim Keltner– drums, percussion
- Elephant’s Memory:
- Stan Bronstein – saxophone, flute
- Wayne ‘Tex’ Gabriel – guitar
- Adam Ippolito – piano, organ
- John La Boosca – piano
- Gary Van Scyoc – bass guitar
- Richard Frank Jr. – drums, percussion
Live Jam
15 December 1969
- John Lennon – vocal, guitar
- Yoko Ono – vocal, bag
For everyone except himself and Ono, Lennon made up pseudonyms:
- Eric Clapton (Derek Claptoe) – guitar
- George Harrison (George Harrisong) – guitar
- Delaney & Bonnie (Bilanie & Donnie) – guitar, percussion
- Nicky Hopkins (Sticky Topkins) – electric piano
- Billy Preston (Billy Presstud) – organ
- Klaus Voormann (Raus Doorman) – bass
- Jim Gordon (Jim Bordom) – drums
- Keith Moon (Kief Spoon) – drums
- Alan White (Dallas White) – drums
- Bobby Keyes (Robbie Knees) – sax
Uncredited:
- Jim Price– trumpet
6 June 1971
- John Lennon – vocals, guitar
- Yoko Ono – vocals, bag
- Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar
- Ian Underwood– vocals, keyboard, woodwinds
- Bob Harris – vocals, keyboards
- Don Preston– Mini-Moog
- Jim Pons– vocals, bass guitar
- Klaus Voormann– vocals, bass guitar
- Aynsley Dunbar– drums
- Howard Kaylan– vocals
- Mark Volman– vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, except where noted.
Side one
- Woman Is the Nigger of the World
- Sisters, O Sisters – Yoko Ono
- Attica State
- Born in a Prison – Yoko Ono
- New York City – John Lennon
Side two
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- The Luck of the Irish
- John Sinclair – John Lennon
- Angela
- We’re All Water – Yoko Ono
Side three
Performed live at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, England on 15 December 1969, for a UNICEF charity concert
- Cold Turkey – John Lennon
- Don’t Worry Kyoko – Yoko Ono
Side four
Recorded live at the Fillmore East in New York City with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention on 6 June 1971
- Well (Baby Please Don’t Go) – Walter Ward
- Jamrag
- Scumbag – John Lennon / Yoko Ono / Frank Zappa
- Au
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