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: John Oates
Daryl Hall & John Oates: Abandoned Luncheonette
In November 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Abandoned Luncheonette”, the second Daryl Hall & John Oates studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Atlantic Recording Studios”, “Advantage Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Arif Mardin.
Personnel:
- Daryl Hall – lead and backing vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric piano, keyboards
- John Oates – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
- Chris Bond – mellotron, acoustic and electric guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Hugh McCracken – electric guitar
- Jerry Ricks – acoustic guitar
- Mark Horowitz – banjo
- Pat Rebillot – organ
- Richard Tee – acoustic piano
- Steve Gelfand – bass
- Gordon Edwards – bass
- Bernard Purdie – drums
- Rick Marotta – drums, percussion
- Ralph MacDonald – percussion
- Pancho Morales – congas
- Joe Farrell – oboe, saxophone
- Marvin Stamm – flugelhorn
- Gloria Agostini – harp
- John Blair – electric violin
- Larry Packer – fiddle
- Alan Ade, Jimmy Douglass, Lewis Hahn, Joel Kerr, Gene Paul – recording, engineer
- Christopher Bond – mixing
- Jimmy Douglass – mixing
- Stephen Innocenzi – mastering
- B. Wilson – design, photography
- Tommy Mottola – coordinator
- Christopher Bond – production assistant
Track listing:
All tracks by Daryl Hall, except where noted.
- When the Morning Comes
- Had I Known You Better Then – John Oates
- Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song) – John Oates
- She’s Gone – Daryl Hall, John Oates
- I’m Just a Kid (Don’t Make Me Feel Like a Man) – John Oates
- Abandoned Luncheonette
- Lady Rain – Daryl Hall, John Oates
- Laughing Boy
- Everytime I Look At You
Daryl Hall & John Oates: Bigger Than Both of Us
In August 1976, “RCA” label released “Bigger Than Both of Us”, the fifth Daryl Hall and John Oates studio album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Cherokee Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Cristopher Bond.
Personnel:
- Daryl Hall – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, mandola, synthesizer, arrangements, cover concept, design
- John Oates – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitars, harmonica, arrangements
- Christopher Bond – lead guitars, keyboards, synthesizer, arrangements
- Tom Hensley – acoustic piano
- Scotty Edwards – bass
- Leland Sklar – bass
- Jim Gordon – drums
- Ed Greene – drums
- Slugger Blue – “G kick” drums
- Gary Coleman – percussion
- Tom Scott – flute, saxophone, Lyricon
- Charles DeChant – saxophone
- James Getzoff – concertmaster, conductor
- Stephen Dees – co-arrangements
- John Arrias, John Mills – engineer, mixing
- Armin Steiner – engineer
- Allen Zentz – mastering
- Ron Barry – covert art work
- Gribbitt Photography – cover photography
- Kathy Hohl, Sam Emmerson – insert photography
Track listing:
- Back Together Again – John Oates
- Rich Girl – Daryl Hall
- Crazy Eyes – John Oates
- Do What You Want, Be What You Are – Daryl Hall, John Oates
- Kerry – Stephen Dees, Daryl Hall
- London Luck & Love – Sara Allen, Daryl Hall, John Oates
- Room to Breathe – Sara Allen, Daryl Hall
- You’ll Never Learn – Daryl Hall, John Oates
- Falling – Daryl Hall
Justin Hayward: Night Flight
On June 13, 1980, “Decca” label released “Night Flight”, the third Justin Hayward studio album. It was recorded in 1979, and was produced by Jeff Wayne.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward – vocals, guitars; bass, drums
- Jo Partridge – guitars
- Jeff Wayne – piano, arrangements, conducting
- Ken Freeman- keyboards
- Herbie Flowers– bass
- Dave Holland- drums
- Barry de Souza – drums
- Stuart Elliott- drums
- Roy Jones – percussion
- Tony Carr – percussion
- Doreen Chanter- vocals
- Irene Chanter- vocals
- Steve Gray – arrangements
- Geoff Young– engineer
- Paul Taylor, Craig Thompson, Norman Goodman.- engineer assistant
- Graham Meek – technical assistance
Track listing:
- Night Flight – Jeff Wayne, Paul Vigrass
- Maybe It’s Just Love – Mike Silver
- Crazy Lovers – Justin Hayward
- Penumbra Moon – Billy Nicholls
- Nearer to You – Justin Hayward
- A Face in the Crowd – Justin Hayward
- Suitcase – Justin Hayward
- I’m Sorry – Daryl Hall, John Oates
- It’s Not On – Jeff Wayne, Gary Osborne
- Bedtime Stories – Colin Still
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