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: Otis Redding
Grateful Dead: History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice)

On July 13, 1973, “Warner Bros” label released “History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice)”, the fourth Grateful Dead live album (the ninth Grateful Dead album overall). It was recorded in February 1970, and was produced by Owsley Stanley.
Personnel:
- Jerry Garcia –vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, lead guitar
- Ron “Pigpen” McKernan – vocals, acoustic guitar, organ, percussion, harmonica
- Bob Weir – vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, electric guitar
- Phil Lesh – vocals, bass guitar
- Mickey Hart – drums, percussion
- Bill Kreutzmann – drums, percussion
- Peter McQuaid – executive production
Track listing:
- Katie Mae – Lightnin’ Hopkins
- Dark Hollow – Bill Browning
- I’ve Been All Around This World – traditional
- Wake Up Little Susie – Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
- Black Peter – Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter
- Smokestack Lightning – Howlin Wolf
- Hard to Handle – Al Bell, Allen Jones, Otis Redding
- Good Lovin’ – Rudy Clark. Arthur Resnick
- Big Boss Man – Al Smith, Luther Dixon
- Smokestack Lightning – Howlin’ Wolf
- Sitting on the Top of the World – Lonnie Chatmon, Walter Vinson
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
Aretha Franklin: Live At Fillmore West

On May 19, 1971, “Atlantic” label released “Aretha Live at Fillmore West”, the third Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in March 1971, at “Filmore West Concert Hall”, in San Francsico, and was produced by Jerry Wexler.
Personnel:
- Aretha Franklin – vocals, Fender Rhodes
- Cornell Dupree – guitar
- Truman Thomas – piano
- Ray Charles – piano
- Billy Preston – organ
- Jerry Jemmott – bass
- Bernard Purdie – drums
- Pancho Morales – congas
- King Curtis – saxophone, orchestra leader
- Memphis Horns – horns
- Brenda Bryant, Margaret Branch, Pat Smith – backing vocals
- Arif Mardin – horn arrangements
- Larry Wilcox – horn arrangements
- Tom Dowd – horn arrangements
Track listing:
- Respect – Otis Redding
- Love the One Youy’re With – Stephen Stills
- Bridge Over Troubled Water – Paul Simon
- Eleanor Rigby – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Make It with You – David Gates
- Don’t Play That Song – Ahmet Ertegun, Betty Nelson
- Dr. Feelgood – Aretha Franklin
- Spirit in the Dark – Aretha Franklin
- Spirit in the Dark (reprise with Ray Charles) – Aretha Franklin
- Reach Out and Touch – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
The Proclaimers: Hit The Highway

On March 7, 1994, “Chrysalis” label released “Hit the Highway”, the third Proclaimers (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1993, at “Chipping North Studio” in Chipping North, Oxfordshire, England, and was produced by Pete Wingfield, Charlie Reid and Craig Reid.
Personnel:
- Craig Reid – vocals, tambourine
- Charlie Reid – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
- Stuart Nisbet – acoustic and electric guitar, steel guitar, mandolin
- Tim Renwick – acoustic and electric guitar, electric slide guitar
- Jerry Donahue – acoustic and electric guitar
- Bobby Valentino – fiddle
- Pete Wingfield – keyboards, piano, Hammond C3
- Pete Thomas – tenor and baritone saxophone
- Raul D’Oliveira – trumpet
- Vince Sullivan – trombone
- Iain Bruce – bass guitar
- Phil Cranham – bass guitar, fretless bass guitar
- Kevin Wilkinson – drums
- Dave Mattacks – drums
- Martin Ditcham – percussion
- Barry Hammond – engineer
- Geoff Pesche – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Charlie and Craig Reid, except where noted.
- Let’s Get Married
- The More I Believe
- What Makes You Cry?
- Follow the Money
- These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding
- Shout Shout
- The Light
- Hit the Highway
- A Long Long Long Time Ago
- I Want to Be a Christian – Sullivan S. Puch
- Your Childhood
- Don’t Turn Out Like Your Mother
Doug Sahm: Juke Box Music

In January 1989, “Antone’s Record Label” label released “Juke Box Music”, the sixth Doug Sahm studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “The Fire Station” in San Marcos, Texas, and was produced by George Rains.
Personnel:
- Doug Sahm – vocals, piano, guitar
- Wayne Bennett – guitar
- Derek O’Brien – rhythm guitar
- Mel Brown – keyboards
- Reese Wynans – keyboards
- Randy Garibay Jr. – vocals
- Rocky Morales – tenor saxophone
- Mark Kazanoff – baritone saxophone
- Charlie McBurney – trumpet
- Jack Barber – bass
- George Rains – drums
- Gary Hickinbotham – engineer
- Clifford Antone – executive producer
Track listing:
- I Won’t Cry – Dorothy La Bostrie, Joe Ruffino
- Money Over Love – Doug Sahm
- Crazy Baby – Lawrence Rodriguez, Bryan Thomas
- You’re Mine Tonight – Huey P. Meaux
- Hey Little Girl – Doug Sahm
- It Hurts to Love Somebody – Guitar Slim
- Buzz Buzz Buzz – Robert Byrd, John Gray
- My Dearest Darling – Eddie Bocage, Paul Gayton
- She Put the Hurt on Me – Otis Redding
- What’s Your Name – Claude Johnston
- Golly Gee – Doug Sahm
- I Don’t Believe – Don Robey
- The Chicken and the Bop – Lloyd Price
- Talk to Me – John Seneca
- Goodnight My Love – John Marascalco, George Motola
Glen Campbell: Wichita Lineman

On November 4, 1968, “Capitol” label released “Wichita Lineman”, the eleventh Glen Campbell album. It was recorded in 1958, at “Capitol Studios” in Hollywood., and was produced by Al De Lory.
Personnel:
- Glen Campbell – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
- Al Casey – acoustic guitar
- Dennis McCarthy – piano
- Jimmy Webb – organ
- Carol Kaye – bass guitar
- Joe Osborn – bass guitar
- Ray Pohlman – bass guitar
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Bob Felts – drums
- Jim Gordon – drums
- Al De Lory – arrangements
Track listing:
- Wichita Lineman – Jimmy Webb
- (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding, Steve Cropper
- If You Go Away – Jacques Brel, Rod McKuen
- Ann – Billy Edd Wheeler
- Words – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- Fate of Man – Glen Campbell
- Dreams of the Everyday Housewife – Chris Gantry
- The Straight Life – Sonny Curtis
- Reason to Believe – Tim Hardin
- You Better Sit Down Kids – Sonny Bono
- That’s Not Home – Billy Graham
Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen

In August 1970, “A&M” label released “Mad Dogs & Englishmen”, the third Joe Cocker album. It was recorded in March 1970, at “Filmore East” in New York City, and was produced by Denny Cordell and Leon Russell. In 2021, “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Personnel:
- Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Donna Weiss, Donna Washburn, Claudia Lennear, Denny Cordell, Daniel Moore, Pamela Polland, Matthew Moore, Nicole Barclay, Bobby Jones – vocals
- Leon Russell – vocals, lead guitar, piano, backing vocals, arrangements
- Don Preston – vocals, guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Stainton – organ, piano
- Carl Radle – bass guitar
- Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Chuck Blackwell – drums
- Chuck Blackwell, Sandy Konikoff, Bobby Torres – percussion
- Jim Horn, Bobby Keys – saxophone
- Jim Price – trumpet
- Chris Stainton – arrangements
- Edwin Kramer – engineer
- Craig Braun – design concept
- Ron Wolin – illustration
- Tom Wilkes – design
- Jim McCrary – cover photography
- Cosmina Andee Cohen, Linda Wolf – tour photographer
Track listing:
- Introduction
- Honky Tonk Women – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
- Introduction
- Sticks and Stones – Titus Turner, Henry Glover
- Cry Me a River – Arthur Hamilton
- Bird on the Wire – Leonard Cohen
- Feelin’ Alright – Dave Mason
- Superstar – Leon Russell, Delaney Bramlett
- Introduction
- Let’s Go Get Stoned – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Josephine Armstead
- Blue Medley
- Till Drown in My Own Tears – Henry Glover
- When Something Is Wrong with My Baby – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Otis Redding, Jerry Butler
- Introduction
- Girl from the North Country – Bob Dylan
- Give Peace a Chance – Leon Russell, Bonnie Bramlett
- Introduction
- She Came in Through the Bathroom Window – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Space Captain – Matthew Moore
- The Letter – Wayne Carson Thompson
- Delta Lady – Leon Russel
Jackie Wilson And Count Basie: Manufacturers Of Soul

In June 1968, “Brunswick” label released “Manufacturers of Soul”, album by Jackie Wilson and Count Basie (the 18th Jackie Wilson album overall). It was recorded in January 1968, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Nat Tarnopol and Teddy Reig.
Personnel:
- Jackie Wilson – vocals
- Count Basie – piano
- Bobby Plater, Marshal Royal – alto saxophone
- Eric Dixon, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – tenor saxophone
- Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
- Al Aarons, Oscar Brashear, Gene Coe, Sonny Cohn – trumpet
- Richard Boone, Steve Galloway, Grover Mitchell – trombone
- Bill Hughes – bass trombone
- Freddie Green – guitar
- Uncredited – bass
- Harold Jones – drums
- Benny Carter – arrangements
- Decca Photo Studio – photography
- Hal Buksbaum – photography
- Teddy Reig – liner notes
Track listing.
- Funky Broadway – Lester Christian
- For Your Precious Love – Arthur Brooks, Richard Brooks, Jerry Butler
- In the Midnight Hour – Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett
- Ode to Billy Joe – Bobbie Gentry
- Chain Gang – Sam Cooke
- I Was Made to Love Her – Stevie Wonder, Lula Mae Hardaway, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
- Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
- I Never Loved a Woman (The Way I Love You) – Ronnie Shannon
- Respect – Otis Redding
- Even When You Cry – Quincy Jones, Alan and Marilyn Bergman
- My Girl – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
Robert Cray: Sweet Potato Pie

On May 5, 1997, “Mercury” label released “Sweet Potato Pie”, the tenth Robert Cray album. It was recorded in 1997, at “Ardent Studiios” in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Robert Cray.
Personnel:
- Robert Cray – vocals, guitar
- Jimmy Pugh – keyboards
- Karl Sevareid – bass
- Kevin Hayes – drums
- John Hampton – recording
- Skidd Mills – recording, mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by Robert Cray, except where noted.
- Nothing Against You
- Do That for Me
- Back Home
- The One in the Middle – Jimmy Pugh
- Little Birds
- Trick or Treat – Otis Redding
- Simple Things
- Jealous Minds – Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Pugh
- Not Bad for Love
- I Can’t Quit