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: Richie Furay
Poco: Deliverin’
On January 13, 1971, “Epic” label released “Deliverin’”, the first live and the third Poco album overall. It was recorded in September 1970, at “Boston Music Hall” in Boston, Felt Forum” in New Yok City, and was produced by Jim Messina.
Personnel:
- Jim Messina — vocals, acoustic and electric lead guitar
- Richie Furay — vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitar
- Rusty Young — vocals, steel guitar, dobro
- Timothy B. Schmit — vocals, bass
- George Grantham — vocals, drums
- Jim Reeves – recording
- Pete Fornatale – liner notes
Track listing:
- I Guess You Made It – Richie Furay
- C’mon – Richie Furay
- Hear That Music – Timothy B. Schmit
- Kind Woman – Richie Furay
- Medley: Hard Luck / Child’s Claim To Fame / Pickin Up The Pieces – Richie Furay, Timothy B. Schmit
- You’d Better Think Twice – Jim Messina
- A Man Like Me – Richie Furay
- Medley: Just in Case It Happens, Yes Indeed / Grand Junction / Consequently So Long – Richie Furay, Rusty Young, Skip Goodwin
Poco: From The Inside
On September 5, 1971, “Epic” label released “From the Inside”, the third Poco studio album. It was recorded in May 1971, at “Trans Maximus Inc. Recording Studios” in Memphis, Tennessee, “Columbia Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Steve Cropper.
Personnel:
- Richie Furay – vocals, acoustic and rhythm electric guitar
- Paul Cotton – vocals, acoustic and lead electric guitar
- Rusty Young – vocals, pedal steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro
- Timothy B. Schmit – vocals, bass guitar
- George Grantham – vocals, drums
- Jay Spell – piano
- Charlie Bragg, Lacy O’Neal, Roy Segal – recording
- Kathy Johnson – front cover assemblage
Track listing:
- Hoe Down – Richie Furay, Rusty Young
- Bad Weather – Paul Cotton
- What Am I Gonna Do – Richie Furay
- You Are the One – Richie Furay
- Railroad Days – Paul Cotton
- From the Inside – Timothy B. Schmit
- Do You Feel It Too – Richie Furay
- Ol’ Forgiver – Paul Cotton
- What If I Should Say I Love You – Richie Furay
- Just for Me and You – Richie Furay
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: All the Good Times
In January 1972, “United Artists” label released “All the Good Times”, the sixth Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (The) album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by William E. McEuen.
Personnel:
- Jeff Hanna – vocals, arranger, arranger
- Jimmie Fadden – vocals, guitar, harmonica, drums, arranger
- John McEuen – vocals, guitar, steel guitar, arranger
- Les Thompson – vocals, bass, guitar, arranger
- Jim Ibbotson – vocals, drums, guitar, keyboards
- Randy Scruggs – acoustic guitar
- Norman Blake – dobro
- Ellis Padgett – acoustic bass
Track listing:
- Sixteen Tracks – Jeff Hanna, Jim Ibbotson
- Fish Song – Jimmie Fadden
- Jambalaya (On the Bayou) – Hank Williams
- Down in Texas – Eddie Hinton
- Creepin’ Round Your Back Door – Jimmie Fadden
- Daisy – Jim Ibbotson
- Slim Carter – Kenny O’Dell
- Hoping to Say – David Hanna
- Baltimore – Jim Ibbotson
- Jamaica Say You Will – Jackson Browne
- Do You Feel It Too – Richie Furay
- Civil War Trilogy – Walter McEuen
- Diggy Liggy Lo – J.D. Miller
Buffalo Springfield: Last Time Around
On July 30, 1968, “Atco” label released “Last Time Around”, the third and final Buffalo Springfield studio album. It was recorded February 1967 – April 1968, at “Sunset Sound” in Los Angeles,”Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Jim Messina.
Personnel:
- Richie Furay– vocals, guitar
- Dewey Martin- drums
- Jim Messina– vocals, bass
- Stephen Stills– lead and background vocals, guitar, piano, B3 organ, bass, clavinet, vibes, percussion, handclaps
- Neil Young– lead and background vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
- Bruce Palmer– bass
- Jim Fielder– bass
- Buddy Miles– drums
- Jimmy Karstein – drums
- Gary Marker: bass
- Jeremy Stuart – harpsichord, calliope, bells
- Rusty Young- pedal steel guitar
- Richard Davis– bass
- Adrian Barber, Phil Iehle, Jim Messina – engineer
Track listing:
- On the Way Home – Neil Young
- It’s So Hard to Wait – Richie Furay, Neil Young
- Pretty Girl Why – Stephen Stills
- Four Days Gone – Stephen Stills
- Carefree Country Day – Jim Messina
- Special Care – Stephen Stills
- The Hour of Not Quite Rain – Callen, Richie Furay
- Questions – Stephen Stills
- I Am a Child – Neil Young
- Merry-Go-Round – Richie Furay
- Uno Mundo – Stephen Stills
- Kind Woman – Richie Furay
Michael Stanley: Friends and Legends
In November 1973, “MCA” label released “Friends and Legends”, the second Michael Stanley album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Applewood Studios” in Golden, Colorado, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk.
Personnel:
- Michael Stanley- lead vocals, guitars
- Joe Walsh- lead guitars, synthesizer
- Jon Bendis – acoustic guitar
- Al Perkins- pedal steel guitar
- Paul Harris- piano, organ, clavinette
- Kenny Passarelli- bass
- Joe Vitale- drums, flute, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Joe Lala- congas, timbales, percussion
- Bill Szymczyk- percussion
- David Sanborn- alto saxophone
- Tasha Thomas – backing vocals
- Lani Groves – backing vocals
- Carla Hall – backing vocals
- Richie Furay- backing vocals
- Dan Fogelberg- backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Michael Stanley; except where noted.
- Among My Friends Again
- Help! – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Yours for a Song
- Let’s Get the Show on the Road
- Just Keep Playing Your Radio
- Roll On
- Bad Habits
- Funky Is the Drummer – Michael Stanley, Joe Walsh, Paul Harris, Joe Vitale, Kenny Passarelli, Bigby, Lawson
- Poets’ Day
Poco: Crazy Eyes
On September 15, 1973, “Epic” label released “Crazy Eyes”, the fifth Poco studio album. It was recorded in May 1973, and was produced by Jack Richardson.
Personnel:
- Paul Cotton – vocals, guitar
- Richie Furay – vocals, guitar
- Rusty Young- steel guitar, guitar, banjo, slide guitar
- Timothy B. Schmit – vocals, bass
- George Grantham – vocals, drums
- Joe Lala– percussion
- Chris Hillman– mandolin
- Paul Harris– piano
- Bob Ezrin– piano
- Bill Graham– violin
- Brian Christian, Dennis Smith – recording
Track listing:
- Blue Water – Paul Cotton
- Fools Gold – Rusty Young
- Here We Go Again – Timothy B. Schmit
- Brass Buttons – Gram Parsons
- A Right Along – Paul Cotton
- Crazy Eyes – Richie Furay
- Magnolia – J. Ј. Cale
- Let’s Dance Tonight – Richie Furay
Buffalo Springfield: Same
On December 5, 1966, “Atco” label released the self-titled, debut Buffalo Springfield album. It was recorded July – September 1966, at “Gold Star Studios” in Los Angeles, and “Columbia Recording Studio” in Hollywood, and was produced by Charles Greene and Brian Stone.
Personnel:
- Richie Furay – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Stephen Stills – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, keyboards
- Neil Young – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, harmonica, piano
- Bruce Palmer- bass guitar
- Dewey Martin – drums, backing vocals
- Tom May, Doc Siegel, James Hilton, Stan Ross – engineer
- Buffalo Springfield, Charles Greene, Brian Stone – mixing
- Sandy Dvore – design
- Henry Diltz, Ivan Nagy – photography
Track listing:
- Go and Say Goodbye – Stephen Stills
- Sit Down, I Think I Love You – Stephen Stills
- Leave – Stephen Stills
- Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing – Neil Young
- Hot Dusty Roads – Stephen Stills
- Everybody’s Wrong – Stephen Stills
- Flying on the Ground Is Wrong – Neil Young
- Burned – Neil Young
- Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It – Neil Young
- Baby Don’t Scold Me – Stephen Stills
- Out of My Mind – Neil Young
- Pay the Price – Stephen Stills
Poco: Pickin’ Up The Pieces
On May 19, 1969, “Epic” label released “Pickin’ Up the Pieces”, the debut Poco album. It was recorded in January 1969, and was produced by Jim Messina.
Personnel:
- Jim Messina- lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric 6-string guitars
- Richie Furay- lead and backing vocals, 12-string guitar
- Rusty Young- steel guitar, banjo, dobro, guitar, piano
- Randy Meisner- bass guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- George Grantham- lead and backing vocals, drums
- Bobby Doyle- piano
- Milt Holland– percussion
- Nick DeCaro – arrangements
- Terry Donovan – recording
- Frank Bez – photography
Track listing:
- Foreword – Kathy Johnson, Richie Furay
- What a Day – Richie Furay
- Nobody’s Fool – Richie Furay
- Calico Lady – Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Skip Goodwin
- First Love – Richie Furay
- Make Me a Smile – Richie Furay, Jim Messina
- Short Changed – Richie Furay
- Pickin’ Up the Pieces – Richie Furay
- Grand Junction – Rusty Young
- Oh Yeah – Richie Furay, Jim Messina
- Just in Case It Happens, Yes Indeed – Richie Furay
- Tomorrow – Richie Furay, Skip Goodwin
- Consequently, So Long- Richie Furay, Skip Goodwin
Buffalo Springfield: Buffalo Springfield Again
On October 30, 1967, “Atco” label released “Buffalo Springfield Again” the second Buffalo Springfield album. It was recorded July – September 1967, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Jack Nitzsche, Stephen Stills and Neil Young.
Personnel:
- Stephen Stills – vocals, organ, lead and rhythm guitar, piano, keyboard
- Neil Young – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
- Richie Furay – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Bruce Palmer – bass
- Dewey Martin – vocals, drums
- Chris Sarns – guitar
- Doug Hastings – guitar
- Russ Titelman– guitar
- James Burton – dobro, guitar
- Charlie Chin – banjo
- Jack Nitzsche- electric piano
- Don Randi – piano, harpsichord
- Jim Fielder– bass
- Carol Kaye– bass
- Harvey Newmark – bass
- Bobby West – bass
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Jim Gordon– drums
- Norris Badeaux – baritone saxophone
- Jim Horn– clarinet
- Merry Clayton– vocal
- Brenda Holloway – vocal
- Patrice Holloway – vocal
- Shirley Matthews – vocal
- Gracia Nitzsche – vocal
- Gloria Jones – vocal
- David Crosby- backing vocal
- Loring Eutemey – design
- Eve Babitz – illustrations
Track listing:
- Soul – Neil Young
- A Child’s Claim to Fame – Richie Furay
- Everydays – Stephen Stills
- Expecting to Fly – Neil Young
- Bluebird – Stephen Stills
- Hung Upside Down – Stephen Stills
- Sad Memory – Richie Furay
- Good Time Boy – Richie Furay
- Rock & Roll Woman – Stephen Stills
- Broken Arrow – Neil Young
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