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: Rolling Stone
Paul McCartney & Wings: Band On The Run
On November 30, 1973, “Apple” label released “Band on the Run”, the third Paul McCartney and Wings studio album, It was recorded August – October 1973, at “EMI” and “ARC” in Lagos, Nigeria, “AIR” and “Kingsway Recorders” in London, and was produced by Paul McCartney. In 2000, “Q” magazine placed “Band on the Run” at number 75 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”. In 2012, it was voted 418th on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.In 2013, it was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Personnel:
- Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, keyboards, drums, percussion
- Linda McCartney – harmony and backing vocals, organ, keyboards, percussion
- Denny Laine – harmony and backing vocals, co-lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
- Howie Casey – saxophone
- Ginger Baker – percussion
- Remi Kabaka – percussion
- Ian Horne, Trevor Jones – backing vocals
- 3 uncredited session musicians – saxophones
- Tony Visconti – orchestrations
- Geoff Emerick – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Paul and Linda McCartney, except where noted.
- Band on the Run
- Jet
- Bluebird
- Mrs. Vandebilt
- Let Me Roll It
- Mamunia
- No Words – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
- Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)
- Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
Linda Ronstadt: Heart Like A Wheel
On November 19, 1974, “Capitol” label released “Heart like a Wheel”, the fifth Linda Ronstadt album. It was recorded June – September 1974, at “The Sound Factory” and “Clover Recorders” in Los Angeles, “Track Recorders” in Maryland, “Record Plant” and “The Hit Factory” in New York City, “Trident Studios” and “AIR Studios” in London, and was produced by Peter Asher. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Heart like a Wheel” on number 490 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified 2x Platinum by “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Linda Ronstadt – lead and backing vocals
- Andrew Gold – acoustic and electric piano, electric rhythm guitar, tambourine, acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, drums , percussion, arrangements assistant
- Eddie Black – electric guitar
- Bob Warford – acoustic and electric guitar
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar
- JD Souther – acoustic guitar, harmony vocals
- Herb Pedersen – banjo, backing vocals
- Paul Craft – acoustic guitar
- John Starling – acoustic guitar
- Danny Pendleton – pedal steel guitar
- John Boylan – acoustic guitar
- Glenn Frey – acoustic guitar
- Kenny Edwards – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Ethridge – bass guitar
- Emory Gordy Jr. – bass guitar
- Tom Guidera – bass guitar
- Timothy B. Schmit – bass guitar
- Dennis St. John – drums
- Russ Kunkel – drums
- Lloyd Myers – drums
- Don Henley – drums
- Peter Asher – percussion, cowbell, backing vocals
- Jimmie Fadden – harmonica
- David Lindley – fiddle
- Gregory Rose – string arrangements, conductor
- David Campbell – string arrangements, viola
- Dennis Karmazyn – cello
- Richard Feves – double bass
- Clydie King – backing vocals
- Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
- Wendy Waldman – backing vocals
- Cissy Houston – backing vocals
- Joyce Nesbitt – backing vocals
- Maria Muldaur – backing vocals
- Emmylou Harris – harmony vocals
- Val Garay – engineer, mixing
- David Hassinger – engineer, mixing
- Dennis Ferrante – engineer assistant
- John Haeny – engineer assistant
- Peter Kelsey – engineer assistant
- George Massenburg – engineer assistant
- Peter Swettenham – engineer assistant
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Rod Dyer – design
- Leandro Correa – photography
- Eve Babitz – photography
Track listing:
- You’re No Good – Clint Ballard Jr.
- It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Paul Anka
- Faithless Love – JD Souther
- The Dark End of the Street – Chips Moman, Dan Peen
- Heart Like a Wheel – Anna McGarrigle
- When Will I Be Loved – Phil Everly
- Willin’ – Lowell George
- I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You) – Hank Williams
- Keep Me Blowing Away – Paul Craft
- You Can Close Your Eyes – James Taylor
Neil Young And The Crazy Horse: Ragged Glory
On September 10, 1990, “Reprise” label released “Ragged Glory”, the 20th Neil Young, album, and his sixth album with the band Crazy Horse. It was recorded in April 1990, at “Plywood Digital” in Woodside, California, and was produced by David Briggs and Neil Young. In 2019, magazine “Rolling Stone” voted “Ragged Glory” the 36th best grunge album of all time.
Personnel:
- Neil Young – vocals, guitar, mixing
- Frank “Poncho” Sampedro – vocals, guitar
- Billy Talbot – vocals, bass guitar
- Ralph Molina – vocals, drums
- Dave Collins, Andrew Vastola, Buzz Burrowes, Gary Long, Pat Stoltz, Chris Kupper, Chuck Johnson, John Nowlan, Harry Sitam – engineer
- John Hanlon – recording, engineer, mixing
- Tim Mulligan – engineer, mastering
- David Briggs – mixing
- Janet Levinson – art design
- Larry Cragg – photography
- Elliot Roberts – direction
Track listing:
All tracks by Neil Young, except where noted.
- Country Home
- White Line
- Fuckin’ Up – Neil Young, Frank “poncho” Sampedro
- Over and Over
- Love to Burn
- Farmer John – Don Harris, Dewey Terry
- Mansion on the Hill
- Days That Used to Be
- Love and Only Love
- Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)
Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel…
On June 19, 2012, “Epic” label released “The Idler Wheel…”, the fourth Fiona Apple studio album. It was recorded 2008 – 2011, at “Stanley” in Los Feliz, California, “NBB” in New York City, and was produced by Charley Drayton and Fiona Apple. in 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine placed the album at number 213 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Fiona Apple (credited as “Feedy”) – singins, field recording, loops, truck stomping, dance partner, thighs, percussion, piano, celeste, timpani, voice strings, bass keyboard
- Charley Drayton (credited as “Seedy”) – baritone vocals, voice of pain, kora, autoharartworkp, truck stomping, dance partner, percussion, Teisco guitar, guitar, bouzouki, marimba, drum set, voice strings, thighs, field recording, pillow, string harp
- Sebastian Steinberg – acoustic bass, Harmony guitar
- Maude Maggart – high harmony
- John Would – recording
- Eddison Sainsbury – recording
- Dave Way – mixing
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Dan Gerbarg – mastering
- Eric Roinestad – art direction, design
Track listing:
All tracks by Fiona Apple.
- Every Single Night
- Daredevil
- Valentine
- Jonathan
- Left Alone
- Werewolf
- Periphery
- Regret
- Anything We Want
- Hot Knife
X: Los Angeles
On April 26, 1980, “Slash” label released “Los Angeles”, the debut X studio album. It was recorded in January 1980, at “Golden Sound Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ray Manzarek. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” ranked “Los Angeles” at number 286 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. Album title track was included in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s” list of “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”.
Personnel:
- Exene – vocals
- Billy Zoom – guitar
- John Doe – lead vocals, bass
- D. J. Bonebrake – drums
- Ray Manzarek – organ, synthesizer
Track listing:
All tracks by John Doe and Exene Cervenka, except where noted.
- Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not
- Johny Hit and Run Paulene
- Soul Kitchen – John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek, Jim Morrison
- Nausea
- Sugarlight
- Los Angeles
- Sex and Dying in High Society
- The Unheard Music
- The World’s a Mess: It’s in My Kiss
Fiona Apple: When The Pawn…
On November 9, 1999, “Epic” label released “When the Pawn…”, the second Fiona Apple studio album. It was recorded 1998 – 1999, and was produced by Jon Brion. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “When the Pawn…” at number 108 on its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list.
Personnel:
- Fiona Apple – vocals, piano, synthesized bass, art concept, design
- Jon Brion – various instruments, engineer assistant, mixing
- Mike Elizondo – bass
- Greg Cohen – bass guitar
- Jonathan “Butch” Norton, Jim Keltner – drums, percussion
- Matt Chamberlain – drums, percussion
- Wendell Kelly, Jean Martinelli, John Noreyko, Paul Loredo – horns
- Mike Breaux – woodwind
- Patrick Warren – Chamberlin, Wurlitzer
- Charlie Bisharat, Eve Butler, Susan Chatman, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Peter Kent, Brian Leonard, Robert Peterson, Michele Richards, Edmund Stein, John Wittenberg – violin
- Robert Becker, Denyse Buffman, Scott Haupert, Maria Newman – viola
- Larry Corbett, Suzie Katayama – cello
- John Bainbridge – arrangements, orchestration
- Tom Banghart, Rob Brill, Greg Collins, Bryan Jackson, Steve Mixdorf, John Tyree – engineer assistant
- Rich Costey – mixing
- Eddy Scheyer – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks are written by Fiona Apple.
- On the Bound
- To Your Love
- Limp
- Love Ridden
- Paper Bag
- A Mistake
- Fastr as You Can
- The Way Things Are
- Get Gone
- I Know
Charly Garcia: Clics Modernos
On November 5, 1983, “SG Discos” and “Interdisc” label released “Clics modernos”, the second Charly García studio album. It was recorded in 1983, and was produced by Joe Blaney and Jerry Garcia. Argentine edition of “Rolling Stone” magazine, ranked “Clics modernos” at number two on its list of “The 100 Greatest Albums of Argentine Rock”.
Personnel:
- Charly García – vocals, electric guitar, keyboards, sampler, groovebox, effects, rhythm box, mixing
- Larry Carlton – guitar
- Pedro Aznar – vocals, fretless bass guitar, guitar
- Casey Scheuerell – drums, table
- Doug Norwine – saxophone
- Joe Blaney – engineer, mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Don Koldom – auxiliar engineer
- Hal Sacks – auxiliar engineer
- Uberto Sagramoso – cover photography
- Ada Moreno – inner booklet photography
- Daniel Goldberg – producer assistant
- Carlos Pirín Geniso – producer assistant
Track listing:
All tracks by Charly García.
- Nos siguen pegando abajo (Pecado Mortal)
- No soy un extraño
- Dos cero uno (Transas)
- Nuevos trapos
- Bancate ese defecto
- No me dejan salir
- Los dinosaurios
- Plateado sobre plateado (huellas en el mar)
- Ojos de video tape
My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
On November 4, 1991, “Creation” label released “Loveless”, the second My Bloody Valentine studio album. It was recorded in February 1989 – September 1991, and was produced by Kevin Shields and Col Ó Cíosóig. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Loveless” at number 73, on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Kevin Shields – vocals, guitar, bass, sampling keyboard, cover concept
- Bilinda Butcher – vocals, guitar, cover concept
- Debbie Googe – bass, cover concept
- Colm Ó Cíosóig – drums, sampling keyboard, cover concept
- Angus Cameron – photography
- Ann Marie Shields – coordination
Track listing:
All tracks are written by Kevin Shields, except where noted.
- Only Shallow – lyrics by Bilinda Butcher, music by Kevin Shields
- Loomer – lyrics by Bilinda Butcher, music by Kevin Shields
- Touched – Colm Ó Cíosóig
- To Here Knows When – lyrics by Bilinda Butcher, Kevin Shields, music by Kevin Shields
- When You Sleep
- I Only Said
- Come in Alone
- Sometimes
- Blown’s a Wish – lyrics by Bilinda Butcher, music by Kevin Shields
- What You Want
- Soon
musicalphabet 