Booker T. Jones: The Road From Memphis

Originally posted May 16, 2011.

Booker T. Jones is my #1 all-time R&B artist. I own every one of his 45s, including the ultra-rare “Green Onions” on Volt. If you are not familiar with Booker T. & the M.G.’s, you can go to my R&B Juke Box Top 100 for some great samples. Booker T. & the M.G.’s is #9 & #40 on my list. Two little known and rare CDs include Booker T. & the M.G.’s/The Mar-Keys Stax Instrumentals and Soul Men. The Stax Profile Series offers a 15-cut CD with the band’s best cuts, including “Chinese Checkers.” On the vinyl front, you want to turn to Sundazed Music of Coxsackie, NY. Sundazed offers a great series of a 180-gram premium vinyl pressings, including “Green Onions,” “Hip-Hugger,” “And now,” and “Soul Dressing.”

Here’s a great write-up and interview in the Wall Street Journal this week regarding the release of the Booker’s new CD, “The Road From Memphis.”

Warm Regards,
Dick Young

Booker T. Jones: A Son of Memphis Salutes His City -WSJ
“Late-night television owes Booker T. Jones a debt of gratitude. Better known as Booker T. of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Mr. Jones is the father of the rock-soul organ. His swaggering riffs in the 1960s inspired the keyboard sound now ubiquitous on shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Surprisingly soft-spoken, Mr. Jones has just released “The Road From Memphis,” a rousing, funky CD that looks back at his life’s emotional high points. On the album, he’s backed by The Roots—the “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” house band.“
Read the full article here.