Booker T. and the MGs

WHO: Booker T. and the MGs

WHAT: Green Onions (Boot Leg)

WHEN: 1979

LABEL: Atlantic – K10109

When sifting through the vinyl in charity shops you see a lot of the same stuff. Mrs. Mills albums (sing along piano songs popular in the sixties), The Black and White Minstrel Show records (offensive, borderline racist TV show popular in the sixties), loads of Barry Manilow records (a bloody awful crooner who was inexplicably popular in the seventies and beyond) and lots and lots of classical music records (the good people of Tyneside were definitely more cultured than people give them credit for).  The odd time you get 7” singles it’s more often than not of a similar caliber than the LP’s. But it’s worth persisting in this seemingly futile search because sometimes you come across some treasure.

I was ready to give up on one of my frequent searches through the charity shops of South Shields on a damp and drizzly afternoon. I’d already been in four of shops and found nothing of note (there is some good, cheap furniture to be got at charity shops, but that’s for a different blog). I popped into the last one on the street and started sifting through the usual tawdry selection, when I came across this. “Green Onions” by Booker T and the MGs.

THE A SIDE

Stax Records first released “Green Onions” in 1962. But this version was released in 1979 by Atlantic. They were the house band of Stax Records and were made up of Booker T. Jones (organ, piano), Lewie Stienberg (bass, replaced by Donald “Duck” Dunn in 1965), Steve Cropper (guitar) and Al Jackson Jr. (drums). They played the backing tracks for a lot of big names, including Otis Reading and Wilson Picket. This is the tune that the band is best known for and is a great funky, bluesy soul instrumental. If you listen to this tune and your feet don’t start tapping or your head doesn’t start nodding, then I have some bad news for you, I think you may be dead. Honestly, if this tune does nothing for you then you’d be better off with some Barry Manilow or Mrs. Mills.

THE B SIDE

Another great soul instrumental here, not as catchy as “Green Onions” mind you but still a toe tapper if ever I’ve heard one. Although credited, Booker T. didn’t actually play keyboard on this one; it was actually Isaac Hayes, famous for the sound track of the blaxploitation movie Shaft, especially “Theme from Shaft” (you’re damn right), and later for his role as Chef on South Park. Hayes was a songwriter and producer for Stax, and filled in for the young Booker T., when he was at university.

THE VINYL

The record is in very good condition, considering it had probably been rattling about in the charity shop for a while, and it still has its original sleeve (and a middle). No one has inscribed his or her name on the label or sleeve, which is quite rare for second hand singles. The only thing wrong with it is and a hole punched in the top right hand corner and a little bit of blue pen on the top of the sleeve. Not bad at all.

MY VERDICT

A great tune bought for just 50p (that went to charity, mate), in good condition, with a good B side and no major scratches. Quality.