Booker T & The MG's - The Complete Stax Singles - Vol. 2 (1968 - 1974) 2xLP - Red Vinyl

Real Gone Music (2021)

This is, of course, the companion piece to Vol. 1, which came out back in 2019.  With the release of this double LP, all of the Stax singles that were released by Booker T & The MG's have now been compiled and packaged in a way that is convenient to own and a joy to listen to.  I really wish they'd do something like this for Otis Redding.  He has a surprising number of amazing songs that didn't appear on any full lengths.

Back to The MG's, while I'm not typically a huge fan of instrumental bands, there's always just been something about these guys that enthralls me.  I'm sure it can be traced to my love of The Blues Brothers and the Stax soul sound in general, but I have no problem getting lost in these songs even without the presence of a singer guiding the way.

There's so many hits here.  "Soul Limbo," "Melting Pot" and "Time Is Tight" stand out as my favorites.  I can't really say which volume of this compilation set is better as both have so many wonderful songs.  I feel like you really can't have one without the other.  And I'm happy to have both.

 

Booker T & The MG's - The Complete Stax Singles - Vol. 1 (1962 - 1967) 2xLP - Blue Vinyl

Real Gone Music (2019)

Instrumental music isn't always my bag.  I can get down with an occasional Ventures song and I love the Minibosses, but when you try to play any of that emo Jade Tree instrumental stuff from the early 2000s, it's like NyQuil for me.  But of all of the instrumental bands in the history of recorded music, the one I like the best is Booker T & the MG's.

It doesn't hurt that Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn ended up in the Blues Brothers.  The fact that they are the backing band to most of the best songs in the history of Stax also works in their favor.  But even if you disregard all of the accolades they acquired working with others, their standalone work is still of the absolute highest caliber.  There are few bands that can sink into a groove the same way that Booket T & The MGs do.

The rhythm section of Al Jackson Jr. on drums with Lewie Steinberg or Donald Duck Dunn on Bass (Steinberg: 1962-1965/Duck: 1965-1967) lay down an unshakeable foundation.  You could almost throw anything on top of it and still end up smelling like roses.  The fact that what was added in is the incredible guitar work of Steve Cropper and the keyboard wizardry of Booker T is what makes the band stand out, even with no vocals.

I love having a nice double LP of some of their greatest songs all in one place.  The pressing sounds great and these songs just come alive when the volume is nice and loud.  The only thing that I don't love are that four of the songs are Christmas songs.  Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas music and the Booker T Christmas album is a long time favorite, but it's a little weird to be listening to the record and have a few Christmas songs pop up in the middle when it's August.  I certainly understand the desire to call something the complete singles and have it actually be complete, but if they left those 4 off the release, I wouldn't have been too bummed.

Booker T & the MG's - "Green Onions":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjBRyG8HouM

Booker T & the MG's - "Hip Hug Her":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV4Td-Me8L8&ab

Booker T & the MG's - "Boot-Leg":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM3RnmmLdMo