Not many people start new bands in their 80s, but legendary guitarist, producer, and songwriter Steve Cropper isn’t slowing down any time soon. The triple-threat musician was recently nominated for his first solo Grammy for the debut from his tight and tuneful rock n’ soul quintet, STEVE CROPPER & THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
Cropper has wasted no time in following up this success with this new, sophomore album, “Friendly Town“. Always pushing ahead and never repeating himself, Cropper has brought in the talents of Billy F Gibbons from ZZ Top to play on the entire record.
Also stopping by ‘Friendlytown’ is Queen guitarist extraordinaire Brian May, and singer-songwriter / guitarist Tim Montana who has balanced a successful solo career with high-profile collaborations with Gibbons and Kid Rock.
This is dynamic, fun rocking blues classic rock stuff. Check out “Too Much Stress” featuring Brian May as example. This groovy midtempo number features a trifecta of the baddest rock guitar players. May also sings the duet vocal together with the band’s lead singer Roger C. Reale, while May and Gibbons trade back-to-back solos. The Queen’s axeman’s trademark snarling tone and lyrical licks perfectly complement Gibbons’ searing blues-based style, with Cropper holding it all down with some signature slinky rhythm guitar work.
“Friendly Town” is a glorious masterclass of Blues-rock brilliance, subtle moods, shifting musical hues, we could honestly never tire of listening to it…
Steve ‘The Colonel’ Cropper = complete and utter legend. End of.
You honestly don’t know who he is? Okay… He is the guitarist of the Stax Records House Band, Booker T. & The M.G’s. Still unsure? The aforementioned band were the backing band for Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. He played on ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay’, ‘In The Midnight Hour’, ‘Soul Man’, ‘Knock On Wood’, and ‘Green Onions’.
You’re still not sure? He was guitarist (alongside Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy) for The Blues Brothers Band. The guy is musical Royalty – he’s also ranked as Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 greatest guitarists of all time – at number 36!
Mojo magazine called him “The Greatest Living Guitarist”. Steve has been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame, and he’s also been a recording and touring member of Neil Young’s touring band.
He’s also been a record producer for many of these artists and he’s won two Grammy Awards – while being nominated for no less than seven. For Southern Rock fans, he’s also played with the mighty Alabama.
See? Finally, at the age of 82, he is still recording quality music. So, the bottom line is very easy, he’s unarguably and indisputably a true bloody legend.
So, for this truly excellent album, Steve has got Billy ‘ZZ Top’ Gibbons in as part of his band. He’s also roped in Tim ‘Shrednecks’ Montana and Queen’s Brian May as guests, so you know that this is going to be something very special … and yes, it does not disappoint.
Joining Steve for this sophomore album are his co-producer and bass guitarist Jon Tiven (Wilson Pickett, Frank Black), drummer / percussionist Nioshi Jackson, vocalist Roger C. Reale, and (of course) the Reverend Billy F Gibbons. The album was engineered by Eddie Gore (Aaron Goodvin/Keb Mo/Jonathan Singleton), who also plays organ on the record.
It is an absolute Who’s Who of stellar musicians therefore.
One of the great joys on this album for me, is hearing Steve and Billy trading riffs, both are masters of understatement, so their playing, despite both being different to the other, is wonderfully complimentary.
In many respects, you might call this a ‘lazy afternoon’ or ‘chilled evening’ kind of album, it’s something to sink into, to luxuriate in, you don’t want to rush it or listen while rushing around, otherwise you’ll miss the lilting nuances, and end up only half appreciating its brilliance.
From the second the title track kicks in, the quality is undeniable, you instantly recognise Billy’s tone, and the pumping brass adds a ‘bump ‘n’ grind’ groove.
‘Too Much Stress’ features Brian May, a man who has proved his blues credentials many years ago with the ‘Blues Breaker’ and ‘Let Me Go’ tracks on his “Starfleet Project” EP – here he also shares vocals, and does an admirable job.
‘Hurry Up Sundown’ is a foot-stamper of a number, with more cool brass, and some nifty piano work to boot.
‘Let’s Get Started’ is more laid back, featuring some tasty Hammond organ, and some patented picking courtesy of Mr Cropper, while ‘Talkin’ Bout Politics’ is a surly sounding, foot-sure track with a very pointed lyric about said subject.
Next up is the slow and smokin’ shuffle that is ‘I’ll Take Tomorrow’, this is a truly classic blues number, with a wonderfully impassioned vocal. ‘Lay It Down’ is an interesting track, it could almost have been written and recorded by Atlanta Rhythm Section, and really is an absolute gem.
‘You Can’t Refuse’ is another smoky ‘n’ groovy lil thang … very ZZ Top, and fittingly featuring some patented Billy Gibbons fretboard tastiness, this time with Tim Montana adding his own wonderful fretwork to proceedings too. ‘Rain On My Parade’ is a more laidback and lilting thing, again with some lovely Hammond organ and cool brass work.
‘There’s Always A Catch’ could have appeared on either of The Blues Brothers films (or their albums for that matter – you can almost imagine Jake and Elwood singing it. ‘In God We Trust’ is the second song that could have appeared on any of their albums, the band being on a mission here …
‘Reality Check’ is more of a romp, it’s an up-tempo groover, and sees the band in fabulous form – it’s the sort of thing that Jools Holland would revel in guesting on – in his TV show.
The album closes with the laconic ‘I Leave You In Peace’, a slow and smouldering number that could not be a more perfect coda, yet again Billy G delivers some sultry fretwork, which is just delightful
We cannot commend ‘Friendlytown’ to you highly enough, it’s everything that is good and great about music, brought to you by people who live and breathe the Blues / Rock. This will easily be one of the best Classic Rock albums of 2024.
Highly Recommended
01.Friendlytown
02.Too Much Stress
03.Hurry Up Sundown
04.Let’s Get Started
05.Talkin’ Bout Politics
06.I’ll Take Tomorrow
07.Lay It On Down
08.You Can’t Refuse
09.Rain On My Parade
10.There’s Always A Catch
11.In God We Trust
12.Reality Check
13.I Leave You In Peace
Steve Cropper – Friendlytown 2024
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