32. Booker T. & The M.G.’s — Green Onions (1962)

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1. I was amped when this popped up next on the list. “Green Onions” is a legit all-timer, a jam the likes of which has rarely be replicated since. It’s insane to me that this song came out in 1962 and not, like, 1975. It’s a natural progression pushing Jimmy Smith’s electric organ jazz sound toward rock music; forward-thinking, groovy. It’s just fantastic.
2. The rest of the album, however? A bit of a let-down! Nearly every track on this record is a cover (I am very excited to reach the point where artists write their own songs, or at least perform originals whether they’re the writer or not). And all covers of tunes that were clearly written with vocals in mind, many of them famous (Twist & Shout, I Got A Woman), where the vocals are replaced by the organ. Look, I love the organ when used appropriately. But here, it sounds like I’m at a baseball game. It’s not ideal.
3. Is it Booker T’s fault that the sporting world clearly dug their sound and adopted it? Not really. Is it fair to judge this album on those merits? I don’t know. What I do know is this: there are only two originals on this record — “Green Onions,” and its follow up “Mo Onions” — and they’re clearly, emphatically superior to anything else. Booker T had a great sound going here. I wish he’d offered a bit more of it.
4. I should really emphasize again how great “Green Onions” is. It’s really, really great. It has also been adopted by the live sporting world, but unlike the cover songs, when I hear it I just hear a great jam.
5. You can also hear how this sound likely influenced other instrumental bands like the Allman Brothers, or other chilled out rock acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd or ZZ Top. Notably, these are also sports stadium acts. But they owe their debts to “Green Onions,” and if you’ll excuse me now, I’m going back to listen to it again.

One Essential Song: “Lonely Avenue.” Just kidding.

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