Booker T and the MGs

Listen/Download – Booker T and the MGs- No Matter What Shape MP3

Greetings all.

I hope the middle of the week finds you all well, embracing the post-Labor Day warmth.

Here at the Jersey Shore, I’m enjoying the sudden excess of elbow room, now that the summer invasion is over. It’s a nice feeling to be able to get a cup of coffee, or some groceries without fighting a mob to do it.

This may not men much to those of you outside of tourist traps, but the psychic weight that is lifted off when the tourists finally go home is remarkable.

That said, today’s selection is a perfect soundtrack for that ‘vacation is over but I’m still digging the warmth’ feeling.

You all know that Booker T and the MGs were giants of Memphis soul, and I’m here to remind you that their album tracks were often as groovy as their hit 45s.

Their cover of the T-Bones 1965 hit ‘No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)’ was something of a revelation when I first heard it.

You see, the original, while a very groovy instro (played by the cream of the Wrecking Crew), was based on an Alka Seltzer jingle, and not remotely like anything you’d expect the law firm of Jones, Cropper, Jackson and Dunn to lay into.

Even so, Booker and band were so skillful, locked into such a mighty groove, that they were able to take something so utterly un-soulful, and transform it into a wonderfully groovy thing.

Thanks in large part to Duck Dunn and Al Jackson’s sock soul rhythm section, Booker T’s jazzy organ and a subtly tremeloed guitar by Steve Cropper, ‘No Matter What Shape’ is turned from a sprightly, somewhat monotonous AM radio thang, into a perfect, end of summer, you wanna (but don’t hafta) dance, head nodder of the first order.

Included on the MGs 1966 ‘And Now!’ LP (which also included the two-sided R&B hit single ‘My Sweet Potato’ b/w ‘Booker Loo’), it is one of the highlights of an excellent album (the version of ‘One Mint Julep’ is one of my favorite MGs cuts).

I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you all on Friday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

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PS Head over to Iron Leg too.