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1962 studio album by Booker T. & the M.G.'s
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [1]
Green Onions is the debut album by Booker T. & the M.G.'s , released on Stax Records in October 1962. It reached number 33 on the pop album chart in the month of its release. The title single was a worldwide hit and has been covered by dozens of artists, including the Blues Brothers and Roy Buchanan (both with Steve Cropper on guitar), as well as The Ventures , Al Kooper , The Shadows , Mongo Santamaría , Deep Purple (Live and studio versions) and Count Basie .
Three previous Stax LPs – two by the Mar-Keys , one by Carla Thomas – had been issued on Atlantic Records . Green Onions was the first album released on the Stax label. It was also Stax's first charting album, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard 200 .[3] The album features only instrumental songs and features Steve Cropper playing a Fender Telecaster .[4]
The cover photo was shot by Irving Schild , who would go on to have a 52-year career as Mad Magazine 's primary photographer.[5] The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die .[6]
In 2012, the album was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, and/or aesthetically significant".[7]
Track listing [ edit ]
Side One Title Writer(s) 1. "Green Onions " Booker T. Jones , Steve Cropper , Lewie Steinberg , Al Jackson Jr. 2:53 2. "Rinky Dink " (Dave "Baby" Cortez cover) David Clowney, Paul Winley 2:41 3. "I Got a Woman " (Ray Charles cover) Ray Charles , Renald Richard3:35 4. "Mo' Onions" Jones, Cropper, Steinberg, Jackson 2:57 5. "Twist and Shout " (The Top Notes cover) Phil Medley , Bert Berns 2:13 6. "Behave Yourself" Jones, Cropper, Steinberg, Jackson 3:55 Total length: 18:14
Personnel [ edit ]
Booker T. & the M.G.s
Technical
Haig Adishian - cover design
Irving Schild - cover photography
Chart history [ edit ]
Studio albums Live albums Singles