Steve Cropper “Far Away” – Listen

Steve “The Colonel” Cropper – the Stax legend, the distinctive guitarist of Booker T & The MGs and The Mar-keys, who crafted his guitar style onto two solo albums by Frank Black – and who also played on John Lennon’s ‘Rock N Roll’ album, has a new album of his own poised for release.  Coming out on April 23rd on Provogue, ‘Fire It Up’  see’s the masterful musician making what he regards as his first solo album since the 1960’s.  A bold claim for those who possess Steve’s 1981 MCA album ‘Playin’ my Thang‘ – but the point here is that Steve has stepped back from the vocals.  As he explains: “this album is different from everything out there now, I haven’t heard myself this way since the 60s,” adding that he see’s his role as “a rhythm player, I set the groove. I’m always listening to the singer and the rest of band.”

All this is to the fore on the single ‘Far Away‘ which preceded the full album.  Sit back and listen to those distinctive licks, a sound that’s pure Cropper.