Steve Cropper, Fire It Up Review

Steve Cropper was born in Dora, Missouri, in 1941 and moved to Memphis at the age of ten. Growing-up in Memphis with school fellow Donald Dunn, he was already playing with the Mar-Keys when Last Night was recorded. Cropper did quite everything at Stax from selling records at the Satellite Record Shop, developing his recording techniques, playing the guitar and sometimes piano on most Stax records, and composing the music for countless hits such as “In The Midnight Hour,” “Knock On Wood,” “The Dock Of The Bay,” “Soul Man” and so on. After he departed from Stax in the early 70s, he created various independent studios and production companies. Today, he manages Insomnia Studios in Nashville and is also a well-known member of the Blues Brothers Band. For over four decades now, Steve Cropper has literally defined the art of R&B guitar. Booker T. and the MGs, the Memphis-based band, consisting of Cropper, Booker T. Jones on organ, Al Jackson on drums, and Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass was the rhythm section for almost every hit to come out of the Memphis Stax/Volt Records era. Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and many others had hits driven by the heavy groove of this band. Cropper continues to be a driving force in the music scene today, producing and playing with almost every kind of significant act conceivable. Cropper’s tone has a metallic ferocity, yet his playing is always sparse and pervaded with a feeling of suspense. He is now releasing his album called Fire It Up.
[section label=”Bottom Line”]Bottom Line:  Fire It Up is Steve Cropper’s first album of new Soul/R&B material in 10 years. The album was produced by Steve and Jon Tiven. Joined by Roger C. Reale, vocals; Jon Tiven, bass, keyboards, saxophones, background vocals, harmonica; and Nioshi Jackson, drums, Cropper takes us through thirteen new tracks that will get ya movin’ in that old school manner. There are three versions of the instrumental song “Bush Hog,” each gives a deep study of Cropper’s tone, style, and spanky guitar playing. The rest of the tracks are filled with singing through a mainly mid-tempo groove that focuses on blues, and R&B. Cropper’s playing in this style is legendary; his guitar tone is instantly identifiable and sets the mood for each track. “Fire It Up” keeps a funky guitar part propelling with catchy guitar fills. Cropper’s solo is based around a smooth chordal figure. The harmonica also adds a nice color. “Far Away” has tasty horn parts and meaningful lyrics. With vocal harmonies, boogie piano parts, Crooper’s soulful guitar fills, and solo, this will be one to check out while previewing the tracks. “Heartbreak Street” keeps the vibe going similarly. Cropper is a guitar hero’s hero because when you ask the actual guitar heroes—like Brian May, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton—who THEIR Guitar Heroes are, Steve Cropper is definitely on the shortlist. As a result, Fire It Up  has the material that defines why he is a Guitarist’s Guitarist and a Songwriter’s Songwriter. That’s the short of it!

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