line up 1 (1973) 

- Donald 'Duck' Dunn (RIP 2012)-- bass 

- Al Jackson Jr. (RIP 1975) -- drums, percussion

- Bobby Manuel -- lead guitar 

- Carlson Whitsett (RIP 2007) -- keyboards 

- Booker T. & the M.G.'s ( (Donald "Duck" Dunn and Al Jackson Jr.)

- The Imperial Show Band (Carlson Whitsett)

- The Mar-Keys (Donald "Duck" Dunn)

- The Memphis Blazers (Bobby Manuel)

- Tim Whitsett & the Imperials (Carlson Whitsett) 

- 

Genre: soul

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The MGs

Company: Stax

Catalog: STS-3024

Year: 1973

Country/State: Memphis, Tennessee

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still  in shrink wrap (opened)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 2520

Price: $20.00

Best time to listen to: Great Saturday afternoon on the deck with a couple of cold ones soundtrack.

Technically this wasn't a Booker T. and the M.G.'s album which is why I set this up as a standalone entry.   

By 1973 Booker T. and the M.G.s were history.  Unhappy with Stax's business affairs, namesake Booker T. Jones was no longer with the label.  Guitarist Steve Dunn had moved on to a solo career and production work.  The remaining two M.G.s, bassist Donald 'Duck' Dunn and drummer Al Jackson were still on the Stax payroll, working as sessions players and producers.

In 1973 Dunn guitarist Bobby Manuel and keyboardist Carson Whitsett were working on sessions for Stax singer Stefan Anderson.  During the sessions drummer Jackson was brought in on the project, leading the two to original MGs to reunite with Manual taking Steve Dunn's place and Whisett replacing Booker T. Jones.

The quartet subsequently went into the studio recording 1973's self-produced "The MGs".  In spite of the updated personnel roster, musically the album wasn't a major departure from the patented Booker T. & the M.G.'s sound.   Not quite as "cutting edge" as the group's final studio LP (1971's "Melting Pot"), but to my ears the return to a more classical soul sound was actually a good thing.   With all four members collaborating on writing chores, tracks like the breezy 'Sugar Cane', 'Leaving the Past' and 'Left Overs' recalled the classic Booker T. & the M.G.'s sound.   To my ears Whitsett's Hammond B3 sounded very similar to Jones, while Manual served as a more than capable replacement for Crooper. Admittedly it wasn't a major improvement on the classic Booker T. sound, but if you were a fan, then this was probably an album you'd want for your collection.   (Interesting how many folks have never heard of the release.)

"MGs" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Sugar Cane (instrumental)   (David Madden) - 3:08   rating: **** stars

'Sugar Cane' found Whitsett effortlessly recreating Jones' Hammond B3 moves.  A breezy, summer-friendly ballad, the tune was a a perfect slow dance track and has always reminded me of something The Rascals might have recorded during their prime.  Stax tapped it as the leadoff single:

- 1973's 'Sugar Cane' b/w 'Blackside' (Stax catalog number STA 0169)

2.) Neckbone (instrumental)  (Donald "Duck" Dunn - Al Jackson - Bobby Manuel - Carlson Whitsett) 3:26   rating: *** stars

With the focus on Whitsell's keyboards, the instrumental 'Neckbone' shifted towards a bluesier sound.  Subliminally funky !!!  It was released as the album's second single.

-1973's 'Neckbone' b/w 'Breezy' (Stax catalog number STA-0200)

3.) Spare Change (instrumental)  (Donald "Duck" Dunn - Al Jackson - Bobby Manuel - Carlson Whitsett) - 3:52   rating: *** stars

Another tune showcasing the band's bluesier moves.   

4.) Leaving the Past (instrumental)  (Donald "Duck" Dunn - Al Jackson - Bobby Manuel - Carlson Whitsett) - 7:42   rating: **** stars

Perhaps the title was intended as a statement of fact.  'Leaving the Past' shifted the attention to guitarist Manuel who turned in some lovely acoustic and electric guitar sections.  This one's always reminded me of some of Jan Akkerman's solo work.

(side 2)

1.) Left Overs (Bucarmaga)  (instrumental) (T. Luz - A. Sainz - A. Serrano) - 2:52   rating: **** stars

One of three non-originals on the album, ironically 'Left Overs (Bucarmaga)' was the song that sounded the most life classic Booker T. & the M.G.'s.  The comparison was largely the result of Dunn's fabulous bass lines and Manuel's Cropper-styled lead guitar.  Great tune.   The tune was tapped as a French single:

- 1973's 'Left Overs' b/w 'Neckbone' (Stax catalog number 2025 226)

2.) Blackside (instrumental) (Donald "Duck" Dunn - Al Jackson - Bobby Manuel - Carlson Whitsett) - 3:59   rating: **** stars

'Blackside' was the album's most melodic performance.  Lovely Whitsett-powered melody.   

3.) One of a Kind (Love Affair) (instrumental)   (Joe Jefferson) - 3:52   rating:** stars

Perhaps because I grew up with The Spinners' hit version, their cover of 'One of a Kind (Love Affair)' struck me as coming off kind of MOR-ish.   Nice track to hear what an incredible drummer Jackson was.  Great tune though.  

4.) Frustration (instrumental)   (Donald "Duck" Dunn - Al Jackson - Bobby Manuel - Carlson Whitsett) - 6:30   rating: **** stars

With a slight jazz-lilt, 'Frustration' opened up sounding like something off a Steely Dan album.  As the tune began to pick up speed, it shed the jazz influences, returning to a more distinctive Stax-styled soul feeling.   One of the album highlights.

This is another one of those groups with a high mortality rate.

While on tour in Japan with Steve Crooper, Dunn died in his sleep in May 2012

Jackson was shot and killed in a June 1975 robbery of his Memphis home.

Whitsett died of brain cancer in  May 2007.