SATURDAY'S SINGLES : BOOKER T & THE M.G.'S and ELVIN BISHOP

[maggot]

Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles, a Birthday edition. First up on our calendar of cake is Missouri born guitarist, songwriter and record producer,  Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, best known for his work in the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Happy 82nd Birthday Steve ! With him in mind, we spotlight their song, "Hang 'Em High". The tune was written by Dominic Frontiere for the soundtrack of the film, Hang 'Em High, and covered by Hugo Montenegro first, but the M.G.'s version reached #98 in Australia, #35 on the Billboard R&B charts, #13 in Canada, and #9 on the Hot 100. It was released October 1968, on the Stax label of course and hails from their 7th studio album, Soul Limbo. It's flip side is "Over Easy", from the same LP. Both of these tracks are instrumentals. 

Booker T. & the M.G.s

Booker T. Jones - Hammond organ, clavinet, piano, guitar
Steve Cropper - guitar
Donald Dunn - bass guitar
Al Jackson Jr. - drums, percussion

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A year later, California native, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter, Elvin Bishop is born and today he and we celebrate his 81st Birthday. Happy Birthday Elvin ! To get his party started the right way, we find ourselves spinning the title track to his 6th studio album, Struttin' My Stuff. The song was released in 1975 on the Capricorn label and produced by Bill Szymczyk and  Allan Blazek. It peaked at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100, and features the track, "Over Easy" as it's B-side. 

Bass Guitar – Michael "Fly" Brooks*
Co-producer – Bill Szymczyk
Co-producer, Engineer – Allan Blazek

Drums, Congas, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Don Baldwin*
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Slide Guitar, Backing Vocals – Johnny "V" Vernazza*
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Mickey Thomas
Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Slide Guitar – Elvin Bishop
Mastered By, Engineer [Assistant] – Alex Sadkin

Piano, Clavinet – Philip Aaberg
Piano, Organ – Mike Keck
Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Bill Slais
Tenor Saxophone – Terry Hanck

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