Review: Steve Cropper & the Midnight Hour ‘Friendlytown’
By Hal Horowitz
Few music lovers would quibble with the description of Steve Cropper as a “living legend.” There aren’t many guitarists still active that fit that bill.
But Cropper, now 82, whose stunning resume is far too long to elaborate on here, isn’t sitting around gloating about his past accomplishments. A few of those include being an integral member of the iconic Stax house band Booker T. and the MGs, co-writing timeless hits for Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett among many others, producing and/or playing with a long list of legendary artists such as Jeff Beck, Neil Young, Elton John and loads more. Oh, and he was ranked #2 (behind Jimi Hendrix) in Mojo magazine’s list of greatest guitarists of all time.
But Cropper has done most of his work as either part of a band or in support of others, exemplified by being a key component with the Blues Brothers group. Still, over the decades he has released a handful of albums under his own name (the first was in 1969). The most recent was 2021s well received, Grammy nominated Fire It Up, a COVID-era recording patched together by Cropper and producer Jon Tiven from existing jams the players then overdubbed parts on remotely.
For its follow-up, he and Tiven invited ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, brought in singer Roger C. Reale (Cropper is not a vocalist) along with top-shelf studio players for bass, drums and keyboards. The resulting 13 originals on Friendlytown (released August 23) are co-penned by Cropper and Tiven with others, specifically for this project.
Even though his name is stamped on the front cover, Cropper doesn’t hog the spotlight. His playing on those classic Stax hits was in a supportive role, unleashing brief but crackling leads that often defined the songs. Refer to the opening of Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man” for an example of Cropper at his finest as he lays into a rhythmic solo before dropping back to support the fiery vocals.
That’s Cropper’s M.O. and it’s evident on these songs. On the opening title track he’s even credited with “riff guitar,” letting Gibbons take the tougher rhythm part on a sturdy, mid-tempo soulful swamper inspired by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It’s the blueprint for the remaining dozen tunes.
Cropper creates a solid groove, singer Reale toughs out a combination of organic rockers and ballads with a sturdy, R&B influenced voice similar to that of John Hiatt. The songs never overstay their welcome yet ride a vibe as in the nasty thumping “You Can’t Refuse” (guest drummer Simon Kirke from Free and Bad Company almost steals the show) and “Hurry Up Sundown,” another bite of Bo Diddley’s bump-bump-de-bump-bump beat. The combination of Gibbons and Cropper duking it out with taut solos on the latter is one of the set’s highlights.
Brian May swings in to provide rare vocals and some lead guitar on the Motown-ish “Too Much Stress,” (“Life is coming at me at 100 miles an hour” he complains) and Cropper gets political on the self-explanatory Stones-inflected rocker “Talkin’ Bout Politics” (“You can’t be trusted with anything you speak…Liars, crooks and clowns”).
While nothing approaches the magnificence of “The Dock of the Bay” (Cropper’s most illustrious co-write), and some of the lyrics fall on the clunky side, there is plenty to enjoy. The songs on Friendlytown hew to the soulful rocking the guitarist has snuggled up with for his storied career. They feature his generally laid-back, some might say even nonchalant, playing that elevates every selection without becoming overly affected as many other celebrated guitarists whose name is in lights might.
“I have the will to carry on,” closes the album. Although that’s directed at a romantic partner, they can just as well be applied to Steve Cropper’s recent revival as one the tastiest and most soulful players in rock and soul history.
Pre-order the album here
“Friendlytown”
Cropper and Gibbons! Wow!