New Thing #315: Booker T. And The MGs

Booker_TIn recent months, I've heard Booker T. Jones on a couple of my favorite podcasts. Not too long ago he was on Bullseye with Jesse Thorn, and then late last week he was on WTF with Marc Maron.

In both cases I came away awed by his immense talent at such a young age, his story, and his career.

And I realized that besides Green Onions, I knew very little of his work.

So this weekend I set out to fix that.

I downloaded 'The Very Best of Booker T. and the MGs', because I figured that was as good a place to start as any.

I should tell you that when I was growing up, we listened to the oldies station almost exclusively, so a lot of the songs from the era when Green Onions came out is very familiar to me.

And a lot of the songs on which the band probably played backup or which Booker T. Jones contributed to in any number of ways was probably stuff I knew. But I was less aware of him other than having heard the name "Booker T."

The only song I recognized at all from this 'Best Of' album besides Green Onions was Soul Limbo. I'm pretty sure that got some radio play too.

Besides the fact that I've come to like Booker T. Jones a lot through a couple of extensive interviews, I'm glad to now know more of his music.

As I discovered listening this weekend, it's great Sunday morning, getting-ready-for-the-day music.

And Jones isn't done - he's 68 years old, but is still putting out music, or collaborating - there's a lot he still wants to do.

Which means I might have some more Booker T. Jones interviews to look forward to.