Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour: Friendlytown Review

Steve Cropper was born in 1941 and formed the “Mar-Keys” while still in high school in the late 1950s. The band became Booker T and the MG’s in the early 1960s and ascended to the position of being the STAX Records house band. They had their own radio hit record with Green Onions which influenced the maturing baby boomer generation in both America and Europe. The Beatles confessed after they came to America that they were influenced by Cropper’s guitar prowess.  Over the past seven decades, Steve Cropper has played with, produced, and written songs for a myriad of performers that have earned him two Grammy Awards out of seven nominations. He’s been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s and was a member of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi’s Blues Brothers band.

At 82 years of age, Cropper put together a new band named “Midnight Hour” after the 1960’s hit song that he co-wrote with Wilson Picket. The band is comprised of Steve Cropper on lead and rhythm guitars, Roger C. Reale as lead vocalist, John Tiven on bass guitar/Hammond organ, Piano, Sax and vocal harmonies, Nioshi Jackson on drums and percussion, Eddie Gore on Hammond organ, tambourine and vocal harmony along with Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top on lead guitar. The subject matter of the album explores personal relationships from a seasoned perspective.

“Friendlytown,” the title song was co-written by the quartet comprised of Steve Cropper, Billy F. Gibbons, Roger C. Reale, and Jon Tiven. The song begins with Cropper’s guitar producing a throbbing melodic riff that drives the beat. The song is further embellished by Gibbons’ guitar peals and Reale’s “throaty growl,” singing about a place that is welcoming to the down and out.

“Don’t let it bring you down

You’ll soon be walking into

Friendly Town”

The second cut is “Too Much Stress” and was co-written by the quartet with Brian May replacing Gibbons. The song is a cry for relief from a stressful life as the title implies. It’s a guitar fest with May and Gibbons trading guitar licks with Cropper setting the rhythm with his axe. May joins in on some gospel harmony with Gibbons and Reale to round it out. “Hurry Up Sundown” is a rollicking kicker that features former “Young Rascals” lead singer and organ player Felix Cavaliere. Cropper plays lead and rhythm with Gibbons contributing on second lead. The song was co-written by bass player, keyboardist, and harmony singer Jon Tiven, Stephen J. Kalinich, Cavaliere, Cropper and Reale. The action takes place after dark and the song is about nocturnal longing.

“Hurry up sundown

Because I’ll be waitin’ for you”

Song #4 is “Let’s Get Started,” an uptempo rocker that combines Cropper’s driving rhythm guitar with Gibbons’ blues-drenched riffs and lead peals. Reale’s gravely lead vocals demand action as it follows the cadence of Nioshi Jackson’s driving drums. The tune was composed by Cropper/Reale/Tiven. “Talkin’ Bout Politics” is another Cropper/Reale/Tiven composition with Gibbons on loping lead  guitar with Cropper providing rhythm. Reale belts out haunting vocals singing about a dark view of the political arena which is especially apt months before a presidential election.

“Politics talkin’ bout politics

Liars, crooks and clowns”

Eddie Gore’s Hammond organ takes lead on “I’ll Take Tomorrow.” It’s another Cropper/Reale/Tiven composition with Steve Cropper’s ethereal guitar accompanying Reale’s plaintiff vocals. The song is about a broken relationship and its aftermath. “Lay It On Down” is another quartet composition created by Cropper/Gibbons/Reale/Tiven with a distinct 1970s sound. The Jackson/Tiven rhythm section throbs the beat with Cropper on lead guitar and Gibbons providing the rhythm. Reale’s evocative vocals drive the lyrics as he sings –

“You know I’m on my knee

Raisin’ my right hand”

“You Can’t Refuse” is the eighth cut and is another Cropper/Reale/Tiven song that features country music artist Tim Montana providing a bluesy lead guitar. Steve Cropper plays sustained shimmering notes on a tremolo guitar with Bad Company’s Simon Kirke on drums. Gore provides organ and background vocals along with Justyna Kelley and Cropper as Reale wails about a Godfather like proposition of an “offer that you can’t refuse.” “Rain On My Parade” opens with Reales soaring vocals as Cropper plays rhythm and Gibbons takes the lead. It’s a smooth jazzy cut with a driving beat whose lyrics sound like they were inspired by Greek philosopher Diogenes’ request of Alexander the Great.

“You’re blocking the sun

I don’t mind the shade

But please don’t rain on my parade.

“There’s Always A Catch” is another Cropper/Reale/Tiven composition that rocks from the outset with Reale barking out the lyrics with his gravely voice. Cropper leads with his rhythm guitar until Gibbons bursts through with a solo. Justyna Kelley helps with background vocals along with Eddie Gore’s tambourine. “In God We Trust” is the story of a relationship gone bad when one of the two partners don’t uphold their end of the bargain. It could be applied to a variety of situations from intimate relationships to business and political ones. The song was composed by the duo of Gibbons and Tiven and features Gibbons providing rhythm guitar with Cropper doing the riffs.

“Ashes to ash, dust to dust

All others pay cash in God we trust”

“Reality Check” has an energetic groove with a powerful cadence driven by Cropper’s pulsating rhythm guitar. Jackson and Tiven’s thumping pulse drive the tune while Gibbons embellishes it with a guitar solo. The song is an analysis of the important things in life like your net worth when you die. Cropper, Reale and Tiven composed both “Reality Check” and the final cut on Friendlytown , “I Leave You In Peace.” The song opens with Gibbons’ guitar intro to the melodic loping melody that follows as Reale croons. Cropper’s rhythm guitar and Tiven’s organ provide a seamless backdrop that flows to a rhythmic beat. The song is a final goodbye in a long broken relationship as the lyrics explain.

“I’ll just say farewell

Now I can leave you in peace”

Friendlytown is a remarkable collection of songs that are a testament to Steve Cropper’s enduring ability to consistently push into new musical territories. Even in his 80s he is able to collaborate with an impressive musical lineup to both help compose and ultimately perform the music on an album. He still remains a formidable force in music by producing an album filled with a rich blend of blues, rock, and soul anchored by his guitar collaborating with Gibbons, May, and Montana.

The Review 9/10

– Friendlytown
– To Much Stress
– Let’s Get Started
– You Can’t Refuse
– There’s Always A Catch

The Big Hit

– Friendlytown