New song from upcoming Steve Cropper album released
Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour have released “Tandoori Chicken,” the latest single from their upcoming album Watching The Tide, due out August 28 via Provogue / Artone Label Group.
The instrumental track opens Watching The Tide and serves as a funky introduction to the album while also paying tribute to Booker T. & The M.G.’s 1962 classic “Green Onions.” The release follows the previously issued singles “Ticket First” and “Until Now.”
Named after the guitarist’s iconic co-write “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” Watching The Tide features Cropper collaborating with songwriter and producer Jon Tiven and Midnight Hour vocalist Roger C. Reale. The album was recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio C with a lineup that includes Ana Grosh on vocals, Nioshi Jackson on drums, engineer Eddie Gore on keyboards and percussion, along with guest appearances from Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Brian May and Ronnie Wood.
Tiven explained how “Tandoori Chicken” came together after an Indian lunch with Cropper.
“About a month before Steve passed, we went out for an Indian lunch. Steve really loaded up on this tandoori chicken. We had this one kicking around as a song, but we never really thought the lyrics were very good. So then I started thinking, ‘Well, if I put a sitar on it, maybe it’ll hold together as an instrumental’, because Steve is playing some amazing guitar on it. Then I said, ‘Steve, is it okay if we call it Tandoori Chicken?’ A big smile came to his face, and he goes, ‘That’s my favourite’. And y’know, he’s got a lot of history with food-oriented song titles. So it was a nice way to tie it all together.”
The new single follows “Until Now,” which features Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood on slide guitar. Tiven recalled how quickly Wood agreed to contribute.
“Ronnie Wood got back to me about 10 minutes after I sent off my email: ‘Oh, this looks like a lot of fun. I’ll jump in.'”
The album’s first single, “Ticket First,” also features a guest appearance from Eric Clapton. Tiven reflected on the recording session and Clapton’s contribution.
“I told Eric, ‘Man, you just turned that song inside-out – I think we’re gonna have to give you a writer’s credit,” recalls Tiven of the legendary British guitarist’s transcendent solo. “And Eric said, ‘Well, anything to get my name next to Steve Cropper’s…'”
TRACK LISTING
- Tandoori Chicken
- Ticket First (feat. Eric Clapton)
- My Angels Are Calling (feat. Brian May & Billy F. Gibbons)
- Until Now (feat. Ron Wood)
- Blood From A Stone
- Here & Gone (feat. Ana Grosh)
- It’s Gonna Get Worse
- Down & Out
- Stand Right Here (feat. Billy F. Gibbons & Ana Grosh)
- Tipoff To The Ripoff
- House Of Cards
- Tandoori Chicken Part 2
