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Green Onions

Booker T. & The MG's

1962
Green Onions
Album Summary

Green Onions is the debut album by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, released on Stax Records in October 1962. It reached number 33 on the pop album chart in the month of its release. The title single was a worldwide hit and has been covered by dozens of artists, including the Blues Brothers and Roy Buchanan (both with Steve Cropper on guitar), as well as The Ventures, Al Kooper, The Shadows, Mongo Santamaría, Deep Purple (Live and studio versions) and Count Basie. Three previous Stax LPs – two by the Mar-Keys, one by Carla Thomas – had been issued on Atlantic Records. Green Onions was the first album released on the Stax label. It was also Stax's first charting album, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard 200. The album features only instrumental songs and features Steve Cropper playing a Fender Telecaster.The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.41

Votes

7190
Genres
Soul
Funk

Reviews

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Tue Nov 09 2021
5

This sounds like something that Feathers McGraw from Wallace and Gromit would enjoy. And that Chicken/Penguin has great taste. A really catchy and enjoyable instrumental R&B/soul record, with a distinctive Hammond organ sound front and centre. It would perfectly soundtrack various daily tasks like doing the washing up, spreading toast or walking through a town or city. I'm glad they didn't try to put vocals on it, as any words matching the unashamedly joyous, and cool vibe would probably be really cheesy and ruin it. It's a perfect example of what it is and still sounds fresh almost 60 years after it was recorded. 5/5.

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Thu Oct 07 2021
5

Green onions is the best candidate to be turned into an 8-bit game soundtrack.

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Wed Feb 10 2021
2

Hammond organ. Lovely for a track or two but a whole album............

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Thu Apr 15 2021
1

Ok for a couple of songs (green onions) but the one trick of organ & guitar becomes tired very quickly

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Thu Mar 11 2021
5

Imagine recording this when you’re 17? Like that’s all you need to know about this record. This record is so smooth and for 1962 was largely new landscape for soul and R&B. You can put this on at any time and you know you’re going to have a good time. Favorite song: Green Onions Least favorite: honestly didn’t have one

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Mon Feb 08 2021
4

Reading about it prior to listening, the title track is called out as one of the most recognized instrumental tracks... No idea. Hearing it the penny drops immediately, and I'm reminded again fo the depth and breadth of my ignorance.

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Thu Feb 04 2021
4

I’ve always loved the title track, Green Onions. To me it’s always been more than just a fun song to hear in movies, but just a really good listen on its own merits. I like the tone of the guitar and organ, and I really enjoy drums like this, where they are both assertive in the mix and also really simple. The only real problem I have with this record is that it is instrumental. Plenty of the songs hold up without vocals, but I felt a few tracks would have been improved by them. Also, is there a music genre whose meaning has evolved more than R&B? My personal enjoyment: 4/5 Did it belong on this list: 4.5/5

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Sat Jan 29 2022
5

What can I say? Funky 60s Instrumentals? One of the best organ song ever written?

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Mon Apr 10 2023
4

I'm only familiar with the title track that I'm aware of, but I really love it so this should be fun! Green Onions - an excellent blues/funk sound. 9/10 Rinky Dink - easy listening with some familiar chord progressions. 7/10 I Got a Woman - Great Memphis Blues twist on this familiar classic I've heard by Elvis and Ray Charles. I'm not sure which is the original, but this instrumental is fun. 8/10 Mo' Onions - A variation on "Green Onions" that's more bluesy. I like it a lot! 9/10 Twist & Shout - Another instrumental cover. Pleasant but nothing spectacular. 7/10 Behave Yourself - Truly Memphis Blues, feels like walking down Beale Street! 9/10 Stranger on the Shore - Feels like a 50s slow dance hit. 7/10 Lonely Avenue - Typical blues sound, the organ is a bit more creative on this one. 8/10 The One Who Really Loves You - Heavy organ with nice guitar riffs. 7/10 You Can't Sit Down - Nice funk/blues track 8/10 A Woman, A Lover, A Friend - Slow typical blues track. 7/10 Comin' Home Baby - Nice cover with just the right blues flavor. If you like the blues, you'll enjoy this album. Just be warned it's more organ driven than guitar. It's an interesting twist on blues though. I don't know if it beats out other blues artists as far as a must hear, but it's a fun listen.

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Mon Apr 03 2023
3

This is an enthusiastic “ok”. The title track throws thunderbolts down on everything around it, but the record is consistently pleasant. It just makes me wish they’d stretched to write more of their own compositions, rather than this bunch of covers that slide smoothly down amnesia alley. Gives me the feeling of walking into a sleazy bar in an old movie, which I like.

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Sun Apr 09 2023
3

I can remember about 15 facts and one of those facts is that Steve Cropper was in The Blues Brothers. And that's all I knew about Steve Cropper. I expected his obit to read, "Former Blues Brother Steve Cropper died". I'm not proud of any of this. Some other useless facts I know: * Rod Stewart really likes soccer. * In Smokey and the Bandit, The Bandit's real name was Bo. * Steve Busby threw two no hitters for the Kansas City Royals. * Joe Walsh was on campus during the Kent State Tragedy. * Jason Patric is Jackie Gleason's grandson. * There's no instrumental album quite like this one.

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Mon Apr 05 2021
2

4/2 Some classic instrumentals on here, replayability is low for me. Standout Tracks: Green Onions, Mo' Onions, Behave Yourself, Stranger On The Shore, Comin' Home Baby

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Fri Mar 31 2023
2

Opening track is iconic, repeated again slightly different later on. The rest of it is funky instrumental versions of other people's songs. Do I like it? Yeah, it's great background music with a bit of oomph and fun, but it's not really anything more than that. Tough to give a high score based on one original song and a load of instrumental cover versions really, opening track almost drags it up to a 3 but doesn't manage it. 2/5.

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Mon Apr 03 2023
2

might be an interesting historical document, but was it really essential that I hear a Hammond organ noodling its way aimlessly around an Acker Bilk tune? doesn't even have the cricket theme on this one. hence, 2 stars given although perhaps a bit stingy

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Tue Sep 13 2022
1

All instrumental. A lot of tunes are extremely recognizable based on their usage in movies or remixes of other songs. Overall boring album though.

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Tue Jun 08 2021
5

I didn’t know the song name but everyone has probably hear green onions sweet melody at some point. The rest is pleasant jams as well.

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Thu Jan 28 2021
5

One of the best albums ever!

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Thu Mar 11 2021
5

Way ahead of its time, fantastic album.

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Wed Mar 24 2021
5

Instant classic album. Timeless songs.

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Thu Jan 21 2021
5

That was extremely enjoyable. This is the first album that I would actually consider downloading for repeat listening. I had heard "Green Onions" on the radio, but I also liked the other songs. "Behave Yourself" stuck out to me.

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Sun Jan 31 2021
5

Nothing but GROOVES on this one. Classic record.

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Mon Mar 08 2021
5

Greeeeeeeeeeennnnnn ONNNNNIOOOONNNNNSSSSS! this song is everywhere. this is sold rhythm and blues. Comin' Home Baby is fucking solid

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Tue Mar 16 2021
5

I’ll play catch up on this one.

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Thu Feb 25 2021
5

This is just wonderful music. I knew the song Green Onions but I was surprised by the quality of the rest of the songs. I like cooking to this.

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Mon Mar 08 2021
5

Мне понравилось. Открыл для себя новое

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Mon Apr 26 2021
5

Buen ritmo, buenas canciones

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Sat May 15 2021
5

My type of album, really good all around

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Mon May 17 2021
5

Perfect party playlist in one album. Style as music. Essential record.

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Fri Jun 25 2021
5

Really enjoyable and ahead of it's time.

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Mon Oct 11 2021
5

I didn't recognize the album name or artist, but most of the tracks were familiar.

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Tue Oct 12 2021
5

So good. Didn’t stop moving once.

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Tue Oct 12 2021
5

Slow motion movie blues. I remember from some film, but I don't know wich one. Kind of smooth and chilling music for meetings

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Fri Nov 05 2021
5

Enjoyed every song! Saved in my favorites

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Mon Nov 22 2021
5

This is a prime example of setting influence for the next 50+ years

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Wed Jan 05 2022
5

Oooh, I never knew the name of this first track. Green Onions is great! This whole album was great.

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Fri Feb 04 2022
5

Casual Thursdays will never be the same!!!

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Wed Feb 16 2022
5

great album, 10/10, instantly recognizable from the first five seconds favorite song was probably Rinky Dink it sounded like a Napoleon-Dynamite-Christmas

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Mon Feb 21 2022
5

Is it just me or is one of the tunes in Nacho Libre?!?! THE Nacho Libre, pure Cinematic Gold.

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Sat Feb 26 2022
5

This is fire!!! Really cool instrumental soul/rock. You’ll definitely recognize a few tracks on here.

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Tue Apr 26 2022
5

Love it. This can be party background music, work music, sit and listen and pay attention to every click of the organ keys music,… Positioned clearly at a point in the early 60’s because of the instrumentation and groove, but doesn’t sound old fashioned.

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Fri Jun 17 2022
5

Just a perfect instrumental soul album. Clearly it's influence has spread far and wide, the sound that comes from this is just ubiquitous. Short but sweet, my only complaint is that there isn't more. Fav Tracks: Green Onions, Behave Yourself, Lonely Avenue

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Fri Jun 17 2022
5

God damn I love the blues. The electric organ is used so perfectly on this album, it's just so much fun to listen to. After looking at the list of personnel that Booker T. Jones has collaborated with in the past, I would say a lot of people agree that he's the best at what he does. This album consists of one smash-hit original single, and mostly covers outside of that, but that doesn't stop the band from stamping their signature all over others' works. The instrumentation is fantastic and each member does a great job of taking their turn to chime in and take the spotlight. It's very clear that the guitar and keyboard are completely locked in and have spent loads of time playing together. Tight as fuck. Fave tracks: Green Onions, I Got a Woman, Behave Yourself

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Wed Jun 22 2022
5

Had no idea that I already knew the song 'Green Onions'. The most striking thing about this album is that is recorded in the 60s, it sounds much more contemporary than that. Pure groove, so funky

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Wed Jul 20 2022
5

An album of cool, smooth tunes. Instrumental only, but that just makes it seem more effortlessly chill.

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Thu Aug 18 2022
5

Always hear GO, but never knew where it came from. Thumbs up on this for a mellow, travel album.

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Wed Aug 31 2022
5

Each song was entertaining. Pretty creative. Reminded me of smooth sailing playlist but more upbeat. Didn't have lyrics though which felt like the finishing touch it lacked

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Tue Sep 13 2022
5

Variations on a theme, but it's a great theme (and one you've heard everywhere).

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Mon Sep 19 2022
5

So much groove it should be against the law!

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Mon Oct 03 2022
5

Great Instrumentals with an organ and a band that is groove 60's beat.

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Fri Oct 14 2022
5

Imagine creating one of the best albums of all time where a) all the songs are instrumentals and b) you only wrote three of them. An absolutely killer sound that I think everyone is familiar with and probably have no idea who played it.

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Mon Oct 24 2022
5

I didn't expect to like this album that much but here we are. I loved how it mixed rock, R&B and jazz in such an organic way. The cover of Twist and Shout by The Beatles was awesome.

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Mon Dec 19 2022
5

fun instramentals of classic songs. Chill and upbeat

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Tue Dec 20 2022
5

Are you kidding me? instant classic

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Wed Dec 21 2022
5

Great backdrop for many daily tasks

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Thu Dec 22 2022
5

If I had to choose one word for "Green Onions", it would be GROOVY. This is a great album to have in the background as you're doing something else. It's a nice backbeat for your day. I found myself nodding along to songs as I was working away my laptop. It was a pleasant work companion. I'll be putting that in my playlist.

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Thu Dec 29 2022
5

Instrumental master class and advertiser's and film director's dream.

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Tue Jan 24 2023
5

I know that I'm going to love this. Green Onions is one of those "Epitome of cool" tracks that simply can't help but make you feel like you're the smoothest human to ever stalk to face of the planet. Second track comes at you with the Hammond organ croaking out a slightly clipped, muted tune. The backing is great, but when we come onto track 3, Jones is making that organ sing like a Yukon bear trapper on his annual visit to the brothel. Sure, the band is great and there's not a note out of place, but the organ is in this like Blackpool rock. It's magnificent. Track four up and we've got such a funky sound it almost hurts. Mo' onions? Mo' funk! Mo' organ! It isn't as cool as Green Onions, but it uses similar,well, everything. After this is Twist and Shout, which isn't as good The Beatles or Ray Charles' covers. Mildly let down, the Hammond becomes soulful and down tempo. We go further towards melancholy in track 7. Lonely Avenue, track 8, turns bluesy, with the Hammond doing the Lord's work, intricately replicating what you've come to expect from a Louisiana bluesman's harmonica. Track 9 comes upbeat, and I'm here for that. "One who really loves you" gives us intricate melodies and we move on apace with a nice short track that once again makes you want to get up and dance - and you know you'll feel great doing it. Track 11 comes around to blues again, and to be honest it's a little boring. The twiddliness reminds me a little of Withnail and I, but not quite in the way I'd home. Comin' Home Baby is a nice gentle finish to a superb album. Although nothing will reach the heights of Green Onions, Mo' Onions does come close. And Green Onions alone would get this album a 5.

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Tue Jan 31 2023
5

The thing about onions are that they have layers, layers that could reveal whatever hidden truth or gem that's ready for one or more to get their hands on. As far as Booker T. & The MG's were concerned, when it came to Green Onions, not only were they equipped with truths (their impeccable talents) but gems as well. Whether it will later soundtrack some million or so car treks in the next several decades or be uncovered as some waiting to be noticed dance exercise that would help get the body moving, Green Onions would stand as the epitome of not only R&B but popular music of its time.

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Sat Feb 04 2023
5

This is excellent. Totally going into my rotation of music to work to.

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Mon Feb 06 2023
5

had no idea that I have been listening to this band my whole life. Guitarist Steve Cropper is in the Blues Brothers, the greatest movie/band of all time.

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Mon Feb 13 2023
5

Heck yeah. This is amazing. This is one of those albums where the music is 100% familiar to me, but I had never listened to the album and couldn't have even told you who Booker T. was or what he did. Well, now I'm obsessed! What a fantastic discovery. I can't wait to explore more Booker T. & the MG's music. The title track is phenomenal, the musicians are amazing, I'm left thirsting for more: love love love. 5/5

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Wed Feb 15 2023
5

Makes me happy. Listened a few times as I felt the grove

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Fri Feb 17 2023
5

Solid bops here. Instantly recognisable and instantly considered a classic!

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Fri Feb 17 2023
5

I really really liked this. Smooth and casual

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Sat Mar 11 2023
5

Trop court! Vraiment jouissif. Ce disque m’a mise de bonne humeur et je l’ai écouté 3 fois

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Mon Mar 20 2023
5

This album is banging. The jazz rock sound is awesome. I love the keyboard parts.

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Fri Mar 24 2023
5

Can't help nodding my head or tapping my fingers in time to these tracks. Great feel good instrumental album with some quirky covers such as stranger in the shore. One to listen to on a sunny day chilling with a cold beer.

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Wed Apr 26 2023
5

Two things: 1) assume this kind of stuff heavily influenced the Beatles 2) an acknowledgement of how incredible the 60s were in terms of progression. From this to Sgt Peppers in the space of five years just seems so outrageous 3) You Can't Sit Down is a banger

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Sat May 20 2023
5

First off, I’m just going to say that the “La Grange” groove has to be one of the most recognizable grooves of all time, because I’ve now heard it like three times this week from different artists. Green Onions is a great opener due to this. Rinky Dink continues this trend as a great instrumental track that makes me feel like I’m grooving around a town during a summer afternoon. This album is shaping up to just be groove after groove and I love it for that.

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Thu Dec 31 2020
4

I know all these tunes but have no idea why... California Games? Movies like the Sandlot Kids? either way it's awesome 4/5.

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Wed Jun 02 2021
4

The definitive Hammond organ album. Great jams. Best track: Green Onions

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Fri Jan 22 2021
4

Solid classic jams to clean your house to

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Thu Apr 01 2021
4

The theme music of having a fun cool time in the 60s.

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Fri Mar 19 2021
4

This whole album felt like an Austin powers sound track. And I loved that about it.

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Tue Jan 26 2021
4

elsket det, digg å høre på, nok av hits osv. kan være som følge av oaseeffekten etter en ørken av middelmådige album men hadde en fin stund med denne. Har en lekenhet som jeg setter pris på.

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Sat Jul 10 2021
4

Seriously good R&B instrumentals.

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Sun Mar 07 2021
4

Overall very soothing, easy on the ears and the slower songs really struck an emotion with me. I really enjoy this style of blues. A lot of rock jam standards are found here.

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Tue Jan 26 2021
4

Never had a name for the familiar opening track Green Onions.

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