As a founding member of Stax house band Booker T. & The M.G.’s, Steve Cropper was involved in some of the most important music of the 1960s as a player, songwriter, and producer. The following decade introduced him to a new group of fans as guitarist for The Blues Brothers, appearing on both their records and film.

A two-time Grammy® winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Cropper has been an integral thread in the cloth of American music, writing, playing and producing into the 21st century to this very day.

In 1969, Cropper released his first solo album, producing and arranging its eleven tracks himself. His backing band? While there is no actual record of who played on the album itself, Grammy® winner Robert Gordon’s liner notes point to his fellow M.G.’s, Buddy Miles, Jim Keltner, the Bar-Kay’s James Alexander, and more as candidates.

From original tracks to its well-known covers (including The Beatles classic the release shares its name with), it is a tour de force of pure Memphis rock and soul.

The core eleven tracks now appear again on an all-analog cut, new pressing of the LP as With A Little Help From My Friends returns for a new generation to experience.

The CD version contains a whopping eight bonus tracks, including four tracks not included on the original release and alternate versions of four that do. Add in Robert Gordon’s notes and this release is as much a history lesson as it is a timepiece of pure musical magic.

1. CROP DUSTIN’
2. LAND OF 1000 DANCES
3. 99 1/2
4. BOO-GA-LOO DOWN BROADWAY
5. FUNKY BROADWAY
6. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
7. OH, PRETTY WOMAN
8. I’D RATHER DRINK MUDDY WATER
9. THE WAY I FEEL TONIGHT
10. IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
11. RATTLESNAKE

The guitar legend, songwriting legend, producer legend and Blues Brother & Stax legend Steve Cropper’s album opens on the funk-tastic CROP DUSTIN’ and the rhythmic LAND OF 1000 DANCES and then brings us the countified 99 1/2, the free-flowing BOO-GA-LOO DOWN BROADWAY and then comes the aptly-titled blues rocker FUNKY BROADWAY.

Along next is a languishing WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS a dutifully funked up OH, PRETTY WOMAN and they are in turn backed by the foot-tapper I’D RATHER DRINK MUDDY WATER, the aching yearn found within THE WAY I FEEL TONIGHT, the recording rounding out on a brilliantly blues-hued IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, closing on the gorgeous guitar-drum hipsway of RATTLESNAKE.

CD-ONLY PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED BONUS TRACKS:
1. YOU DON’T KNOW
2. I’M GOING HOME
3. GRAZING IN THE GRASS (Take 2)
4. SOULFUL STRUT (Take 10)
5. OH, PRETTY WOMAN (Alternate Version)
6. THE WAY I FEEL TONIGHT (Alternate Version)
7. BOO-GA-LOO DOWN BROADWAY (Alternate Version)
8. LAND OF 1000 DANCES (Alternate Version)

The eight previously unissued bonus tracks open with a blues-ridden YOU DON’T KNOW and a rousing I’M GOING HOME, then comes the mid-tempo ambiance fund within GRAZING IN THE GRASS (Take 2), the melodious SOULFUL STRUT (Take 10), and then a quartet of alternate versions of OH, PRETTY WOMAN, THE WAY I FEEL TONIGHT, BOO-GA-LOO DOWN BROADWAY and a breezy LAND OF 1000 DANCES.

Official Purchase Link