In 1962, a band is messing around in the recording studio, waiting for the singer they are supposed to back as session men. He’s late, so they decide to record a piece on their own. The track impresses the owner of Stax, who decides to release it as a 45 RPM and immediately asks for a B-side (which they don’t have). What to do?
Booker T sits down at the Hammond and plays a bluesy melody that’s been swirling in his head for a while, improvising. Duck Dunn crafts an overwhelming bass line, Steve Cropper supports with his Fender, delivering short and repeated phrases, while Al Jackson Jr invents a 2/4 rhythm; thus, Green Onions is born, from one of the first BLACK AND WHITE groups in history.
(1967) GREEN ONIONS - Live - Booker T. and MG's