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Booker T. & the MG’s — Green Onions (Live)
Album: The Concert for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
Avg rating:
8.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3153









Released: 1996
Length: 5:10
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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(Instrumental)
Comments (182)add comment
 drintensity wrote:

When they first laid this track down they were improvising and did not know that they were being recorded.


Sounds like Ray Charles 'What'd I Say'.
Posted 2 weeks ago by sunybuny    [ Reply ]
When they first laid this track down they were improvising and did not know that they were being recorded.
Posted 4 months ago by drintensity    [ Reply ]
Oh good lawd... the guitar tone and phrasing are perfection.
Posted 8 months ago by TC1    [ Reply ]
That's Booker T. Jones seated in the photo.
Posted 10 months ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
Get yer dance on.
Posted 1 year ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
Saw them open for Creedence Clearwater Revival in Toronto 1972 Maple Leaf Gardens kind of an odd bill really but I liked it 
Posted 1 year ago by rrowdies    [ Reply ]
For anyone who has spent time in Ithaca… you may well remember that for many years Green Onions was the background track to WVBR’s Concert Calendar.
Posted 1 year ago by VBR96    [ Reply ]
perfect
Posted 1 year ago by Roku    [ Reply ]
Goosebumps!!
Posted 1 year ago by dmiley    [ Reply ]
So much meatier than the old studio version.
Posted 1 year ago by mgtom    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:

Hard to fathom that this song, one of the eternals of rock'n'roll, is 52 years old. Amazing.


How 'bout that Booker was seventeen years old when this was recorded? 

If just one Gen Z kid were to make something like this instead of endless shitty TikTok dances I'd have a rosier view of our future....
Posted 1 year ago by sjccroquet    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:




Let's not let this just lie here. Duck Dunn plays bass. Guitar is Steve Cropper.

had the pleasure of meeting Steve  Cropper back in 2009 at a non-profit event i assisted with in lexington, ky. it was amazing.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
If you don't like this, please have someone take your pulse, just to make sure you're alive.
Posted 1 year ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 uksminas wrote:


Hells yeah......  
Posted 1 year ago by TallCreative1    [ Reply ]
Love It
Posted 1 year ago by FatYellowDog    [ Reply ]
I love RP for exposing me to new artists and playing my favorites oldsters 
Some old favorites I never hear here:
King Sunny Ade
The original Penguin Cafe Orchestra 
David Grisman 
What about them, Bill?
Posted 2 years ago by michael_crf    [ Reply ]
This just rocks ass in the best way possible.
Posted 2 years ago by TallCreative1    [ Reply ]
Automatically induces bopping
Posted 2 years ago by thurstonvirginia    [ Reply ]
This can only be a 10. Absolutely a brilliant, iconic piece of music. Wicked organ. Awesome guitar tone. Fabulous rhythm section.
Posted 2 years ago by talexb    [ Reply ]
EXCELLENT!!  I love both, this version & the original studio version!  Don't ask me to pick a favorite!   
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
to see him play on the bbc... even now such a credit we can still see that skill. https://youtu.be/NcaIiyIJGso
Posted 2 years ago by inconyblue    [ Reply ]
If this song didn't influence Deep Purple's Machine Head album then I don't know what did.
Posted 2 years ago by c.beaudette    [ Reply ]
 mrselfdestruct wrote:

Yes that organ is organic.

Grass-fed & cage-free, too!   :D
Posted 2 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
MERCY!!!
Posted 2 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
Steve Cropper!
Posted 2 years ago by ecojot    [ Reply ]
 nomnol wrote:

Who plays that lead guitar on this?



 meatmike wrote:

Donald “Duck” Dunn plays guitar for Booker T.



Let's not let this just lie here. Duck Dunn plays bass. Guitar is Steve Cropper.
Posted 2 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
 uksminas wrote:

I will never understand the type of people who choose to down-vote this kind of quality content.
Posted 2 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
My 9th Christmas, Dad gave me my first (portable!) record player, and this 45 was on the turntable. Never, ever, gets old.
Posted 2 years ago by Isabeau    [ Reply ]
 msbolton wrote:



I agree. The studio album Green Onions was the first record I ever bought and I still play it. Thank you, John Peel, for introducing me to it.



Sorry, scrub the reference to John Peel - I bought Green Onions three or four years before he started playing it on British radio.
Posted 3 years ago by msbolton    [ Reply ]
 VH1 wrote:

This is, was and always will be one of THE best sounds from the 60ties ever made!




I agree. The studio album Green Onions was the first record I ever bought and I still play it. Thank you, John Peel, for introducing me to it.
Posted 3 years ago by msbolton    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:

Love the tone on that organ. Mean, organic.



I believe the technical term is BADASSSS
Posted 3 years ago by rbrise    [ Reply ]
I have played a few notes on that Hammond !
Posted 3 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
it's a 10 for me
Posted 3 years ago by alvaro    [ Reply ]
Donald “Duck” Dunn plays guitar for Booker T.
Posted 3 years ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
Who plays that lead guitar on this?
Posted 3 years ago by nomnol    [ Reply ]
 raga wrote:

Yes, and a keyboard player too...



Posted 3 years ago by maxvonevil    [ Reply ]
 uksminas wrote:
 
Just OOZES "Vintage!" Love it.
Posted 3 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
MERCY!!!!!
Posted 3 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
So rad.  Arguably my favorite version.
Posted 4 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
This is a classic of classics!
Posted 4 years ago by bdwhitepm    [ Reply ]
YES !!! Hannio wrote:

 

Posted 4 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Play it, Steve!
Posted 4 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Posted 4 years ago by uksminas    [ Reply ]
Yes, Sir; great things can come out of Memphis.
Posted 4 years ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:
Love the tone on that organ. Mean, organic.
 
Yes that organ is organic.
Posted 4 years ago by mrselfdestruct    [ Reply ]
 Shipp wrote: crank it up to 1. that's 1 above 12
But if this one is a 13 what do you give the live version from the 2013 Crossroads Festival? 
 

Posted 4 years ago by WeAdmire    [ Reply ]
This is everything music should be.
Posted 4 years ago by pa508701    [ Reply ]
This is, was and always will be one of THE best sounds from the 60ties ever made!
Posted 5 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
Best take since 1962! I've never tried of this hit from the first time I heard it in teen club. I'm might be old but I'm still rocking!
Posted 5 years ago by jimtyrrell    [ Reply ]
Don't like to swear but this fn amazing, right?
Posted 5 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
crank it up to 1. that's 1 above 12
Posted 5 years ago by Shipp    [ Reply ]
Wow! First time hearing this. Rock on!
Posted 6 years ago by nomnol    [ Reply ]
Powerful classic.  Even better live as the band lets loose.  It's like Cropper is bending every note in the solo.
Posted 6 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
Absolute top stuff!
Posted 6 years ago by fraqtop    [ Reply ]
Wow, better than the always sweet original.
Posted 6 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
Love the tone on that organ. Mean, organic.
Posted 6 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
So as this is playing I went to iTunes to see if they have dissolved my pet peeve and put this LIVE version up there.  NO.

How is it that RP has the good sense to share this red hot live track but iTunes is dumber than dirt? 

  Living proof, YEA, I SAY ***PROOF*** BROTHERS*** AND***SISTERS*** that billions of dollars only make you STUPID! 


Posted 6 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
Love this live version!
Posted 6 years ago by neil2    [ Reply ]
exellent blues!
Posted 7 years ago by cebadores    [ Reply ]
So as this is playing I went to iTunes to see if they have dissolved my pet peeve and put this LIVE version up there.  NO.

How is it that RP has the good sense to share this red hot live track but iTunes is dumber than dirt? 
Posted 7 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Great Friday afternoon tune.
{#Bananapiano}       {#Drummer}   {#Bananajam}    {#Dancingbanana_2}

{#Music} So I cranked it to 11
Posted 7 years ago by GeneP59    [ Reply ]
 mojcamojca77 wrote:

{#Smile}it fits in every day!

 

You are absolutely right !
Posted 7 years ago by Azrica    [ Reply ]
 Azrica wrote:

not bad even for Monday afternoon :)

 
{#Smile}it fits in every day!
Posted 7 years ago by mojcamojca77    [ Reply ]
It doesn't get better than this as I wind down my Friday at the office.  Thanks, RP.
Posted 7 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Dig it daddyoh
Posted 7 years ago by rascal    [ Reply ]
where's the 11 setting!?
Posted 7 years ago by Quixx_II    [ Reply ]
Iconic.  Heard them live in the sixties.  Sweet memory!
Posted 7 years ago by senorcerveza    [ Reply ]
Timeless perfection.
Posted 8 years ago by Redpoint    [ Reply ]
 mojcamojca77 wrote:
Great song for Friday morning:-).

 
not bad even for Monday afternoon :)
Posted 8 years ago by Azrica    [ Reply ]
Great song for Friday morning:-).
Posted 8 years ago by mojcamojca77    [ Reply ]
 maxvonevil wrote:

- Wow, and someone is manning the Strat as well? Mindblowing..

 
It's probably a Telecaster - Steve Cropper's weapon of choice.
Posted 8 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Would have loved to catch this live. 
Posted 8 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 raga wrote:

Yes, and a keyboard player too...

 
- Wow, and someone is manning the Strat as well? Mindblowing..


Posted 8 years ago by maxvonevil    [ Reply ]
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:

I have developed a business plan to open rest homes for old hippies. To be honest I just want to make sure my kids put me in one that allows sex, drugs and rock and roll until I can't do it any more. 

 
Where does one sign up? ...deep down we're all hippies who need our pills {#Chillpill} {#Chillpill}
:-)


Posted 8 years ago by maxvonevil    [ Reply ]
 maxvonevil wrote:
That's a Hammond with a Leslie, right? {#Bananapiano}

 
Yes, and a keyboard player too...
Posted 8 years ago by raga    [ Reply ]
That's a Hammond with a Leslie, right? {#Bananapiano}
Posted 8 years ago by maxvonevil    [ Reply ]
OH YEAH {#Bananajumprope}
Posted 8 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
 buddy wrote:
Yer thinkin' too much.  This is the cool you were looking for, my Padawan.  Is cool, was cool, and ever shall be cool.  It surrounds us, goes through us, and binds us together with the force of everlasting cool-cattiness. Ya dig?
{#Bananapiano}  {#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana_2}  {#Bananajam}         {#Sunny}  {#Meditate}   {#Jump}  {#Propeller}  {#Music}

 
{#Clap} Hell Yeah!
Posted 8 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
This really smokes. 
Posted 8 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Ahhh... thanks, I needed that.
Posted 8 years ago by Quixx_II    [ Reply ]
mo Memphis pleeezzz

surley y'all got a Staxx compliation cd laying around somewhere
load it and hit play 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
It's 20 minutes too short! 

 
really...
Posted 8 years ago by raga    [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 pixiep wrote:
yeah! hell yeah!!

 
{#Clap} {#Notworthy} {#Yes}
Posted 9 years ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]
Say no to Adeleeeeeeeeeeee eeeee eeeee
Posted 9 years ago by stonemenigel    [ Reply ]
 kurtster wrote:

Had the good fortune to be there.  One of the best shows I've ever attended.  Over 7 hours long and the weather was perfect for an outdoor show that wonderful evening.

 

 
So I think that the main question is this:

How was Snoop Dog? 
Posted 9 years ago by Lindo525    [ Reply ]
yeah! hell yeah!!
Posted 9 years ago by pixiep    [ Reply ]
Heck yes!
Posted 9 years ago by dsd    [ Reply ]
One of my pet peeves: this live version is not on iTunes. Eat me! 
 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Man, listen to that B3 groan.
Posted 9 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
Bill! You keep playing interesting new (to me) artists (Slainte Mhaith, Leftover Cuties), but before I can go find a full album of theirs to listen to, you've already hooked me back in! I can't leave!
Posted 9 years ago by ench    [ Reply ]
 PopKombo wrote:
check the line up on the album cover  what a concert!

 
Had the good fortune to be there.  One of the best shows I've ever attended.  Over 7 hours long and the weather was perfect for an outdoor show that wonderful evening.

 
Posted 10 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
It's 20 minutes too short! 
Posted 10 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
He played NPR's Tiny Desk not that long ago.  He still plays it with real feeling.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh9KDzNkpSI

Great stuff!
 
Posted 10 years ago by NCEyeballKid    [ Reply ]
And only the studio, not this smokin' hot live track, to be found on iTunes. Suckers. Rhymes with....
Posted 10 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 Krakus wrote:
If this song does not turn your crappy day into awesome, I don't know what will.

 
Totally agree! Listening to the outro - it sounds like nobody wanted it to end!
Posted 10 years ago by Lindo525    [ Reply ]
If this song does not turn your crappy day into awesome, I don't know what will.
Posted 10 years ago by Krakus    [ Reply ]
Hard to fathom that this song, one of the eternals of rock'n'roll, is 52 years old. Amazing.
Posted 10 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 Carl wrote:
Hate to be one, but isn't this the second time that "Green Onions" played on RP today? It was OK in the day, but seriously…

 
Keep counting, Carl, if that's what turns you on, Bro'!{#Nyah}
Posted 10 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
check the line up on the album cover  what a concert!
Posted 10 years ago by PopKombo    [ Reply ]
 Poacher wrote:

I have developed a business plan to open rest homes for old hippies. To be honest I just want to make sure my kids put me in one that allows sex, drugs and rock and roll until I can't do it any more. 

 
Is there anywhere I can vote for you?
Posted 11 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
God bless you, Duck Dunn, wherever you are!  {#Bananajam}
Posted 11 years ago by pcicatar    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Aren't all you people who think this kind of music is cool, living in rest homes yet?

Mute button! 

 
Hmmm. Maybe you will grow up some day and learn to appreciate music from all eras. (Should those of us who love classical music be rotting in our graves?) This is a classic of its time, and truly wonderful for those of us who appreciate it.
Posted 11 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
Hate to be one, but isn't this the second time that "Green Onions" played on RP today? It was OK in the day, but seriously…
Posted 11 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
 nagsheadlocal wrote:
Suffers from the lack of Al Jackson, but still a welcome sound this morning.

 
Surely you mean Michael.  {#Propeller}
vivakitty wrote:

Agreed 100%. This sounds like a bar band, a really great bar band but still, reworking the classic original.

 
You probably couldn't pay these guys any amount of money to play it like the original single again. A classic but if you have to play it on command over and over again, a song like this becomes a noose.  
Posted 11 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Far and away the best version I've heard.  When they weren't busy doing backing work these guys could play.  Damn near God-like.
Posted 11 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
Nice
Posted 11 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
I saw Booker T. play live with the Drive-By Truckers at Coachella in 2009. One of the single best musical memories of my life.
Posted 11 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
I rated this an 8? WTH? 10! And I'm not nearly old enough to be thinking about a retirement home yet.
Posted 11 years ago by K_Love    [ Reply ]
 JrzyTmata wrote:
Those retirement homes are gonna rock! {#Dancingbanana}
 
I have developed a business plan to open rest homes for old hippies. To be honest I just want to make sure my kids put me in one that allows sex, drugs and rock and roll until I can't do it any more. 
Posted 12 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
Everyone within earshot of my classroom is dancing.
Posted 12 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
What a superb version. A real blast from my yoof. 
Posted 12 years ago by hbs47    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
Wow! What is that? lead guitar that sounds cool and has some soul?

Is that Steve Cropper?
 
Yup!
Posted 12 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
To hell with a measly 9! 
Posted 12 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Wow! What is that? lead guitar that sounds cool and has some soul?

Is that Steve Cropper?
Posted 12 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
That is some groove!  Love it!
Posted 12 years ago by MargoMallen    [ Reply ]
Suffers from the lack of Al Jackson, but still a welcome sound this morning.
Posted 12 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
Yup, still got the EP on this, well nominally, it is my wife's.
BTW, well said Proclivity
Posted 12 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Yer thinkin' too much.  This is the cool you were looking for, my Padawan.  Is cool, was cool, and ever shall be cool.  It surrounds us, goes through us, and binds us together with the force of everlasting cool-cattiness. Ya dig?
{#Bananapiano}  {#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana_2}  {#Bananajam}         {#Sunny}  {#Meditate}   {#Jump}  {#Propeller}  {#Music}
Posted 12 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:


But is it good? Cool or not, it's too stuffy for me.  It all sounds so much the same to me.  I could also say that about classical music.  My relationship with classical is sifting through hundreds upon hundreds of songs before I find one or two I like.  But when I find that one I like, it makes it all worth the time.  So much classical sounds the same though.  Music must be free from any rules, dogma, constraints, styles, theories, etc...  When it is constricted by these dominant modes, it suffers into stagnation.  We are right now in the greatest age of musical creativity, and I seriously mean that.
 
Well, you know that "good" is still a subjective judgment, but I'm not sure I've ever heard R&B called "stuffy" before.  I know what you're getting at about stagnation of creativity, which can be true, particularly within specific genres of music (such as R&B, or chamber music), but all music is not constricted by styles and theories - it is often structured and defined by them, sort of like grammar or color theory - where even defying or altering traditional conventions is still acknowledging them.  Just about every song that you (or anyone) have rated a "10" is still based on very old concepts of music theory and melodic and harmonic principals, unless John Cage's "4' 33" ", or something like that, is on the playlist.  Obviously, rules and dogma could be called "constrictive" though.   It could, potentially, be "the greatest age of musical creativity" in some ways, but I guess it depends on who one asks, and one wouldn't really know until the future.
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]