Guitar Legend STEVE CROPPER has announced ‘Fire It Up’, calling it his first solo album since 1969. The album is set to be released on April 23rd via Mascot Label Group / Provogue Records.
Watch the video for Fire It Up here:
Vocalist Roger C. Reale:
“Back when I initially heard the track, it had a jump up feel…get started, get moving, look forward to a better day, grab the moment, etc. The title came immediately, so I just dropped the narrative around that. It’s a bit of a call to action…let’s get busy, on any level.”
A founding member of the Blues Brothers and one of Stax Records’ main producers, songwriters, and guitarists – as the guitarist in its house band, Booker T. and the M.G.’s – Cropper reintroduced classic soul to unsuspecting audiences, with Rolling Stone ranking him in the top 40 all-time greatest guitarists. “Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, “Soul Man” and “Hold On I’m Coming” by Sam and Dave — you simply can’t discuss soul music without Steve Cropper. He plays on John Lennon’s Rock N Roll album, Frank Black’s Honeycomb and Fast Man Raider Man albums, and on several albums by Ringo Starr. He’s also produced for John Prine, Jeff Beck, and John Cougar Mellencamp.
In fact, listening to everyone else may be one of the secrets to Cropper’s style. The “Go Getter Is Gone” highlights the album’s collaborative effort. “Roger came up with most of the lyrics here,” he says. “I came up with the rhythms and the grooves and the changes, but I think teamwork is better.” And suddenly a light shines on why Cropper has pursued so few solo records: “When a basketball team wins,” he says, “it’s not the player who made the last three-pointer who wins, it’s the whole team that got him there.”
Track list
- Bush Hog Part 1
- Fire It Up
- One Good Turn
- I’m Not Havin’ It
- Out of Love
- Far Away
- Say You Don’t Know Me
- She’s So Fine
- Two Wrongs
- Heartbreak Street
- The Go-Getter Is Gone
- Bush Hog Part 2
- Bush Hog
