Track This: Booker T. & The M.G's "Behave Yourself"


Booker T. Jones' organ playing is a thing of beauty -- serene, yet expressive, propelling a late night vibe or a Sunday morning, post-church feeling. Transcendental, his playing is unmatched and recognizable, especially on the opening bars of "Behave Yourself," a fine equal and b-side to the group's ubiquitous 1962 single, "Green Onions," on which the organist lays down nimble melodies.The rest of the group never slouches either. Lewie Sternberg's bass lines are measured and supremely funky, just bubbling under the surface throughout the piece and superbly melding with Al Jackson's simple kit work. Steve Cropper takes the lead from Jones' organ to lay down a nice southern soul guitar line once in awhile, but Jones is the master of the game here, varying his playing but vamping as the tight rhythm section backs him up. Alternating patterns of sweetness explode as the group holds down the tight vibe, Cropper's repeating guitar figures taking the lead towards the end of the short but perfect track, dueling with Jones' organ before the track simply fades out.



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