Blogging with Fuji Rock: Booker T

What a life Booker T. Jones has had. He was the leader of one of the original race barrier-breaking '60s soul combos (the MGs); under his leadership the MGs were de facto house band for Stax, backing such greats as Otis Redding and Sam & Dave; he created classics such as Soul Limbo (aka the BBC cricket theme) and Green Onions; he went on to back Neil Young on 2002's "Are You Passionate?"; and most impressively of all, he provided hammond chops for Bruce Willis' timeless "The Return of Bruno".

Now, at 64, Jones has released his first album in 20 years - "Potato Hole" - with Neil Young returning the backing favour, and the Drive By Truckers pitching in to make it sound all grizzly.

All the reviews raved about the bold cover of Outkast's 'Hey Ya!' which shows how effortlessly Booker can take a tune and make it sound like he wrote it. But were it not for the fame of the original, I doubt this would be hailed as the album's highlight. A better cover is of Tom Waits' "Get Behind the Mule".

Though it's all instrumental, listen to the opening track and tell me you can't hear the words 'pound it out' coming from Mr. Jones' organ, and in the more melancholy 'She breaks', that's clearly what the track is wailing. Throughout the album, Young and Jones make you feel like you're listening to lyrics, but without anyone warbling over their artistry.

What they said:

"what might've been a generic awards-show jam turns out to be a badass set of MG's-style instrumentals" - Rolling Stone

"earthily funky instrumentals" - The Independent

Booker invited his old collaborator Neil Young to guest on his new album, but forgot to call Bruce Willis.