Album of the Day

Along with the Wrecking Crew and the Funk Brothers, Booker T and the MG's were the greatest backing group in popular music; unlike their L.A. and Detroit session counterparts, the “Memphis Group” were also hitmakers in their own right. The quartet's 1967 album HIP HUG-HER added the title track and a cover of The Rascals' “Groovin” to their roster of Top 40 singles. One of the better longplayers from the prolific instrumental group's Atlantic tenure, HIP HUG-HER has the sound of a band hitting its groove: Booker T. Jones makes his bow on the Hammond B-3 organ here, recent addition on bass Donald “Duck” Dunn has settled in nicely, and guitarist Steve Cropper - born on this day in 1941 – and drummer Al Jackson, Jr. are also firing on all cylinders.