Fire It Up
Mascot/Provogue, 2021
9/10
The soul, blues and rock’n’roll legend Steve Cropper brings his inimitable guitar prowess to what he’s calling his first proper solo album since 1969, and he’s got Nioshi Jackson, Roger C. Reale, and Jon Tiven along with him for the diverse and well thought out effort.
Cropper leads with the rhythmic and upbeat “Bush Hog Part 1”, where blues guitars and firm percussion interact with both playfulness and soulfulness, and “Fire It Up” follows with a lively groove that flows alongside Reale’s expressive pipes.
Landing near the middle, “Out Of Love” is not short on melody as bright brass radiates amid the energetic and groove filled landscape, while “Far Away” offers a retro swagger that’s dripping with warmth and R&B nods. “She’s So Fine”, one of the album’s best, then recruits a festive spirit that soars high with incredible talent between all the musicians, as their respective talents are all on display.
Closer to the end, “The Go Getter Is Gone” benefits greatly from piano acrobatics that complement the meticulous guitar lines, and “Bush Hog” exits the listen with a lively instrumental that’s as timeless as it is memorable.
Cropper’s got an impressive resume that includes being a founding member of The Blues Brothers, playing an integral role in the Stax Records legacy and being named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 40 guitarists of all time. Now in the 7th decade of his career and approaching 80 years old, he proves that he’s still got the chops to pen a fantastic record in the area of funk, rock, blues and R&B.
Travels well with: James Holvay- Sweet Soul Song EP; Rick Holmstrom- See That Light