In no particular order some of my favourite music moments. No20 Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs.
The first instrumental to be included in the Great Moments series, this 1962 single by the legendary Stax house band is a bona fide classic.
Originators of the Southern Soul sound, the MGs were also pioneers in being one of the first successful racially-integrated bands.
Originally issued as a b-side on Stax subsidiary Volt, Green Onions was quickly re-issued on Stax as an A-side.
Thought by many to be a dope reference, the origin of the song’s title is a matter of some dispute.
Some say bandleader Booker T Jones hated the tune so much he called it Green Onions “because that is the nastiest thing I can think of and it’s something you throw away”.
But guitarist Steve Cropper claimed it was named after a friend’s cat, whose walk inspired the groove of the track’s signature riff.
A third theory claims the group just wanted a funky name to match the music and Green Onions was born.
Whatever the real story may be, it’s a song that never ages and never loses its cool.
