The Dozen Greatest Rock Instrumentals: #2 "Green Onions" Booker T. and the MGs (1962)

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If the Ventures are not the greatest rock instrumental group then it would be the great Booker T and the MGs and I do mean great. The group is highly respected and influential. The original lineup was Booker T. Jones (Hammond organ), Steve Cropper (guitar), Lewie Steinberg (bass) and Al Jackson Jr. (drums) and a racially mixed group was almost unheard of at the time. Donald "Duck" Dunn would replace Steinberg. They were the house band for Stax Records of Memphis and played on 100s of r&b recordings for the likes of Otis Redding and Sam and Dave plus playing backup in concert. In their spare time, Booker T and the MGs recorded on their own. Composed by Jones, “Green Onions” was the group’s biggest hit charting at Billboard #3. What can be said of this super cool classic? Just listen to Jones’ organ and Cropper’s guitar. “Green Onions” is arguably the greatest and most sampled rock instrumental of all time.