The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: THE MARCH DIVIDE – “KING OF THE LOST CAUSE”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD
SPILL NEW MUSIC: DIANA ROSS FT. TAME IMPALA RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW SINGLE “TURN UP THE SUNSHINE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: HOUSEWIFE SHARE BRAND NEW TRACK “PATRICK BATEMAN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: STILL EIGHTEEN – “KEEP ROCKING”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: COMING UP ROSES – “WOULD YOU EVER”
SPILL FEATURE: SONGS FROM PEOPLE ARE ALSO SONGS ABOUT PEOPLE – A CONVERSATION WITH DARI MAKSYMOVA OF 6TH CROWD
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LOST CAT – “LOSERS BEWARE”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: FÉNIXDION – “SUGAR”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BIBLIOTEKA – “TICK TOCK”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: GWAR HAVE GONE BERSERK! CHECK OUT THE NEW SONG “BERSERKER MODE” OUT NOW
SPILL NEW MUSIC: QUEEN KWONG RELEASES HER TAKE ON A ‘POP’ SONG “WITHOUT YOU, WHATEVER”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: ART D’ECCO – “MIDLIFE CRISIS”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: YUNGBLUD ANNOUNCES SELF-TITLED THIRD STUDIO ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2 VIA LOCOMOTION/GEFFEN RECORDS
SPILL NEWS: CANADIAN PUNK LEGENDS DAYGLO ABORTIONS HIT THE ROAD WITH CITIZEN RAGE FOR A CROSS CANADA TOUR
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
1
107
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MOTÖRHEAD - LOUDER THAN NOISE… LIVE IN BERLIN
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN LENNON - JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (SUPER DELUXE BOX SET)

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEVE CROPPER – FIRE IT UP

Steve Cropper

Steve Cropper
Fire It Up
Provogue/Mascot Label Group

Stax Records was one of the most revered labels of the 60s and 70s – at least where gritty, funky soul music is concerned. Steve Cropper was one of its leading architects; originally guitarist with the groovy Booker T & The MGs, where he refined his classy, concise, tightly-controlled guitar playing, he became a session guitarist par excellence, a producer and a songwriter, not just for Otis Redding but also for many others on the label. His talents were later utilized by a couple of ex-Beatles, and The Blues Brothers, among others. He did record sporadically, but he regards Fire It Up as his first solo album since 1969.

I’m not suggesting that this is worth a wait of more than five decades, but there’s plenty of fine R’n’B and soul music to enjoy. Don’t expect innovation – come on! – but do look for new recordings with a time-honored approach. Roger C. Reale wrote many of the lyrics and handles the vocals, Cropper adds his unique, groove-based sound, and producer Jon Tiven fleshes things out on a variety of instruments. They work well together, as do guest musicians like Felix Cavaliere and drummer Simon Kirke of early 70s UK blues-rockers Free. Even the title of the album’s sole instrumental, the down-home styled R’n’B of “Bush Hog”, recalls those classic sixties 45s.

Yep, Steve Cropper’s still got it, he’s still doing it. Just dig it!



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEVE CROPPER – FIRE IT UP

Author

Norman Darwen

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
7.0
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsbooker t & the mgsfire it upmascot label groupprovoguestax recordssteve cropper
album review, album reviews, booker t & the mgs, fire it up, mascot label group, provogue, stax records, steve cropper
About the Author
Norman Darwen
The Spill Magazine is a Toronto-based online publication dedicated to covering the independent music scene with a strong focus on our thriving hometown talent. Our writers bring you up-to-date news, in-depth features on musicians and reviews for the latest CD releases. We also travel to the front lines for all local festivals including Canadian Music Week and North by Northeast.Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for all daily Spill updates.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviewsmascot label group
 
8.0
Thomas Dollbaum

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 20, 2022
Thomas Dollbaum Wellswood Big Legal Mess “I grew up in a small town between nowhere and nothing. By reputation, people move to Florida to run away from their problems, but instead of [...]
 
8.0
Avi Caplan
—

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 20, 2022
Avi Kaplan Floating On A Dream Fantasy Records One thing singer-songwriters can impress their potential audience with is their vocals. It can be any specific characteristic, from [...]
 
9.0
On-U Sound
—

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Various Artists Pay It All Back Vol. 8 On-U Sound Master producer/songwriter/artist Adrian Sherwood has been behind all things On-U Sound since 1979, and since then he and [...]
 
8.0
Say Sue Me

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Say Sue Me The Last Thing Left Damnably Sumi Choi (vocalist, guitarist) and her band Say Sue Me are from Busan, Korea. If that tells you that you would be in for some K-pop on their [...]
 
8.0
John Inghram

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
John Inghram John Inghram CD Baby John Inghram built a name for himself as a musician’s musician, particularly among artist that try to get the gist of the music that has anything [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOMAS DOLLBAUM – WELLSWOOD
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AVI KAPLAN – FLOATING ON A DREAM
8.0
—
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8
9.0
—
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM
8.0

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL FEATURE: CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2022 – THIS YEAR’S PROG CRUISE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE.
686
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PRIMUS – CONSPIRANOID
441
 
SPILL FEATURE: DANCE TO THE PERFECT MESS – A CONVERSATION WITH CARL MARSH OF SHRIEKBACK
409
 
SPILL FEATURE: DON’T YOU FEEL CLOSER? – A CONVERSATION WITH CY CURNIN OF THE FIXX
389
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MEN WITHOUT HATS – AGAIN (PART 2)
326
 
SPILL NEWS: BARENAKED LADIES TO RELEASE LIVE TRACKS FROM SOLD-OUT ROYAL ALBERT HALL SHOW | DELUXE EDITION OF ‘DETOUR DE FORCE’ OUT JUNE 3
325
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – UNLIMITED LOVE
315
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL w/ LOLA COLETTE @ HISTORY, TORONTO
287
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LOST CAT – “L.O.S.T.”
273
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TANGERINE DREAM – RAUM
272
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VR SEX – ROUGH DIMENSION
257
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NAZARETH – SURVIVING THE LAW
257
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: VENUS BEMUS RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “STORMS”
251
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES