Album: Steve Cropper, Dedicated (429)

Occupying fertile early-50s territory between R&B and rock'n'roll, The 5 Royales were a huge influence on Steve Cropper.

He repays the debt here with a tribute album loaded with friends such as BB King, Lucinda Williams, Steve Winwood, Penn & Oldham and Bettye LaVette. Winwood's vocals apply suitable bonhomie to the rolling groove of "Thirty Second Lover" and Williams' wracked drawl restores some grit to "Dedicated To The One I Love". Elsewhere, the motorvating shuffle of "Right Around The Corner", its nonsense refrain babbled by Delbert McClinton, offers a template for several Chuck Berry hits. Cropper's needle-sharp guitar fills best demonstrate the immense debt the MGs man owes to the 5 Royales songwriter and guitarist Lowman Pauling.

DOWNLOAD THIS: Dedicated To The One I Love; Right Around The Corner; Thirty Second Lover