THE MAR-KEYS
Last Night/Do The Pop-Eye (Stax)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The story of Stax Records, their legendary house band and the instrumental influence of the MGs and the Memphis Horns, which continue to influence and inspire pop, rock and R&B musicians to this day, begins with a group of Memphis high school kids and some local studio players and a track called "Last Night."

While "Last Night" was the product of a group of players that didn't include some of the Mar-Key's regular lineup, the band brought, among others, guitarist Steve Cropper and bassist Duck Dunn into the Stax orbit, which would yield immeasurable dividends over the years. One of the featured players on "Last Night" was trumpeter Wayne Jackson, who would organize the Memphis Horns, the section that would sweeten countless Stax hits over the next decade and a half. By the time the second Mar-Key's album, Do The Pop-Eye, was recorded, the band was working with a young organist named Booker T. Jones. If you don't know the rest of the story, look it up. You'll be a better person.

The two albums collected on this single disc release have been out of print for nearly 40 years. The only thing less excusable would be your failure to get them now that they're available again.

Track List:

Morning After * Diana * Alright, Okay, You Win * Sticks And Stones * Misty * Night Before * About Noon * One Degree North * Sack O' Woe * Hold It! * Ebb Tide * Last Night * Pop-Eye Stroll * Wimp-Burger * Straight From The Can * 'Cause I Love You * Squint-Eye * Pop-Eye Rider * It's Gonna Work Out Fine * Sit Still * Too Pooped To Pop-Eye * Sweet-P Crawl * Muscles A-Comin' Home * Sailor Man Waltz

© 2002 - Shaun Dale