‘Green Onions’: The classic song that is more complicated than it seems
‘Green Onions’ by Booker T and the MGs is one of the most influential soul tracks ever recorded. Certainly, it is perhaps the greatest instrumental track to ever hit the airwaves. A dance floor classic, the instrumental number is famed for its apparent simplicity, but Booker himself notes that there is more to the song than meets the eye.
As the house band for legendary Memphis soul label Stax, Booker T and the MGs provided backing for artists such as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Their definitive track, ‘Green Onions’, came about when the group required a B-side for their lesser known ‘Behave Yourself’. Built around a 12-bar blues bassline that the group had been working on for some time, the song really came to life with the addition of a Hammond organ.
As one of the first racially integrated bands, Booker T and the MGs were already causing a stir in Memphis in the early 1960s. The city was incredibly divided, with heightened racial tensions resulting from the emerging civil rights movement. When ‘Green Onions’ burst onto the scene, the group became known for more than just their mixed race lineup. Only 17 at the time of the single’s release, Booker T. Jones had scored a number three single in the US, establishing himself and the MG’s as a powerful band in their own right.
Since its initial release, the track has enjoyed a life of its own. It failed to chart in the UK initially but managed to break into the top ten years later thanks to its inclusion on the soundtrack to the hit film Quadrophenia. The fact that ‘Green Onions’ managed to chart nearly 20 years after first being released speaks to its timeless quality.
The enduring success of the song is quite the contrast from Booker’s original impression of ‘Green Onions’, the pianist recalling how he had named the track after green onions, “Because that is the nastiest thing I can think of and it’s something you throw away.”
Nevertheless, the track provided Jones with his biggest hit. Speaking in 2017, he credited its success with the simplicity of the tune, stating: “Well, the apparent simplicity, I’ll put it like that, from the position of the player”.
Although the effortlessly cool song may appear to be built around a simple chord progression and a gentle drum beat, Booker explains that there is more complexity at play. “‘Green Onions’ appears to be a simple song,” he explained, “But every time I play it, I have to pay attention. I have to remember, and school myself on how the notes go, because it’s just not as simple as it sounds.”
Booker T. Jones has collaborated with countless iconic artists over the years, from Rod Stewart to Elton John, not forgetting his long-standing collaboration with Rita Coolidge. He remains active to this day, entering his eighth decade next year. His legacy and impact on soul music is substantial, and the track he wrote as a 17-year-old session musician remains a dance floor filler well into the 21st century.
