And Now! – BOOKER T & THE MG’S***

My Sweet Potato/Jericho/No Matter What Shape/One Mint Julep/In The Midnight Hour/Summertime/Working In The Coal Mine/Don’t Mess Up A Good Thing/Think/Taboo/Soul Jam/Sentimental Journey

And Now! features the usual mix of covers and originals from the dynamic Stax house band The MG’s, dominated by the soulful organ sound of Booker T himself.

“And Now mixes original tunes with cover material to good effect. Things are less bluesy and more funky and The MG's are beginning to reach the magic formula that they'd perfect on later albums.”

“Though not as focused as its predecessor Soul Dressing, and not as great as the following year's Hip Hug-Her, the album is very enjoyable and features many terrific moments. Only one track here was released as a single, the great My Sweet Potato, a piano workout for Booker T. with marvellous drummer support. Among the other standouts are the ahead of its time Taboo, a funky take on Jericho and a very nice version of Sentimental Journey.”

“Lending itself to jazz and blues, as well as rock, Booker T had a lot of fun, not only did he and the band create their own material, but they would lay down instrumental covers that challenged the original material.”

“The music laid down by Booker T & The MG’s is timeless, original, satisfying, over the top and under stated ... it touched the hearts of everyone and offended no one.”

“And Now! marks the beginning of the band's golden period. Though their finest albums were still ahead of them, this one shows the ensemble beginning to perfect the laid back, groove-heavy instrumental aesthetic which they made their own.”

“And Now! is a mix of covers and originals. Fluid leads wind around the rhythm section and Booker T's fat, soulful organ on versions of Think, Working In A Coal Mine and In The Midnight Hour, as well as MG originals such as Soul Jam and the sunny shuffle-groove of My Sweet Potato, featuring a rare performance by Booker T. on piano.”