Audio Remasterers: Dave Schultz; Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Photographer: Baron Wolman.

Part of Rhino's thorough DEFINITIVE SOUL series of single-artist R&B anthologies, this is a 30-track retrospective covering the entire career of one of soul music's most important instrumental acts, Booker T. and the MG's. From their smash hit single "Green Onions" through beloved fan favorites like "Jellybread" and "Hip Hug-Her," the combination of organist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson, Jr., defined 1960s soul in general and the sound of Stax Records in particular. (As the Stax house band, Booker T. and the MG's backed nearly every singer on the roster.) Of particular note are the groovy psychedelic soul tracks near the set's end, particularly their outstanding version of "Something" from 1970's MCLEMORE AVENUE, their soul-jazz tribute to the Beatles' ABBEY ROAD.