Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere

Nudge It Up a Notch (Stax)

Did MG guitarist Steve Cropper run into the Rascals’ Felix Cavaliere in 1968 and dream up this project that then gathered dust for 40 years? No, but the sweet soul flow from track to track has its roots in an exquisite confluence of Memphis soul and soulful East Coast groove. This collaboration between the Stax stable veteran and leader of the 1960s Italian soul group responsible for “Good Lovin'” and “People Got to Be Free” gets a double dose of that same good lovin’ from co-producer and co-songwriter Jon Tiven. From the opening “One of Those Days” and the warm sound of Cavaliere’s vocals and keyboards meeting Cropper’s guitar muscle measure for measure, Nudge is a sybaritic delight. Cavaliere’s vocals shine throughout, but it’s the three MG’s-like instrumentals “Jamaica Delight,” “Love Appetite,” and “Full Moon Tonight” that gives Nudge that old-school feel. If any album of recent years deserves to be out on vinyl, it’s this modern chestnut.

***.5

This article appears in September 12 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US