Review: Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Watching The Tide
Steve Cropper leaves a fitting final statement with ‘Watching The Tide’, recorded with The Midnight Hour and several renowned guest musicians
Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Watching The Tide
Format: CD / Vinyl LP / Digital
Label: Mascot Label Group – Provogue
Release date: August 28, 2026
Text: Tom Wouters
December 2025 one of the most legendary icons of rock ‘n’ roll, guitarist, songwriter, producer and engineer Steve Cropper of Stax Records house band Booker T & The MG’s, left us. The Tennessee soul man was the DNA that coursed through the post-war era, his famous right hand setting the pace of rock ‘n’ roll for more than 60 years. As a posthumous farewell gift he left us this ‘Watching The Tide’ album.
The title ‘Watching The Tide’ directly references his most famous co-write, Otis Redding’s 1967 world hit (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay. So does the song My Angels Are Calling, in which Cropper anticipates his approaching death. ‘Watching The Tide’ features a few fellow guitarists, but the opener, Tandoori Chicken, is a typical Stax tune featuring Cropper’s unmistakable guitar.
Ticket First is the first of a few Stones-like songs featuring The Midnight Hour-vocalist Roger C. Beale and Eric Clapton. Until Now featuring Ronnie Wood, Down & Out and Tipoff The Ripoff are the other examples and show us where The Stones got their inspiration.
Furthermore the album consists of a few tremendous Booker T & The MG’s rock songs, like Blood From A Stone, that evokes memories of the sensational performance from the MG’s and Lou Reed of Foot Of Pride at Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary concert. Here And Gone, featuring vocalist Ana Grosh, Stand Right Here and House Of Cards are equally tremendous rock.
‘Watching The Tide’ is a fitting farewell to one of the most influential rock ‘n’ roll musicians in pop history and therefore a must for every listener interested in where it all comes from.
Tracks:
01. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Tandoori Chicken
02. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Ticket First (feat. Eric Clapton)
03. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – My Angels Are Calling (feat. Brian May and Billy Gibbons)
04. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Until Now (feat. Ronnie Wood)
05. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Blood From A Stone
06. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Here & Gone (feat. Ana Grosh)
07. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – It’s Gonna Get Worse
08. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Down & Out
09. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Stand Right Here (feat. Billy Gibbons and Ana Grosh)
10. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Tipoff To The Ripoff
11. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – House Of Cards
12. Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Tandoori Chicken Part 2
Read also:
Want to discover more from Steve Cropper and related artists? Click on the titles below to read earlier articles on Bluestown Music.
Review: Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – Friendlytown
An earlier Bluestown Music review of Cropper and The Midnight Hour’s 2024 album ‘Friendlytown’.
Review: Eric Clapton – Journeyman – Deluxe Edition
A review of Eric Clapton’s expanded ‘Journeyman’, connecting with one of the guest guitarists on ‘Watching The Tide’.
Review: The Rolling Stones – Black And Blue (Super Deluxe Edition)
This review revisits the Rolling Stones album that marked Ronnie Wood’s arrival in the band.