| "Green Onions" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Booker T. & the M.G.'s | ||||
| from the album Green Onions | ||||
| B-side | "Behave Yourself" | |||
| Released | September 1962[1] | |||
| Format | 7" 45rpm | |||
| Recorded | Memphis, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Soul, R&B, blues, proto-funk, instrumental rock | |||
| Length | 2:52 | |||
| Label | Stax 127 | |||
| Writer(s) | Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Lewis Steinberg, Al Jackson, Jr. | |||
| Producer | Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Lewis Steinberg, Al Jackson, Jr. | |||
| Certification | Certified Gold by RIAA certification June 1, 1967[2] | |||
| Booker T. & the M.G.'s singles chronology | ||||
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"Green Onions" is a hit soul instrumental recorded in 1962 by Booker T. & the M.G.'s. The tune is a 12-bar blues with a rippling Hammond organ line. Originally issued on the Volt 102 subsidiary of Stax Records in May 1962 as the B-side to "Behave Yourself", it was quickly reissued as the A-side of Stax 127; it also appeared on the album Green Onions.[1] The guitar used by guitarist Steve Cropper on "Green Onions", as was all of The M.G.'s instrumentals, was a Fender Telecaster.[3] According to guitarist Steve Cropper, the name is not a marijuana reference, rather it is named after the Green Badger's cat, Green Onions, whose way of walking inspired the riff.[4] Although, according to Songfacts.com, the song was named by Booker T. Jones stating that when asked by Jim Stewart what he'd name the song, Booker T. Jones replied "Green Onions." "Why 'Green Onions'" Jim asked. Booker T: "Because that is the nastiest thing I can think of and it's something you throw away."[5]
Contents |
| Name | Location | Format | Record Label | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Behave Yourself" b/w "Green Onions" | US/UK | 7" 45 rpm | Volt Records(US) | May 1962 |
| "Green Onions" b/w "Behave Yourself" | US/UK | 7" 45 rpm | Stax Records(US)/London Records(UK) | September 1962 |
| "Green Onions" b/w "Boot-Leg" | United Kingdom | 7" 45 rpm | Atlantic Records | March 1967 |
"Green Onions" entered the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending August 11, 1962 and peaked at No. 3 the week ending September 29, 1962. The single also made it to No. 1 on the soul singles chart, for four non consecutive weeks: an unusual occurrence in that, on the soul singles chart, "Green Onions" fell in and out of top spot, three times.[6] On the UK Singles Chart it first appeared December 15, 1979 at #74, it then hit its highest position on January 26, 1980 at #7, it then left the charts on March 1, 1980 at #51, and ended up staying on the charts for a total of 12 weeks.[7]
"Green Onions" is remarkably similar in style and chord progression to John Lee Hooker's "Onions", which appears on his 1963 album, The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker,[8] although on that LP the songwriting credit was to John L. Hooker, not Jones/Cropper/Steinberg/Jackson.[9]
Booker T & the M.G.'s released a continuation of "Green Onions" titled "Mo' Onions" on the album Green Onions on November 1962 and later released it as a single in February 1964 and reached #97 on both the R&B Singles and Billboard Hot 100 charts.[10]
Sonny Boy Williamson's 1963 recording "Help Me" was based on "Green Onions" and features Willie Dixon performing an upright bass riff very similar to the riff in "Green Onions" performed by Lewie Steinberg.[11]
"Green Onions" was ranked No. 183 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The song is currently ranked as the 85th greatest song of all time, as well as the best song of 1962, by Acclaimed Music.[12] British rhythm and blues singer Georgie Fame credited the single with being a main influence on his switch from piano to Hammond organ.
In 1999 "Green Onions" was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.[13]
"Green Onions" has been used extensively in radio, television, film and advertising, such as in the 1973 film American Graffiti, in the trailer to the 2000 film Chicken Run and in the films Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, The Flamingo Kid, Get Shorty, Happy Gilmore, Houseguest, The Sandlot and A Single Man. The song was also featured on the soundtrack to Quadrophenia. It was used in the menu screen and various cutscenes in EA's game Skate. It was also featured in the in-game radio Master Sounds 98.3 of Rockstar Games' game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The song is prominently used in the TNT comedy-drama series Memphis Beat. It is also featured in the series Supernatural in the episode 'Folsom Prison Blues'. This song is also used for The Weather Channel's Local on the 8's, as well as Storm TV's Local Weather NOW. Green Onions is also the ad campaign for Super Why!. It was also featured in X-Men: First Class. "Green Onions" was used in an episode of American Dad!" Bar Mitzvah Hustle. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim played the song at Angel Stadium when the opposing team's starting lineup was being announced.
| Preceded by "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva |
Billboard Hot R&B Sides number-one single September 15, 1962 September 29, 1962 October 13, 1962 October 27, 1962 |
Succeeded by "You Beat Me to the Punch" by Mary Wells |
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