Green Fungus

Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10

NINETEEN-SIXTY-TWO!!!!! Along with Bob Dylan's debut album, this is the oldest album I ever reviewed (so far). And listening to it, I would never have thought that it was so DANG OLD. It could have been made in 1968, 1973, 1988, 2004, 3949, or 12984 for all I know. THE ALBUM IS TIMELESS!!!!!

Mind you, this isn't a revolutionary album, in particular. It's just your average R&B stuff, but with an amazing organist (Booker T. Jones) and a pretty good lead guitarist (Steve Cropper ... who was later a member of the Blues Brothers!!!!!!!!!!). ... But Jones especially. This is his band, and his wonderful electric-organ noodling shines from beginning to end!

The organ noodling is so great, that you'd hardly ever notice that this is an instrumental album. ... I don't always like instrumental albums (and I also don't always like R&B) but that freaking organ just makes everything GREAT. Who needs a voice when you can make the electric organ sound so great?

The title track is, of course, the best song on here. It's a famous song, even though you might not know it from its title. (You've heard it many times ... download it and see for yourself.) But the best showcase of Jones's organ work can be seen on "Behave Yourself." That's a really slow R&B song (and I also tend to not enjoy slow songs), but the organ IS JUST AMAZZZZZZZZZINGGGGGGGGGG...

I could go on, but I'll just end up repeating that the organ is AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG again, so ... so, I'll just stop now.

Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 (A verrrrrrrry strong album for 1962. It's not that albums created before The Beatles are mentally retarded! But this album does sound timeless ... still holds up very well to this day.)

Average Song Score: 8.8 (Some of the greatest R&B rock instrumentals ever made ... probably. They sound great even in the New Millennium.)

Album Tilt: 8.5 (Well, this was before the album truly emerged as a singular artform. The songs manage to hold together well, though.)

Artist Rating: 8.5 (I don't think this was such an artistic feat ... But Booker T's organ is something that everyone with a self-appointed PhD in rock-and-roll probably worships.)

Track Reviews

Green Onions 10/10

This is pretty much the most famous instrumental song that was ever performed! I haven't done the proper "research" (I hardly ever properly research *anything*, as many of my site commentors have cordially pointed out using a vast array of four-letter words.) But I think if I *did* do the research, you'll find out that this recording is on every single generic period modern film made about the 60s. This song is *THAT* famous. Ohhhh ... you've heard it, before! ... And this song is a classic. It starts out with a great, classic organ riff ... and then that wonderful organ gives us some jazzy improvisations. I really like the bass, too. And there's also some good lead guitar noodling! (Well, this is before Cream and The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and them ... so ...) This is pretty good rock-and-roll for just being 1962.

Rinky Dink 9/10

Not as famous, but still another fine, fine rock instrumental. ... I probably shouldn't have to tell you how great the electric organ work is on this song ... BECAUSE IT'S GREAT ON ALL THE SONGS!!! This has a nice, jumpy riff, and ... more good instrumental pop. And there's some really nice lead guitar work. It's even nicer than on "Green Onions."

I Got a Woman 8/10

This song is still nice-n-partyful ... but not as amazing. Just because it's fast paced doesn't automatically make it LIKABLE! ... Well, this song is likable, but only barely! The energy sustains it. The organ work and guitar work, while still pretty good, isn't quite as special. ... But ... I don't have any real complaints, I guess.

Mo' Onions 9.5/10

Is this a sequel to "Green Onions?" ... Oh, I s'pose so. Don't worry, though. This is before prog-rock ... The musical performances are very good here. The organ playing, especially, is just fantastic.

Twist and Shout 9/10

It's difficult to totally appreciate this one considering The Beatles did an absolutely stellar cover of this just a year later! At any rate, this is a good opportunity for you to appreciate that organ playing! That organ doesn't sound so much like an ORGAN, but someone singing! This might be an instrumental band ... but it's so much more than THAT, isn't it? This song will prove to you that an electric organ CAN have electricity! And a voice! It's not Lennon's voice, but still! ... This is a very energetic song!

Behave Yourself 10/10

Oh wow ... more of that amazing organ work. You really have to pick up this album just to hear the organ. It's totally worth it. ... This is a slower song, even, which I tend to not enjoy as much ... but this really is amazing! GEEZ!!!!!! ORGAN-MAN IS A GENIUS!!!!!!

Stranger on the Shore 8.5/10

Ohhhhhh... another slow song, but the organ stuff isn't quite as great. But it's still good. Listen and let the atmosphere SOAK IN.

Lonely Avenue 9/10

OOOOOOOOOORGAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!! This organ is better than the liver ... and that's pretty impressive considering that I'm an alcoholic and I'm still alive ... Oh, and there's some good lead guitar-work here, too. The guitar isn't quite as great as the organ, though ... but ... dudes. That's a great organ. The virtuosos, again, save another slow, would-be-boring R&B song.

The One Who Really Loves You 8/10

This is a more dynamic and upbeat song ... but ... despite that, I find it not-quite-as-amazing and ... the organstuff, while still suuuuperrrrrr, isn't quite as impressive. Oh well.

You Can't Sit Down 7.5/10

More of that party R&B stuff ... more of that organ noodling stuff ... It's still entirely professional-sounding and stuff ... forgive me for not getting too enthusiastic over this!

A Woman, A Lover, A Friend 8.5/10

Gotta love the organ, man! It just goes ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!! And the organ going all over the place is very cool ... 'cause I can imagine that organs can be pritty hard to move. Especially the pipe ones. But I guess if this was an electronic one, then it might not be that hard.

Comin' Home Baby 8/10

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, this is kind of an underenthusiastic end to an excellent album. But it's not bad. There's, again, some good organ noodling and also some good guitar noodling. There so much dang noodling on this album that all you need is spaghetti sauce. (And ... I guess we finally have a use for those green onions ...)

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