Universal Language (Booker T. & the M.G.'s album)

Universal Language is a 1977 album by the American band Booker T. & the M.G.'s.[1] The album was recorded for Asylum Records, following the demise of Stax Records, of which the M.G.'s were an integral element, in 1975.

Universal Language
Studio album by
Released1977
Recorded1977; Clover Studios, Hollywood, California
GenreSoul, instrumental rock
Length32:59
LabelAsylum
7E 1093
ProducerBooker T. & the M.G.'s; co-produced with Tom Dowd on "Space Nuts"
Booker T. & the M.G.'s chronology
The MGs
(1973)
Universal Language
(1977)
That's the Way It Should Be
(1994)

The album was dedicated to M.G.'s drummer Al Jackson, Jr., who was murdered in 1975;[2] the remaining members recruited Willie Hall to replace him on this album.[3] The group would not record another album for seventeen years, returning in 1994 with That's the Way It Should Be.

Reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [5]
The Rolling Stone Record Guide     [6]

The AllMusic retrospective review awarded the album 2 stars.[4]

Track listing

edit

All songs written by Cropper, Dunn, and Jones, except where noted

Side one
  1. "Sticky Stuff" – 4:09
  2. "Grab Bag" – 4:32
  3. "Space Nuts" – 3:27
  4. "Love Wheels" – 3:38
  5. "Motocross" – 4:33
Side two
  1. "Last Tango in Memphis" – 5:26
  2. "MG's Salsa" – 5:27
  3. "Tie Stick" (Cropper, Dunn, Jones, Johnny Stevenson) – 5:01
  4. "Reincarnation" – 5:12

Personnel

edit
Booker T. & the M.G.s
Technical
  • Austin Godsey, Toby Scott – engineers
  • Tony Lane – art direction
  • Jonathan Seay – cover

Notes

edit
  1. ^ The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 52.
  2. ^ Bowman, Rob (1997). Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records. New York: Schirmer Trade. p. 364. ISBN 0-8256-7284-8
  3. ^ Concerted Efforts - Booker T. & the MG's Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b AllMusic Review accessed July 22, 2011
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  6. ^ The Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1979. p. 42.