Booker T. Jones led one of soul music's greatest bands, splashing Hammond organ over airtight grooves from the MGs. His recent solo work feels less focused. Here, backed by the Roots, he meanders through instrumental versions of R&B cuts like Gnarls Barkey's "Crazy." But he gets help from guests like Lou Reed and Jim James, who wails on "Progress." And in a rare move, Jones sings "Down in Memphis" in an endearing baritone that makes you wonder why he's stayed quiet all these years.

Listen to Booker T. Jones' "Everything is Everything":  
Related: The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time: Booker T. & the MGs

“Is It True”

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."