[Cover photo credit to Stacie Huckeba]

Guitarist, producer, and songwriter Steve Cropper was recently nominated for his first solo Grammy for the debut album from his Rock n’ Soul quintet, Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour. He has announced details of his sophomore album, Friendlytown, due out August 23rd, 2024 via Mascot Label Group/Provogue.

Cropper has brought in the talents of Billy F Gibbons from ZZ Top to play on the record. The album also features guest appearances from Queen guitarist extraordinaire Brian May and Country-Rock singer/songwriter and guitarist Tim Montana.

Cropper comments:

If your booty is not shaking in the first two bars of this album you’re already dead in a chair. I feel so good about this batch of songs. They’re packed with radio hooks, and we have Billy Gibbons, Brian May, and Tim Montana playing on the album—it’s like guitar heaven.

In conjunction with the album announcement, Cropper has released the album’s first single, “Too Much Stress feat. Brian May”, giving fans a taste of the new music.

Brian May sings the duet vocal together with Roger C. Reale and the backing vocals while May and Gibbons trade back-to-back solos.