The 1962 song Pete Townshend hailed “the ultimate record of all-time”

Pete Townshend named Booker T. and the MG’s 1962 instrumental “Green Onions” his “ultimate record of all time”, praising its tasteful guitar work. The choice reflects his admiration for the band’s soulful, instinctive playing, a different approach from the raw, forceful style he developed with The Who.

The article highlights guitarist Steve Cropper’s melodic lines on the track, which helped make its simple chords distinctive and influential. It also recalls Townshend’s view that the musicians were “totally right” without consciously trying to be, and notes that Cropper’s death in 2025 prompted tributes from fellow guitarists including Queen’s Brian May.