Not many people start new bands in their 80s, but legendary guitarist, producer, and songwriter Steve Cropper isn’t slowing down any time soon. The triple-threat musician was recently nominated for his first solo Grammy for the debut from his tight and tuneful rock n’ soul quintet, Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour.


Cropper has wasted no time in following up this success with the sophomore album, Friendlytown, out august 23rd on Mascot Label Group/Provogue. Always pushing ahead and never repeating himself, Cropper has brought in the talents of Billy F Gibbons from ZZ Top to play on the record. Also stopping by Friendlytown is Queen guitarist extraordinaire Brian May, and country-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Tim Montana who has balanced a successful solo career with high-profile collaborations with Gibbons and Kid Rock.


“If your booty is not shaking in the first two bars of this album you’re already dead in a chair,” laughs Cropper. “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.”


The story goes Cropper wanted a dedicated lead guitarist for Friendlytown, and Tiven fatefully ran into Gibbons while shopping at Trader Joe’s. The pair had an enthusiastic conversation about the band, and two days later Gibbons was writing with Cropper and Tiven.


“Billy plays those kind of tasteful blues licks that get stuck in your brain and make you go nuts—he plays so well,” Cropper says. The album also features guest spots from Free and Bad Company drummer Simon Kirk, and The Rascals co-lead vocalist and keyboardist Felix Cavaliere who previously worked with Cropper.


Standout tracks on Friendlytown include the muscular, blues rock title track. “Friendlytown” is anchored by one of Cropper’s signature loping riffs, adorned with low-down Texas blues style guitar leads from Gibbons, and features Reale’s throaty growl, singing melodies that split the difference between bluesy mojo and radio-ready catchiness. A trifecta of the baddest rock guitar players convene on “Too Much Stress (feat Brian May) (w Billy Gibbons),” a groovy mid-tempo number with gospel-style backing vocals. Here, May sings the duet vocal together with Roger C. Reale and the backing vocals, and May and Gibbons trade back to back solos. The Queen’s axeman’s trademark snarling tone and lyrical licks come off as the perfect foil for Gibbon’s searing blues-based style. Cropper holds it all down with some trademark, slinky rhythm guitar work. “It was heaven playing with those two,” he recalls.