A Forgotten Hero: Chips Moman
A Forgotten Hitmaker Chips Moman
7/13/08
"She's not just a plaything,
She expects love just like a man."
"Do Right Woman"
-Chips Moman/Dan Penn
I'm still transcribing my extensive interview with Steve Cropper. During the conversation Cropper and I discussed the evolution of STAX records in Memphis. Chips Moman produced at the label for a while until he felt it was time for him to begin his own label American Records. When I asked Cropper how Moman fit into STAX, Cropper replied:
"Chips was a really good writer and a really good guitar player, but he wanted so desperately to be an engineer and a producer. I'm not sure because Jim Stewart really wanted to engineer--he did Green Onions and a bunch of other things. Stewart did half, and Chips did the other half. I don't think they came to an agreement on some things--I don't know if it was over money or whatever--but Chips just said one day 'That's it. I'm out of here.' That was okay. That was fine. Chips started American Records and he did quite well. Chips has one of the greatest ears in the industry. He cut all of B.J. Thomas' hits...Neil Diamond and Elvis--you name it. So Chips went the pop route, and we went the R & B route. That's kind of the way it is. He had Neil Diamond and we had Otis Redding. He had Joe Tex and we had Sam & Dave..."
This article tells the story that Moman is now living in his hometown of LaGrange, Georgia, and he still feels bitter about the deals that went down during those years.
Later I may print what Cropper said was the downfall of the STAX empire, but this should give more insight to another story in the label's history.
More later,
James Calemine
JCalemine@swampland.com
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