To anyone who knows the roots and branches of American music, the passing of Steve Cropper in December 2025 was seismic. As guitarist, songwriter, producer and engineer - not just for the iconic Stax record label but on a forest of sessions and solo releases - the Tennessee soul man was the DNA that coursed through the post-war era. Little did we know this towering figure had one last ace to play in his lifetime, with Watching The Tide gathering A-list names including Eric Clapton, Brian May, Ronnie Wood and Billy Gibbons for 12 brand-new songs that Cropper ranked amongst the best of his career. "I know this record provided great joy to Steve in the last year of his life," says project leader Jon Tiven. "And I'm so glad he was able to have one last great creative burst"