“Until Now” is the latest single released from Watching The Tide, a posthumous album from Steve Cropper, due out August 28 via Provogue / Artone Label Group.
The new track features Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, whose slide guitar work adds a distinctive touch to the song. According to producer and co-writer Jon Tiven, Wood quickly signed on after hearing the track.
“Ronnie Wood got back to me about 10 minutes after I sent off my email: ‘Oh, this looks like a lot of fun. I’ll jump in. Ron plays some unbelievable slide guitar on that one, which makes it all the better. But when you listen to “Until Now,” it’s not really a blue song, per se. It’s more of a song with blues changes that breaks out of the genre. The only other guitar you hear on Until Now is Steve – and it’s so atypical of what you would normally hear from him. It’s just a completely different approach, and it knocked me out.”
Watching The Tide takes its title from Cropper’s most famous co-write, Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.” The album finds the legendary guitarist revisiting the collaborative spirit that defined his career. Cropper worked alongside songwriter and producer Jon Tiven and Midnight Hour vocalist Roger C. Reale, recording at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio C with a band that included Ana Grosh, Nioshi Jackson, Eddie Gore, and a lineup of notable guest guitarists that features Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Brian May, and Wood.
The release arrives several months after Cropper’s passing in December 2025. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American music, Cropper built his legacy as a guitarist, songwriter, producer, and engineer. His work helped define the sound of Stax Records, where he served as a key member of Booker T. & The M.G.’s and collaborated with artists including Otis Redding.
“Until Now” follows the album’s first single, “Ticket First,” which featured a guest appearance from Clapton. Tiven previously recalled joking with the guitar icon after hearing his contribution to the track.
Despite a career that spanned more than six decades, Watching The Tide demonstrates that Cropper’s creative output remained strong through his final years. The album features 12 previously unreleased songs that further showcase the songwriting, musicianship, and collaborative spirit that made him one of the most respected figures in rock, soul, R&B, and blues.
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