For anyone tuned into the roots and branches of American music, the passing of Steve Cropper in December 2025 hit hard. As guitarist, songwriter, producer and engineer, his work with Stax and far beyond ran deep through the post-war era. Watching The Tide arrived as one final statement, bringing together A-list names including Eric Clapton, Brian May, Ronnie Wood and Billy Gibbons across 12 brand-new songs. Cropper ranked it among the best work 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…”