As house guitarist with Stax records in the 1960s, Cropper was one of the architects of southern soul, a moving force behind Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and more. Dedicated salutes one source of Cropper's terse but slinky style, the half-forgotten R&B group the 5 Royales, whose guitarist Lowman Pauling wrote standards such as "Dedicated to the One I Love" and "Think". An all-star guest list of vocalists reprises the Royales' catalogue, while Cropper leads an impeccable band. Sharon Jones and Bettye Lavette growl and grunt, Steve Winwood brings melody and Brian May multitracks, Queen-style. Cropper's stinging guitar can't help but showboat, albeit in the classiest of ways.