BEFORE Booker T. recorded and released “Potato Hole,” his first solo disc in 20 years, the organ wizard had to reinvent himself.
“I’ve been changing over from an old-school guy to a new-school guy,” says the artist, whose full name is Booker T. Jones.
As the house band for Stax Records, Booker T. & the MG’s provided the funky soundtrack for Memphis soul in the ’60s.
Besides having a string of hits from 1962 to 1969, when Jones left Stax, Booker T. & the MGs played on some amazing records, such as Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man” and Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.”
But as he headed into the 21st century, the 64-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was determined to change with the times.
So, a few years ago, he enrolled in San Francisco State University to learn about digital recording and production.
Then he switched formats with “Potato Hole,” making more of a rock album with Neil Young and Southern rockers Drive-By Truckers.
The Hammond B3 organ is still there, but it’s a long way from the familiar soul-funk of Booker T. & the MGs, who scored big hits such as “Green Onions,” “Hip Hug-Her” and “Time Is Tight.”
Jones was always a fan of rock ‘n’ roll, but was confined to making soul and funk records.
“I was a boy in the studio when rock ‘n’ roll was first beginning,” he says.
“I was involved in some of the inception of that and developed a love for it, but I worked for an R&B company, Stax Records, which was fine.”
Jones, who was only 18 when “Green Onions” became a hit, began to realize his rock side in the ’90s, when he worked with Young and Bob Dylan.
“I didn’t see any way to go back and do ‘Hip
Hug-Her’ or ‘Green Onions,’ ” says Jones. “That was another era.”
Besides his signature organ, the Memphis-raised musician once played a slew of other instruments, such as ukulele, flute, trombone, clarinet, tuba and baritone sax — which is how he got to Stax Records.
When he was in high school, a friend pulled him from class to play sax on Rufus and Carla Thomas’ first hit, “Cause I Love You” at the Stax studio.
On “Potato Hole,” he covers OutKast’s “Hey Ya,” Tom Waits’ “Get Behind the Mule,” and jams on guitar with Young on the song “Native New Yorker,” which Jones was inspired to write after visiting the World Trade Center site.
“The city’s so resilient,” he says. “It’s a city that loves rock music. I was trying to pay homage to the spirit that’s still there.”
As he was writing “Native New Yorker,” he imagined a young stockbroker “who might be playing some air guitar in his apartment.”
Booker T. performs at Joe’s Pub tomorrow.
marymhuhn@nypost.com