Mavis Staples, Booker T. Jones, Jon Langford, Marshall Crenshaw and The Bottle Rockets in Chicago

I almost cried Saturday when Booker T. Jones caressed Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” with his organ, guitar and voice. I did cry when Mavis Staples sang “I’ll Take You There” for 15 minutes at the Hideout Block Party, 2011.

I’ve wanted to see Mavis Staples perform live since I heard my first Staples Singers album more than 40 years ago; she exceeded my expectations. It was clear she was delighted to be back in her hometown and she filled every song — a mix of classics and tunes from her latest album, “You are Not Alone” — with spunky spirit. I’d hoped Jeff Tweedy might join her on stage, but he’s on tour with Wilco. Instead, she brought Andrew Bird, the block party’s closing act, on stage to perform The Band’s “The Weight.” It was electric. And her performance of The Staple Singers’ “Freedom Highway” was especially moving.

I’ve always thought Booker T was the greatest organist in soul and rock, but I never really knew, I guess, that he also was an excellent guitarist and an exceptional vocalist. In fact, as he sang “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” I kept thinking that he could have become a Stax legend as a vocalist as well as an organist. Of course, he also illustrated why he’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an organist when he played “Green Onions” and “Time is Tight,” a couple of old Booker T & The MGs songs.

I’ve seen Jon Langford perform many times and it’s always a treat. A friend, who’d never been to one of his concerts before, thought he was one of the funniest guys she’s ever seen. The fact that he was dressed in a suit didn’t keep him from executing crisp Rockettes-like kicks during one song. And the Viking helmet his Mekons bandmate Sally Timms wore provided a source of barbed banter throughout his set. The Burlington Welsh Male Chorus provided more amusement, and they all sounded mighty good, especially on “Tom Jones Levitation.”

Friday night was just as good as we watched Marshall Crenshaw from front-row seats at The Old Town School of Folk Music. Crenshaw and The Bottle Rockets’ rendition of Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” was the coolest version of that rock classic I ever expect to hear. Their cover of Richard Thompson’s “Valerie” was even better. I had an idea of what to expect because I saw Crenshaw with The Bottle Rockets in Lafayette last last year, but I was still surprised by the intensity of their performance. Most folks think of Crenshaw as a melodic pop god. he is that, to be sure, but he’s also a wicked guitarist and The Bottle Rockets drove him hard.

The Bottle Rockets’ rock ‘n’ roll fervor with Crenshaw contrasted sweetly with their excellent acoustic set, which opened the night.

I can’t imagine many people in the world had a better musical weekend than my friends and I did.

Here are a few videos from the Hideout Block Party: