Musical Episode #027: Digging In The Stax, from ’68

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Welcome back everyone! Today we have part two in our look at the sprawling empire of the Stax family of labels. Last week’s podcast was an hour of 45’s up to 1968 and today we’ll pick up in 1968 and on into the future of the label.

As you may know the label had a very fruitful relationship with Atlantic in its early years with scores of hits crafted with their incredible in-house team- Dave Porter and Isaac Hayes composing, Booker T & The MG’s recording lots of the backing tracks and countless talented singers from Memphis and beyond behind the mic- reaching major markets with the distribution powers of Atlantic. When that deal came to an acrimonious end in 68 and Al Bell coming into prominence in the label’s leadership their was an incredibly fruitful and creative period that mirrored the changing styles in the popular music landscape.

The flurry of new singles, albums and artists were expansive in their vision from Isaac Hayes’ elaborate albums to Don Davis’ lush string arrangements, marking a new era for the label. Today’s mix draws from that second half of the label’s life which has a less distinctly R&B, recorded at 926 East McLemore Avenue sound but was an incredible part of the Stax legacy nonetheless.

I hope you enjoy and we’ll see you next week for another podcast!

Peace,
-George / Snack Attack

Tracklist:
Jean Knight : Do Me (Stax, 1972)
Booker T & The MG’s : Hang ‘Em High (Stax, 1968)
William Bell : Born Under A Bad Sign (Stax, 1969)
William Bell : I Forgot To Be Your Lover (Stax, 1968)
Isaac Hayes : Hung Up On My Baby (Stax, 1974)
Jimmy Hughes : Chains of Love (Volt, 1969)
Rev. Bernard Avant & The St. James Gospel Choir: Don’t Let The Devil Fool You (Truth, 1972)
Eddie Floyd : Woodman (Stax, 1970)
The Stingers : Do The Sissy (Stax, 1969)
Booker T & The MG’s : Soul Clap ’69 (Stax, 1969)
The Mad Lads : “Gone”! The Promises of Yesterday (Volt, 1971)
The Bar-Kays : Humpin (Stax, 1970)
The Emotions : Blind Alley (Volt, 1972)
Rufus Thomas : The World Is Round (Stax, 1971)
Israel “Popper Stopper” Tolbert : Shake Your Big Hips (Warren, 1971)
Joni Wilson : (Let Hurt Put You In The) Loser’s Seat (Stax, 1971)
Inez Foxx : Watch The Dog (That Brings The Bone) (Stax, 1972)
Judy Clay & William Bell : Private Number (Stax, 1968)
Veda Brown : Short Stopping (Stax, 1973)
Mable John : Running Out (Stax, 1968)
The Bar-Kays : Memphis at Sunrise (Instrumental) (Stax, 1972)

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