Stax / Volt

5-16-08 Complete Stax / Volt Singles – 1959 – 1968 (9CD set)

At the end of last month, I found the 9CD set of “Complete Stax / Volt Singles – 1959 – 1968” for about ½ of what it retails for. 244 tracks (if I recall correctly) – lots of instrumentals – rock solid R&B music. For me, it worked out to something like $0.17 per track – and I didn’t download it – I get to keep the CD’s! I just love expansive label retrospectives, anyway.

Probably the first Stax artist I ever heard was Booker T. & The MG’s. It would’ve been either “Green Onions” or “Hip Hug Her”. Somewhat later, I heard “Last Night” by The Mar-Keys. Great singles, all.

For the Stax / Volt story, I will refer people to the documentary that screened on PBS stations earlier this year. A fascinating documentary.

From the same stable of talent, we get Sam & Dave and Otis Redding. Yikes! “R&B 101”! Interesting how Otis Redding seems to be about the only artist to make it to “Immortal” status, without leaning too heavily on his connection to Stax. The film of Otis Redding live at the Monterey Int’l Pop Festival in 1967 is very impressive.

Dang, you can really ‘get lost’ in this boxed set – 9 discs! Best represented in my collection would definitely be Booker T. & The MG’s. I have a ton of their stuff:

CD AND NOW! RHINO US R2 70297 1966 12 TRKS

CD BEST OF STAX US FCD-60-004 1986 17 TRK Collection (70’s)

CD DOIN' OUR THING RHINO US R2 71014 1968 11 TRKS

CD GREEN ONIONS ATLANTIC US 82255.2 1962 12 TRKS stereo

CD HIP HUG-HER RHINO US R2 71013 1967 11 TRKS

CD IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ATLANTIC US 82338.2 1966 12 TRKS Xmas

CD McLEMORE AVENUE MOBILE FIDELITY MFCD 835 1971 4 TRKS 1st CD issue

CD MELTING POT STAX US SCD 8521.2 1972 8 TRKS ('90 issue)

CD SOUL DRESSING ATLANTIC US 82337.2 1965 12 TRKS stereo

Alas, I sold all of my original vinyl on BT & The MG’s long ago – when it was possible to really get something for it. I just love their classic Stax album “McLemore Avenue” – where they play almost all of The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” in the instrumental R&B style. Never heard it? Check it out!

I definitely understand the folks who become fanatic R&B 45 collectors. I’ve had several R&B 45 collections pass through my hands, and they’re great fun. I just love the “Beg Scream & Shout” Rhino 6 CD boxed set – tons of great 60’s R&B 45’s in there!

Pretty amazing that Steve Cropper, the guitarist of BT & The MG’s, is still alive and kickin’. He did so many productions for Stax – just rock solid stuff!

This boxed set is going to keep me happy for many hours. And I don’t even have to spend any time cleaning 45’s!