INDEX -- NEWS -- INFOS -- STAX TODAY -- FOCUS -- ADS -- LISTS -- LINKS -- PHOTOS -- CONTACT
STAX INFOS
page 22
PORRETTA
2007
(April 14, 2007)
Here is the program
for the 2007 Porretta Sweet Soul Music 20th festival, from July
19 to 22:
http://www.porrettasoul.it/#
It has also the links to some of Stax former artists' sites which
will attend the festival:
http://www.sirmackrice.com/
http://www.jimmymccracklin.com/
http://www.bookert.com/
http://www.eddiefloyd.com/
http://www.sweetmedicinemusic.com/
http://www.playitsteve.com/
SOME OF THE STAX
REISSUE PROJECTS UNVEILED
(March 19, 2007)
See this interview
of Cheryl Pawelski: http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/music/article/0,1426,MCA_505_5406778,00.html
THE QUEEN ALONE
+
(March 13, 2007)
This classic soul album will be reissued on the reactivated Stax
Records. The remastered reissue CD contains 5 previously
unreleased tracks, plus liner notes by Stax historian Rob Bowman,
author of the award-winning Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax
Records.
The tracks listing is: Any Day Now
/ Stop Thief / I Take It To My Baby / I Want To Be Your
Baby / Something Good (Is Going To Happen To You) / When Tomorrow
Comes / I'll Always Have Faith In You / All I See Is You /
Unchanging Love / Give Me Enough (To Keep Me Going) / Lie To Keep
Me From Crying + Me and My Clock / Same Thing / Your Love Indeed
(alternate take) / I Want To Know (take 2) / I Wonder About Love.
The five additional tracks come from the same recording session.
FORTHCOMING
CD RELEASE
(February 11, 2007)
JOHNNIE TAYLOR / LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (LA, september 1972): Introduction (featuring Rufus Thomas) / Take Care Of Your Homework / Little Bluebird / Steal Away (Ver.1) / I Don't Wanna Lose You / Who's Making Love / Hello Sundown / Steal Away (Ver.2) / Stop Doggin' Me / Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone.
The last track has
been already published on the WattStax LPs, CDs and DVD's.
FIRST STAX
2007 NEWS
(February 9, 2007)
This March, Concord will release a Stax two-disc compilation that runs the gamut from Carla Thomas' "Gee Whiz" to Shirley Brown's "Woman to Woman," with several new best-of collections and a three-disc WattStax box set to follow. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music's Deanie Parker, Soulsville USA: The Story of Stax Records author Rob Bowman, former Fantasy owner Bill Belmont, and the crew at Rhino Records, which owns the Atlantic-era Stax catalog, are working in tandem on projects, while Memphian Robert Gordon and Los Angeles filmmaker Morgan Neville are co-directing and producing a period documentary called Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story, scheduled to air on PBS' Great Performances in July.
Also on the books: an all-star showcase at Austin's South by Southwest Music Festival in March and a show at The Orpheum this summer.
Members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences are also getting on the Stax bandwagon, awarding the studio's house band, Booker T & the MGs, a Lifetime Achievement Award and giving a posthumous Trustee Award to label co-founder Estelle Axton.
"Estelle was a mother to so many musicians, and she fostered a lot of the young people at Stax, encouraging them and giving them a chance," says Katherine Sage, senior project manager of the Memphis chapter of the Recording Academy.
While both awards will be
presented on the eve of the 49th Annual Grammys, slated to air on
Sunday, February 11th, Sage says that both Axton and the MGs will
receive televised recognition.
STAX
RECORDS REACTIVATED IN 2007
(December 19, 2006)
In honor of the 50th anniversary
of the legendary label Stax – home to many of soul music’s
most enduring recordings – Concord Music Group is pleased to
announce a year of activity that will include deluxe reissues,
special events and the reactivation of the label with a slate of
new signings.
Stax’s contribution to popular music is enormous. Releasing
hit after hit from Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MGs, the Bar-Kays,
Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave, the Staple Singers, Eddie Floyd,
Johnnie Taylor, William Bell and Rufus and Carla Thomas, among
many, many others, the Memphis soul label established itself as a
one-of-a-kind brand. With a grittier sound than Motown’s and
arguably the greatest house band of all time (Booker T. & the
MGs), Stax pushed soul music to new heights. But the strength and
commitment of the artists was also socially significant, as was
the undeniable symbolism of the MGs’ black and white
musicians playing together in the segregated South. Stax grew up
during years of enormous socio-political turmoil. The label’s
legacy stands as a testament to their extraordinary commitment
and dedication to civil rights, both politically and culturally.
Songs like “Hold On I’m Comin’,” “(Sittin’
On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Respect Yourself” and
“Knock on Wood” defined a generation.
It’s a fitting tribute to Stax that not only will its past
glories be suitably honored during 2007, but its future will be
assured as well. The first new signings to Stax include soul
luminary and Stax patriarch Isaac Hayes and superlative vocalist
Angie Stone. Isaac Hayes remains an integral force in Stax and
beyond, and Angie Stone is widely regarded as one of her
generation’s few heirs to the grand tradition of R&B.
“Stax always has been and always will be Soul Music, I was a
part of that,” said Hayes. “I am coming back to Stax
because there is still so much to do. It’s like coming home.”
“The thrill of putting out music on the label that brought
the world Otis, Booker T, the Staples and so many other artists
who made me want to sing in the first place is simply
indescribable,” added Stone. “I simply can’t
believe that I will be a Stax artist – and I’ll be
label mates with Isaac Hayes. The staff at Stax share my belief
that soul has to stay in touch with its origins. We’re going
to make beautiful music together.”
“These two signings sum up our vision for Stax – they
represent the roots and the future of the soul tradition,”
noted Concord executive VP of A&R John Burk. “As the co-writer,
producer and arranger of Stax hits like ‘Soul Man’ and
‘Hold On, I’m Coming,’ as well as the genius
behind ‘Shaft,’ ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ and other
hugely influential records, Isaac has established himself as a
visionary of modern music. And Angie Stone, with her
extraordinary voice, artistic intelligence and soulful
sensibilities, is ideally suited to carry on the tradition. We’re
thrilled that she’s joined us as we enter a new era in which
Stax will once again be the home for the greatest artists in soul
and R&B.”
The first new release on Stax will be Interpretations, a star-studded
tribute to the songs of Earth Wind & Fire mastermind Maurice
White. The disc will boast performances by such EWF acolytes as
Chaka Khan on “Shining Star”, Musiq Soulchild “Reasons”,
Meshell N’degeocello “Fantasy”, Kirk Franklin
“September”, The Randy Watson Experience (aka ?uestlove
of The Roots) featuring Bilal “Can’t Hide Love”,
Dwele “That’s The Way of the World”, and the
aforementioned Stax family member Angie Stone on “Be Ever
Wonderful” among other stellar artists. “Concord came
to me with the Interpretations concept," says Memphis native
White, who helped match the artists with his songs for the
project. “Right away I felt very positive about it. I could
tell it was a labor of love."
Concord, which acquired the legendary Memphis label as part of
its purchase of Fantasy Records in 2004, will also honor Stax’s
50th year by releasing definitive collections, rare performances,
unreleased tracks and more from the Memphis R&B imprint in
deluxe new packages. The first of these will be Stax 50: A 50th
Anniversary Celebration, a two-CD, 50-track anthology brimming
with hits from Sam & Dave (“Soul Man,” “Hold
On, I’m Comin’”), Otis Redding “(Sittin’
on) The Dock of the Bay,” “Respect”), Booker T.
& the MGs (“Green Onions”), Isaac Hayes (“Theme
from Shaft,” “Never Can Say Goodbye”), The Staples
Singers (“Respect Yourself,” “I’ll Take You
There”), Eddie Floyd (“Knock on Wood”), Rufus
Thomas (“Walkin’ the Dog”), Carla Thomas (“B-A-B-Y”),
Jean Knight (“Mr. Big Stuff”) and many more. Featuring
a unique lenticular cover and extensive notes from Stax historian
Rob Bowman’s acclaimed book Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of
Stax, this extraordinary compilation is an authoritative display
of Stax’s creative vitality and unbridled chart power.
Plans for digital releases, remixes and other projects are also
in the works; the anniversary year’s releases are slated to
include more than 20 CDs and DVDs. “This is about honoring
an extraordinary legacy,” said CMG General Manager Gene
Rumsey. “We look forward not only to providing indispensable
collections of the most famous Stax recordings, but also to
shining a spotlight on many lesser-known and undiscovered gems.”
In tandem with Soulsville USA, the City of Memphis Convention and
Visitors Bureau and the Stax Museum of American Soul, Concord
will also participate in numerous live, broadcast and other
events as part of an extensive year of activity heralding “Memphis
Celebrates 50 Years of Soul” including a feature length
documentary illustrating the staggering Stax story.
“Our partnership with the Concord Music Group has been
extremely gratifying,” said Deanie Parker, President/CEO of
Soulsville USA and former Director of Publicity, Artists and
Community Relations at Stax. “The people at Concord get it.
I appreciate the respect that they have for Stax’s music and
the legacy, their ability to embrace the spirit and philosophy of
Stax, and their marketing savvy.”
Concord looks forward to a joyous celebration of Stax’s 50th
anniversary, a productive relationship with Soulsville USA and
the City of Memphis, and an exciting new chapter in the story of
one of music’s all-time greatest labels.
The reissues will be highlighted
by a recently discovered recording of Redding's 1967 European
Tour.
THE TERRY
MANNING LP REISSUED ON CD
(December 16, 2006)
Some can consider Terry Manning as the 5th MG's as he played on the marimba on their Soul Limbo hit. He also produced the Union Extended very rare LP by Booker T. & the MG's, adding instruments on all tracks. Here is at last this LP, recorded at Ardent studios (Enterprise ENS-1008), reissued with bonus tracks and including some funky tracks, reminiscent of the Stax soul and some more Beatlish. The complete list of tracks is: Savoy Truffle, Guess Things Happen That Way, Trashy Dog, Wild Wild Rocker, Choo Choo Train, I Ain't Got You, Sour Mash, II Wanna Be Your Man. Bonus tracks: Talk Talk, One After 909, I Can't Stand The Rain ( live with the Hi rhythm section).
http://www.sunbeamrecords.com/terry_manning.htm
INDEX -- NEWS -- INFOS -- STAX TODAY -- FOCUS -- ADS -- LISTS -- LINKS -- PHOTOS -- CONTACT
