Here at That Devil Music, we got a whole lotta love in our hearts for the legendary Memphis soul label Stax Records. Stax is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and they’re planning one hell of a party! On May 19th, 2017 Concord Music Group and Rhino Entertainment, as part of a joint marketing collaboration, will release specially-curated, budget-friendly collections of some of the best and soul and blues music that ever walked the planet as the Stax Classics series.
The new Stax Classics releases celebrates some of the iconic record label’s greatest stars, each package offering new liner notes, label discographies, and a dozen red-hot tracks from the individual artist’s Stax album releases, both the hits and rare tracks as well. The first slate of Stax Classics releases feature the immense talents of Albert King, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, William Bell, Sam & Dave, and Booker T & the M.G.’s.
There will be plenty to celebrate throughout the year as both Concord and Rhino plan on reissuing a number of classic Stax albums on CD and vinyl. On the schedule is a 50th anniversary vinyl pressing of the great Otis Redding/Carla Thomas album King & Queen (Rhino Records), Melvin Van Peebles’ best-selling soundtrack to the blaxploitation classic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song (Concord Music), and Otis Redding’s 1965 gem The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (Rhino Record).
There will also be some very cool CD box sets coming from Stax in 2017, including the August release of the four-disc anthology Isaac Hayes: The Spirit of Memphis (1962-1976) in honor of the late Isaac Hayes’ 75th birthday, a three-CD Stax 60th anniversary box set, and the fourth volume of The Complete Stax Singles series which includes singles released not only by Stax and Volt Records, but also by Enterprise, Hip, Chalice, and other labels. Both Rhino and Concord Music will also be raiding their respective vaults for high-resolution digital reissues of classic Stax Records albums.
One of the most important and influential American record labels of the 20th century, during an impressive 15-year run Stax Records released more than 800 singles and nearly 300 albums, winning eight Grammy® Awards and an Academy Award, placing 167 hits on the Top 100 pop charts and 243 hit songs on the R&B chart. The roster of legendary blues and R&B artists that Stax Records worked with is truly impressive, including the talents mentioned above as well as folks like the Bar-Kays, Eddie Floyd, O.B. McClinton, Little Milton, the Emotions, Rufus Thomas, Mable John, and too many others to list. Stayed tuned to That Devil Music for more news throughout the year as Stax celebrates the big 6-0!
Buy the CDs from Amazon.com:
Albert King's Stax Classics
Otis Redding's Stax Classics
Isaac Hayes's Stax Classics
The Staple Singers's Stax Classics
Carla Thomas's Stax Classics
Johnnie Taylor's Stax Classics
William Bell's Stax Classics
Sam & Dave's Stax Classics
The Dramatics's Stax Classics
Booker T & the M.G.’s Stax Classics
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