Stax Records



Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the label changed its name to Stax Records in 1961 and shared its operations with Volt Records, a sister label created to avoid the impression of favoritism among radio stations playing their records.

Stax was influential in the creation of Southern soul and Memphis soul music. Stax also released gospel, funk, and blues recordings. It featured several popular ethnically integrated bands (including the label's house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s) and a racially integrated team of staff and artists unprecedented in that time of racial strife and tension in Memphis and the South.

Following the death of Stax's biggest star, Otis Redding, in 1967, and the severance of the label's distribution deal with Atlantic Records in 1968, Stax continued primarily under the supervision of a new co-owner, Al Bell. During the mid-1970s, a number of factors, including a problematic distribution deal with CBS Records, caused the label to slide into insolvency, resulting in its forced closure in late 1975.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel
Although Peel was already a fan of Stax superstar Otis Redding when the DJ returned to the UK from America in early 1967, soul music wasn’t a feature of his early British radio shows, other than during his daytime appearances on pirate Radio London, which focused on chart material. This only really changed in the 1970s, when he started to give regular airtime on his late-night Top Gear shows to soul artists, including members of the Stax roster, and this continued for the rest of his career on Radio One.

On 29 August 1979 and 30 August 1979, the 40 records he played listeners to celebrate his own 40th birthday included “I've Been Born Again” by Johnnie Taylor and “Starting All Over Again” by Mel & Tim, which had both been put out by Stax. In 1999, the latter was among four tracks chosen by the DJ for his Peelenium 1972, following the selection of songs by Otis Redding as highlights of 1965 and 1966. Both 40th birthday records were later found among the 142 treasured singles in John Peel's Record Box, alongside a third Stax 45, from Sam & Dave.

With the glory days of the label in the past, the many v/a (various artist) compilations played by Peel of vintage material included the 9-CD box set “The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968”, put out by Atlantic, which he featured extensively in his shows for around 18 months from mid-1991.

Peelenium

 * Peelenium 1965: Otis Redding: Ole Man Trouble
 * Peelenium 1966: Otis Redding: Try A Little Tenderness
 * Peelenium 1972: Mel & Tim: Starting All Over Again

John Peel’s Record Box

 * Johnnie Taylor: “I've Been Born Again / At Night Time”
 * Mel & Tim: “Starting All Over Again / It Hurts To Want It So Bad”
 * Sam & Dave: “I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down / Soothe Me (live)”

Compilations
(The following list features only tracks played from various artist (v/a) releases on Stax, or related releases on other labels, where indicated. Plays listed by release, in order of first play. Please add more information if known.)

(2xLP - Soul Is Here To Stay) (LP - Stax Sirens & Volt Vamps)
 * 17 August 1987: Dramatics: In The Rain
 * 23 August 1988: Sweet Inspirations: Try A Little Tenderness

(9xCD box set - The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968) Atlantic
 * 22 June 1991: Mar-Keys: Last Night
 * 23 June 1991: Veltones: Fool In Love
 * 30 November 1991: Booker T & The MGs: Behave Yourself
 * 01 December 1991: Otis Redding: These Arms Of Mine
 * 08 December 1991: Booker T & The MGs: Jelly Bread
 * 15 December 1991: Mar-Keys: Bo Time
 * 04 January 1992: Billy & The King Bees: Bango
 * 26 January 1992: Carla Thomas: Gee Whiz, It's Christmas
 * 09 February 1992: Otis Redding: Come To Me
 * 22 February 1992: Barbara & The Browns: Big Party
 * 07 March 1992: Drapels: Young Man
 * 09 May 1992: Booker T & The MGs: Can't Be Still
 * 16 May 1992: Otis Redding: That's How Strong My Love Is
 * 30 May 1992: Wendy Rene: Give You What I Got
 * 05 July 1992 (BFBS): Wendy Rene: Give You What I Got
 * 28 August 1992: Rufus Thomas and Carla Thomas: When You Move You Lose
 * 19 September 1992: Mar-Keys: Grab This Thing (Part 1)
 * 03 October 1992: Astors: In The Twilight Zone
 * 17 October 1992: Rufus Thomas and Carla Thomas: When You Move You Lose
 * 19 February 1993: William Bell: Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need)
 * 04 September 1993: Hot Sauce: I’ll Kill A Brick (About My Man)

(CD - 1000 Volts Of Stax) (CD - Stax O' Soul)
 * 13 October 1991: Mabel John: Sweet Devil
 * 20 November 1993: William Bell: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
 * 03 December 1993: Johnnie Taylor: I Could Never Get To Be President

(CD - Stax Gold Hits 1968-1974)
 * 01 April 1996: Mel & Tim: Starting All Over Again

(LP - UK Stax Singles 1968-1975)
 * 14 September 2000: Mel & Tim: Free For All
 * 20 September 2000: Soul Children: Hearsay (JP: "What a mighty record that is; no messing at all.")
 * 31 October 2000: Johnny Daye: Stay Baby Stay
 * November 2000 (FSK): Soul Children: Hearsay

Links

 * Wikipedia