John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

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John Peel Wiki

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 MGs) 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. By the early 1980s, no new material was being issued on the label, and for the next two decades, Stax was strictly a reissue label.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel[]

Ole_Man_Trouble_-_Otis_Redding

Ole Man Trouble - Otis Redding

J_Taylor_I've_been_born_again

J Taylor I've been born again

Mel_&_Tim_Starting_All_Over_Again_(1972)

Mel & Tim Starting All Over Again (1972)

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 following decade, when he started to give Stax and other soul artists regular airtime on his late-night Sounds Of The Seventies shows, something he 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, both on 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 (a cover version of which was a hit for Elvis Costello).

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

Peelenium[]

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 by Peel 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.)

1980s

(2xLP - Soul Is Here To Stay)

(LP - Stax Sirens & Volt Vamps)

1990s

(9xCD box set - The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968) Atlantic

(CD - 1000 Volts Of Stax)

(CD - Stax O' Soul)

(CD - Stax Gold Hits 1968-1974)

2000s

(LP - UK Stax Singles 1968-1975)

See Also[]

Links[]