Craft Recordings, the Catalog Division of Concord Music, is pleased to
announce the release of Stax Singles, Vol. 4: Rarities & The Best Of The Rest,
a 6-CD box set that delves deep into the Stax Records archives, and explores
the label’s efforts to diversify their output. This new addition to the
critically acclaimed series of Stax singles boxes offers a more profound study
of the Memphis label’s catalog, including long-forgotten B-sides and rarities,
and focusing not just on soul tunes – for which the label was most famous – but
also offering a cross-section of rock, pop, blues, gospel and country
recordings from 1960-1975. Available February 9th, the collection will also
include an 80-page booklet, offering four new in-depth essays by music
journalist Lee Hildebrand, writer and producer Alec Palao, box set co-producer
Bill Belmont and Rob Bowman, author of Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story Of Stax Records,
and producer of Vol. 4’s discs 1-3.
Featuring
recordings from the catalogs of both Craft and Rhino Entertainment – the
Catalog Division of Warner Music – who jointly control Stax’s iconic masters,
this comprehensive box set is the perfect companion piece to Vols. 1-3; the
first of which, The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968, was released by
Atlantic Records in 1991 and reissued by Rhino in 2016. Volumes 2 and 3,
originally released by Stax in 1993 and 1994 respectively, and reissued by
Concord in 2015, offered soul singles spanning 1968-1975, collectively. In his
introduction, co-producer Bill Belmont discusses the concept behind Vol. 4:
“Over the years, within the collector-fan circuit, and in reissues and
collections of vintage Stax material worldwide, some ‘B’ sides have attained a
status comparable to the promoted work.”
Adds Rob Bowman, in his essay regarding the soul portion of the box,
“[Stax’s B-sides] are, by and large, better than most companies’ A-sides.” Continues Belmont, “Stax’s ‘other side’…has
never been presented on its own – thus here, the “other” [imprints] are all
gathered under the Stax umbrella; part of the all-encompassing rubric ‘where
everything is everything.’”
While Stax
is primarily known for its soul music – Vols. 1-3 focused exclusively on that
genre – the label also managed a variety of imprints throughout the ’60s and
’70s, many of which explored new sonic avenues, including rock (from Ardent,
Enterprise and Hip), gospel (Chalice, Gospel Truth) and country (Enterprise).
Also compiled are several instrumental and blues tracks from the earliest days
of the label, when it was known as Satellite Records. The collection includes
over 60 wide-ranging artists, including the Staple Singers, Big Star, the
Bar-Kays, Jean Knight, Don Nix, the Rance Allen Group and Johnnie Taylor.
Stax
Singles, Vol. 4: Rarities & The Best Of The Rest comes at the conclusion of
a wide-ranging celebration of Stax Records’ 60th Anniversary by both Craft and
Rhino. The unique partnership of the labels commemorated the first marketing
collaboration of the Stax recordings, which had been divided since Atlantic
Records split with Stax Records in early 1968. Throughout 2017, the two labels
have collectively released over 15 vinyl reissues, including Rufus Thomas’
debut Walking The Dog, Sam & Dave’s Soul Men and Carla Thomas’ Carla LP
(Rhino), as well as titles like Melvin Van Peebles’ Sweet Sweetback’s
Baadasssss Song, the Sons of Truth’s Message From The Ghetto and John Gary
Williams’ self-titled debut (Craft). Special attention was also focused on two
Stax giants this year: Isaac Hayes and Otis Redding. Craft released a series of
remastered, high-resolution digital reissues for Hayes (vinyl reissues will
follow in 2018) as well as the critically acclaimed box set, Spirit Of Memphis
(1962-1976). Rhino paid tribute to Redding with mono editions of Soul Ballads
and The Soul Album, as well as a forthcoming seven-LP vinyl box, The Definitive
Studio Albums Collection, while Concord released the double LP Live From The
Whisky A Go Go earlier in the year. Looking ahead, Rhino will celebrate the
50th anniversary of Redding’s best-selling “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay”
single. For Record Store Day’s Black Friday event, Rhino commemorated the 50th
anniversary of Redding’s Live In Europe Album with a limited-edition red vinyl
pressing, while Concord saluted ’70s rockers Big Star with a live tribute to
their Third album, Stroke It, Noel: Big Star’s THIRD In Concert, as well as
Hayes, with a vinyl edition of Spirit of Memphis, offering highlights from the
box set. Additionally, during the Stax 60th celebration, both labels
collaborated on the Stax Classics series of CDs, highlighting Stax’s biggest
stars, while the 3-CD collection Soulsville U.S.A. culled material from both
Concord’s and Rhino’s masters, much like Stax Singles, Vol. 4.
Track List:
Disc 1:
1. Carla
& Rufus: Deep Down Inside
2. Rufus And
Friend: Yeah, Yea-Ah
3. Prince
Conley: All The Way
4. The
Canes: I’ll Never Give Her Up
5. The
Astors: Just Enough To Hurt Me
6. Eddie
Kirk: I Found A Brand New Love
7. Rufus
Thomas: Fine And Mellow
8. Booker T.
& The Mg’s: Fannie Mae
9. Floyd
Newman: Sassy
10. Rufus
Thomas: I Want To Get Married
11. Bobby
Marchan: That’s The Way That It Goes
12. The
Cobras: Shake Up
13. Barbara
And The Browns: You Belong To Her
14. Dorothy
Williams: Watchdog
15.
Baracudas: Free For All
16. Barbara
And The Browns: I Don’t Want Trouble
17. Gorgeous
George: Sweet Thing
18. The
Astors: I Found Out
19. Rufus
& Carla Thomas: We’re Tight
20. Rufus
Thomas: Chicken Scratch
21. Ruby
Johnson: Weak Spot
22. Rufus
Thomas: Talkin’ Bout True Love
23. Mable
John: If You Give Up What You Got (You’ll See What You Lost)
24. Sam And
Dave: A Small Portion Of Your Love
25. Ruby
Johnson: Keep On Keeping On
26. Rufus
Thomas: Greasy Spoon
27. Mable
John: Left Over Love
28. Ollie
& The Nightingales: Girl, You Have My Heart Singing
29. Mable
John: Don’t Get Caught
Disc 2:
1. Shirley
Walton: I’m So Glad You’re Back
2. Delaney
& Bonnie: We’ve Just Been Feeling Bad
3. Linda
Lyndell: I Don’t Know
4. Judy Clay
& William Bell: Love-Eye-Tis
5. Judy
Clay: Remove These Clouds
6. The
Staple Singers: Stay With Us
7. Rufus
Thomas: So Hard To Get Along With
8. Jeanne
& The Darlings: I Like What You’re Doing To Me
9. Booker T.
& The Mg’s: Over Easy
10. Mable
John: Shouldn’t I Love Him
11. William
Bell & Judy Clay: Left Over Love
12. Jimmy
Hughes: Sweet Things You Do
13. Art
Jerry Miller: Grab A Handful
14. Eddie
Floyd: Consider Me
15. Booker
T. & The Mg’s: Soul Clap ’69
16. Jeanne
& The Darlings: Standing In The Need Of Your Love
17. The
Bar-Kays: I Thank You
18. The Soul
Children: Make It Good
19. Ollie
& The Nightingales: I’ll Be Your Everything
20. William
Bell: Let Me Ride
21. Booker
T. & The Mg’s: Sunday Sermon
22. Carla
Thomas: Hi De Ho (That Old Sweet Roll)
23. Shack: A
Love Affair That Bears No Pain
24. The
Nightingales: Just A Little Overcome
25. The
Newcomers: Mannish Boy
Disc 3:
1. Ilana:
Let Love Fill Your Heart
2. The Soul
Children: Ridin’ On Love’s Merry-Go-Round
3. Hot
Sauce: I Can’t Win For Losing
4. Lee Sain:
Ain’t Nobody Like My Baby
5. Hot
Sauce: Echoes From The Past
6. The Mad
Lads: Did My Baby Call
7. Isaac
Hayes & David Porter: Baby I’m-A Want You
8. Jean
Knight: Pick Up The Pieces
9. Johnnie
Taylor: Stop Teasing Me
10. Isaac
Hayes: Type Thang
11. John
Gary Williams: In Love With You
12. Major
Lance: Since I Lost My Baby’s Love
13. Hot
Sauce: Mama’s Baby (Daddy’s Maybe)
14. The Soul
Children: Poem On The School House Door
15. Rufus
Thomas: That Makes Christmas Day
16. The
Staple Singers: What’s Your Thing
17. Shirley
Brown: Yes Sir Brother
18. Hot
Sauce: Funny
19.
Frederick Knight: Let’s Make A Deal
20. The
Green Brothers: Can’t Give You Up (I Love You Too Much)
21. John
Gary Williams: Just Ain’t No Love (Without You Here)
Disc 4:
1. Sid
Selvidge: The Ballad Of Otis B. Watson
2. The
Caboose: Black Hands White Cotton
3. Dallas
County: Love’s Not Hard To Find
4. Casper
Peters: April
5. Clark
Sullivan: Reaching For A Rainbow
6. Billy
Eckstine: I Wanna Be Your Baby
7. Chuck
Boris: Why Did It Take So Long
8. Barbara
Lewis: Why Did It Take So Long
9. Finley
Brown: Gypsy
10. O.B.
Mcclinton: Slip Away
11. Billy
Eckstine: When Something Is Wrong
12. Ben
Atkins: Good Times Are Coming
13. River
City Street Band: Some Other Man
14. O.B.
Mcclinton: Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You
15. Big Ben:
Would I Be Better Gone?
16. Don Nix:
Black Cat Moan
17. Don Nix:
She’s A Friend Of Mine
18. Larry
Raspberry And The Highsteppers: Rock ’N Roll Warning
19. Chico
Hamilton: Conquistadores ’74
20. Cliff
Cochran: The Way I’m Needing You
21. Connie
Eaton: Let’s Get Together
22. Karen
Casey: The Way I’m Needing You
Disc 5:
1. Poor
Little Rich Kids: Stop – Quit It
2. Lonnie
Duvall: Cigarettes
3. Poor
Little Rich Kids: It’s Mighty Clear
4. The Honey
Jug: Warm City Baby
5. The
Goodees: For A Little While
6. The Honey
Jug: For Your Love
7.
Kangaroo’s: Groovy Day
8. Bobby
Whitlock: And I Love You
9. Southwest
F.O.B.: Smell Of Incense
10. The
Goodees: Condition Red
11. Billy
Lee Riley: Family Portrait
12. This
Generation: The Children Have Your Tongue
13. Billy
Lee Riley: Show Me Your Soul
14. The
Waters: Day In And Out
15. The
Village Sound: Hey Jack (Don’t Hijack My Plane)
16. The
Cheques: Cool My Desire
17. The
Goodees: Goodies
18. Paris
Pilot: Miss Rita Famous
19. The
Knowbody Else: Someone Something
20. Cargoe:
Feel Alright
21. Big
Star: In The Street
22. Cargoe:
I Love You Anyway
23. The Hot
Dogs: Say What You Mean
24. Big
Star: O My Soul
25. The Hot
Dogs: I Walk The Line
26. Big
Star: September Gurls
Disc 6:
1. The Dixie
Nightingales: The Assassination
2. The Dixie
Nightingales: Hush Hush
3. The Dixie
Nightingales: I Don’t Know
4. The Stars
Of Virginia: Wade In The Water
5. The Dixie
Nightingales: Forgive These Fools
6. The
Jubilee Hummingbirds: Our Freedom Song (Free At Last)
7. The
Jubilee Hummingbirds: Press My Dying Pillow
8. The
Pattersonaires: God’s Promise
9. Rev.
Maceo Woods And The Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church Choir: Hello Sunshine
10. Roebuck
“Pop” Staples: Tryin’ Time
11. Terry
Lynn Community Choir: His Love Will Always Be
12. Reverend
W. Bernard Avant Jr. & The St. James Gospel Choir: Don’t Let The Green ass Fool You (Don’t Let The Devil Fool You)
13. The
Rance Allen Group: There’s Gonna Be A Showdown
14. The
Rance Allen Group: That Will Be Good Enough For Me
15. Reverend
Maceo Woods & The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir: The Magnificent
Sanctuary Band (Marching For The Man)
16. Louise
Mccord: Better Get A Move On
17. Charles
May & Annette May Thomas: Satisfied
18. The
Rance Allen Group: I Got To Be Myself
19. The
People’s Choir Of Operation Push Under The Direction Of Reverend Marvin Yancy:
He Included Me
20. The
Rance Allen Group: We’re The Salt Of The Earth
21. Louise
Mccord: Reflections
22. The
Rance Allen Group: Ain’t No Need Of Crying
No comments:
Post a Comment