Featuring Booker T & The MGs, Rufus Thomas, William Bell, David Porter & More
Out August 8, 2025 via Craft Recordings – 2LP Gatefold Vinyl
Before there were sold-out European tours and iconic theater stages, Stax Records artists were lighting up gritty clubs across the U.S.—none more electrifying than their appearance at the 5/4 Ballroom in Los Angeles in 1965. Now, for the first time in expanded form, this searing document of Memphis soul at its rawest gets a deluxe release with Stax Revue – Live in '65, out August 8, 2025 via Craft Recordings on 2LP gatefold vinyl.
This album delivers an unmatched front-row seat to the sweat-soaked power of early Stax legends—just as they were on the verge of conquering the world.
More Than a Reissue – A Revelation
This set builds on the original 5/4 Ballroom release, adding several never-before-issued tracks—including some laid down back in Memphis prior to the LA event. The collection now spans 21 explosive tracks, revealing not only the club’s ferocious energy but also the versatility of the Stax roster.
Unlike the polished presentation of later Stax/Volt European tours, Live in ’65 captures an intimate, raucous, high-octane performance, with the musicians playing direct to the dance floor, not a concert hall.
Track Highlights: Soul on Fire
The album opens with Booker T & The MGs, not as background players but as stars in their own right, delivering heavy-grooved cuts like:
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“Soul Twist”
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“Summertime”
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“You Can’t Sit Down”
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“Boot Leg”
These performances are lean, mean, and deep in the pocket—evoking a vibe that’s closer to a Hammond B-3 jazz club than a glossy soul revue.
The set moves fluidly into scorching vocal showcases, including:
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William Bell: “You Don’t Miss Your Water”, “Any Other Way”
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David Porter: “Out of Sight”, “Can’t See You When I Want To”
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The Astors: “What Can It Be”, “Candy”
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Rufus Thomas: “The Dog”, “Walking the Dog”
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Wendy Rene: “Bar-B-Q”
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Carla Thomas: “Every Ounce of Strength”
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Wilson Pickett: “In the Midnight Hour”
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The Mar-Keys: “Last Night”
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The Mad Lads: “Don’t Have to Shop Around”
Each track radiates raw emotion, danceable grooves, and no-holds-barred showmanship. It’s a stunning glimpse into the soulful, gritty world of Stax’s golden age, when even the biggest names were still working the clubs and battling it out for every scream from the crowd.
In an era increasingly defined by reissues and nostalgia, Stax Revue – Live in ’65 does more than look back—it celebrates the hunger and grind of these artists before superstardom. You hear the urgency, the sweat, the grind of life on the road—all delivered through some of the most legendary voices in soul music history.
More than a historical document, this album is a time machine to the beating heart of 1960s soul.
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