During the 1960s, Stax Records in Memphis transformed itself from a small record shop to one of the most influential producers of soul, rhythm and blues music. The studio's biggest star was Otis Redding. Redding put out a string of romantic singles before his untimely death in a plane crash at the age of twenty-six. Here he is singing For Your Precious Love.
For Your Precious Love |
Carla Thomas' voice is everywhere in the Stax catalogue. She was there from the beginning singing with Otis Redding, her father Rufus, and all the other major acts that came through the little studio. Here she is on one of her own singles, A Love of My Own.
A Love of My Own |
Wendy Rene only put out a handful of singles for Stax Records, first with The Drapels and then on her own. Every one is incredible. Here she is singing Give You What I Got.
Give You What I Got |
Booker T and the MGs formed as the Stax house band and played on almost all the studio's hundreds of recordings. They are responsible for defining the unique sound of Stax. Along with Booker T, the band included Steve Cropper on guitar and Isaac Hayes on keys, as well as many others. They were an eclectic mix of black and white musicians who brought various influences from country, blues, and soul music. Here they are playing their first and most famous single, Green Onions.
Green Onions |
Eddie Floyd was a important singer and songwriter for the Stax label. Here he is performing his biggest hit Knock on Wood.
Knock on Wood |
In 1965 Stax signed a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. Atlantic owner Jerry Wexler loved Stax's sound and began sending his star performers down to Memphis to soak up the gritty atmosphere and work with the song writers and musicians associated with Stax. Wilson Pickett came down and recorded In the Midnight Hour. If it sounds familiar, it is because it was written by Eddie Floyd. Here is Wilson Pickett:
In the Midnight Hour |
The soul duo Sam and Dave were sent down next. They worked with Isaac Hayes and David Porter who had become the main two songwriters for Stax. According to one story Hayes and Porter were up late one night trying to finish a song. Porter was in the bathroom (possibly shutting up heroin) when Hayes finally figured out the chorus and started playing it on the piano. Hearing the hook, Porter came running out of the bathroom yelling, "Hold On, I'm Coming." Here are Sam and Dave:
Hold On I'm Coming |
In 1968, Isaac Hayes finally started recording his own records. Here he is with the profoundly funky Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic. (Fans of Public Enemy may recognize the piano sample used in Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos.)
| Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic. |
In the early 1970s Stax Records began losing money. By 1975 the studio went bankrupt and finally closed its doors.