Stax '68: A Memphis Story

"He was born in Macon Georgia, a poor boy without a dime, he made his way to Memphis singing "These Arms Of Mine" - William Bell in his Otis Redding musical salute "Tribute To A King"

As most people surely know, 1968 was a tumultuous year - the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, war in Vietnam at its Tet offensive height, Russians in Czechoslovakia, violent student demonstrations in Paris, racial tensions ramped up all over the place, particularly in the USA and South Africa. Stax Records, based in King's hometown and near to the site of his murder, felt this as keenly as anyone. Turmoil was the name of the game, the background to even the most ordinary person's existence.

It is against this background that this five CD compilation is presented - just take a look at its inspirationally iconic cover. However, if you were expecting, as I was, a whole load of soulful protest, Staple Singers-style, to reflect the sound of segregation, then you will remain a tad frustrated. Yes, the gospel-influenced Staples are there, of course, and nothing is as powerful here as their civil rights anthem Long Walk To DC. However, in similar way to the Motown Complete Singles sets of the late sixties/early seventies, there is much on this collection that is simply not soul at all. Indeed, more than a fair few of the artists are white, as Stax, like Motown, attempted to keep the money flowing in, via its subsidiary labels, diversifying into blue-eyed soul, bubblegum, psychedelia and country. 

Thus, we get songs from country artists like Daaron Lee and Billy Lee Riley, girl groups such as The Goodees - with their awful Shangri-Las rip-off Condition Red - jazz from The Eddie Henderson Quintet, blue-eyed pop like The Del-Rays and Fresh Air, bubblegum from The Pop Corn Generation and The Village Sound, psychedelia from This Generation and Southwest F.O.B. (who sang of The Smell Of Incense - how very "protest"!), garage rock from The Aardvarks, blue-eyed soul from Lindell Hill, white girl soul (albeit extremely good) from Lynda Lyndell (the cookin' What A Man and the infectious Bring Your Love Back To Me - a song familiar with all Northern Soul aficionados) and white blues from the more than competent Delaney & Bonnie. 

Listening to this collection, though, I am not gripped by protest fervour in any way. Only every now and again does the tension that must have surrounded Stax Studios surface - only really on The Staples Singers cuts, to be honest. Granted, there is some superb, copper-bottomed soul on here, from the likes of Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Judy Clay, Mable John, Shirley Walton, The Mad Lads, Johnnie Taylor, Isaac Hayes (his first single Precious Precious) and Sam & Dave, as well as authentic blues from Albert King and instrumental funk from Booker T. & The MGs. Just what a great underrated vocal group were Ollie & The Nightingales, by the way? Check out the barnstorming, Northern Soul-ish Girl, You Have My Heart Singing. An uplifting beauty of a track.

For me, I find I have to say, I get far more of a genuine soulful vibe from The Complete Stax Singles Volume Two 1968-71, which sticks to soul releases only and takes me right to the heart of Stax in the way that I had hoped that this compilation would do. The sound on there is so damn good too (not that it isn't on this one either). Take your pick. 

Look, there is still a hell of a lot that is seriously good on here but I would say always stick to the full-on soul when looking for a killer collection of Stax material. Or, if you are playing this one, just select the soul stuff.