Wattstax soundtrack expanded and re-released

Seven years after the deadly 1965 Watts Riots, Memphis' Stax Records organized a politically charged commemorative festival -- a "black Woodstock" -- where label artists like Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, the Staple Singers and others gathered in the L.A. Coliseum to celebrate the survival of their community and "a renewed hope in the future." Mel Stuart created a Golden Globe-winning documentary about the event, titled Wattstax, which interspersed concert footage with scenes from the churches and storefronts around Watts, making the film socially rather than musically focused. Click here to watch the trailer.

Yesterday, a new edition of the soundtrack (originally released in 1972 with cover art of the 100,000-plus crowd) premiered on the Stax label, which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. In addition to music from the concert itself, Pitchfork notes that the three-CD compilation features performances from the week leading up to Wattstax as well as snippets of routines by the late, Stax-signed comedian Richard Pryor.

Here's a piece (the Bar-Keys - "Son of Shaft"):

Wattstax track list:

Disc one

1. Dale Warren & the Wattstax '72 Orchestra - "Salvation Symphony"
2. Rev. Jesse Jackson - "Introduction"
3. Kim Weston - "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
4. The Staple Singers - "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)"
5. The Staple Singers - "Are You Sure?"
6. The Staple Singers - "I Like the Things About Me"
7. The Staple Singers - "Respect Yourself"
8. The Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There"
9. Deborah Manning - "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
10. Louise McCord - "Better Get a Move On"
11. Lee Sain - "Them Hot Pants"
12. Little Sonny - "Wade in the Water"
13. William Bell - "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"
14. The Temprees - "Explain it to Her Mama"
15. Frederick Knight - "I've Been Lonely (For So Long)"
16. The Newcombers; "Pin the Tail on the Donkey"
17. Eddie Floyd - "Knock on Wood"

Disc two

1. The Emotions - "Peace Be Still"
2. The Golden 13 - "Old Time Religion"
3. The Rance Allen Group - "Lying on the Truth"
4. The Rance Allen Group - "Up Above My Head"
5. The Bar-Kays - "Son of Shaft/Feel It"
6. The Bar-Kays - "In the Hole"
7. The Bar-Kays - "I Can't Turn You Loose"
8. The David Porter Show - "Introduction"
9. David Porter - "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)"
10. David Porter - "Can't See You When I Want To"
11. David Porter - "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
12. Richard Pryor - "Niggas"
13. Richard Pryor - "Arrest/Lineup"
14. The Emotions - "So I Can Love You"
15. The Emotions - "Group Introduction / Show Me How"

Disc three

1. Little Milton - "Open the Door to Your Heart"
2. Mel & Tim - "Backfield in Motion"
3. Jonnie Taylor - "Steal Away"
4. Albert King - "Killing Floor"
5. Carla Thomas - "Pick Up the Pieces"
6. Carla Thomas - "I Like What You're Doing (To Me)"
7. Carla Thomas - "B-A-B-Y"
8. Carla Thomas - "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)
9. Carla Thomas - "I Have a God Who Loves"
10. Rufus Thomas - "The Breakdown"
11. Rufus Thomas - "Do the Funky Chicken"
12. Rufus Thomas - "Do the Funky Penguin"
13. The Soul Children - "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To"
14. The Soul Children - "Hearsay"
15. Isaac Hayes - "Theme From Shaft"