15 Great Stax Records Songs

By Lane Billings and Logan Lockner at 11:16 AM on February 23, 2013

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the release of The Dock of the Bay, the first album by Otis Redding to be released after his premature death in a plane crash in December 1967. In honor of this anniversary we've gathered some of the greatest songs released on Redding's label, Memphis's legendary Stax Records.  read more

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Stax Records to reveal The Soul of Hip Hop

By Liz Stinson at 1:30 PM on March 4, 2009

Listen to any influential hip-hop artist from the last few decades, and you'll hear it: the familiar hook that you swear you've heard before. Chances are, you probably have....  read more

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Wattstax soundtrack expanded and re-released

By Rebecca Bowen at 12:00 AM on August 29, 2007

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...  read more

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Preview tonight's PBS Stax documentary

By Rebecca Bowen at 12:00 AM on August 1, 2007

Check out this preview for Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story, which makes its television debut tonight on PBS as part of the channel’s “Great Performances Series.” The documentary recently premiered at American Cinematheque’s Mods and Rockers film festival, honoring 50 years of the Memphis “upstart company that had the audacity to be integrated,” to quote Stax musician William Bell. Other Stax artists included Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Booker T. & the MGs, Wilson Pickett and Isaac Hayes. Yes, that is indeed the affecting narration of Mr. Samuel L. Jackson. Related links: Stax50.com The Stax Site PBS: Respect Yourself:...  read more

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Legendary soul label celebrates 50th anniversary

By Paste Staff at 12:00 AM on January 8, 2007

It’s been 50 years since Stax opened its doors in Memphis, Tenn., and the legendary soul label is turning it up to 11 in 2007. Thanks to a host of deluxe reissues, special events and new releases slated for this milestone year, Stax is celebrating its anniversary in style with recent signees Isaac Hayes and Angie Stone at the helm. Since its birth a half-century ago, Stax has been home to soul giants like Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MGs, the Staple Singers and Eddie Floyd. The reactivation of Stax was initiated by Concord Music Group, which acquired the...  read more

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