Muscle Shoal's Dan Penn re Bobby Bland (an old interview reposted)but he also talks a lot about the role of radio back then and what he discovered via it
http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2013/jun/25/issue-2728-bobby-blands-influential-voice/
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 June 2013 19:36 (ten years ago) link
When I was living there in the 90s, the original Muscle Shoals Sound building at 3614 Jackson Hwy was a run down washer-dryer repair and parts shop. It made me sad. The studio itself had moved to a larger structure a few miles away by then. I'm glad they're finally taking steps to preserve the original.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 26 June 2013 19:49 (ten years ago) link
http://www.magpictures.com/dates.aspx?id=827e9dcf-98b7-4b01-a504-81bdf2f9acb7
Opening
10/4/2013Brooklyn, NY: Nitehawk 3Chicago, IL: Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
10/5/2013Bridgeport, CT: Bijou Theatre
10/10/2013Miami, FL: O Cinema
10/11/2013Asbury Park, NJ: The ShowRoomBerkeley, CA: Shattuck Cinemas 10Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema 9Minneapolis, MN: Lagoon CinemaNashville, TN: Belcourt TheatrePhiladelphia, PA: Ritz at the BourseSan Diego, CA: Ken CinemaSan Francisco, CA: Opera Plaza Cinemas 4Santa Fe, NM: The ScreenWest Los Angeles, CA: Nuart Theatre
10/14/2013San Rafael, CA: Smith Rafael Film Center
10/18/2013Atlanta, GA: Midtown Art Cinemas 8Bellingham, WA: Pickford Film Center 3Birmingham, AL: Edge 12Denver, CO: Chez ArtisteDurham, NC: Carolina Theatre - DurhamFlorence, AL: Regency 12Greensboro, NC: Geeksboro Coffeehouse CinemaLittle Rock, AR: Market Street CinemaPalm Desert, CA: Cinemas Palme D'Or 7Seattle, WA: Varsity TheatreTallahassee, FL: Tallahassee Film Society / All Saints CinemaWashington, DC: West End CinemaWest Newton, MA: West Newton Cinema 6Winston-Salem, NC: Aperture Cinema
10/22/2013Boulder, CO: Boedecker Theater
10/24/2013Milwaukee, WI: University of WI - Union Theatre
10/25/2013Asheville, NC: Carolina Asheville 14Athens, GA: Cine TheatreMobile, AL: Crescent TheatreMontgomery, AL: Capri Community Film SocietySan Luis Obispo, CA: Palm Cinema
11/1/2013Bellingham, WA: Pickford Film Center 3Charleston, SC: Terrace TheatreRichmond, VA: Criterion Cinemas at Movieland
11/3/2013Ooltewah, TN: Barking Legs Theater
11/5/2013Boulder, CO: International Film Series
11/11/2013Albuquerque, NM: GuildLafayette, LA: Acadiana Center for the Arts
11/15/2013Fort Worth, TX: Modern Art Museum of Fort WorthPark City, UT: Park City Film Series
11/26/2013Houston, TX: The Museum of Fine Arts
12/26/2013Huntsville, AL: Flying Monkey Arts Center
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 2 October 2013 04:16 (ten years ago) link
Go see it (despite the movie having some flaws)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 October 2013 18:34 (ten years ago) link
Tonight on Late Show with David Letterman, catch a special musical performance from the film Muscle Shoals, featuring R&B legend Candi Staton, Jason Isbell, John Paul White (The Civil Wars) and The Swampers (Spooner Oldham, Jimmy Johnson & David Hood). They will perform "I Ain't Easy To Love" which is featured in the Magnolia Pictures film Muscle Shoals, in theaters now & available on iTunes and On Demand everywhere.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 October 2013 03:02 (ten years ago) link
Oh y'all, so good!
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 20 October 2013 21:29 (ten years ago) link
I won free tickets and saw it again.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 21 October 2013 04:14 (ten years ago) link
kill Bono
― Simon H., Monday, 21 October 2013 06:04 (ten years ago) link
I didn't mind anything Bono had to say, but his fucking stupid glasses were killing me.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 21 October 2013 06:05 (ten years ago) link
heard mixed reviews of this from a few friends.one friend was real bummed that they didn't talk to penn/oldham abt their songwriting at all.
― ian, Monday, 21 October 2013 22:30 (ten years ago) link
If you go into it with the knowledge that it's largely the story of Rick Hall and what was going on in his sphere, you'll realize that veering off into things like Penn and Oldham talking about the writing process didn't have any relevance to the story being told. Anecdotes, perhaps. But no real meaty content.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 21 October 2013 22:32 (ten years ago) link
yeah, i think it was a problem of her expectations w/r/t the film.
― ian, Monday, 21 October 2013 22:36 (ten years ago) link
That said, I'd like to think there is A LOT of good interview excerpts that would show up on a dvd release.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 21 October 2013 22:37 (ten years ago) link
Joe McEwen talking about Dan Penn on Peter Guralnick's blog:
http://www.peterguralnick.com/post/40594431605/a-word-from-mr-c-dan-penn-the-fame-recordings
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 18:09 (ten years ago) link
This is coming to my town next month, with a post-screening q&a with the director! Can't wait.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 13 November 2013 16:37 (ten years ago) link
― Johnny Fever, Monday, October 21, 2013
Not sure I buy this completely. I think adding more in about Hall benfited from Arthur Alexander's singing and songwriting early on; and about how Hall benefited from Penn/Oldham's writing and from Candi Staton and others vocals, would tell a fuller and more complete story about Rick Hall and the studio and region. Instead we got more Bono, plus Skynard.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 13 November 2013 16:55 (ten years ago) link
about how Hall benefited
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 13 November 2013 16:57 (ten years ago) link
You act like Bono was all over the film. He had probably a minute of screen time.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 13 November 2013 17:00 (ten years ago) link
Alright, then how about a minute less of Skynard, who Hall didn't really work with.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 13 November 2013 17:31 (ten years ago) link
watched it tonight - loved it
I didn't really know anything about Hall's personal life going in - helluva lot of tragedy he's carried around with him.
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 29 December 2013 07:39 (ten years ago) link
:D
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 29 December 2013 07:41 (ten years ago) link
Any word yet on when PBS is going to air it? I should've gone back for a second screening while it was here.
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 29 December 2013 07:42 (ten years ago) link
Monday April 21, 2014 - 9-11pm ET
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 29 December 2013 07:59 (ten years ago) link
(according to the PBS/Independent Lens site)
Yes!
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 29 December 2013 08:00 (ten years ago) link
also I need to FP curmudgeon for suggesting there be LESS skynyrd
cmon mayne
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 29 December 2013 08:00 (ten years ago) link
If the choice is between Muscle Shoals soul folks and Skynyrd, I have to stand my ground and stick with the soul folks
― curmudgeon, Monday, 30 December 2013 21:20 (ten years ago) link
imagine there's a skynyrd, and a muscle shoals
imagine alllll the peeeeeoppllleeee
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 30 December 2013 22:15 (ten years ago) link
http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/09/today_tickets_on_sale_for_perc.html
Percy Sledge has liver cancer and the following folks are doing a benefit show to help him with his expenses: Eddie Floyd, Pat Upton, Gary Baker, Walt Aldridge, Donnie Fritts, The Decoys, Travis Wammack and Three Wheel Drive are scheduled to perform on September 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 23 September 2014 17:23 (nine years ago) link
Best wishes to Percy.
Tried to watch that doc but it was painful. Of the talking heads I'll take Keef and Jimmy Cliff and leave the rest.
― Dear Catastrophe Theory Waitress (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 00:37 (nine years ago) link
Looking forward to Ed King and Gregg Allman though.
― Dear Catastrophe Theory Waitress (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 00:38 (nine years ago) link
ok
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 28 September 2014 12:34 (nine years ago) link
Changed it up. Watched "A Band Called Death" instead.
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 13:02 (nine years ago) link
Okay giving this another try. That Irish guy with the tinted glasses I can take or leave.
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 13:12 (nine years ago) link
Just enjoy the good and fascinating stuff, persevere through the rest and don't think about what was left out( that is, how Hall benefited from Arthur Alexander's singing and songwriting early on; and about how Hall benefited from Penn/Oldham's writing and from the vocals of Candi Staton and others; and how all of those folks together made Muscle Shoals)
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 28 September 2014 13:19 (nine years ago) link
That's the approach I decided to take, more or less, thanks, enjoy the good stuff, sit through the humdrum stuff, go back to Sweet Soul Music and Get A Shot of Rhythm and Blues for the details.
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 13:47 (nine years ago) link
Okay, there is some good stuff in there, great retelling of the story of Duane Allman convincing Wilson Pickett to record "Hey Jude," or how the sessions with Aretha finally got going but then went astray. But there was a lot of stuff that was under-emphasized or ignored, including your examples of Arthur Alexander's star power that ignited the whole thing (or in fact the entire musical scene centered around the movie house across the street from the drugstore and studio, is that theater even mentioned) and the Penn/Oldham contribution (do they ever really explain what Dan Penn did at all?) There was also no mention of any of the Memphis musicians that took part in these recordings-especially Tommy Cogbill and Chips Moman. Chips played lead guitar on "Land of a Thousand Dances" and Tommy played bass on all of those Wilson Pickett tracks as far as I know.
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 19:08 (nine years ago) link
I know, I know, some people think it is all about Rick Hall and the rest is just superfluous detail but...
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 19:15 (nine years ago) link
Chips and Tommy also played on "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 19:35 (nine years ago) link
David Hood might have still been mainly playing trombone at that time.
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 19:45 (nine years ago) link
Hm. David Hood actually has that tune listed on his discography on his website, even though every other source says he was working on a horn chart that wasn't used and Tommy C played the bass.
― The "5" Astronomer Royales (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 28 September 2014 21:17 (nine years ago) link
I saw Holly George-Warren (who did that Chilton book) do a presentation on Arthur Alexander at the EMP in New Orleans. I think she is also credited with having worked on the movie, so I am guessing the director and producer of the movie made the decision to keep the story focussed on Hall and not mention all those folks whom Hall worked with
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 September 2014 15:42 (nine years ago) link
For whatever reason, they decided the story was easier to tell if it focused on Rick Hall and then filled in space around him with whatever details would fit. That was the wrong way to go about it imo, but it was still an exceedingly pleasing doc to watch and I learned some stuff I never even knew despite living there for most of the 90s.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 29 September 2014 16:49 (nine years ago) link
Convenience link to brief discussion of Muscle Shoals reggae connection: Big Star
― Pigbag Wanderer (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 1 January 2015 04:26 (nine years ago) link
David Hood interview: http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/09/post_266.html
― Pigbag Wanderer (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 1 January 2015 05:27 (nine years ago) link
Great interview!
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 1 January 2015 05:36 (nine years ago) link
Interesting stuff
― curmudgeon, Friday, 2 January 2015 16:49 (nine years ago) link
RIP Percy Sledge. There's a separate thread on his passing
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 14 April 2015 15:41 (nine years ago) link
Hadn't seen this before, great stuff. Ye olde Southern Rock thread has some relevant bits as well (ditto the Big Star thread, occasionally). So far, I'm digging the way Alabama Shakes are finding self-expression in reconfigurations of sounds usually confined to nostalgia these days: like the mix is the remix, but no turntables etc., far as I can tell.http://www.npr.org/2015/04/12/398068310/first-listen-alabama-shakes-sound-color
― dow, Tuesday, 14 April 2015 21:54 (nine years ago) link
Have not been a fan of the Shakes so far, while the singer's voice can be impressive, other times she is too Janis Joplin like. The band's playing I like even less. Have not heard their new one yet, though.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 15 April 2015 04:51 (nine years ago) link
oops, meant to do this one:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPki6mUDzOw
― dow, Sunday, 4 September 2022 21:42 (one year ago) link
ANTI- RECORDS TO RELEASE 20th ANNIVERSARY RE-ISSUE OF SOUL LEGEND SOLOMON BURKE’S 2002 ALBUM ‘DON’T GIVE UP ON ME’ OUT NOVEMBER 18Solomon Burke, the King of Rock & Soul, the Bishop, was a big man with an even bigger talent and a revered vocalist whose mastery is unmatched by any other proponent of the style he largely originated. Burke embodied deep soul with a fifty-plus year career that produced a series of records consistently profound in emotional, artistic and spiritual gravity. Today ANTI- Records is announcing a 20th anniversary re-issue of his 2002 album ’Don’t Give Up On Me’ which features an all-star roster of song contributors including Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Tom Waits and Joe Henry. The re-issued vinyl will be available on November 18 in black and a limited edition opaque red and a clear version in Europe. Pre-order it here: https://solomonburke.ffm.to/dontgiveuponmeIn 2002 music critic Peter Guralnick noted, ”Burke has served far too long as "The King In Exile"; despite a towering reputation among peers and fans alike, and his 2001 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the singer remains somewhat of a mystifyingly under-appreciated figure. With the release of ’Don't Give Up On Me’ the widely acknowledged King of Rock & Soul is liable to ascend to a height equal to his glorious 1960s reign at Atlantic Records.”In addition to the contributors listed above, legendary veteran writers like Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil all contributed commercially unreleased original compositions, either specifically custom tailored to, or innately suited for the interpretive genius of this unrivaled singer. Never before has such a cross-section of revered pop talent enthusiastically converged on one album, but there are precious few vocalists on the aerie artistic level of Solomon Burke.‘Don't Give Up On Me’ was recorded live in the studio over a four-day period, with an ensemble anchored by Burke's church organist Brother Rudy Copeland. Produced by Joe Henry, the record also features contributions from Daniel Lanois and revered gospel outfit The Blind Boys of Alabama.On working with Burke producing this record, Joe Henry wrote: “I was simply a facilitator. And I say this not to diminish my contributions to the man’s story, nor his ultimate appreciation of them; but I can see as well that though many of the songs written for him and offered up to the project ––and by historically significant songwriters–– hung and clung, at first blush, like ill-fitting clothes...he was like Matisse: the subject ––be that a vase of flowers, a bowl of fruit; a reclining nude I Need A Holiday –– was of little consequence; for he would use them regardless to speak exactly as he meant to, transfiguring their familiar forms beyond architecture and into something with far more ethereal and spiritual implications.”Burke's vocals, power undiminished and tempered by decades of performing and recording experience, is nothing less than a force of nature. With a healthy dose of honky-tonk weeper psychology and the clinical reality of his training as a mortician (a business he was still active in at the time), Burke has unique philosophical and physiological insights into the human condition, that infuse the delivery of his songs."The entire album was very exciting, and it was heartrending to think all these writers, the Bob Dylans, Elvis Costello's, would even think of me,” Burke said. “I would characterize these as art, pieces of art, songs that were designed in some way with me in mind, in each one of these writers’ minds--all of them are beautiful. I wanted each piece of that art to hang in my own palace. To me, they all belong in a special place. It was remarkable."1. Don’t Give Up On Me2. Fast Train3. Diamond In Your Mind4. Flesh And Blood5. Soul Searchin’6. Only A Dream7. The Judgement8. Stepchild9. The Other Side Of The Coin10. None Of Us Are Free11. Sit This One OutFor More Info on Solomon Burke, Contact:Kelly Kettering | ANTI- Records Publicity |kelly at epitaph dot com
OUT NOVEMBER 18
Solomon Burke, the King of Rock & Soul, the Bishop, was a big man with an even bigger talent and a revered vocalist whose mastery is unmatched by any other proponent of the style he largely originated. Burke embodied deep soul with a fifty-plus year career that produced a series of records consistently profound in emotional, artistic and spiritual gravity. Today ANTI- Records is announcing a 20th anniversary re-issue of his 2002 album ’Don’t Give Up On Me’ which features an all-star roster of song contributors including Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Tom Waits and Joe Henry. The re-issued vinyl will be available on November 18 in black and a limited edition opaque red and a clear version in Europe.
Pre-order it here: https://solomonburke.ffm.to/dontgiveuponme
In 2002 music critic Peter Guralnick noted, ”Burke has served far too long as "The King In Exile"; despite a towering reputation among peers and fans alike, and his 2001 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the singer remains somewhat of a mystifyingly under-appreciated figure. With the release of ’Don't Give Up On Me’ the widely acknowledged King of Rock & Soul is liable to ascend to a height equal to his glorious 1960s reign at Atlantic Records.”
In addition to the contributors listed above, legendary veteran writers like Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil all contributed commercially unreleased original compositions, either specifically custom tailored to, or innately suited for the interpretive genius of this unrivaled singer. Never before has such a cross-section of revered pop talent enthusiastically converged on one album, but there are precious few vocalists on the aerie artistic level of Solomon Burke.
‘Don't Give Up On Me’ was recorded live in the studio over a four-day period, with an ensemble anchored by Burke's church organist Brother Rudy Copeland. Produced by Joe Henry, the record also features contributions from Daniel Lanois and revered gospel outfit The Blind Boys of Alabama.
On working with Burke producing this record, Joe Henry wrote: “I was simply a facilitator. And I say this not to diminish my contributions to the man’s story, nor his ultimate appreciation of them; but I can see as well that though many of the songs written for him and offered up to the project ––and by historically significant songwriters–– hung and clung, at first blush, like ill-fitting clothes...he was like Matisse: the subject ––be that a vase of flowers, a bowl of fruit; a reclining nude I Need A Holiday –– was of little consequence; for he would use them regardless to speak exactly as he meant to, transfiguring their familiar forms beyond architecture and into something with far more ethereal and spiritual implications.”
Burke's vocals, power undiminished and tempered by decades of performing and recording experience, is nothing less than a force of nature. With a healthy dose of honky-tonk weeper psychology and the clinical reality of his training as a mortician (a business he was still active in at the time), Burke has unique philosophical and physiological insights into the human condition, that infuse the delivery of his songs.
"The entire album was very exciting, and it was heartrending to think all these writers, the Bob Dylans, Elvis Costello's, would even think of me,” Burke said. “I would characterize these as art, pieces of art, songs that were designed in some way with me in mind, in each one of these writers’ minds--all of them are beautiful. I wanted each piece of that art to hang in my own palace. To me, they all belong in a special place. It was remarkable."
1. Don’t Give Up On Me2. Fast Train3. Diamond In Your Mind4. Flesh And Blood5. Soul Searchin’6. Only A Dream7. The Judgement8. Stepchild9. The Other Side Of The Coin10. None Of Us Are Free11. Sit This One Out
For More Info on Solomon Burke, Contact:Kelly Kettering | ANTI- Records Publicity |kelly at epitaph dot com
― dow, Tuesday, 18 October 2022 02:11 (one year ago) link
I really wanted to like this album, and I gave it another try after discovering his two Rounder albums from the '80s, Soul Alive! and A Change Is Gonna Come (both recommended), but it hasn't connected. I feel like his singing lost too much command, and unfortunately the record's built around his voice. There are singers like Billie Holiday who made something great from their disintegrating voices, but Burke's phrasing was never that inventive - with him, it was much more about presence, and he sounds too diminished here compared to his earlier recordings.
Too bad because there are some interesting song choices here like Dylan's "Stepchild" (an otherwise unreleased song from his short but bizarre Vegas-style tour) and two underrated Van Morrison gems ("Only a Dream," "Fast Train") from his 2002 album Down the Road.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 18 October 2022 04:04 (one year ago) link
Is it this one? Good track from a good alb, there's also a suitable live version by JLL somewhere, but not seeing it today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBeqPCPNQfU
I haven't heard the Burke, just passing along the news.
― dow, Tuesday, 18 October 2022 18:35 (one year ago) link
Yes, that's the one! Jerry Lee Lewis and Solomon Burke recorded different versions of that song though, and I'm not sure how much of Burke's may have been rewritten for him or rewritten by himself (IIRC he seems to ad lib on the fly, name-dropping Dylan.)
FWIW, Dylan changed the lyrics a few times on that 1978 tour, which you can see here: https://dylanchords.info/00_misc/am_I_your_stepchild.htm
Anyway, people should still check out the album if they like Burke because quite a few DID like it when it came out. It even placed at #12 on that year's Pazz & Jop poll.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 02:10 (one year ago) link
Stax Records Founder Jim Stewart, Who Introduced Soul Legends, Dies at 92
― dow, Thursday, 8 December 2022 20:28 (one year ago) link
RIP
― Soda Stereo Total (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 December 2022 20:45 (one year ago) link
The social media posts coming from the Stax Museum have been moving, particularly their retelling of his first public appearance there, when he donated his fiddle and surviving members of the Stax label (artists and staff alike) paid tribute. He really was a good guy who got into the business for the right reasons, and it sucks that Atlantic and then CBS screwed him and Stax over.
Bob Mehr's obit is really good:
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/12/06/jim-stewart-obituary-stax-records-rock-n-roll-hall-of-fame-memphis-music-history/69702156007/
(Also speaking of Atlantic, apparently Ahmet Ertegun is being investigated for sexual assault against two different women.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 8 December 2022 20:53 (one year ago) link
Speaking of Stax, did yall see this? Posted by unperson on Rolling Reissues:
Stax Records and Craft Recordings are proud to announce the release of multiple new titles paying homage to the iconic Wattstax Benefit Concert which took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20th, 1972. Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection, Wattstax: The Complete Concert, and The Best of Wattstax, plus 2-LP reissues of the original soundtrack albums Wattstax: The Living Word and The Living Word: Wattstax 2 will all be released on February 24 and are available for pre-order today.In celebration of the 1973 Columbia Pictures music documentary, Sony Pictures will re-release Wattstax at participating Alamo Drafthouse locations throughout the U.S. from February 24.Created in conjunction with the annual Watts Summer Festival to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts uprising in Los Angeles, the Wattstax benefit concert was attended by more than 100,000 people. It featured performances from Stax Records’ most popular artists of the time, including, but not limited to, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas and The Bar-Kays. These releases are the first complete audio collections of what Wattstax creator and then-President of Stax Records, Al Bell calls the “most jubilant celebration of African American music, culture, and values in American history.”Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection is a 12-CD box set featuring the complete 1972 L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert plus recordings from the Summit Club, including 31 previously unreleased tracks across the collection. These recordings are housed in a folio with a 76-page, full-color book featuring an introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and new essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway. A previously unreleased version of the iconic soul funk anthem “Theme From Shaft” by the legendary Isaac Hayes from his headline set at Wattstax is available to stream and download here today.Wattstax: The Complete Concert includes the full L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert and is available on both 6-CD and 10-LP formats. In addition to musical performances, it features all the speeches and other stage banter from the event, including event MC, the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s often referenced “I Am Somebody” speech. Both formats of this collection include the full-color book with introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway that is also included in Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection.A 1-CD title, The Best of Wattstax, brings together a handpicked selection of twenty of the best musical performances from the Wattstax concert. Including performances by Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, The Bar-Kays, Kim Weston, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King, Eddie Floyd and more, and serves as a great introduction to the event and the many iconic artists that it featured.Newly cut from the original analog tapes, reissues of the two original soundtrack albums Wattstax: The Living Wordand The Living Word: Wattstax 2—which feature highlights from the concert and subsequent documentary film—will also each be reissued on 2-LP formats on the same date.
Created in conjunction with the annual Watts Summer Festival to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts uprising in Los Angeles, the Wattstax benefit concert was attended by more than 100,000 people. It featured performances from Stax Records’ most popular artists of the time, including, but not limited to, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas and The Bar-Kays. These releases are the first complete audio collections of what Wattstax creator and then-President of Stax Records, Al Bell calls the “most jubilant celebration of African American music, culture, and values in American history.”
Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection is a 12-CD box set featuring the complete 1972 L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert plus recordings from the Summit Club, including 31 previously unreleased tracks across the collection. These recordings are housed in a folio with a 76-page, full-color book featuring an introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and new essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway. A previously unreleased version of the iconic soul funk anthem “Theme From Shaft” by the legendary Isaac Hayes from his headline set at Wattstax is available to stream and download here today.
Wattstax: The Complete Concert includes the full L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert and is available on both 6-CD and 10-LP formats. In addition to musical performances, it features all the speeches and other stage banter from the event, including event MC, the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s often referenced “I Am Somebody” speech. Both formats of this collection include the full-color book with introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway that is also included in Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection.
A 1-CD title, The Best of Wattstax, brings together a handpicked selection of twenty of the best musical performances from the Wattstax concert. Including performances by Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, The Bar-Kays, Kim Weston, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King, Eddie Floyd and more, and serves as a great introduction to the event and the many iconic artists that it featured.
Newly cut from the original analog tapes, reissues of the two original soundtrack albums Wattstax: The Living Wordand The Living Word: Wattstax 2—which feature highlights from the concert and subsequent documentary film—will also each be reissued on 2-LP formats on the same date.
― dow, Friday, 9 December 2022 00:31 (one year ago) link
Just now saw this, in xgau's freed-up 2022 reviews, on his site:
Dusty Springfield: Dusty Sings Soul (Ace) Still in her twenties with a vast if less than consistently canonical African-American songbook hers to convey to a wide-open '60s U.K. youth market, she applies her considerable heart, enthusiasm, IQ, and let us not forget voice to its array ("Can I Get a Witness," "Nothing," "Oh No Not My Baby," "All Cried Out") **
― dow, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 18:44 (eleven months ago) link
more from him:
Ann Peebles: Greatest Hits (Hi '15) Beyond the towering Aretha Franklin--plus Etta James and Mavis Staples and if you insist Diana Ross via their respective side doors--soul music was short on heroines. I mean, the outspoken Millie Jackson and after that who? Sure I could pull a few more out of my memory book, as maybe you could yours. But this lean, clean, tough, sweet, lucid St. Louis woman, married 48 years to Memphis native and Hi Records songwriting stalwart Don Bryant though a stroke ended her performing career in 2012, was and remains more memorable than that. Beyond the towering Al Green, she was the most distinctive singer ever to hook up with Hi Rhythm, regarded by many who should know as the equal of the Stax-Volt and Muscle Shoals bands and by more than one as the class of the field. "Part Time Love" was her 1970 breakout. Her 1972 "Breaking Up Somebody's Home" was covered by guess who on her Divine Miss M follow-up. "I Can't Stand the Rain" was her indelible 1973 classic. Too cool to be forgotten. A MINUSAnn Peebles & the Hi Rhythm Section: Live in Memphis (Memphis International) It's 1992, she's 45, Howard Grimes lives, and she wants us to know that "Just because I say I feel like breakin' it up don't necessarily mean that I'm gonna go out there and do it" ("I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home," "I Didn't Take Your Man") **
Ann Peebles & the Hi Rhythm Section: Live in Memphis (Memphis International) It's 1992, she's 45, Howard Grimes lives, and she wants us to know that "Just because I say I feel like breakin' it up don't necessarily mean that I'm gonna go out there and do it" ("I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home," "I Didn't Take Your Man") **
― dow, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 03:43 (eleven months ago) link
https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/album-review-stax-songwriter-demos-showcase-the-stars-behind-the-big-names/?utm_source=No+Depression+Newsletter&utm_campaign=877f72af22-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_3_24_23_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_659325596f-877f72af22-226384157&mc_cid=877f72af22&mc_eid=b850f832a1 Several videos in there too.
― dow, Thursday, 29 June 2023 00:30 (ten months ago) link
https://www.memphisflyer.com/summit-of-the-scribes-a-gathering-of-stax-legends?fbclid=IwAR3pRLeeSgeJ-jtziema0AC0DHSAZ1W5iqUIvXVwqdIqf4aXfZqan2Ex33w_aem_AQtNmt_rve377MyK9KzJanI-PdRqyP0LLoJxsXWmBuU5Svx3hT9f3xU3Z_NRKUOcOLo&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Learning about Henderson Thigpen who wrote for Stax in late years including Shirley Brown “Woman to Woman”
― curmudgeon, Friday, 30 June 2023 13:12 (ten months ago) link
Maybe should have put that on Memphis music thread that includes Stax
― curmudgeon, Friday, 30 June 2023 13:14 (ten months ago) link
There's a Memphis thread? Memphis posts are pretty standard on here too, it's cool. that xpost Dusty Sings Soul comp isn't on any streams that I've come across, although Spotify has a playlist from whatever sources, might be okay. Meanwhile I just checked hot excerpts of all 24 tracks via label site: https://acerecords.co.uk/sings-sou
― dow, Friday, 30 June 2023 20:53 (ten months ago) link
Was thinking of 100 Great Records from Memphis thread
100 great records from Memphis
― curmudgeon, Monday, 3 July 2023 20:25 (ten months ago) link
This is cool: https://www.discogs.com/release/4364232-The-Meadows-The-Meadows
I've been mildly obsessed with Wilson Meadows the past few years for his later southern soul stuff (check out Transformation) and never realized he did an album in muscle shoals back in 1981 with his brothers.
My Love Was Sleepinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP2fBxLCbeg
― Heez, Monday, 6 November 2023 15:56 (six months ago) link
Nice song there. Not familiar with Meadows brothers. Will have to dig in
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 November 2023 18:13 (six months ago) link