Memphis Soul: Stax's Raw Revolution

From a Memphis movie theater, Stax Records built the raw, integrated Southern soul sound that defined the city, from William Bell to James Carr and O.V. Wright.

Tracklist

  1. You Don't Miss Your Water — William Bell
  2. Morning After — The Mar-Keys
  3. The Dark End of the Street — James Carr
  4. I'll Never Stop Loving You — Carla Thomas
  5. Crosscut Saw — Albert King
  6. You're Gonna Make Me Cry — O.V. Wright
  7. Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone — Johnnie Taylor
  8. I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home — Ann Peebles

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Late night session. Let's get into it.

You Don't Miss Your Water — William Bell

Stax Records began in a converted Memphis movie theater in 1959, an unlikely birthplace for soul. William Bell's early hit, featuring Booker T. Jones on organ, showcased the raw talent emerging from this unique, integrated studio.

Morning After — The Mar-Keys

The studio's informal atmosphere fostered collaboration, leading to the formation of its integrated house band. The Mar-Keys, with future M.G.'s members like Steve Cropper, laid the groundwork for the distinctive "Memphis Sound" with instrumental tracks like "Morning After."

The Dark End of the Street — James Carr

Stax Records defined the raw, church-based Southern soul sound, contrasting with Motown's polished pop-soul. This standard influenced the entire Memphis scene, evident in classics like James Carr’s "The Dark End of the Street," a powerful example of the deeply emotional music Stax championed, even from a contemporary label like Goldwax.

I'll Never Stop Loving You — Carla Thomas

Carla Thomas, "The Queen of Memphis Soul" and daughter of Rufus Thomas, became a cornerstone of Stax’s roster. Her success, alongside an ethnically integrated staff, symbolized racial harmony within a deeply segregated city.

Crosscut Saw — Albert King

Stax's house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, with their tight grooves and instrumental prowess, provided the backbone for many artists. Their collaboration with blues legend Albert King on tracks like "Crosscut Saw" broadened the label's sound and influence.

You're Gonna Make Me Cry — O.V. Wright

Following Otis Redding's tragic death and the split with Atlantic, Stax, under Al Bell's leadership, diversified its sound, but the raw, gospel-inflected vocal style remained a hallmark of the Memphis soul scene. O.V. Wright's "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" exemplifies the profound emotional depth that Stax's pioneering sound inspired across the city's labels.

Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone — Johnnie Taylor

Al Bell’s 1969 "Soul Explosion" initiative saw Stax release nearly 30 albums, launching artists like Johnnie Taylor to further R&B success. Taylor's "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone" showcases Stax's continued ability to craft chart-topping hits in its independent era.

I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home — Ann Peebles

Despite Stax's eventual bankruptcy in 1975, its distinctive Memphis soul sound endured. Today, the Stax Museum preserves this legacy, and the sound continued to thrive, as heard in Ann Peebles' "I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home" from Hi Records.

Thank you for joining us on OffStereo. May the powerful, authentic spirit of Memphis soul continue to move your own rhythm, long after the records stop spinning.