In the nick of time, before midnight approaches (at least on the East Coast) and June 30 – and thus ‘Black Music Month’ – draws to a close, my third selection of picks from the Stax vaults…

MEL & TIM: Sam & Dave were gone (returning to Atlantic Records from whom they had been ‘on loan’ to Stax) so Stax ‘replaced’ their hottest duo with cousins Mel Hardin and Tim McPherson who had already had a pair of hits for ‘Duke Of Earl’ Gene Chandler’s Bamboo label (the provocative “Backfield In Motion” and “Good Guys Only Win In The Movies”) in the late ‘60s. In 1972, the pair gave Stax a major R&B and pop hit in the form of the Phillip Mitchell-penned classic “Starting All Over Again.” The guys had one more mid-sized Stax chart entry with “I May Not Be What You Want” which they performed at the L.A. Wattstax show in 1972. Recommended: their one Stax album, “Starting All Over Again.”

DAVID PORTER: While he is mostly known as one-half of the premier Stax writing and production team with Isaac Hayes, David Porter actually started his career with the
label as recording artist after cutting a few singles for other labels under the names “Little David” and “Kenny Cain.” In the wake of partner Hayes’ success as an out front artist in his own right, David stepped up to the plate himself, cutting a total of four albums and enjoying some modicum of chart action with the single “Can’t See You When I Want To.” Recommended: “Victim Of The Joke? An Opera.”

OTIS REDDING: The late Arthur Conley, one of his protégés, described him as ‘The King of Them All, Y’all” in the lyric lines of his biggest hit “Sweet Soul Music” in 1967. In many ways, in the pantheon of ‘60s soul music, that’s what Macon, Georgia-born Otis Redding was. He was
most assuredly the king at Stax Records, becoming the label’s best-selling male vocalist from 1964 on, an international star whose music influenced such pop and rock heroes as Mick Jagger (of The Rolling Stones). Not only a powerful vocalist but a prolific and notable songwriter – think “Respect,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” in particular. Otis’ life was tragically cut short in a fatal airplane crash in 1967 but his music has lived on for generations since. Recommended: “Stax Profiles: Otis Redding” most especially for the brilliant “I’ve Got Dreams To Remember.”

THE SOUL CHILDREN: The brainchild of Isaac Hayes & David Porter, the quartet known as The Soul Children could have been considered the most emotive group to ever record for Stax! With brilliant gospel-honed harmonies, Norman West, John Blackfoot, Shelbra Bennett and Anita Louis may have been just too powerful vocally to gain the kind of mainstream success their talent so obviously deserved. There were hits – “The Sweeter He Is,” “I’ll Be The Other Woman” and “Hearsay” – but never the kind of sales that might have propelled them to a more lofty status in the upper reaches of R&B stardom. Live, they were unbelievable as a reunion at the 2007 50th Anniversary celebrations for Stax in Memphis proved. Recommended: “The Soul Children: Chronicle.”

THE STAPLE SINGERS/MAVIS STAPLES: Known as the ‘First Family Of Gospel,’ Pops Staples, daughters Mavis and Cleotha and son Pervis were well established in that field before they landed at Stax Records in 1968. They’d gained some recognition in pop and R&B circles during a brief stint at Epic (notable for 1967’s version of Stephen Stills’ “For What It’s Worth”) but it was at Stax that the family achieved its greatest success. It was slow going to start out with but when Stax exec Al Bell took over the production reigns in 1971, the group (with Pervis replaced by sister Yvonne) soared, hitting the heights with classics like “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There.” Mavis stepped out to record her first solo album at Stax in 1969, demonstrating the power and chops of any number of her contemporaries. Recommended: “The Very Best Of The Staple Singers” and “Mavis Staples/Only For The Lonely,” a compilation of her two Volt albums.

JOHNNIE TAYLOR: Like so many of his soulful brothers at Stax, Johnnie Taylor started his musical journey singing in church. He replaced Sam Cooke in the famous Soul Stirrers and followed in Cooke’s footsteps by switching to secular music in 1961 and recording for Cooke’s own record labels. In 1965, Johnnie signed with Stax and working with Hayes & Porter, came up with some fine R&B sides including “I Got To Love Somebody’s Baby” and “Somebody’s Sleeping In My Bed.” However, it was when he began recording with Detroit-based producer Don Davis that he achieved across-the-board hits in the form of “Who’s Making Love,” “I Could Never Be President” and “Cheaper To Keep Her.” He passed away in 2000. Recommended: “Lifetime,” a great 3-CD set.

CARLA THOMAS/RUFUS THOMAS: A comedian and radio personality and with daughter Carla the first artist to give the fledgling Stax company a hit record (in the form of 1959’s “Cause I Love You”), Rufus Thomas was always a character! His musical career was marked by such memorable dance crazes as “Walking The Dog,” “Do The Funky Chicken,” and “The Breakdown” and he was also known for his highly amusing stage antics and bright-colored outfits! Carla Thomas virtually reigned supreme as the ‘First Lady Of Stax,’ thanks in part to her 1960 smash “Gee Whiz” which really helped put her (and Stax) on the map. No surprise that one of her albums was entitled “The Queen Alone” or that she was paired with Otis Redding for the classic ‘King & Queen” album in 1967. Recommended: “The Very Best Of Rufus Thomas” and “Carla Thomas: The Queen Alone.”

Enjoy!

David Nathan
A/k/a the British Ambassador Of Soul
Secretary, The Rhythm & Blues Foundation (www.rhythmblues.org)
Owner,
www.soulmusic.com,
www.soulmusicstore.com,
www.soulmusicglobal.com

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