Happy Birthday Kim Weston!

Cheers to soul great Kim Weston, one of the few artists who recorded for both Motown and Stax/Volt. 

R.I.P. guitarist/songwriter Steve Cropper 1941-2025

Sadly, influential guitarist Steve Cropper – co-founder of Booker T and the MGs – has passed away at 84. He'll be greatly missed.

Soul4Real digs in Stax vault for two new 7" EPs feat. Johnnie Taylor, William Bell and more

Soul4Real's first Stax EP features Ruby Johnson's hip-shakin' "I'd Rather Fight Than Switch" – have a listen below. 

Here's the scoop from Alex Subinas...
 

What´s new from Soul4Real?

Two new volumes of the Reserva Especial series are out, this time dedicated to the legendary Stax/Volt label. 

The first volume includes three originally unreleased tracks by Johnnie Taylor, Veda Brown, and Ruby Johnson — available for the first time on 7” — plus a much-loved song by Judy Clay that was previously only available on a double LP. 

The second volume features four originally unreleased tracks by Mavis Staples, Otis Redding, William Bell, and Eddie Floyd — also available for the first time on 7.”

ORDER NOW!  https://soul4real.es/shop/

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀 𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐗 / 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐓 (𝐒𝟒𝐑𝟓𝟐)

𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 Rumors

𝐕𝐞𝐝𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 Guilty Of Loving You

𝐑𝐮𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 I´d Rather Fight Than Switch

𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲 It´s Me

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀 𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐗 / 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐓 𝐈𝐈 (𝐒𝟒𝐑𝟓𝟑)

𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 I´m Tired

𝐎𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 Gone Again

𝐄𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐝 Everybody Makes A Mistake

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥 You´re Never Too Old 

Happy Birthday William Bell

Cheers to Memphis-born singer/songwriter and producer William Bell on his birthday. Here are a few stellar performances. 

Honouring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy on MLK Day

In a new interview with NBC News, MLK III says his father would be "disappointed but not surprised" by current world.

Celebrate MLK's legacy with a tribute playlist from Stax Records right here. 

Happy Birthday William Bell

Cheers to Memphis soul great William Bell on his 85th birthday! Here's some interview clips and a couple of overlooked gems. 

R.I.P. soul singer Jean Knight, 1943-2023

Sadly, New Orleans born soul singer Jean Knight, who hit with "Mr. Big Stuff" in 1971, has passed away at the age of 80.

R.I.P. Dr. Mable John, 1930-2022

Sadly, soul singer/actor Dr. Mable John – who recorded for both Stax and Motown – has passed away. She'll be greatly missed.

Happy Birthday Rufus Thomas!

Remembering Rufus Thomas on his birthday with a Schlitz Malt Liquor commercial and dancing The Funky Robot. 

Happy Birthday Mable John!

Celebrating the birthday of R&B great Mable John with a Ponderosa Stomp performance and a couple of her early gems.

More rare Stax grooves uncovered for Can I Be A Witness comp

Can I Be A Witness boasts previously unreleased tracks by The Soul Children, Little Milton, Nightingales & Sweet Inspirations. 

Here's the scoop...

A brand-new collection gathered from the Stax catalogue of southern-flavoured dancers, from soul to funk and in between, Can I Be A Witness: Stax Southern Groove (due September 24) features 11 previously unreleased tracks from such illustrious names as The Soul Children, Little Milton, The Emotions, The Sweet Inspirations, The Nightingales and Frederick Knight, amongst others. The other nine tracks from artists such as Eddie Floyd, R.B. Hudmon, Rance Allen Group and Eric Mercury delve deep into the archive, bringing you B-sides, obscure album cuts, dancefloor favourites and originally unissued tracks. The booklet is well illustrated and comes with an in-depth essay from compiler Dean Rudland.

Check out a few of the tunes following the track listing below.

Various Artists – Can I Be A Witness: Stax Southern Groove (Kent/Ace) 

1. BAD WATER - LITTLE MILTON Previously unissued (2021) 3.02 

2. CAN WE TALK THIS OVER - EDDIE FLOYD Originally unissued. Stax CDSXD 116 (1998) 3.02 

3. HOW CAN I BE A WITNESS - RB HUDMON Truth 3230 (1975) 3.03 

4. LOVE IS TAKING OVER - ERIC MERCURY Enterprise 9080 (1973) 3.48 

5. BURNING ON BOTH ENDS - THE NIGHTINGALES Previously unissued (2021) 3.13 

6. FOREVER AND A DAY - MEL & TIM Stax 0224 / Stax LP STS 5501 (1973) 4.39 

7. I WANNA MAKE UP (BEFORE WE BREAK UP) - MAJOR LANCE Volt 4079 (1972) 3.59* 

8. YOU AIN’T PLAYING WITH NO TOY - THE SOUL CHILDREN Previously unissued (2021) 3.24 

9. I GOT TO BE MYSELF - THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP Gospel Truth 1208 / Gospel Truth LP GTS-3502 (1973) 2.50 

10. PASSING THRU/WORLD KEEPS TURNING - FREDERICK KNIGHT Previously unissued extended version of Truth 3202 (2021) 10.54 

11. AIN’T ENOUGH HOURS - THE EMOTIONS Previously unissued (2021) 3.02 

12. CHANGES - JEANNE & THE DARLINGS Originally unissued. Stax CDSXD 116 (1998) 3.20 

13. SLOW DOWN - THE NIGHTINGALES Previously unissued (2021) 3.42 

14. SOUL GROOVE - ART JERRY MILLER Previously unissued (2021) 2.15* 

15. DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING - THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS Previously unissued (2021) 3.53 

16. THREE’S A CROWD - THE TEMPREES Previously unissued (2021) 3.08 

17. HELPING MAN - JEAN KNIGHT Stax 0136 (1972) 2.52* 

18. TRUE LOVE DON’T GROW ON TREES (Demo) - VEDA BROWN Originally unissued. Kent CDKEND 302 (2008) 2.28 

19. THE NATURAL YOU - OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES Previously unissued (2021) 2.47* 

20. LEANING ON YOUR UNDYING LOVE - SHACK Previously unissued (2021) 2.52* 

Stereo except * Mono

Happy Birthday William Bell

Celebrating the birthday of Memphis soul great William Bell with NEA video, Tiny Desk Concert and podcast interview. 

Nathaniel Rateliff shares video for "Redemption"

In advance performing "A Little Honey" on SNL, Nathaniel Rateliff released a video for "Redemption"

LINKS

Spotify playlist This Is Nathaniel Rateliff

Apple Music playlist Nathaniel Rateliff Essentials

 

Happy Birthday William Bell

Celebrating the birthday of Memphis soul great William Bell with a Tiny Desk Concert worth checking. 

Stax soul great William Bell grabs Grammy for "Best Americana Album"

Watch the amazing William Bell sing a few songs from his fantastic "This Is Where I Live" on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert. 

One For The Weekend: Prince Conley

Happy 75th Birthday William Bell

Check out William's performance at the White House and his Stax demo of Will You Love Me Tomorrow.

German TV documents 70s Memphis soul

Happy Birthday William Bell

Le Blues de Memphis: STAX & FAME (1969)