Up until the label closed its doors in 1975, Stax Records had a rivalry with Motown Records similar to the battle between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s and 1950s. Whereas Berry Gordy's Motown recording empire prided itself on the clean-cut image of artists such as
the Supremes and
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and their string of catchy, sanitized pop gems, the Memphis-based Stax reveled in a grittier sound and a freewheeling approach to making soul music. The four-disc
Stax Story chronicles the legacy of Stax Records with 98 remastered tracks and a 64-page booklet packed
with photos and liner notes penned by former Stax employees and music critics. The early Stax roster included greats such as
Otis Redding, who reveals the scope of his talents with the aching ballad "These Arms of Mine" and the roof-raising romp "Respect"; the dynamic duo of
Sam & Dave, who shine on the call-and-response tracks "I Thank You" and "Soul Man"; and the powerhouse Booker T. & the MGs, who offer up the hearty instrumentals
"Green Onions" and "Hang 'Em High." By the late '60s, Stax had lured several of Motown's top arrangers and producers away from the Hitsville, U.S.A., fold, which helped broaden the Memphis label's roster to include impressive talents such as
the Dramatics ("In the Rain"), former Stax studio hand
Isaac Hayes ("Theme from Shaft"), and ex-Chess Records legend
Little Milton ("That's What Love Will Make You Do"). Throughout the early '70s, this pioneering R&B label continued to infuse its music with gospel and blues nuances as on the Staples Singers' esteem boosting "Respect Yourself," which features Mavis Staples' church-rooted singing style. Although Motown was heralded as the "sound of young America," Stax Records truly established itself as the home of Soulsville, U.S.A.
Dave Gil de Rubio