"Stax '68: A Memphis Story" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring 134 US-Single Sides by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Shirley Walton, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Mable John, Rufus Thomas, Jeanne & The Darlings, Derek Martin, Linda Lyndell, Isaac Hayes, The Mad Lads, Bar Kays, Albert King, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Henderson Quartet, Booker T. & The MG's, Eddie Floyd, Delaney & Bonnie, Johnny Daye, Bobby Whitlock, Judy Clay, The Delrays, The Aardvarks, Fresh Air, The Staple Singers, Ollie & The Nightingales, The Soul Children, Charmells, Southwest F.O.B., The Village Sound, Jimmy Hughes, Lindell Hill, The Goodees, Dino & Doc and more on Stax, Volt, Enterprise, Arch, Magic Touch and Hip Records (October 2018 USA Craft Recordings/Stax 5CD 134-Track Book Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: **** Music, **** Presentation, ***** Audio

"…It's Been A Long Time Coming…"

Craft Recordings of the USA (part of the Concord Music Group out of Cleveland) have been bamboozling Stax Records fans for some years now – their inaugural releases begun in 2017. Craft have also caught the eye of those Audiophile Collectors whose interests stretch past famously well-recorded Rock and Pop Music to Vintage Music that can be re-presented better with the latest technology - old Vee Jay Blues, Latin, Salsa and Boogaloo on Fania Records, Prestige Jazz, Riverside Folk-Blues and Classic 60t's and 70t's Soul. Craft are also now synonymous with quality mastering from original tapes by award-winning Audio Engineers like Paul Blakemore (who did this set), Joe Tarantino, Kevin Gray, Greg Calbi, Jeff Powell, Dave Cooley, Bernie Grundman and more.

In fact, you could (and should) surmise that I have a thang for Craft Recordings who have celebrated loads of quirky/worthy recipients with reissues on CD, LP and Hi-Res Download Files – good folks like John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Skip James, Albert King, the super-rare Cuban Jam Sessions LPs from the Sixties on Panart Records, Creedence Clearwater Revival in London at the Royal Albert Hall in April 1970, Terry Callier's beautiful almost entirely acoustic debut album The New Folk Soul Of on Prestige Records in 1968 (recorded in 1966), R.E.M at the BBC, a 2CD expanded revamp of Jewel's 1995 debut Pieces Of You, a 2CD 40th Anniversary reissue of the 1983 self-titled Violent Femmes debut album (originally on Rough Trade Records) and even England's Travis at Glastonbury.

And I've loved (reviewed most too) Craft's many celebratory releases on all things Stax-related with stunning multiple-disc retrospectives on Isaac Hayes The Spirit Of Memphis (1962-1976), The Staple Singers Come Go With Me: The Stax Collection, Various Artists for Stax Singles 4: Rarities & The Best Of The Rest, the rare 45s of an under-appreciated Stax subsidiary label The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection, a huge 140 Previously Unreleased in the Various Artists set Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos and live Music vs. Politics in the full-on re-presentation of Wattstax 72: The Complete Concert - originally a two x double-album set of vinyl releases back in the Seventies - now presented to us in 6 or 12-CD all-encompassing behemoth variants. There are loads more - many on celebrated well-mastered VINYL outings too that (as I said) audiophiles have been waking up to across this last seven years.

And thus, we come to a pivotal year for Soul and R&B – 1968 – Stax Records at the crossroads not just musically and commercially but spiritually too. Losses and gains – too many of the first perhaps and not enough outside of musical accolades of the second. There is much to love here BUT there is also unfortunately some serious cack to deride (hence the 4-stars and not 5). To the details…

US released 19 October 2018 - "Stax '68: A Memphis Story" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Craft Recordings/Stax CR00103 (Barcode 888072053649) is a 5CD 134-Track Book Set of New Remasters that features the A and B-sides of 67 US 45-Singles released on STAX Records and its affiliated labels (Volt, Enterprise, Arch, Magic Touch and Hip) throughout 1968.

It has an attached 56-page book with new liner notes from Stax experts ANDRIA LISLE and ROBERT GORDON (as essay called Dreams To Remember on Pages 4 to 22) and STEVE GREENBERG (as essay called Stax 1968: The Three Shocks And Their Aftermath on Pages 23 to 47 - Greenberg is the founder of S-Curve Records and was Producer for the 9CD Box Set The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968). Also featured are previously unissued photographs from the archives, Artist Promo and Personal Photos in Black and White and Colour, US Trade Adverts, Newspaper Clippings, Company Letters on Headed Paper and Song-by-Song Writer Credits, Catalogue Numbers, Release Dates etc (no personnel). Some titles like those on Arch Records or the primarily Rock & Pop label Hip Records make their CD debut here - while some B-sides were Non-LP and still hard to find on CD and are therefore rarities. Craft Recordings' "Stax '68: A Memphis Story" plays out as follows:

CD1 (69:23 minutes, 26 Tracks, 13 Singles)
Volt Singles Black & Orange Label repro on CD, hard card leaf holder pictures Booker T & The MGs September 1968 US LP "Soul Limbo" in colour

Each coupling of titles is the US 45 A-side first, B-side next - the release date on line 3, Label and Catalogue Number, and the chart positions on Billboard R&B and Pop will almost always be for the A-side (unless otherwise stated)

1. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay – OTIS REDDING 
2. Sweet Lorene 
8 January 1968, Volt 45-157, R&B No.1, Pop No.1

3. I Thank You – SAM & DAVE
4. Wrap It Up
8 January 1968, Stax 45-242, R&B No.4, Pop No.9

5. Don't Pass Your Judgement – THE MEMPHIS NOMADS
6. I Wanna Be (Your Lover & Your Honey)
January 1968, Stax 45-243 – non chart

7. I Was Born To Love You – SHIRLEY WALTON
8. I'm So Glad You're Back
January 1968, Enterprise 45-001 – non chart

9. Lovey Dovey – OTIS REDDING & CARLA THOMAS
10. New Year's Resolution
24 January 1968, Stax 45-244, R&B No.21, Pop No.60

11. I Got A Sure Thing – OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES
12. Girl, You Have My Heart Singing
1 February 1968, Stax 45- 245, R&B No.16, Pop No.73

13. Big Bird – EDDIE FLOYD 
14. Holding On With Both Hands 
1 February 1968, Stax 45-246 – non chart

15. A Hard Day's Night – BAR-KAYS
16. I Want Someone
February 1968, Volt 45-158 – non chart - A-side is a Beatles cover version

17. Next Time – JOHNNIE TAYLOR
18. Sundown 
14 February 1968, Stax 45-247, R&B No.34

19. Every Man Oughta Have A Woman – WILLIAM BELL
20. A Tribute To A King 
12 March 1968, Stax 45-248, R&B No.16, Pop No.86

21. Able Mabel – MABLE JOHN 
22. Don't Get Caught 
12 March 1968, Stax 45-249 – non chart

23. The Memphis Train – RUFUS THOMAS
24. I Think I Made A Boo Boo 
12 March 1968, Stax 45-250 – non chart

25. What Will Later On Be Like – JEANNE & THE DARLINGS
26. Hang Me Now 
22 March 1968, Volt 45-159 – non chart

CD2 (60:17 minutes, 22 Tracks, 11 Singles)
Stax Singles Green Label repro on CD, hard card leaf holder pictures Eddie Floyd October 1968 US LP "I've Never Loved A Girl" in colour
Each coupling is the US 45 single, A-side first, B-side next

1. Soul Power – DEREK MARTIN
2. Sly Girl
22 March 1968, Volt 45-160 – non chart

3. Bring Your Love Back To Me – LINDA LYNDELL
4. Here I Am 
26 March 1968, Vol 45-161 – non chart

5. A Dime A Dozen – CARLA THOMAS
6. I Want You Back
29 March 1968, Stax 45-251 – non chart

7. Groovy Day – KANGAROO'S
8. Every Man Needs A Woman
March 1968, Hip H-113 – non chart (Produced by Isaac Hayes/David Porter)

9. Precious Precious – ISAAC HAYES
10. Going To Chicago Blues 
16 March 1968, Enterprise 45-002 – non chart

11. Whatever Hurts You – THE MAD LADS
12. No Time Is Better Than Now
8 April 1968, Volt 45-162 – R&B No.31

13. The Happy Song (Dum-Dum) – OTIS REDDING
14. Open The Door 
8 April 1968, Volt 45-163, R&B No.10, Pop No.25

15. (I Love) Lucy – ALBERT KING
16. You're Gonna Need Me
8 April 1968, Stax 45-252 – R&B No.46

17. I Ain't Particular – JOHNNIE TAYLOR
18. Where There's Smoke There's Fire
25 April 1968, Stax 45-253 – R&B No.45

19. Georgy Girl – EDDIE HENDERSON QUINTET
20. A Million Or More Times
April 1968, Enterprise 45-003 – non chart

21. Send Peace And Harmony Home – SHIRLEY WALTON
22. The One You Can't Have All By Yourself
May 1968, Enterprise 45-004 – non chart

CD3 (79:21 minutes, 29 Tracks, 15 Singles – see Notes)
Stax Singles Yellow Label repro on CD, hard card leaf holder pictures The Staple Singers December 1968 US LP "Soul Folk In Action" in colour
Each coupling is the US 45 A-side first, B-side next (see NOTES below)

1. Soul-Limbo – BOOKER T. & THE MG'S
2. Heads Or Tails
31 May 1968, Stax STA-0001, R&B No.7, Pop No.17

3. I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) – EDDIE FLOYD
4. I'm Just The Kind Of Fool
31 May 1968, Stax STA-0002, R&B No.2, Pop No.40

5. It's Been A Long Time Coming – DELANEY & BONNIE
6. We've Just Been Feeling Bad
31 May 1968, Stax STA-0003 - non chart

7. What A Man – LINDA LYNDELL
8. I Don't Know
17 June 1968, Volt VOA-4001, R&B No.50

9. Broadway Freeze – HARVEY SCALES & THE SEVEN SOUNDS
10. I Can't Cry Any No More
17 June 1968, Magic Touch MTA-16001 – non chart

11. Stay Baby Stay – JOHNNY DAYE
12. I Love Love
15 July 1968, Stax STA-0004 – non chart

13. Raspberry Rug – BOBBY WHITLOCK
14. And I Love You
1 July 1968, Hip H-8001 – non chart

15. Private Number – JUDY CLAY and WILLIAM BELL
16. Love-Eye-Tis
15 July 1968, Stax STA-0005, R&B No.17, Pop No.75

17. I Like Everything About You – JIMMY HUGHES
18. What Side Of The Door
15 July 1968, Volt VOA-4002, R&B No.21

19. Lollipop Lady – THE DELRAYS
20. (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me
July 1968, Arch ARA-1301 – non chart

21. Remone – LINDELL HILL
22. Used To Be Love 
26 July 1968. Arch ARA-1302 – non chart

23. Subconscious Train Of Thought – THE AARDVARKS
24. Unicorn Man 
August 1968, Arch ARA-1303 – non chart

25. Somebody Stole My Gal – FRESH AIR
26. Somebody Stole My Gal (Instrumental)
22 August 1968, Arch ARA-1304 – non chart

27. Bed Of Roses – JUDY CLAY
28. Remove These Clouds
September 1968, Stax STA-0006 – non chart

29. Long Walk To D.C. – THE STAPLE SINGERS
September 1968, Stax STA-0007 – A-side – non chart (see Notes)

NOTES on CD3: 
The last song on CD3 is The Staple Singers "Long Walk To D.C.", the A-side to Stax 0007 – its B-side "Stay With Us" is the first track on CD4

CD4 (78:35 minutes, 29 Tracks, 14 Singles – see Notes)
Volt Singles Blue Label repro on CD, hard card leaf holder pictures Johnnie Taylor December 1968 US LP "Who's Making Love…" in colour
Each coupling is the US 45 A-side first, B-side next (see NOTES below)

1. Stay With Us – THE STAPLE SINGERS
September 1968, Stax STA-0007 – B-side - non chart (see Notes)

2. Give 'Em Love – THE SOUL CHILDREN
3. Move Over
September 1968, Stax STA-0008 – non chart

4. Who's Making Love – JOHNNIE TAYLOR
5. I'm Trying
September 1968, Stax 0009, R&B No.1, Pop No.5

6. Funky Mississippi – RUFUS THOMAS
7. So Hard To Get Along With
September 1068, Stax STA-0010 – non chart - A-side by Eddie Floyd

8. Where Do I Go – CARLA THOMAS
9. I've Fallen In Love
September 1968, Stax STA-0011, R&B No.38, Pop No.88

10. So Nice – THE MAD LADS
11. Make Room
September 1968, Volt VOA-4003, R&B No.35

12. Lovin' Feeling – CHARMELLS
13. Sea Shell 
September 1968, Volt VOA-4004 – non chart – A-side is Righteous Brothers cover

14. It's Unbelievable (How You Control My Soul) – JEANNE & THE DARLINGS
15. I Like What You're Doing To Me
September 1968, Volt VOA-4005 – non chart

16. Smell Of Incense – SOUTHWEST F.O.B.
17. Green Skies
(Originally issued 10 July 1968 on GPC Records 1945)
Reissued September 1968, Hip HIA-8002 – non chart

18. Sally's Got A Good Thing – THE VILLAGE SOUND
19. The La La Song
September 1968, Hop HIA-8003 – non chart

20. Bring It On Home To Me – EDDIE FLOYD
21. Sweet Things To Do
12 October 1968, Stax STA-0012, R&B No.4, Pop No.17

22. Hang 'Em High – BOOKER T. & THE MG's
23. Over Easy 
12 October 1968, Stax STA-0013, R&B No.35, Pop No.9

24. You're Leaving Me – OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES
25. Showered With Love
19 October 1968, Stax STA-0014, R&B No.47

26. Kitchy Kitchy Koo – THE POP CORN GENERATION 
27. Shake It
October 1968, Hip HIA-8004 – non chart

28. Copy Kat – BAR-KAYS
29. In The Hole
2 November 1968, Volt VOA-4007 – non chart 

NOTES on CD4:
The last song on CD3 is The Staple Singers "Long Walk To D.C.", the A-side to Stax 0007 – its B-side "Stay With Us" is the first track on CD4

CD5 (78:17 minutes, 28 Tracks, 14 Singles)
Hip Single Label repro on CD, hard card leaf holder pictures Albert King October 1968 US LP "Live Wire – Blues Power" in colour
Each coupling is the US 45 single, A-side first, B-side next

1. Mighty Cold Winter – DINO & DOC [James Walker & Arthur L. Merriwether]
2. A Woman Can't Do (What A Man Do)
2 November 1968, Volt VOA-4006 – non chart

3. I Forgot To Be Your Lover – WILLIAM BELL
4. Bring The Curtain Down
November 1968, Stax STA-0015, R&B No.10, Pop No.45

5. Condition Red – THE GOODEES
6. Didn't Know Love Was So Good 
23 November 1968, Hip HIA-8005 – non chart

7. Running out – MABLE JOHN
8. Shouldn't I Love Him
30 November 1968, Stax STA-0016 – non chart

9. Family Portrait – BILLY LEE RILEY
10. Going Back To Memphis
November 1968, Hip HIA-8006 – non chart

11. My Baby Specializes – WILLIAM BELL and JUDY CLAY
12. Left Over Love
December 1968, Stax STA-0017, R&B No.45, Pop No.104

13. I'll Understand – THE SOUL CHILDREN
14. Doing Our Thang 
December 1968, Stax STA-0018, R&B No. 29

15. The Ghetto – THE STAPLE SINGERS
16. Got To Be Some Changes Made
December 1968, Stax STA-0019, - non chart

17. Blues Power (Edit) – ALBERT KING
18. Night Stomp (Edit)
December 1968, Stax STA-0020 – non chart – both sides live

19. The Echo – THE EPSILONS
20. Really Rockin
13 December 1968, Stax STA-0021- non chart – B-side is an instrumental

21. Funky Way – RUFUS THOMAS
22. I Want To Hold You
13 December 1968, Stax STA-0022 – non chart

23. The Children Have Your Tongue – THIS GENERATION
24. Give Her What She Wants
20 December 1968, Hip HIA-8007 – non chart

25. Who's Making Love – DAARON LEE
26. Long Black Train
20 December 1968, Hip HIA-8008 – non chart – A-side is a Johnnie Taylor cover

27. Take Care Of Your Homework – JOHNNIE TAYLOR
28. Hold On This Time
21 December 1968, Stax STA-0023, R&B No.2, Pop No.20

Produced by JOE McEWEN with the help of Robert Gordon, Chris Clough, Ryan Wilson, Sig Sigworth and Mason Williams - visually these Book Sets pack a punch if not being a tad unwieldy in real world use. The hard card CD holding leaves mentioned above are gorgeous – full colour plates of iconic Stax LPs – while snaps throughout the text show cool moments like Producer Steve Greenberg with a stoned Janis Joplin at a house party – Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper (of Booker T) giving it some twin guitar poses like a Memphis version of Status Quo, white vocalist Delaney Bramlett shares a smile moment with Pervis Staples. You get Otis Redding's vocal group discovery The Epsilons, the mighty Mavis and Pops Staples checking Stax tape boxes, Linda Lyndell looking like she's ready for a night on the Vegas craps stood beside her Cadillac, Obituary cards and service itineraries for Phalon Jones, Jr. on 21 December 1967 – the Saxophone player in Otis Redding's backing band The Bar-Kays who died in the plane crash that also took Otis. And the darker surrounding picture too - photos of Rufus Thomas at City Hall with racist Mayor Henry Loeb as Memphis erupted post the Martin Luther King assassination while armed cops sit on cars outside, a sit-in by black postal and sanitation staff with Decent Wages For All Workers placards - the No Left Turn and I Am A Man protests - Honor King: End Racism cards held in hands as they march in their thousands (the cover photo). 

As you read the text and are hit with photos that espouse both joy and menace, it's a strange brew of electric progress vs. electric shocks – one step forward musically – two steps pushed back politically. But I focus on the positive – the vibe the music gave you – the images of abandon and sexiness and cool people getting it on. You gotta love the colour shots of William Bell and Judy Clay – the Stax cool couple of 1968 – Eddie Floyd at an airport shouting at jets to get on up Big Bird. There is also talk of the bitter and hamstringing distribution deal Stax and Atlantic had on paper (clauses put in by lawyers) whilst mentors like Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi Ertegun simultaneously professed solidarity with the label Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton had built with a roster of great artists. Disgusted the money was not enough during renegotiations, Stax walked away and would eventually dissolve into financial chaos in 1975. But outside all of this is the music – their identity moving into the realms of an Independent Black Music Company that appealed to ALL sides of the bombarded demographic. 

However, there is something of an elephant in the Soul Room about this release that should be talked about – that cover photo – and its supposed context with Stax. Although Stax was considered by punters like me (shall we say) to be more hard-hitting than the hit-single-chasing Motown – politics as this set tries to frame - was NOT their thing. As you listen to five CDs of Stax singles in 1968 – they chased that Billboard dragon just as hard as Motown and only on occasion did the positivity and action messages of The Staple Singers sing anything about the Black Experience of endemic Racism, workers inequality and slumlord misery ("Long Walk To D.C." and "The Ghetto"). The Vietnam War is not in here – William Bell's response to the loss of Redding ("A Tribute To A King") was a flipside to the business-as-usual A-side - "Every Man Oughta Have A Woman". Stax Music was obsessed with girls and relationships and the battle of the sexes – it wanted dancers and Funk and popularity in their R&B chartings - but hard political action in their songs – not here. That is not to say they didn’t get involved in the background – they did – but on 45-single – out front for the public to see – Stax were about shifting hit single units as much as the next guy trying to make in a fractured world.

PAUL BLAKEMORE did the Mastering – an award-winning Audio Engineer – and it just so damn good. For sure little is going to save the disastrous Rock-orientated label Hip Records were Stax seemed to be completely oblivious to what worked or was even any good. But throughout, you are hit with clarity, very little hiss, warm Bass and punchy Brass and of course discoveries that thrill and intrigue. Details…

I cannot hear the Otis Redding death song (Dock of the Bay) another time (too sad) and the Sam & Dave cut "I Thank You" is standard dancer fare for them. The lesser-heard Memphis Nomads had one 45 on Stax – the hug you and kiss you every night B-side "I Wanna Be (Your Lover & Your Honey)" being the tastier cut. Lovely and criminally forgotten is how I'd describe the rare Shirley Walton track "I Was Born To Love You" – a piano and strings pleading stroller – Shirley ably supported by some impassioned and soulful vocals from the backing ladies. And again the flipside for Otis & Carla is the best choice - "New Year's Resolution" while the Ollie & The Nightingales winner "I Got A Sure Thing" is a gem benefitting hugely from the Gary US Bonds type guttural rasp of lead vocalist Ollie Haskins (it has an equally sexy B-side, no wonder the single is sought after). Considering how good it is and with that HUGE brass and guitar start, it is odd that the chunky/funky get on up "Big Bird" from Eddie Floyd. 

CD5 offers us the very Sam & Dave earnest intensity of "Mighty Cold Winter" by the obscure duo of Dino & Doc (James Walker and Arthur L. Merriwether) – tears falling from their collective eyes in the month of July. They swap lead vocals on the hard-hitting morality-tale dancer B-side "A Woman Can't Do (What A Man Do)" making Volt VOA-4006 a tasty and sought-after double-header. That's followed by an effective chart-tickling pleader from William Bell – our Bill forgetting to be his baby's lover – and forgetful Bell feels so bad on the flipside that he literally wants to "Bring The Curtain Down". Cheesy, cornball, hugely enjoyable kitsch, contender for Kenny Everett’s worst records of all time – you could call the girl group Goodees sole entry "Condition Red" all these things and undoubtedly it would have at home on Phil Spector Records (long-hair bearded hippy courts dew-eyed lass, skeptical parents, bike ride and car-crash all in the same song). Their flipside is better – Girl Group harmonies and cool arrangements ahoy on "Didn't Know Love Was So Good" – a cool inclusion frankly. 

How in God's name the fantastic Ashford & Simpson written "Running Out" by Mable John was not a hit is a God Damn mystery (running out of forgiveness and tear drops) – her pleading to the girls for endorsement flipside "Shouldn't I Love Him" equal too. With that slight Amy Whitehouse innocent twang in her unusual voice, this pairing shows me why Mable John is such an unsung hero in certain circles. The Albert King 45 "Blues Power" is talking-to-the-audience moocher that is edited down from the album's ten minutes to a more manageable 3:07 minutes on 45 – the almost Allman Brothers Funky-Blues instrumental flipside "Night Stomp" too – down from 6:40 minutes to a more digestible 3:40 minutes. 

The HIP Label seemed to be an unmitigated disaster - horrible twee bubblegum and attempts at Pop & Rock songs chasing the charts by acts that are forgotten - and rightly so (the end run on CD5 is particularly depressing alleviated only by the final pairing of Johnnie Taylor). But then there's the discoveries - Dino & Doc's cool duo "Mighty Cold Winter" and its flipside - the Ollie & The Nightingale sides that ooze Vocal Soul class - Jeanne & The Darlings - the ever-suave Mad Lads. Soon to be a Domino for Eric Clapton's Derek & The Dominoes - Bobby Whitlock gets his moment and there are choice entries from Lindell Hill and a personal rave of mine - Linda Lyndell (what a gal, lucky man to have her). And I love B-sides - the rare one for Judy Clay and William Bell's "Private Number" called "Love-Eye-Tis" - the Eddie Floyd flip "I'm Just The Kind Of Fool" and Jimmy Hughes "What Side Of The Door".

A 5CD Book Set like "Stax '68: A Memphis Story" was/is always going to be a serious fan-affair. But if you get the inclination and a swelling of your wallet to the point where you can hide it among the spines on shelves and the missus can't batter you over the head with a rolling-pin spiked with nails - then splash out. 

I'm actively hunting down all these Craft Recordings splurges and despite minor distractions and plot anomalies - I'm knee-trembling at the lot of them. 

Well done to all involved at Craft Recordings and Concord Music Group and like those stunning Motown Year Books Hip-O Select did with fabulous Ellen Fitton mastering - roll on 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 etc for the equally worthy STAX...

"Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring The Veltones, Carla Thomas, The Mar-Keys, William Bell, Booker T & The MG's, Rufus Thomas, Wendy Rene, Otis Redding, The Astors, Sam & Dave, The Mad Lads, Mabel John, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, Ollie & The Nightingales, Linda Lyndell, Judy Clay, The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, The Emotions, Isaac Hayes, Jean Knight, The Dramatics, Little Milton, The Soul Children, Frederick Knight, Mel & Tim, The Temprees, Ollie & The Nightingales, Shirley Brown, Linda Lyndell and some duets (September 2017 UK/EU Craft Recordings/Universal/Stax 3CD 60-Track Compilation Spanning 1959 to 1974 with Joe Tarantino Remasters – Part of the 'Stax 60 Series: Celebrating 60-Years Of The Memphis Sound') - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soulsville-U-S-Celebration-Stax/dp/B073JSFCVR?crid=14RENQUZD934I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.i_gcTdCDGyJg0DHTGaiszBWIjREEWhpzvjdg74dDa8c.ehZCsYMT2DXJfTqyx5MxXEAEvk2L-0WPpk-BI99Lc8o&dib_tag=se&keywords=888072029392&qid=1720457995&sprefix=888072029392%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=5b220c8bdef7ee62ba95adc5ad7d368c&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...I Got A Sure Thing..."

In 2024 the world will look at another Stax Records CD Compilation like its unnecessary. Musical nostalgia trips aside – it was nice and even cool back in the day but do I really need the return of Woolworths to my High Street right now? 

Well, my beloved Wimpy are gone too, but that doesn't mean I still don't crave me a delicious all-singing calories-be-damned Banana Boat dessert!

There are so many Large and Small Box Sets, Multi-Disc Compilations, 2CD Anthologies and Single-Disc Best Of's to choose from when it comes to nabbing a Stax Music one-stop - it's frankly dizzying. So why this digital threesome in the Stax 60 Series – Celebrating 60 Years Of The Memphis Sound – because it's a Craft Recordings release. Originally out of the USA in 2017 and also given a EU/UK release that year - this satisfying 3CD-overview has some of the loveliest and clearest Remasters of this Classic Soul label to date.

I have a thing for Craft Recordings - they have also done John Lee Hooker, Authentic Cuban Music from the Sixties, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Terry Callier's beautiful Folk-Soul debut album on Prestige Records in 1968 and even Travis at Glastonbury. And I've loved (reviewed most too) their many celebratory releases on all things Stax-related with stunning Box/Book Sets on Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Stax '68: A Memphis Story (a pivotal year for Soul and Politics), Stax Singles 4: Rarities & The Best Of The Rest, the rare 45s of The Gospel Truth Label, Writer Demos and loads more – many on celebrated well-mastered VINYL outings too that audiophiles have been waking up to across this last decade.

"Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" comes housed in a four-flaps foldout Digipak with a 20-page colour booklet inside – 60-Tracks offering up US 45s on Satellite, Stax, Volt, We Produce, Enterprise and Truth Records from The Veltones in September 1959 through to Shirley Brown in August 1974. It includes all their major US Billboard chart-toppers and more - legendary Soul names like Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave, Booker T & The MG's, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Isaac Hayes, Shirley Brown, The Mad Lads, The Staple Singers, Frederick Knight et al. Time to Tramp – to the details…

UK/EU released 22 September 2017 - "Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Craft Recordings/Universal/Stax 0888072029392 (Barcode 888072029392) is a 3CD 60-Track Compilation of Remasters spanning The Veltones from September 1959 to Shirley Brown in August 1974. All tracks are US 45-single A-sides (unless otherwise stated) and the order of information is; release date, catalogue number, and highest attained number positions on the USA Billboard R&B and Pop charts. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (55:23 minutes):
1. Fool In Love – THE VELTONES (September 1959, Satellite 100)
2. Gee Whizz – CARLA THOMAS (November 1960, Satellite 104, R&B No.5, Pop No.10)
3. Last Night – THE MAR-KEYS (June 1961, Satellite 107/Stax 107, R&B No.2, Pop No.3)
4. You Don't Miss Your Water – WILLIAM BELL (November 1961, Stax 116, Pop No.95)
5. Green Onions – BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (August 1962, Stax 127/Volt 102, R&B No.1, Pop No.3)
6. Walking The Dog – RUFUS THOMAS (September 1963, Stax 140, R&B No.5, Pop No.10)
7. After Laughter – WENDY RENE (August 1964, Stax 154)
8. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) – OTIS REDDING (April 1965, Volt 126, R&B No.2, Pop No.21)
9. Candy – THE ASTORS (May 1965, Stax 170, R&B No.12, Pop No.63)
10. You Don't Know Like I Know – SAM & DAVE (November 1965, Stax 160, R&B No.7, Pop 90)
11. Don't Have To Shop Around – THE MAD LADS (July 1965, Volt 127, R&B No.11, Pop No.93)
12. Let Me Be Good To You – CARLA THOMAS (March 1966, Stax 188, R&B No. 11, Pop No.62)
13. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) – MABLE JOHN (May 1966, Stax 192, R&B No.6, Pop No.95)
14. Knock On Wood – EDDIE FLOYD (July 1966, Stax 194, R&B No.1, Pop No.28)
15. Hold On! I'm Comin' – SAM & DAVE (March 1966, Stax 189, R&B No.1, Pop No.21)
16. Try A Little Tenderness – OTIS REDDING (November 1966, Volt 141, R&B No.4, Pop No.25)
17. B-A-B-Y – CARLA THOMAS (July 1966, Stax 195, R&B No.3, Pop No.14)
18. Hip Hug-Her – BOOKER T & THE MG'S (February 1967, Stax 211, R&B No.6, Pop No.37)
19. Soul Finger – THE BAR-KAYS (April 1967, Volt 148, R&B No. 3, Pop No.17)
20. Tramp – OTIS & CARLA [Otis Redding and Carla Thomas] (April 1967, Stax 216, R&B No.2, Pop No.26)

CD2 (60:16 minutes):
1. Born Under A Bad Sign – ALBERT KING (May 1967, Stax 217, R&B No.49)
2. Soul Man – SAM & DAVE (August 1967, Stax 231, R&B No.1, Pop No.1)
3. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay – OTIS REDDING (January 1968, Volt 157, R&B No.1, Pop No.1)
4. Big Bird – EDDIE FLOYD (February 1968, Stax 246)
5. I Got A Sure Thing – OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES (February 1968, Stax 245, R&B No.16, Pop No.73)
6. Soul Limbo – BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (May 1968, Stax 0001, R&B No. 7, Pop No.17)
7. What A Man – LINDA LYNDELL (June 1968, Volt 4001, R&B No. 50)
8. Private Number – JUDY CLAY & WILLIAM BELL (July 1968, Stax 0005, R&B No. 17, Pop No.75)
9. I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) – EDDIE FLOYD (May 1968, Stax 0002, R&B No.2, Pop No.40)
10. The Weight – THE STAPLE SINGERS (from the LP "Soul Folk In Action" released January 1969 in the USA on Stax STS 2004 and May 1969 UK on Stax SXATS 1004 in Stereo -a Cover Version of The Band song)
11. Who's Making Love – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (September 1968, Stax 0009, R&B No.1, Pop No.5)
12. I Like What You're Doing (To Me) – CARLA THOMAS (January 1969, Stax 0024, R&B No.9, Pop No.49)
13. I Forgot To Be Your Lover – WILLIAM BELL (November 1968, Stax 0015, R&B No.10, Pop No.45)
14. Time Is Tight – BOOKER T & THE MG'S (February 1969, Stax 0028, R&B No.7, Pop No.6)
15. Do The Funky Chicken – RUFUS THOMAS (November 1969, Stax 0059, R&B No.5, Pop No.28)
16. So I Can Love You – THE EMOTIONS (March 1969, Volt 4010, R&B No.3, Pop No.39)
17. Walk On By – ISAAC HAYES (July 1969, Enterprise 9003, R&B No.13, Pop No.30)
18. Keep On Loving Me – JOHNNIE TAYLOR & CARLA THOMAS (June 1969, Stax 0042, R&B No.4, Pop No.36)
19. Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom) – THE STAPLE SINGERS (November 1970, Stax 0083, R&B No.6, Pop No.27)
20. (Do The) Push And Pull (Part 1) – RUFUS THOMAS (October 1970, Stax 0079, R&B No.1, Pop No.25)

CD3 (69:13 minutes):
1. Mr. Big Stuff – JEAN KNIGHT (March 1971, Stax 0088, R&B No.1, Pop No.2)
2. Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (December 1970, Stax 0085, R&B No.1, Pop No.28)
3. Never Can Say Goodbye – ISAAC HAYES (April 1971, Enterprise 9031, R&B No.5, Pop No.22)
4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get – THE DRAMATICS (May 1971, Volt 4058, R&B 3, Pop No.9)
5. Respect Yourself – THE STAPLE SINGERS (September 1971, Stax 0104, R&B No.2, Pop No.12)
6. Theme From Shaft – ISAAC HAYES (September 1971, Enterprise 9038, R&B No.2, Pop No.1)
7. Son Of Shaft – THE BAR-KAYS (November 1971, Volt 4073, R&B No.10, Pop No.53)
8. That's What Love Will Make You Do – LITTLE MILTON (December 1971, Stax 0111, R&B No.9, Pop No.59)
9. Hearsay – THE SOUL CHILDREN (February 1972, Stax 0119, R&B No.5, Pop No. 44)
10. In The Rain – THE DRAMATICS (February 1972, Volt 4075, R&B No.1, Pop No.5)
11. Do Your Thing – ISAAC HAYES (January 1972, Enterprise 9042, R&B No.3, Pop No.30)
12. I've Been Lonely For So Long – FREDERICK KNIGHT (February 1972, Stax 0117, R&B No.8, Pop No.27)
13. I'll Take You There – THE STAPLE SINGERS (March 1972, Stax 0125, R&B No.1, Pop No.1)
14. Starting All Over Again – MEL & TIM (May 1972, Stax 0127, R&B No.4, Pop No. 19)
15. Dedicated To The One I Love – THE TEMPREES ((July 1972, We Produce 1808, R&B No.17, Pop No.93)
16. Hey You! Get Off My Mountain – THE DRAMATICS (February 1973, Volt 4090, R&B No.5, Pop No.43)
17. Cheaper To Keep Her – JOHNNIE TAYLOR (September 1973, Stax 0176, R&B No.2, Pop No.15)
18. If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) – THE STAPLE SINGERS (September 1973, Stax 0179, R&B No.1, Pop No.9)
19. I'll Be The Other Woman – THE SOUL CHILDREN (November 1973, Stax 0182, R&B No.3, Pop No.36)
20. Woman To Woman – SHIRLEY BROWN (August 1974, Truth 3206, R&B No.1, Pop No.22)

Formed by ex-Banker JIM STEWART and his record-shop owning sister Estelle Axton (the ST and AX in STAX) – their McLemore Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, USA was an oasis for artists of ANY colour – something highly unusual in the deeply race-riven South of the Fifties and Sixties. 

When you think that out of nearly 800 45-single releases across their fifteen-year tenure (and 300 albums) – Stax Records and their subsidiaries (Satellite, Volt, We Produce, Enterprise and Truth) placed 243 on the Top 100 R&B charts and 167 on the Billboard Pop charts too – picking 60 was always going to be a compromise of sorts and have omissions punters wanted. And you can see the playing times on CD1 and CD2 are a tad shorter than one would like – but "Soulsville U.S.A. - A Celebration of Stax" still makes for the most magnificent and pleasing play. 

You get 13 R&B number ones, 1 Pop No.1 (unbelievably, the mighty "Theme From Shaft" only hit No. 2 R&B but went all the way to No.1 on the Pop charts) and countless top-slot near misses at No.2 and No.3 slots. NYC songwriter and regular contributor to Esquire Magazine JEFF SLATE does the liner-notes honours - his STAX RECORDS overview peppered by quality four-photo pages of Stax's main roster including lesser-seen names like Ollie & The Nightingales and even The Stax/Volt European Tour of 1967 entourage. There is then song-by-song credits which I've transcribed above. 

Each CD features major chart hits with just four deep dives – the non-charting but popular 45 fan-choices by The Veltones, Wendy Rene and Eddie Floyd while The Staples Singers get one album track (CD1 and CD2). And the JOE TARANTINO Mastering is gorgeous and clean throughout. The sound quality on The Temprees for instance doing their cover version of the Shirelles 60ts classic "Dedicated To The One I Love" – soaring vocals and strings – clarity and underlying power – so sweet. The same applies to the lesser-celebrated Vocal Group gymnastics of The Dramatics demanding peace and loving in their fab "Hey You! Get Off My Mountain". 

The huge hits like Booker T's "Green Onions", Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood", Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" and posthumous number 1 "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay", Sam & Dave's Blues brothers staples "Hold On! I'm Comin'" and "Soul Man", Isaac Hayes' Blaxploitation Movie anthem "Theme From Shaft", Jean Knight's in-yer-face take-no-crap sassy "Mr Big Stuff" and the whole-world falls in love positivity of Mavis Staples fronting The Staple Singers in their gorgeous "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)" are all accounted for. But it's the intermittent stops on the bus to Coolsville that grabs you by the short and talcums - the semi-instrumental head-jerkin' joy of "Last Night" by The Mar-Keys, the sexy domestic squabbling made to sound Soulful in Mabel John's fab "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)" and washing-clothes in a local laundrette shimmy of "What A Man" by Linda Lyndell as she crisp-flicks her latest beau's duds. 

Blues-Soul Boss shows up in the shape Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign" (a tune so many Rock bands adored) and the real-world knowing alimony wit of Johnnie Taylor's "It's Cheaper To Keep Her". The ladies get advisory and a tad mean with Shirley Brown's "Woman To Woman" while The Soul Children's "Hearsay" takes no lyrical prisoners either. Even after all these decades, you forget how good the Isaac Hayes Soul's Burt Bacharach vibe is on his "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Walk On By" reworks - and there's the "Son Of Shaft" follow-up by The Bar-Kays - a Funk gem ripe for playlist rediscovery. For sure I might never want to hear the 'Country' in Otis & Carla's "Tramp" ever again, but I can't get sick of "I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)" or the early Stax Soul groove inherent in The Mad Lads doing "You Don't Have To Shop Around". 

I could go on about "Soulsville U.S.A - A Celebration of STAX" but I'll leave the 60-track rediscoveries to you. I got my copy from an online retailer for a bargain-bin sealed price of under eight quid, but this three-fer can set you back over fourteen pounds and upwards to thirty because its Craft Recordings - so go Smokey Robinson and The Miracles on its tasty ass - and shop around.

Great choices, tasty packaging and above all that quality audio you crave - bit of a belter frankly... 

"Shaft (Music From The Soundtrack):2-CD Deluxe Edition" by ISAAC HAYES – 23 July 1971 US 2LP Set on Enterprise Records and November 1971 UK 2LP set on Stax Records – featuring Backing Bands The Bar-Kays, The Isaac Hayes Movement, The Memphis Strings and Horns with Arrangements by Johnny Allen and J.J. Johnson and backing Singers Pat Lewis, Rose Williams and Telma Hopkins (September 2019 US Craft Recordings/Enterprise Deluxe Edition 2-CD Reissue – A 2LP set Newly Remastered by Dave Cooley onto CD1 – CD2 With Original Film Score Album Version Available For The First Time Remixed and Remastered by Michael McDonald and Doug Schwartz) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Rating: *****

"...Damn Right!"

There was industry discussion in the October 1971 issue of Billboard Magazine as Stax/Enterprise prepped for the release of Isaac Hayes' second double-album "Black Moses" in the same year (the double soundtrack album "Shaft" had been issued in July 1971). The article told all industry insiders that Stax had locked down all promotion of his new opus. This was because some DJ had reputedly been offered $300,000 for his Promo Copy of "Black Moses" with the aim of bootlegging it.

Why would someone offer an A&R employee such a huge amount of cash in 1971? Because his previous effort "Shaft" as a Movie, as a 2LP Blaxploitation Soul Music Soundtrack was MASSIVE – an absolute phenomenon and in a way that few had ever seen before. The handsome sex symbol lead actor Richard Roundtree, the bespectacled and impossibly cool musician Isaac Hayes with his beard and bling, the wah-wah guitar theme Hayes composed that just slaughtered all in its path worldwide - this bad mother was everywhere. Stax was even then claiming that such was the demand for Isaac's fourth release, that nearly 40% of all copies of "Shaft" in American circulation were bootlegs - gazillions of them.

Few now remember (or even know) that December 1971's "Black Moses" was going to be Isaac Hayes' fifth No. 1 US R&B LP in a row – a feat no one had ever achieved (he would achieve another 2 R&B number ones in 1974 with "Truck Turner" and the 1976 live double "Live At The Sahara Tahoe"). Seven No.1 R&B albums – wow!

But its the soundtrack to "Shaft" that has a special place in fan's hearts. Which brings us to this latest go-round – a twofer from September 2019 which replaces the Universal/Concord Music November 2009 US single-CD Remaster version. 

There were bitter diatribes about the BOB FISHER sound on the 2009 Concord Music Group single-disc Remaster – that is firmly kicked into touch here. The principal 1971 Double-Album Original Soundtrack has been Remastered by DAVE COOLEY at Elysian Mastering for this 2019 twofer and sounds amazing (CD1) - the Film Score on CD2 was Remixed by MICHAEL McDONALD at Private Island Trax while the Mastering was done by a name many will know - DOUG SCHWARTZ at Mulholland Music. For me (at least) CD1 is improved (clearer bass) and CD2 is even better somehow than CD1 – fabulous clarity-wise. I love what I'm hearing. And this reissue is also the first time that both versions have been available together as a 'Deluxe Edition'. DE 2019 has also wisely dropped the '2009 Mix' of the famous title song "Shaft" which was a supposed bonus at the end of the 2009 single-CD issue (74:32 total playing time because of it) - no great loss. And the film score on CD2 offers 22 cuts and not the 15 on CD1. I've also provided the playing times of tracks on both CDs for comparisons. Let's get to the details...

UK released 20 September 2019 - "Shaft: Deluxe Edition 2-CD Set" by ISAAC HAYES on Craft Recordings 00888072099012 (Barcode 888072099012) is Two-Disc Reissue and Remaster offering the full 15-Track 2LP 'Original Soundtrack' set Remastered onto CD1 with the 2-Track 'Film Score' Variant Also Newly Remastered onto CD2 (together for the first time). It plays out as follows:

CD1 Original Soundtrack (69:32 minutes):
1. Theme From Shaft (Vocal) – 4:40 minutes [Side 1]
2. Bumpy's Lament – 1:49 minutes
3. Walk From Regio's – 2:22 minutes
4. Ellie's Love Theme – 3:15 minutes
5. Shaft's Cab Ride – 1:07 minutes
7. Café Regio's – 6:09 minutes [Side 2]
8. Early Sunday Morning – 3:47 minutes
9. Be Yourself – 4:27 minutes
10. A Friend's Place – 3:21 minutes
11. Soulsville (Vocal) – 3:47 minutes [Side 3]
12. No Name Bar – 6:09 minutes
13. Bumpy's Blues – 4:01 minutes
14. Do Your Thing – 19:31 minutes [Side 4]
15. The End Theme – 1:56 minutes
Tracks 1 to 15 are the double-album "Shaft" - released 23 July 1971 in the USA on Enterprise ENS-2-5002 and November 1971 in the UK on Stax 2659 007. Produced by ISAAC HAYES and featuring THE BAR KAYS and THE MOVEMENT as the backing band – the Music From The Soundtrack 2LP set peaked at No.1 in both countries.

CD2 Film Score (62:07 minutes):
1. Theme From Shaft (Film Version) - 4:34 minutes
2. Shaft's First Fight - 1:45 minutes
3. Reel 2 Part 2 / Cat Oughta Be Here – 1:43 minutes
4. Bumpy's Lament (Film Version) – 1:44 minutes
5. Soulsville (Film Version) – 3:32 minutes
6. Ellie's Love Theme (Film Version) 1:45 minutes *
7. Shaft's Cab Ride (Film Version) / Shaft Enters Building – 1:38 minutes
8. I Can't Get Over Losin' You – 2:06 minutes
9. Reel 4 Part 6 – 1:37 minutes
10. Reel 5 Part 1 – 1:35 minutes
11. A Friend's Place (Film Version) – 1:44 minutes
12. Bumpy's Blues (Film Version) – 3:05 minutes
13. Bumpy's Lament (Reprise) (Film Version) – 1:32 minutes
14. Early Sunday Morning (Film Version) – 3:05 minutes)
15. Do Your Thing (Film Version) – 3:21 minutes
16. Be Yourself (Film Version) – 1:54 minutes
17. No Name Bar (Film Version) – 2:28 minutes
18. Shaft Strikes Again (Film Version) / Return Of Shaft – 1:36 minutes
19. Café Regio's (Film Version) – 4:23 minutes
20. Walk From Regio's (Film Version) – 2:27 minutes
21. Shaft's Pain – 3:03 minutes
22. Rescue / The End Theme (Film Version) – 10:44 minutes
* Track 6 is mistakenly credited as 3:23 minutes; it is 1:45 minutes

The single-disc jewel case of 2009 is replaced with a three-panel foldout card sleeve and stickered-outer-shrinkwrap (see photos) - CD1 in one pouch, CD2 in another and the booklet in the third flap. After reproducing the original album liner notes on Pages 2 and 3, from Page 4 on, the 20-page booklet is a pleasingly in-depth affair with new 2019 liner notes from AHMIR "Questlove" THOMPSON. 

Questlove takes the reader through the genesis of the music to its cultural explosion (24-hour screenings to meet the demand) and onto the "Big Score" and "Shaft In Africa" follow-up films/soundtracks and the WATTSTAX Concerts while talking about the groundbreaking 60-weeks the double-album spent on the charts. Although it didn't mean to start a sort of early BLM in 1971 - street hustling, drug addiction and cold-landlord slums were all part of the "Shaft" narrative/look and therefore brought these topics to the fore. Questlove sets that backdrop and is clearly enamoured at the big man Isaac Hayes - composer, producer, icon and above all - successful. 

Stills from the Blaxploitation Film pepper the text, actor Richard Roundtree looking like the Private Eye man of the moment while dodgy-looking inner-city dudes hold ladies and people hostage with round-barrel Thompson submachine guns. Towards the Credit Pages are various pictures of Isaac with backing musicians The Bar-Kays and members of his own band The Movement – Black and White snaps of Hayes with Gwen Mitchell (who was in the movie) by a framed poster of their phenomenon whilst another shows his Academy Award - all of it with the usual recording and reissue credits in the back pages. Cool, in-depth and "Shaft" now has that classy Craft Recordings look (they specialise in all things Stax and related - see my review for 'The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection'). To the music we have…

For an album that's so associated with the chicka-chicka wah-wah guitar of its theme song - "Shaft" the double-album is surprising mellow throughout. The near two-minutes of the sexy instrumental "Bumpy's Lament" is followed by the Funky Brass and Percussion 2:24 minutes of the superb "Walk From Regio's" where you can literally see our hero walking the dude streets with a pep in his step and a glide in his stride (oh stop it). There is gorgeous sound on the vibes smooch of "Ellie's Love Theme" - and those brass and strings melting on "Early Sunday Morning" as the high-hat taps time.

The brass pump-and-punch of "Be Yourself" sounds like a 1976 Disco anthem only five years before anyone knew the word (nice clarity on the Sax solo too). Back to yeah baby turn-out-the-lights smooch with "A Friend's Place" - the instrumentation being ever so slightly fragmented in the sound stage (one too up front, the other too far back) - but that's how I remember it was on the original vinyl. Now to one of my faves - the keyboard and vocal "Soulsville" talks about brothers getting high and strung out and finding out that they can get high but never touch the sky. The audio is gorgeous and makes you wish he sang more on the album (a bummer is that the three ladies who add so much to the backing vocals - Pat Lewis, Rose Williams and Telma Hopkins are not credited in the musicians list - a stupid oversight carried over again). There is that big chunky piano that opens the smooth "Bumpy's Blues" - lovely brass and drums - so clear now. And on it goes to the monster that is the 19:28 minutes of "Do Your Thing" - if the music makes you groove - love on baby (it is reduced to 3:21 on Cd2). Fantastic to hear it sound this good. Rap On. Which brings us to the radically different beast that is the Film Score.

Let's get specific. The playing times for "Theme From Shaft" on CD1 and CD2 are 4:30 and 4:34 minutes – so not much in timings – but the plays and mixes are wildly different. After all these years of Damn Right and Can You Dig It and Right On and Talking About John Shaft and Shut Your Mouth – it is wild to hear those subtle keyboard fills on the CD2 version. But when we would normally have gone straight into "Bumpy's Lament" as the next track – we now get four extra minutes of Tabla and Flute and Bass noodling in "Reel 2 Part 2 / Cat Oughta Be Here" that feels like you're eavesdropping on a long-lost John Barry gets Funky session. 

The clarity on "Reel 2 Part 2 / Cat Oughta Be Here" is gorgeous and even if it is only under two minutes, what a find for fans. But my jam is "Soulsville" which is moved forward in the Film Score version and features a great vocal/lyrics from Isaac – a little boy needs a pair of shoes. The vibes and flicked guitar of the gorgeous instrumental Soul ballad "Ellie's Love Theme" sounds amazing on CD2, but it is 1:45 minutes long on the Film Score version (therefore shorter) and not the extended 3:23 mix on the Soundtrack Album – so sort of winners and losers there. CD2 also mistakenly lists it as 3:23 minutes long when it isn't.

 
You can hear why the slightly Motown-out-of-place "I Can't Get Over Missing You" although Northern Soul dancers would dig it big time as a 45, they could spin. The very George Benson guitar-ish "Café Regio's" on the original ran to six minutes – on CD2 it's shortened to 4:23 minutes and is better for it in my opinion. But the final piece "Rescue/The End Theme" is a full-on 10:44-minute musical rollercoaster ride alternating between smooch and shimmy one moment (lone Vibes and Bass notes) to Black Private Dick funkiness the next where the wallop of orchestra and band kick in.

To sum up – after the single CD of 2009 - this supposed Hotter Than Bond and Cooler Than Bullitt 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD variant of 1971's "Shaft" makes a real effort. I think Craft Recordings should also have included those US Single Mixes either on CD1 or CD2 (there was room) and maybe a fold-out poster in that first flap too (the film poster is pictured on Pages 2 and 3 and its base sentences make for the backdrop on all three inner flaps as pictured). 

But as it is – the New Remaster on CD1 and those extras on CD2 make for a lethal combo. And "Shaft: Deluxe Edition 2-CD" does not come with an aircraft-carrier price tag either. 

I can indeed dig that the most my brothers and sisters and rappers and (oh do be quiet)…