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Episode 1

Beverley Knight tells the story of the fall and the rise and the fall of the legendary Memphis soul label Stax.

Another chance to hear Beverley Knight tell the story of the legendary Memphis soul label Stax.

In December 1967 the great soul singer Otis Redding was killed in a plane accident, depriving the musical world of one of its great singers, and costing his record label, Stax, their leading light, both artistically and commercially.

A matter of weeks later, the company also discovered that - due to a catastrophic business error - they no longer owned the rights to their back catalogue. The label that brought us Otis, Booker T & The MGs, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Rufus & Carla Thomas and many , many more was on its knees with no prospect of survival ahead.

But within three years, Stax was one of the most successful African American companies in the world, boasting an entirely new roster of stars like Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers and William Bell and expanding into concert promotion, film production, Broadway musicals and the world of rock music. They released 30 albums and 28 singles in a three month period.

Their 1972 Wattstax festival in Los Angeles boasted the largest bill of soul artists ever assembled performing to the biggest audience of African Americans ever seen paying the lowest admission fee in history thanks to an innovative use of sponsors. And that was before the multi-album, multi-platinum record releases from the show hit the shops, and the huge grossing feature documentary hit the cinemas. And then Isaac Hayes won an Oscar for "Shaft".

In 1974, an ambitious expansion into mainstream rock music came badly undone for the company and Stax was wound up in January 1976.

The Stax alumni come together to tell the story of this great label.

First broadcast in 2016.

1 hour

Last on

Sat 29 Sep 2018 04:00
麻豆社 Radio 6 Music

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Episode 2

See all episodes from The Story of Stax

Clips

See all clips from Episode 1 (3)

Music Played

  • Beverley Knight, William Bell & Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

    Private Number

  • Otis Redding

    FA FA FA FA FA (SAD SONG)

    • Atlantic Soul (Various Artists).
    • Warner E.S.P..
    • 7567-80595-9*.

  • Otis Redding

    (SITTIN ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY

    • SOUL.
    • POLYGRAM TV.
    • 565-433 2.

  • Johnnie Taylor

    Who's Making Love

    • Stax Profiles: Johnnie Taylor.
    • STAX.
    • STAX 9.

  • Booker T. & The M.G.'s

    SOUL LIMBO

    • SOUL LIMBO.
    • STAX.
    • 2001-M45.

  • Linda Lyndell

    WHATTA MAN

    • THE COMPLETE STAX/VOLT SINGLES #2.
    • STAX.
    • 9SCD-4411.

  • Carla Thomas

    I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING (TO ME)

    • CARLA THOMAS & RUFUS THOMAS: CHRONICLES (GREATEST HITS).
    • STAX.
    • SCD24412-42.

  • William Bell & Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

    I Forgot To Be Your Lover

  • William Bell

    BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN

    • THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.
    • STAX.
    • N/A.

  • Isaac Hayes

    Precious, Precious

    • Blue Hayes.
    • Atlantic.
    • 2465 016.

  • Erma Franklin

    Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart

    • Sixties Power Ballads.
    • EMI.
    • VTDCD-893.

  • Isaac Hayes

    WALK ON BY

    • GREATEST HIT SINGLES.
    • STAX.
    • SCD-2485152.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 29 Aug 2016 22:00
    麻豆社 Radio 2
  • Thu 31 Aug 2017 01:00
    麻豆社 Radio 6 Music
  • Sat 29 Sep 2018 04:00
    麻豆社 Radio 6 Music