Details Although Mississippi-born Ernie Hines made his first recordings in Chicago for the USA label, it was when he returned south that he was signed to Stax’s We Produce label by Al Bell. He recorded this one album for the We Produce label under the supervision of Tom Nixon, who was then producing Rufus Thomas‘ big dance hits. The musicians …
Details An unsung monster from the waning hours of the Stax empire, Roy Lee Johnson & The Villagers‘ eponymous LP is as funky as anything the label ever released. While its sound is unmistakably Stax — its elegant yet earthy sensibility couldn’t come from anywhere else — the music expands on the formula via tight, hypnotic grooves and scorching guitar …
Details The remastered LP also includes new liner notes from author, journalist and music critic Jeff Weiss, as well as from Melvin’s son Mario Van Peebles, director of New Jack City (1991) and 2003’s Baadasssss!, which chronicles the making of his father’s landmark film. The soundtrack features a combination of hymn-based vocalization and jazz rhythms, capturing the funky, gritty and …
Details The ultimate combination of funk and soul with a gospel edge. The Sons of Truth deliver their message with their own signature blend of sweet-soul vocal harmonies and wah-wah-laced grooves. An essential offering from the Stax subsidiary label, Gospel Truth. Don’t be fooled by the down-and-out vibe of the album cover – between the sweet-soul tinged vocal harmonies and …
Details The 1971 concept album, Victim of the Joke?…An Opera is the third solo LP from the acclaimed producer, songwriter, and singer David Porter. Listed as one of the “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time” by Rolling Stone, Porter established his career at Stax, working alongside writing partner Isaac Hayes. This ambitious LP stands as a testament to Porter’s endless …
Details A landmark album released by Isaac Hayes and the Bar-Kays at the height of their powers in 1971, Shaft not only resulted in an Oscar win for Hayes, but launched the wah-wah workout and #1 smash-hit, “Theme from Shaft” into cultural ubiquity. Its legacy transcends time as not only one of the most lasting and most successful Blaxploitation albums of all time, but one …
