When all else fails to entertain I often find myself scrolling through the realms of the BBC’s iplayer. An abundance of missed opportunities arise out of its hidden depths of viewing pleasure. Without sky+ and the complexities of a dated video recorder I miss hours of television, either through sheer ignorance or a desire to visit the pub. So on a bored Wednesday night after failing to see Heath Ledger in his much talked about role as the Joker (a long story) I dug out the BBC 4 screening of an amazing documentary on the phenomenal R&B label Stax Records.
Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and told by those behind the music, both on stage and off it, the story of Soulsville unfolds. This epic tale of Soul music provides a narrative to the South and the complex political and racial nature of a nation undergoing revolutionary change during the 1960s and 70s.
Founded in Memphis by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, the label was in stark contrast to its city. In an era in which Memphis would rather shut its only public swimming pool than adhere to new desegregation policies, Stax operated an open door policy of racial harmony. A key feature of the documentary highlights how Stax in the 1960s epitomized the new feeling of liberal racial equality.
The real delight of this documentary lies in the plethora of footage of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs and The Staple Sisters to name but a few of the classic Stax artists. I grew up in a household of Soul and Stax was very much at the forefront of the records played within the house. This documentary is particularly pleasing in that it provides a context to the music and a visual aesthetic of which was missing from the music my Father played.
For your viewing pleasure here are a selection of classic Stax videos:
Otis Redding - ‘Shake’
Isaac Hayes - ‘Stormy Monday’
Booker T & The MGs - ‘Green Onions’
Its a fantastic documentary for any avid music fan. Particularly interesting to those in the industry also as Stax really did revolutionize the Black Entertainment Industry. Producing classic Black Cinema in the form of 'Shaft' and responsible for unleashing Richard Pryor, Stax was a revolutionary label for a revolutionary time.
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