STACKS OF STAX.

stax

STAX RECORDS have just announced the digital release and physical reissue of two comprehensive box set titles: ‘The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971’ and ‘The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975’.

Both boxes were originally released in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Now both compilations will be re-released into the physical market in compact, new packaging. Each set includes full-colour booklets with in-depth essays by Stax historian and compilations co-producer Rob Bowman.

The volumes feature stalwart Stax R&B artists including Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Carla Thomas, the Bar-Kays and William Bell, as well as bluesmen Little Milton, Albert King and Little Sonny, and so-called “second generation” Stax hit makers like Jean Knight, the Soul Children, Kim Weston, the Temprees, and Mel & Tim. Many of the tracks included in these collections will be made available digitally for the very first time.

Stax Vol. 2 contains 9 CDs covering 216 recordings while Vol 3 has 10 discs and 213 tunes and both will be available early 2105. If you’re wondering about Vol. 1, well that’s a little difficult. In its early days Stax was contractually tied to Atlantic and in 1991 Atlantic issued a 9 CD box set that covered all the Stax singles released between 1959 and 1968. At the moment there doesn’t seem to be any plan to reissue the set… but we live-in hope!