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Disc four features tracks recorded live. Disc one has the songs you hear on oldies stations.
Practically all the songs I care about are here. Because I couldn't afford the 1959-1968 Complete Stax-Volt box set, I got this instead.
But since that's on the Atlantic Rhythm & Blues box set which I also own, I didn't mind that too much. The only obvious omission is "Hip Hug Her" by Booker T.
& the M.G's. The lesser known but still essential tracks covering the Atlantic era (Kinda Blue) and the post-Atlantic era (Finger Snapping Good) are on discs two and three with the volume titles inspired by the Stax label designs of those two eras.
As exciting as the songs are as recorded in the converted movie theater on McLemore Avenue, they were even more exciting when performed on stage.
I had come across some of the earlier Stax material via Atlantic R&B record set years ago,including the unbelievable "These Arms of Mine" by Otis R.I was inspired by a recent excellent 2 hour TV doco.about Stax to chase up this 98 track collection.Certainly some of the tracks have not stood up well over years but, along with the expected quality tracks from Otis R. and Sam and Dave, I did find several gems I would not have known b4, especially a Mel and Tim track and Albert King`s rendition of a great Etta James song.I also bought the DVD of the Stax Live show in Norway 1967, which was strongly covered in the TV Doco. and is an excellent companion to this CD set.
This is a wonderful anthology of top ten hits interspersed with lesser known gems. Any true soul enthusiast should make this part of their collection.
This is a good review of the Stax catalog. One CD is call Finger Snappin' music. The "live" CD is especially good. I didn't care much for the way they categorized the music. Most of the songs on that CD don't have that tempo. Overall, it's a good way to hear music from some of the lesser know talents in the Stax fold.
As an intro to the label from soulsville usa, Stax Story can do little wring. with favorites from hitmakers Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Isaac Hayes, to the sweet,sweet b-sides of Booker T, Rufus Thomas, and the Staple Singers, the only complaint from this reviewer is that there simply wasn't enough (despite over 100 tracks).
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