View Full Version : "Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story,"
mightyradgumbo
07-31-2007, 08:22 PM
Airing here in Boston Tomorrow....Check your local PBS listings.
Part of the "Great Performances" series
http://tinyurl.com/2fnzgs
Frosty
08-01-2007, 08:52 AM
Friend called me about this last night. Tonight at 9 here in Chicagoland. Perfect since I get home from basketball at 8 and it gives me time to shower and eat first.
festivalgirl
08-01-2007, 04:29 PM
Sounds great. We have four different PBS stations in our area. Not one of them is Airing this during the next two weeks. :eek:
You would think Los Angeles would have an excellent PBS Station ..... KCET has got to be the worst :(.
glinda
08-02-2007, 09:01 AM
Caught it last nite, great slice of music history. Immediately went looking for some Otis Redding music and really looking forward to hearing Mavis in a couple weeks.
Curious to hear a review from our own Memphis music expert, Staxsun. Didya see it yet, stax? What'ya think?
Frosty
08-02-2007, 09:15 AM
Caught it last nite, great slice of music history. Immediately went looking for some Otis Redding music and really looking forward to hearing Mavis in a couple weeks.
Curious to hear a review from our own Memphis music expert, Staxsun. Didya see it yet, stax? What'ya think?
Yes, it was a great bit of history. I have always loved the Stax sound and loved hearing the story behind it. A woman I work with is from Memphis and grew up knowing the families of the founders and went to school with Steve Cropper.
Speaking of Mavis, she is part of the Solid Blues tour with the North Mississippi All Stars, Charlie Musselwhite, and Joe Krown that will be coming to the burbs in November.
BigDag
08-02-2007, 09:19 AM
I didn't know much about the story behind the Stax sound; the film was as educational as it was entertaining. I really enjoyed it; it kept me up past my bedtime.
Sounds great. We have four different PBS stations in our area. Not one of them is Airing this during the next two weeks. :eek:
You would think Los Angeles would have an excellent PBS Station ..... KCET has got to be the worst :(.My brother lives in the D.C. area and he has the same complaints...doesn't even get ACL!
We have 4 PBS stations on our cable: Cincy, Dayton, Oxford, Covington (KY) plus alternate additional digital stations- PBS heaven! I missed it last night, but have several more airings.
sunnyla
08-02-2007, 09:58 AM
I'm sure the LA stations will get on it. I've found they're usually exactly two weeks off of the national schedule. Whenever ACL is on, the LA stations air the episodes two weeks later. Don't know why. It's a pain.
They better get on it though. I really want to see that show.
It was on Channel 12 WYES here in New Orleans last night. Very educational, enjoyable show.
Staxsun
08-02-2007, 11:03 AM
Yes, it was a great bit of history. I have always loved the Stax sound and loved hearing the story behind it. A woman I work with is from Memphis and grew up knowing the families of the founders and went to school with Steve Cropper.
Speaking of Mavis, she is part of the Solid Blues tour with the North Mississippi All Stars, Charlie Musselwhite, and Joe Krown that will be coming to the burbs in November.
I wonder if my friends know your co-worker. I grew up in that general area, and I'm friends with Estelle Axton's daughter Doris (who is Jim's niece and Packy's sister as well). I'm a little young to have known Cropper, but I do have friends that went to his school.
Frosty
08-02-2007, 11:25 AM
I wonder if my friends know your co-worker. I grew up in that general area, and I'm friends with Estelle Axton's daughter Doris (who is Jim's niece and Packy's sister as well). I'm a little young to have known Cropper, but I do have friends that went to his school.
Her married name is Linda Schubert. Don't know her maiden name. Unfortunately, she is on an extended leave for chemotherapy so I can't ask her. She's been coming in to fill in on occassion depending on how she is doing energy wise. I must add, when she was heading in for her initial surgery, I brought back Deacon John's Jump Blues CD for her and she absolutely LOVES it. It's been her healing music.
Staxsun
08-02-2007, 11:25 AM
Caught it last nite, great slice of music history. Immediately went looking for some Otis Redding music and really looking forward to hearing Mavis in a couple weeks.
Curious to hear a review from our own Memphis music expert, Staxsun. Didya see it yet, stax? What'ya think?
Yes, I did see it. I was kinda holding back to see what you guys thought. I did think that it was a fairly good portrayal of history. There were some inaccuracies, but more omissions than wrong facts. The revisionist history gives far too much credit to Al Bell. The company was well established before he arrived. Did he do many good things? Yes. Was he responsible for the downfall of Stax? Yes. All in all, it was an excellent documentary. It's understandable that it would be slanted somewhat, due to the reluctance of the Stewart/Axton family to really tell the whole story and the eagerness of Al Bell to glorify himself. One thing that was not stressed enough was that even after Jim Stewart had no financial interest in the company he was lending it money, paying people out of his own pocket until he had nothing left. He could have distanced himself from the sinking ship, yet he climbed back on board without a life preserver. I also thought that not enough was mentioned of the importance of Rufus and Carla Thomas.
ibjamn
08-02-2007, 11:30 AM
I watched it last night too - excllent!
Yes, I did see it. I was kinda holding back to see what you guys thought. I did think that it was a fairly good portrayal of history. There were some inaccuracies, but more omissions than wrong facts. The revisionist history gives far too much credit to Al Bell. The company was well established before he arrived. Did he do many good things? Yes. Was he responsible for the downfall of Stax? Yes. All in all, it was an excellent documentary. It's understandable that it would be slanted somewhat, due to the reluctance of the Stewart/Axton family to really tell the whole story and the eagerness of Al Bell to glorify himself. One thing that was not stressed enough was that even after Jim Stewart had no financial interest in the company he was lending it money, paying people out of his own pocket until he had nothing left. He could have distanced himself from the sinking ship, yet he climbed back on board without a life preserver. I also thought that not enough was mentioned of the importance of Rufus and Carla Thomas.
I concur. They also downplayed the Atlantic deal that inflicted the mortal wound to the company. In Peter Guralnick's excellent book "Sweet Soul Music", Cropper and others aren't quite as kind in their descriptions of Jerry Wexler and the deal itself. I find it hard to believe that a banker wouldn't bother to read the fine print in a contract. The programs credibility was somewhat damaged by the time they got to Al Bell so I wasn't that surprised at the glorification of all things Al... The highlight was seeing Booker T and the boy's performance of "Time is Tight" live from the 1st Atlanta Pop Festival.
festivalgirl
08-02-2007, 02:33 PM
None of these shows are perfect but the old footage they find is worth it for me. Hopefully we get a showing out here soon. Anybody tape/tivo it?
Staxsun
08-02-2007, 04:46 PM
None of these shows are perfect but the old footage they find is worth it for me. Hopefully we get a showing out here soon. Anybody tape/tivo it?
I didn't, but it is already available on DVD as part of the PBS Great Performances series. $19.95, I think. Is anyone else's PBS station showing tonight's Stax Academy in Italy documentary? I don't know if that's local, or not. If they do, it should show the type of thing we're trying to support in the kids.
breambob
08-02-2007, 06:10 PM
What a great show. I didn't really know anything about Stax except for the stars and hits that came out of there. Didn't know anything at all about how bad Atlantic hosed them. Interesting the comparison with Motown (had the soul) and Stax (had the funk.)
Got chilly bumps watching some of the Otis stuff...
I had forgotten about the racial troubles in Memphis in the late 60s. We all need a reminder of that crap from time to time. Overall a very good show. I'd love to see a documentry like this on other labels, Sun, ATCO, Columbia, Apple, Motown, etc...
And BTW, I saw a lot of Stax recording sessions that were farmed out to Sound City here, in particular Jean Knight on Mr. Big Stuff. I was a youngun, but I think I was hip :)
Staxsun
08-03-2007, 07:34 PM
What a great show. I didn't really know anything about Stax except for the stars and hits that came out of there. Didn't know anything at all about how bad Atlantic hosed them. Interesting the comparison with Motown (had the soul) and Stax (had the funk.)
Got chilly bumps watching some of the Otis stuff...
I had forgotten about the racial troubles in Memphis in the late 60s. We all need a reminder of that crap from time to time. Overall a very good show. I'd love to see a documentry like this on other labels, Sun, ATCO, Columbia, Apple, Motown, etc...
And BTW, I saw a lot of Stax recording sessions that were farmed out to Sound City here, in particular Jean Knight on Mr. Big Stuff. I was a youngun, but I think I was hip :)
Sorry to burst your bubble, but "Mr. Big Stuff" was recorded in Jackson Mississippi at Malaco Studios on the same session as King Floyd's "Groove Me". I believe they were produced by Wardell Quezerque. The racial stuff really wasn't any worse than any other city, but the speeches by Dr. King and his assassintion here brought them to the forefront. The fact that Stax happened here shows that people were ready to get past that crap. I'm not sure what sessions were cut at the home of the Shreve, but I do believe there were some. The huge volume of material necessitated farming it out. That's what created the Muscle Shoals scene.
breambob
08-03-2007, 08:27 PM
Sorry to burst your bubble, but "Mr. Big Stuff" was recorded in Jackson Mississippi at Malaco Studios on the same session as King Floyd's "Groove Me". I believe they were produced by Wardell Quezerque. The racial stuff really wasn't any worse than any other city, but the speeches by Dr. King and his assassintion here brought them to the forefront. The fact that Stax happened here shows that people were ready to get past that crap. I'm not sure what sessions were cut at the home of the Shreve, but I do believe there were some. The huge volume of material necessitated farming it out. That's what created the Muscle Shoals scene.
Well, I doubt JK laid down the vocals here, but she was here and the drums were done by Danny LeJune. I'm fairly certain that the master mixdown was done here by Roger Clinton. Hey man, we had 16 tracks to work with !!! and they were portable, from one Scully to another, and we had Dolby noise reduction, and a Moog box and a B3. And a Twin Reverb and a Marshall stack, and and and, it was cool, but it's all a blur now...
;)
Staxsun
08-03-2007, 09:31 PM
Well, I doubt JK laid down the vocals here, but she was here and the drums were done by Danny LeJune. I'm fairly certain that the master mixdown was done here by Roger Clinton. Hey man, we had 16 tracks to work with !!! and they were portable, from one Scully to another, and we had Dolby noise reduction, and a Moog box and a B3. And a Twin Reverb and a Marshall stack, and and and, it was cool, but it's all a blur now...
;)
...diamond in the back, sun-roof top, diggin' the scene with the gangster lean..... It was probably mastered more than once. This is the first I'd heard of any Shreveport involvement. I know it was shopped unsuccessfully to Stax and played locally in N.O. before they finally picked it up.
rosetree
08-03-2007, 09:58 PM
...diamond in the back, sun-roof top, diggin' the scene with the gangster lean..... It was probably mastered more than once. This is the first I'd heard of any Shreveport involvement. I know it was shopped unsuccessfully to Stax and played locally in N.O. before they finally picked it up.
OK now I'm confused Stax...
Did Jean Knight cover William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got"???
Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you've got
Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you've got
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
[Instrumental Interlude]
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
breambob
08-03-2007, 10:40 PM
...diamond in the back, sun-roof top, diggin' the scene with the gangster lean..... It was probably mastered more than once. This is the first I'd heard of any Shreveport involvement. I know it was shopped unsuccessfully to Stax and played locally in N.O. before they finally picked it up.
YYR, and it was Lewis Villarie on bass, AKA Rasheed, he got one track on the tape on a direct plug-in to the board, that's all it took. Drum pit got five mics and three tracks. Like I said, I was there. Weird and wonderful times. I'll ask Madison about the details next time I see him, I'm sure I've screwed this story up, and did I say Roger Clinton? That would be George. The Engineer not the performer.
Staxsun
08-04-2007, 05:15 AM
OK now I'm confused Stax...
Did Jean Knight cover William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Go
Not that I know of. It's just what went through my demented mind when Breambob was talking about twin reverbs and a marshall stack, etc.
rosetree
08-04-2007, 06:47 AM
Not that I know of. It's just what went through my demented mind when Breambob was talking about twin reverbs and a marshall stack, etc.
Oh, OK..I needed to take the "demented mind" into account!!!;) :D
Now I have a nice mellow earworm for today...
breambob
08-15-2007, 10:38 PM
Not that I know of. It's just what went through my demented mind when Breambob was talking about twin reverbs and a marshall stack, etc.
Just to caught up. Nothing on Mr. Big Stuff was recorded in Shreveport. All of it was laid down at Malaco. James Stroud did the drum work and much of the final production. Some of the studio guys here and Jean did jam some, but none of that made it on the final record. There is some discrepency on some of the horn tracks, though...
Staxsun
08-16-2007, 06:31 AM
Just to caught up. Nothing on Mr. Big Stuff was recorded in Shreveport. All of it was laid down at Malaco. James Stroud did the drum work and much of the final production. Some of the studio guys here and Jean did jam some, but none of that made it on the final record. There is some discrepency on some of the horn tracks, though...
I feel better. I know that at my advanced age I'm losing my mind, but some things you feel pretty sure about.
freebo
08-16-2007, 10:27 AM
Well,
What about this: Wattstax
It's a film made during some big concert in L.A. in 1972...
Isaac Hayes
Albert King
Johnnie Taylor
The Staple Singers
The Bar-Kays
Rufus Thomas
Carla Thomas
Luthar Ingram
Little Milton
etc...
http://www.wattstax.com/wattstax_images/BodyJPGs/JesseIntrosIsaac.jpg
The problem is - while it's showing at a local theater here in St. Pete, across town there's a live concert by J.J. Grey & Mofro at Skipper's.
So: Do I go see a movie, or take part in an actual musical show?
What yall think?
Headless Hornman
08-16-2007, 10:46 AM
Well,
The problem is - while it's showing at a local theater here in St. Pete, across town there's a live concert by J.J. Grey & Mofro at Skipper's.
So: Do I go see a movie, or take part in an actual musical show?
What yall think?
Go to the movie and say Hi to Cheryl for me. Go to St. Augusting Labor Day weekend for Mofro, Los Lobos, and Tony Joe White.
I was talking about you on the Bonerama thread on the general music page...
Staxsun
08-16-2007, 11:32 AM
Well,
What about this: Wattstax
It's a film made during some big concert in L.A. in 1972...
Isaac Hayes
Albert King
Johnnie Taylor
The Staple Singers
The Bar-Kays
Rufus Thomas
Carla Thomas
Luthar Ingram
Little Milton
etc...
http://www.wattstax.com/wattstax_images/BodyJPGs/JesseIntrosIsaac.jpg
The problem is - while it's showing at a local theater here in St. Pete, across town there's a live concert by J.J. Grey & Mofro at Skipper's.
So: Do I go see a movie, or take part in an actual musical show?
What yall think?
I'm the wrong person to ask. It would be great to see it on a big screen. Of course you could buy it on DVD and watch it hundreds of times.