Album of the Day

Great R&B was recorded all over the U.S. in the 1960s, but two studios dwarfed all the others: Motown in Detroit and Stax in Memphis. While Motown kept a close ear to mainstream radio, Stax and its subsidiary labels like Volt drew their inspiration from rawer gospel and blues roots, and STAX-VOLT: THE COMPLETE SINGLES 1959-1968 shows the power of that approach. The 244-track collection includes all the A-sides and key B-sides issued during the labels' Atlantic-distributed glory days. The line-up of hitmakers here – including Otis Redding (“(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay”), Sam & Dave (“Soul Man”), Eddie Floyd (“Knock On Wood”), Carla Thomas (“Gee Whiz”), Albert King (“Born Under A Bad Sign”) and Booker T And The MG's (“Green Onions”) offer a master class in Southern soul, and there are enough gems from lesser-known artists to suggest wizardry was at work in that studio at 926 East McLemore Avenue. THE COMPLETE SINGLES 1959-1968 shows the sound of Stax-Volt remains electrifying.