Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion

In Robert Gordon's rich, absorbing new history of Stax Records, the issue of race is like a bad-ass backing vocal against the two-part harmony in the forefront: the music and business angles. Stax has been well covered over the years; dominating the work of Stax scholars and obsessives worldwide are Peter Guralnick’s moving, wide-ranging Sweet Soul Music, and Canadian musicologist Rob Bowman’s exhaustive Soulsville. But in Respect Yourself, you can taste the grits.Gordon is a Memphian, who has been writing and directing documentaries about local music for nearly 30 years. He connects with the way musicians work and live, and he is also a superb story teller. Respect Yourself is the book he has been writing in the back of his mind since he first picked up a pen, producing two other classics in the meantime. It Came From Memphis (1994) was mostly about the city’s alternative rock scenes of the 1960s and 1970s, with Elvis and Stax barely mentioned, and Can’t Be Satisfied (2002) was an atmospheric, sensitive biography of Muddy Waters. Like Guralnick at a similar stage, Gordon has now produced a trilogy that evocatively recreates the culture in which American popular music was re-invented and heard worldwide. Even when the business story of Stax begins to dominate the racial, political, and most importantly the musical angles, Respect Yourself is an exhilarating, often heart-breaking history. It will satisfy Stax aficionados and the newly converted, and does justice to the story by providing a context to the miracle of Memphis – and by opening up the music itself, like a re-mix editor looking for a hidden hook in the original multi-track tapes.

Gordon tells the remarkable story of the rise and fall of the venerable Stax label in a way that one suspects that only a Memphian like him can. From a tiny studio fronted by a record store to the fifth largest black-owned business in America, Stax produced a grittier, more "real" alternative to the pop-oriented African American music coming from Motown in the Sixties and early Seventies -- a veritable "soul explosion," as Gordon puts it. His tale is based on interviews with the label's owners, brother and sister Jim Stewart and Estelle "Miz Axton" Axton, its studio musicians (The MGs), producers, and administrative staff, and most of its star artists, such as Carla and Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes, William Bell, and Mavis Staples. The singer who put Stax squarely in the public's consciousness was, of course, Otis Redding, to whom devotes many touching, informative, and even funny pages.Gordon argues that Stax essentially grew faster than its leaders, namely Al Bell, could manage. Bell's vision of making Stax a major multimedia force drove the company to it heights, but his lack of control over the millions Stax made sank the enterprise even more quickly than it grew. Less than a decade after Redding's landmark performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, Stax had issued its last single and fell into bankruptcy, leaving in its wake the broken lives of dozens of employees as well as one hell of a musical legacy.

Robert Gordon's objective history of STAX Records is both a moral tale of fleeting success in the cut throat US recording industry and an unflinching look at Memphis in the 1950's through the 1970's. It's a fascinating look at the emerging power of media conglomerates, but more importantly, it is wonderful way to acquaint yourself with some of the most influential soul and blues music personalities of the era. Jim and Estelle Stewart and Al Bell (owners of STAX) provided us with some of the most enduring music of our time including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T and the MG's, Carla and Rufus Thomas and hundreds more. For readers looking for more understanding of racism in the USA - this book reveals a portrait of a Memphis that this reader had never known - how a city so steeped in wonderful music tradition could be one of the centers of divisive racism in our country. For lovers of soul and blues music, the book is crammed with trivia, biographical information and anecdotes about all kinds of performers, producers, record companies, etc. While full of information, this book is an extremely relaxed read - I'd highly recommend it for music crazed high school students as well as adult readers.

Love Memophis music? Love R&B from the 60s? Stop what you are doing and buy this book! This book is the definitive history of Stax, the Memphis recording studio that made Issac Hayes, Otis Redding and others. It is truly fascinating and I couldn't recommend this book higher if you have interest in those subjects. From the early music to Rufus and Carla Thomas, to Steve Cropper, the Bar Kays, Booker T and the MGs, it's all here.But the highlight has to be the guitar player who came in with his chauffeur/gofer who begged to sing one song even after the band left. But once he started singing, WOW! They quickly reconvened and a SUPERSTAR WAS BORN! Read this to find out who it was.And how did Issac Hayes start and how did he become a singer and what was his relevance to the Stax history? And of course, the horrible plane crash that changed the face of music. Interested on the business side? Two buyouts, unread contracts that come back to harm you and other business stories are all here.If you are a music historian or love Memphis or R&B music, BUY AND READ! The first half of the book literally jumps off the page.

This is a very well researched and well written history of Stax Records. It not only covers the great music that came from Stax and the musicians who made it, but also the twisted business affairs that ultimately led to the label's demise.Overall, a very worthwhile read if you're interested in music history.

A detailed, meticulously researched account of Stax Records in Memphis. Gordon features interviews with numerous key figures at the label, including Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Bell, Duck Dunn, and Jim Stewart giving a personal glimpse into a remarkable music and social phenomenon. Stax united black and white and created literally timeless music.Recommended for music fans.

excellent read..... all the details gives a lot of "respect " to the performers and the culture that as in need of change.

A remarkable piece of writing by Robert Gordon which was obviously a labour of love for him. Stax Records was without doubt one of the major players in soul music producing artist such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes as well as having a magnificent house band in the MG's - Steve Cropper, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, Booker T and Al Jackson. The song writing team of Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter produced all of Sam & Dave's great songs and when Atlantic pulled them back into their stable the hit songs dried up - such was the potency of Hayes and Porters song writing abilities. Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton started Satellite Records to give young white and black kids the opportunity to achieve their dreams and from a local base the company, which eventually became Stax Records, found world wide fame. The ups and downs of the company are well chronicled by Robert and for any fan of soul music the book is a must read. The music produced by Otis and Sam & Dave and the rest is as fresh and vibrant today as it was when they walked into the studio to record it.. Thanks Robert for a great piece of writing.

A wonderfully detailed exposure of the record industry, politics, racism and the highs and lows of one of the most important labels in history. If you thought payola was just about money, think again. Even if you have no interest in 60's and 70's soul, this is still a fascinating story, but if you were brought up listening to Otis, Booker T., Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas and dozens more of the Stax greats, then this really is an essential read. Once you hit the top, there is only one way to go-so enjoy the journey along the way and don't worry where it will all end!