Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jun 26, 2024 11:24:31 GMT -5
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Stax-records-logo.jpg) After seeing the documentary Stax: Soulsville USA (which I highly recommend), I was inspired to do this rankdown. Founded in Memphis in 1957 as Satellite Records, it was originally a country and pop label, but their greatest success came when they ventured into the world of R&B. The label's name was changed to Stax in 1961, named after the two owners (Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton). With a roster that included artists like Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, and The Staple Singers, Stax became one of the biggest labels for soul music in the 1960s and 70s. The label was shut down in 1975, but was revived in the 2000s with a new crop of R&B performers. This will be a two-part series highlighting some of the artists who at one time or another recorded for Stax, with a mix of artists from its '60 and '70s heyday and some more recent recordings. There are 35 songs in this first part, all of which were released under the Stax umbrella: Albert King – Born Under a Bad Sign Angie Stone feat. Betty Wright - Baby The Bar-Kays – Soul Finger Booker T. & The MG’s – Green Onions Carla Thomas – B-A-B-Y David Porter – Can’t See You When I Want To The Dramatics – Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get Eddie Floyd – Knock On Wood The Emotions – Blind Alley Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely For So Long Isaac Hayes – Walk On By Isaac Hayes – The Look Of Love Johnnie Taylor – Who’s Making Love Johnny Daye – What’ll I Do For Satisfaction Lalah Hathaway – Let Go Linda Lyndell – What a Man Luther Ingram – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) Mable John – Your Good Thing (Is About To End) The Mad Lads – Don’t Have To Shop Around The Mar-Keys – Last Night Mel & Tim – Starting All Over Again Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – S.O.B. Nikka Costa – Stuck To You Ollie & The Nightingales – I Got a Sure Thing Otis Redding – I’ve Been Loving You Too Long Otis Redding – Try a Little Tenderness Rufus & Carla Thomas – Cause I Love You Rufus Thomas – Do The Funky Chicken Sam & Dave – Hold On! I’m Comin’ The Soul Children – The Sweeter He Is Soulive – Waterfall The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself The Temprees – Dedicated To The One I Love The Veltones – Fool In Love William Bell – You Don’t Miss Your Water Spotify Playlist:Final rankings will use an inverse point system. Submissions are tentatively due August 2. ![](https://media2.giphy.com/media/1msE2aYQ3hgQaUQpDZ/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952angq8jhw036qa3w83nv1fjj1nuhqck2h8uh6joag&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
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singingrulebritannia
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source: https://twitter.com/KametieDraws/status/1801741278666965067
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Post by singingrulebritannia on Jun 26, 2024 12:38:17 GMT -5
You know, I was just thinking about the fact that there have been way too few classic soul rankdowns on this forum.
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• Господин Умљеновић •
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... I wanna leave • I'll probably stay another year ...
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Post by • Господин Умљеновић • on Jun 26, 2024 15:23:44 GMT -5
Thanks for tag but I will skip this one.
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Post by navylightning on Jun 26, 2024 18:08:37 GMT -5
I love how most of these songs are either old or I’ve never heard of them. And then there’s just SOB in there.
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wyckyd
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Post by wyckyd on Jun 27, 2024 0:17:21 GMT -5
oh hell yea!!! I'm so down for this!
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DJDaveMick69
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Post by DJDaveMick69 on Jun 27, 2024 14:57:48 GMT -5
I might consider, even tho (surprisingly) there are some songs I'm not familiar with--there's always YouTube.
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 3, 2024 17:06:50 GMT -5
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Posts: 11,455
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 5, 2024 11:30:25 GMT -5
Stax signed a distribution deal with Atlantic in the mid-1960s, and in return Atlantic sent a few of their acts to record at the Stax studios in Memphis. Sam & Dave was one of those acts, but they had singles released under the Stax label, which is why they're included on this list. There were other artists who also recorded at Stax, but their singles were released by Atlantic. We'll call these "honorary Stax singles".
A few of these singles were by this singer from Alabama. The first was co-written with Steve Cropper and produced by Cropper and Jim Stewart. It topped the soul chart and peaked at #21 on the Hot 100 in 1965.
In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
His next single peaked at #4 on the soul chart.
Don't Fight It - Wilson Pickett
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 8, 2024 16:50:25 GMT -5
Here's another honorary Stax single, this one by a singer from South Carolina. Written with Steve Cropper, it peaked at #5 on the soul chart in 1965 and was later covered by Aretha Franklin.
See Saw - Don Covay
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 10, 2024 11:19:30 GMT -5
WEEKLY REMINDER!![](https://media3.giphy.com/media/3o6nUTaqnnR02sr6UM/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952k2n0kvvdzb0d0yftd8czspxuu4589ihgfjmzltpq&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 11, 2024 11:24:42 GMT -5
Here are a couple more honorary Stax singles by Wilson Pickett. This song, written by Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd, topped the soul chart and peaked at #13 on the Hot 100 in 1966. Features background vocals by Patti LaBelle & The Blue Belles. It's a reference to the Marvelettes' hit "Beechwood 4-5789", and was later covered by Tina Turner.
634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.) - Wilson Pickett
His next single was written with Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd and peaked at #13 on the soul chart.
Ninety Nine And a Half (Won't Do) - Wilson Pickett
It was during these sessions that Pickett rubbed the Stax house musicians the wrong way, which in turn led Jim Stewart to tell Atlantic president Jerry Wexler that he wouldn't do any more productions on non-Stax artists.
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gonecountry
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Post by gonecountry on Jul 14, 2024 21:01:34 GMT -5
oh, I am IN!
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 17, 2024 10:48:06 GMT -5
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gonecountry
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Post by gonecountry on Jul 18, 2024 7:11:08 GMT -5
Just about to submit. I found the hidden unknown (to me) gem in this rankdown. Leaped over many of my favorites.
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Soulsista
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 19, 2024 11:15:44 GMT -5
EXTRAS
From the time he arrived at Stax he almost immediately became one of the label's most important artists. His debut single for Stax was also his first to chart, peaking at #20 on the soul chart in 1963.
These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding
This song peaked at #18 soul in 1965. It was originally recorded by O.V. Wright.
That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
Originally recorded by Lowell Fulson, this version, released as a duet just a few months after the original, peaked at #2 on the soul chart and #26 on the Hot 100 in 1967. It was later sampled by Salt-N-Pepa in their song of the same name.
Tramp - Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
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Soulsista
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 22, 2024 10:31:13 GMT -5
EXTRAS
He started out as a songwriter, producer, and session musician for Stax, but in the aftermath of Otis Redding's death plus the end of Stax's distribution deal with Atlantic that saw the latter take ownership of all Stax records released during that period, he emerged as an artist in his own right and ultimately became Stax's biggest artists.
His take on an Al Green classic peaked at #25 on the soul chart in 1972.
Let's Stay Together - Isaac Hayes
One of his final singles for Stax peaked at #7 on the soul chart and #30 on the Hot 100 in 1974.
Joy - Isaac Hayes
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wyckyd
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Post by wyckyd on Jul 22, 2024 15:43:38 GMT -5
EXTRAS
He started out as a songwriter, producer, and session musician for Stax, but in the aftermath of Otis Redding's death plus the end of Stax's distribution deal with Atlantic that saw the latter take ownership of all Stax records released during that period, he emerged as an artist in his own right and ultimately became Stax's biggest artists.
One of his final singles for Stax peaked at #7 on the soul chart and #30 on the Hot 100 in 1974.
Joy - Isaac Hayes
Joy would've been real high on my list if it'd been included.
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gonecountry
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Post by gonecountry on Jul 23, 2024 9:58:51 GMT -5
A good list, I'd love to do a Part II. You know what would have been real high on my list for Eddie Floyd - higher than Knock on Wood? Big Bird, a Stax single written while Floyd waited in a London airport for a plane back to the United States for Otis Redding's funeral.
The horns on this song. And his voice. Can't believe this only went to #132 Pop. Not sure if it even hit the R&B charts.
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 23, 2024 11:40:59 GMT -5
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Post by Private Dancer on Jul 23, 2024 19:18:19 GMT -5
Tag me i wanna do this
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 25, 2024 11:44:11 GMT -5
EXTRAS
The first Top 10 hit for this family group from Chicago peaked at #6 on the soul chart in 1971. It also peaked at #27 on the Hot 100.
Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) - The Staple Singers
This single topped the soul chart and peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 in 1973.
If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) - The Staple Singers
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Soulsista
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 26, 2024 11:25:19 GMT -5
7 DAYS LEFT!![](https://media1.giphy.com/media/xT1R9zrY5z5gUhBr0I/200w.gif?cid=6c09b9520yr8g7jp8lcvfar9y7errzwnsrofcuh2nu1lmm57&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
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Soulsista
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 29, 2024 10:17:36 GMT -5
4 DAYS LEFT!![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b8/20/d2/b820d2ca59e7ff357d11e1cfa9a896c1.gif)
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Soulsista
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 30, 2024 11:25:25 GMT -5
They were the house band at Stax, backing artists like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. They were also successful in their own right. Their cover of this Young Rascals classic peaked at #10 on the soul chart and #21 on the Hot 100 in 1967.
Groovin' - Booker T. & The MG's
This song peaked at #7 soul and #17 on the Hot 100 in 1968.
Soul Limbo - Booker T. & The MG's
Their final Top 10 hit peaked at #7 on the R&B chart and #6 on the Hot 100 in 1969. It's from the soundtrack to the movie UpTight.
Time Is Tight - Booker T. & The MG's
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🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲
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Post by 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 on Jul 30, 2024 23:36:09 GMT -5
working on this now!
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Soulsista
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Post by Soulsista on Jul 31, 2024 10:33:54 GMT -5
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Soulsista
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Post by Soulsista on Aug 2, 2024 11:20:06 GMT -5
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🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲
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Post by 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 on Aug 2, 2024 11:37:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the extension!
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Aug 4, 2024 12:32:59 GMT -5
5 DAYS LEFT!![](https://media2.giphy.com/media/QHtZ75OT07KKKxLuJ5/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952eptr6x0atwmmpmbk3xs60wpzk7i8mswmb9g54izh&ep=v1_internal_gif_by_id&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
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Soulsista
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Room for one more, honey.
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Post by Soulsista on Aug 6, 2024 11:24:01 GMT -5
3 DAYS LEFT!SOUL MUSIC LOVERS, WHERE YOU AT?![](https://media2.giphy.com/media/QHtZ75OT07KKKxLuJ5/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952eptr6x0atwmmpmbk3xs60wpzk7i8mswmb9g54izh&ep=v1_internal_gif_by_id&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
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