Soul Source

Southern Soul is a sub-genre of Soul music that, as the name suggests, originated in the Southern United States of America. Southern Soul music was all about the feel or groove of the song. It emerged from a music scene that heavily featured Blues, Gospel, early Rock and Roll, and Country. Indeed, one of the major pioneers in the Southern Soul movement began life as a country music label.

Due to the lack of success in this genre, Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton took a chance on an R&B record called ‘Cause I Love You’, which gained some national acclaim. This was the beginning of a fruitful career in the Southern Soul market for Memphis based Stax Records.

Alongside working with their first signing DJ Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla Thomas (the artists behind ‘Cause I Love You’), there was another early success story, which came from the labels session band The Mar-Keys. These guys had a hit with the funky based instrumental ‘Last Night’. Other notable chapters in the early Stax story include the release of ‘You Don’t Miss Your Water (Until Your Well Runs Dry)’ by William Bell, and the arrival on the scene of Booker T and The MG’s. Both acts were important in defining the Southern Soul sound, and taking the label onto the national stage.

William Bell was best known for ‘You Don’t Miss Your Water’, but did have other notable hits, such as the Julian Clay collaboration ‘Private Number’, and ‘Trying To Love Two’, which hit the top of the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart in the 1970’s. Meanwhile Booker T and The MG’s had a big pop hit with their song ‘Green Onions’. These acts were joined on the Stax roster by the likes of Sam and Dave, Eddie Floyd, Judy Clay, The Emotions, and The Soul Children. There was of course one other notable, and memorable name on the Stax Roster, who recorded for their sub label Volt, and that was Otis Redding.

Otis Redding is perhaps best known for his hit ‘Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay’, which was released in the month following his death in a plane crash. His other posthumous accolades also included a Lifetime Achievement Award at The Grammy’s, and an induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. During his lifetime he wrote and recorded many songs, and covered recognisable hits such as ‘Try A Little Tenderness’, ‘Respect’, and ‘I Cant Get No (Satisfaction)’. All these hits and more, played their part in shaping the career of a true Southern Soul Legend, though his death represented a downfall for Stax Records.

After Otis Redding died, the label had several changes in personnel, and changes of musical direction. They were trying to reinvigorate the company, and perhaps rather foolishly, compete with Motown Records. Although some of their efforts reaped rewards, they were essentially known as a Southern Soul label, and eventually alienated their initial fans. That, and a series of contract disputes and bad business deals, led to them declaring bankruptcy in late 1975.

Although the original company may be no more, the Stax Legacy still lives on in the hearts and minds of many soul fans all over the world. The rights to the 1968-1975 catalogue are owned by Atlantic Records, while the Concord Record group has restarted the Stax label, and continues to issue releases from the early catalogue, plus more modern releases. There is also a lasting tribute to the label, on the site of its original offices in Memphis. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music attracts large numbers of visitors every year, to celebrate not just the story of Southern Soul/Stax, but the rest of Soul musics rich history too.

It’s easy to see why Stax Records played such an important part on the Southern Soul scene. It was a label that defined the Southern Genre, signed up some of the greatest artists of the time, and unusually for a Southern Soul label, released vocal work as well as instrumentals. Their sound may not have been able to compete with the countrywide/worldwide success attributed to Motown, but it was every bit as recognisable, and still is today!