50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE I...Recordings

Stax Records and Craft Recordings are proud to announce the release of multiple new titles paying homage to the iconic Wattstax Benefit Concert which took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20th, 1972. Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection, Wattstax: The Complete Concert, and The Best of Wattstax, plus 2-LP reissues of the original soundtrack albums Wattstax: The Living Word and The Living Word: Wattstax 2 will all be released on February 24 and are available for pre-order today.

In celebration of the 1973 Columbia Pictures music documentary, Sony Pictures will re-release Wattstax at participating Alamo Drafthouse locations throughout the U.S. from February 24. To purchase tickets, click here.

Created in conjunction with the annual Watts Summer Festival to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts uprising in Los Angeles, the Wattstax benefit concert was attended by more than 100,000 people. It featured performances from Stax Records’ most popular artists of the time, including, but not limited to, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas and The Bar-Kays. These releases are the first complete audio collections of what Wattstax creator and then-President of Stax Records, Al Bell calls the “most jubilant celebration of African American music, culture, and values in American history.”

Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection is a 12-CD box set featuring the complete 1972 L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert plus recordings from the Summit Club, including 31 previously unreleased tracks across the collection. These recordings are housed in a folio with a 76-page, full-color book featuring an introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and new essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway. A previously unreleased version of the iconic soul funk anthem “Theme From Shaft” by the legendary Isaac Hayes from his headline set at Wattstax is available to stream and download here today.

Wattstax: The Complete Concert includes the full L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert and is available on both 6-CD and 10-LP formats. In addition to musical performances, it features all the speeches and other stage banter from the event, including event MC, the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s often referenced “I Am Somebody” speech. Both formats of this collection include the full-color book with introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway that is also included in Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection.

A 1-CD title, The Best of Wattstax, brings together a handpicked selection of twenty of the best musical performances from the Wattstax concert. Including performances by Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, The Bar-Kays, Kim Weston, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King, Eddie Floyd and more, and serves as a great introduction to the event and the many iconic artists that it featured.

Newly cut from the original analog tapes, reissues of the two original soundtrack albums Wattstax: The Living Word and The Living Word: Wattstax 2—which feature highlights from the concert and subsequent documentary film—will also each be reissued on 2-LP formats on the same date.

and yes,I already preordered this box set

Soul’d Out: The Complet... - YouTube

very excited for this!!!

I have the Wattstax dvd that came out in the early 2000's and the original 2 cd Wattstax Living

Word set. Hell I'm scared to see what this 12 cd box set cost.

phunkdaddy said:

I have the Wattstax dvd that came out in the early 2000's and the original 2 cd Wattstax Living

Word set. Hell I'm scared to see what this 12 cd box set cost.

it's $200 on Amazon I preordered it,but if I see it cheaper elsewhere, I can always cancel the order.

^^ one of the bundle deals available on the STAX official site.

DISC 1

1. Dale Warren & The Wattstax ’72 Orchestra – Salvation Symphony
2. Kim Weston – The Star Spangled Banner*
3. Tommy Jacquette & Jesse Jackson – Opening announcements
4. Kim Weston – Lift Every Voice and Sing
5. Melvin Van Peebles – We’re here to consecrate, not desecrate
6. The Staple Singers – Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)
7. The Staple Singers – Are You Sure
8. The Staple Singers – I Like the Things About Me
9. The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself
10. The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There

DISC 2

1. Tommy Jacquette & Richard Roundtree – Wattstax Day proclamation
2. Jimmy Jones – Somebody Bigger Than You and I
3. Louise McCord – Better Get a Move On
4. Deborah Manning – Precious Lord Take My Hand
5. Eric Mercury – I Shall Not Be Moved*
6. Freddie Robinson – At the Drive-In*
7. Lee Sain – Them Hot Pants
8. Ernie Hines – What Would I Do*
9. Little Sonny – Wade in the Water
10. William Bell – I Forgot to Be Your Lover
11. The Newcomers – Pin the Tail on the Donkey
12. Eddie Floyd – Knock on Wood
13. The Temprees – Explain It to Her Mama
14. Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely for So Long
15. The Golden 13 – Old Time Religion
16. William Bell – Al Bell Award presentation
17. The Rance Allen Group – Lying on the Truth
18. The Rance Allen Group – Up Above My Head

DISC 3

1. William Bell – David Porter introduction
2. The David Porter Show – Introduction
3. David Porter – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
4. David Porter – Can’t See You When I Want To
5. David Porter – Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)
6. William Bell – The Bar-Kays introduction
7. The Bar-Kays – Son of Shaft/Feel It
8. The Bar-Kays – In the Hole
9. The Bar-Kays – I Can’t Turn You Loose
10. William Bell – Tommy Tate introduction
11. Tommy Tate – I Remember*
12. William Bell – Please move back to the stands
13. Tommy Tate – Help Me Love*
14. Tommy Tate – School of Life*

DISC 4

1. William Bell & John Kasandra – Carla Thomas introduction
2. Carla Thomas – Pick Up the Pieces
3. Carla Thomas – I Like What You’re Doing (To Me)
4. Carla Thomas – B-A-B-Y
5. Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz
6. Carla Thomas – I Have a God Who Loves
7. John KaSandra – Albert King introduction
8. Albert King – Match Box Blues
9. Albert King – Got to Be Some Changes Made
10. Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You
11. Albert King – Killing Floor
12. Albert King – Angel of Mercy
13. John KaSandra – Rufus Thomas introduction
14. John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas entrance
15. Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown
16. John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Kindly go back to your seats

DISC 5

1. Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Chicken
2. Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Penguin
3. Jesse Jackson – I am, somebody
4. The Soul Children – I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To
5. The Soul Children – Hearsay
6. John KaSandra, Fred Williamson & Jesse Jackson – Let us stand and raise our fists together
7. Billy Eckstine – If I Can Help Somebody*
8. Billy Eckstine – There is a curfew here

DISC 6

1. Jesse Jackson – Isaac Hayes introduction
2. Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 1) *
3. Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 2)
4. Isaac Hayes – Soulsville
5. Isaac Hayes – Never Can Say Goodbye
6. Isaac Hayes – Part-Time Love*
7. Isaac Hayes – Your Love Is So Doggone Good
8. Isaac Hayes – Ain’t No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue
9. Isaac Hayes – I Stand Accused
10. Jesse Jackson – Let everybody stand and join hands
11. Jimmy Jones – If I Had a Hammer

DISC 7: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (September 23, 1972)

1. Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas introduction*
2. Rufus Thomas – Comedy Set*
3. Rufus Thomas – Night Time Is the Right Time*

DISC 8: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (September 23, 1972)

1. Rufus Thomas – Johnnie Taylor introduction
2. Johnnie Taylor – Take Care of Your Homework (Set 1)
3. Johnnie Taylor – Little Bluebird (Set 1)
4. Johnnie Taylor – Steal Away (Set 1)
5. Johnnie Taylor – I Don’t Wanna Lose You (Set 1)
6. Johnnie Taylor – Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone (Set 1) *
7. Johnnie Taylor – Who’s Making Love (Set 2)
8. Johnnie Taylor – Hello Sundown (Set 2)
9. Johnnie Taylor – Steal Away (Set 2)
10. Johnnie Taylor – Stop Doggin’ Me (Set 2)
11. Johnnie Taylor – Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone (Set 2)

DISC 9: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (September 29, 1972)

1. Sons Of Slum – Think (About It) *
2. Sons Of Slum – Respect*
3. Sons Of Slum – The Man*
4. Sons Of Slum – Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone/Dance to the Music/Music Lover/I Want to Take You Higher*
5. The Emotions – So I Can Love You
6. The Emotions – Blind Alley*
7. The Emotions – Introductions
8. The Emotions – Show Me How
9. The Emotions – When Tomorrow Comes*
10. The Emotions – I Could Never Be Happy*

DISC 10: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (October 4, 1972)

1. Little Milton – Open the Door to Your Heart
2. Little Milton – Let Me Down Easy
3. Little Milton – Grits Ain’t Groceries (All Around the World)
4. Little Milton – Blind Man
5. Little Milton – I Can’t Quit You Baby
6. Little Milton – That’s What Love Will Make You Do
7. Little Milton – Walking the Back Streets and Crying

DISC 11: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (October 4, 1972)

1. Mel & Tim – Introduction*
2. Mel & Tim – Warm It Up*
3. Mel & Tim – Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) *
4. Mel & Tim – Groovy Situation*
5. Mel & Tim – Good Guys Only Win in the Movies*
6. Mel & Tim – Backfield in Motion/Starting All Over Again*
7. Mel & Tim – Friendship Train*

DISC 12: ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS

1. The Emotions – Peace Be Still (Rehearsal)*
2. The Emotions – Peace Be Still (Take 1)*
3. The Emotions – Peace Be Still (Take 2)
4. Isaac Hayes – Rolling Down a Mountainside
5. Isaac Hayes – Rolling Down a Mountainside (Alternate Version) *
6. The Staple Singers – Oh La De Da
7. Eddie Floyd – Lay Your Loving on Me
8. The Dramatics – Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
9. Mel & Tim – I May Not Be What You Want
10. Richard Pryor – Saturday Night/Blue Note, Backroom
11. Richard Pryor – Arrest/Line-Up
12. Richard Pryor – Niggers
13. Richard Pryor – Negroes
14. Richard Pryor – Handshake
15. Richard Pryor – Wino Get a Job

* = Previously Unreleased

the two

^^ the two Wattstax albums (originally released in 1973) are also being reissued.I may pre-order those,as well.Each album is a 2-LP set.

Thx for the heads up!

Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RJOrion said:

The Emotions performance of "Peace Be Still" at Wattstax, is the most powerful gospel performance i ever saw...people in the church screaming and shouting and falling out with the Holy Ghost, left & right...Wanda Hutchinson was singing her face off...amazing

the full 9 minute performance is a-ma-zing. simply amazing. touching. wonderful.

LILpoundCAKE said:

FYI

The Newcomers would later become KWICK in 1980

Even though a lot of us are in our 50's Soul I don't think any of us are old enough

to have attended Wattstax in 1972

phunkdaddy said:

Even though a lot of us are in our 50's Soul I don't think any of us are old enough

to have attended Wattstax in 1972

phunkdaddy said:

Even though a lot of us are in our 50's Soul I don't think any of us are old enough

to have attended Wattstax in 1972

Fo sho, I was five months old up coast in San Fran at the time.

JoeBala said:

Was the whole concert filmed and ever released on DVD or bluray?

yes it was I have this DVD

ISAAC HAYES - SHAFT @ WAT... - YouTube

It's ironic we're discussing Wattstax. I have been digging Walk On By the long 12 minute

version a lot lately and I was looking to see if a copy of Hot Buttered Soul was available on vinyl only to find out it's out of print and the choices on Discogs used for a good copy are ridiculously high so I settled for getting the remastered cd which I received yesterday.

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said:

phunkdaddy said:

It's ironic we're discussing Wattstax. I have been digging Walk On By the long 12 minute

version a lot lately and I was looking to see if a copy of Hot Buttered Soul was available on vinyl only to find out it's out of print and the choices on Discogs used for a good copy are ridiculously high so I settled for getting the remastered cd which I received yesterday.

last year,I bought an excellent Isaac Hayes box set that I’m enjoying tremendously.’Hot Buttered Soul’ is a great album.I also love the ‘Black Moses’ album.

I have Black Moses on vinyl. I was fortunate to find that in a box of albums my mother in law

received from someone and she gave them to me.

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said:

phunkdaddy said: last year,I bought an excellent Isaac Hayes box set that I’m enjoying tremendously.’Hot Buttered Soul’ is a great album.I also love the ‘Black Moses’ album.

I have Black Moses on vinyl. I was fortunate to find that in a box of albums my mother in law

received from someone and she gave them to me.

hey I just joined that FB page you recommended

89Flowers said:

phunkdaddy said:

Even though a lot of us are in our 50's Soul I don't think any of us are old enough

to have attended Wattstax in 1972

Fo sho, I was five months old up coast in San Fran at the time.

fyi...for those of you considering buying the 12-CD box set,you may not want to get it Amazon.They're selling it for a whopping $189 I found it at importcds for $135,which is considerably cheaper.

phunkdaddy said:

I have Black Moses on vinyl. I was fortunate to find that in a box of albums my mother in law

received from someone and she gave them to me.

the album packaging is really interesting,isn't it?