THE ESSENTIAL STAX COLLECTION!

Box sets don't come much better than this. Four discs of glorious Stax soul, featuring both classic hits and hidden treasures from virtually every major artist in the Stax family.

Disc One, The Hits, is the cream of the crop, 26 smash hit songs that helped create the Stax legacy that still shines today. It's not only a terrific overview of the label's best and brightest, but it also works as an instant party-starter. Be careful who you loan it to -- it's so good, you may not get it back.

Disc Two, Kinda Blue, digs a little deeper into the early years, mixing big hits from Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and William Bell with lesser known (but no less amazing) tracks from the likes of David Porter, Ruby Johnson, and Eddie Floyd. Great stuff!

The third disc in the set, Finger-Snappin' Good, takes the Stax Story from the 60's into the 70's, featuring favorites from Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, and the Staple Singers, among others.  Like Disc Two, don't be surprised if some of the more obscure tracks become personal favorites after a few listens.

And we wrap things up with Disc Four, Live!, which shows that the legendary 926 East McLemore address in Memphis wasn't the only place where the Stax magic happened. From the 1967 Stax/Volt tour that wowed Europe to the epic Wattstax concert of 1972, Stax artists certainly knew how to work a concert audience into a frenzy, and this live disc provides 75 minutes of glorious proof.

Aside from 98 tracks of classic Memphis soul, The Stax Story also includes a comprehensive 68 page booklet full of great photos and informative essays from Greil Marcus, Rob Bowman, Charlie Gillett, and our own Deanie Parker.

-- Disc One: The Hits --

1. Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes) - Carla Thomas
2. Last Night - The Mar-Keys
3. Green Onions - Booker T. & The MG’s
4. Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas
5. Respect - Otis Redding
6. Hold On I’m Comin’ - Sam & Dave
7. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
8. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
9. Soul Finger - The Bar-Kays
10. Tramp - Otis & Carla
11. Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King
12. Soul Man - Sam & Dave
13. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
14. Private Number - William Bell & Judy Clay
15. Who’s Making Love - Johnnie Taylor
16. Time Is Tight - Booker T. & The MG’s
17. Do The Funky Chicken - Rufus Thomas
18. Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
19. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - The Dramatics
20. Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers
21. Theme From Shaft - Isaac Hayes
22. I’ve Been Lonely (For So Long) - Frederick Knight
23. I’ll Take You There - The Staple Singers
24. Starting All Over Again - Mel & Tim
25. I’ll Be The Other Woman - The Soul Children
26. Woman To Woman - Shirley Brown

-- Disc Two: Kinda Blue --

1. Cause I Love You - Rufus & Carla Thomas
2. You Don’t Miss Your Water - William Bell
3. These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding
4. Can Your Monkey Do The Dog - Rufus Thomas
5. Big Party - Barbara & The Browns
6. Jump Back - Rufus Thomas
7. Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
8. Can’t See You When I Want To - David Porter
9. Boot-Leg - Booker T. & The MG’s
10. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - Otis Redding
11. Candy - The Astors
12. I Want Someone - The Mad Lads
13. Philly Dog - The Mar-Keys
14. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction - Otis Redding
15. Things Get Better - Eddie Floyd
16. Let Me Be Good To You - Carla Thomas
17. I’ll Run Your Hurt Away - Ruby Johnson
18. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) - Mable John
19. Patch My Heart - The Mad Lads
20. Crosscut Saw - Albert King
21. I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down - Sam & Dave
22. Grooving’ - Booker T. & The MG‘s
23. Give Everybody Some - The Bar-Kays
24. Cold Feet - Albert King
25. I Thank You - Sam & Dave
26. I Got A Sure Thing - Ollie & The Nightingales
27. Big Bird - Eddie Floyd
28. A Tribute To A King - William Bell
29. I Ain’t Particular - Johnnie Taylor

-- Disc Three: Finger Snappin' Good --

1. Soul Limbo - Booker T. & The MG‘s
2. I’ve Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) - Eddie Floyd
3. What A Man - Linda Lyndell
4. I Like Everything About You - Jimmy Hughes
5. I Forgot To Be Your Lover - William Bell
6. I Like What You’re Doing (To Me) - Carla Thomas
7. So I Can Love You - The Emotions
8. Walk On By - Isaac Hayes
9. Black Boy - Roebuck “Pops” Staples 
10. I Have Learned To Do Without You - Mavis Staples
11. Play The Music Toronados - The T.S.U. Toronados
12. Never Can Say Goodbye - Isaac Hayes
13. The Breakdown (Part 1) - Rufus Thomas
14. Son Of Shaft - The Bar-Kays
15. That’s What Love Will Make You Do - Little Milton
16. In The Rain - The Dramatics
17. Hearsay - The Soul Children
18. Ain’t That Loving You - Isaac Hayes & David Porter
19. Dedicated To The One I Love - The Temprees
20. Breaking Up Somebody’s Home - Albert King
21. I Believe In You (You Believe In Me) - Johnnie Taylor
22. Short Stopping - Veda Brown
23. Cheaper To Keep Her - Johnnie Taylor
24. If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me) - The Staple Singers

-- Disc Four: Live! --

1. Green Onions - Booker T. & The MG’s
2. Raise Your Hand - Eddie Floyd
3. Something Good (Is Going To Happen To You) - Carla Thomas
4. Grab This Thing (Part 1) - The Mar-Keys
5. The Dog - Rufus Thomas
6. You Don’t Miss Your Water - William Bell
7. Soothe Me - Sam & Dave
8. You Don’t Know Like I Know - Sam & Dave
9. Shake - Otis Redding
10. Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
11. Oh La De Da - The Staple Singers
12. (Do The) Push And Pull (Part 1) - Rufus Thomas
13. Jody’s Got Your Girl And Gone - Johnnie Taylor
14. Killing Floor - Albert King
15. Blues Power - Albert King
16. Show Me How - The Emotions
17. Hang ’Em High - Booker T. & The MG’s
18. Theme From Shaft - Isaac Hayes
19. Theme From The Men - Isaac Hayes