Stax

Stax

Profile:
Stax Records is synonymous with Southern soul music. Originally known as Satellite (2), the Memphis company was founded in 1959 by Jim Stewart and his sister, Estelle Axton, and took its new name in 1961 from the first two letters of their last names.

For all Unofficial/ bootleg/ counterfeit releases of this label please use Stax (2)

Among the many artists who scored hits on Stax and its Volt subsidiary during the Sixties were Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla Thomas, Booker T & The MG's (an inter-racial instrumental quartet that also served as the label's rhythm section), Mable John, Sam & Dave, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Bar-Kays, The and Otis Redding. Redding's death in December 1967 signaled the end of the first Stax era (which Atlantic distributed and retains distribution rights).

Subsequently the company spawned a new crop of hitmakers, among them Isaac Hayes, the Staples Singers, the Soul Children, The Emotions, the Rance Allen Group, Shirley Brown, Luther Ingram and The Dramatics. The company was sold to Paramount Pictures Corporation in 1968 (only to be sold back to Jim Stewart and Al Bell in August 1970, with the help of a loan from Deutsche Grammophon/Polydor, who obtained international distribution rights). It then entered a distribution deal with Columbia Records, only to find out that it was given a raw deal with more Stax product ending up as cut-outs and intentionally given poor marketing and distribution support. Stax was in deep financial trouble with various creditors (particularly the Union Planters Bank in Memphis, from whom Stewart borrowed money to start the company and eventually mortgaged the converted movie theater that was the Stax headquarters) and collapsed, going bankrupt in 1975.

A year and a half later in June 1977, the company's masters and related assets were purchased at an auction by Fantasy, Inc., which periodically revived the Stax and Volt labels for new recordings and reissuing older post-1967 material in addition to releasing previously unreleased pre-March 1968 Stax/Volt recordings, to which it controls the rights.

In 2008, Concord Music Group revived Stax as an active label with new artist signings including Jill Scott, Leela James, Angie Stone, and Nikka Costa.

Labelcode: LC 00914

Dating Stax Records

Atlantic distribution:
1962-1968 (701-726) Mono labels are light blue and stereo labels are yellow. Both have the original stacked record logo.

March 1968-1975:
1968-1972 (2000-2045,3001) Yellow label with blue finger snap logo.
1972-1975 (2046-2047, 3002-3024, 5500 series) Yellow label with brown finger snap logo.

Fantasy releases:
1977-1980s (4100 & 8500 series) Purple and white label with black finger snap logo.

1987 June - September.
STAX 801 - 820 series of 20 Stax 7" re-issues. The vinyl pressings were actually manufactured in France with 4 prong centers but this was officially a UK release and the specially designed Stax company sleeves were British with the distributor's London address details on the back of the sleeve along with information of all the other 19 releases and expected release dates. Copyright dates of the original issues are retained on the labels. Most, if not all, have different B sides to the original issues.

Further pointers : Rondor Music credits - Rondor did not acquire the publishing rights to the East Memphis Music catalogue until sometime in 1981 so any credits for Rondor Music on labels or sleeves mean the release cannot date from earlier.
Sublabels
Parent Label:
Contact Info:
[1998]
Stax Records
Tenth and Parker
Berkeley, CA 94710

Original label:
926 E. McLemore Avenue,
Memphis, Tennessee
(now the address of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, on the site of the original company headquarters which was demolished in 1989)
On the yellow label with brown fingersnap
Stax Records, Inc., 98 North Avalon, Memphis, USA
Sites:

Label

Releases

Status Catalog Number  Image Artist Title ( Format) Label Catalog Number  Country Year Actions
0C 054-62 221 Bar-Kays - Money Talks Bar-Kays Money Talks(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 0C 054-62 221 UK 1979 Sell This Version
0C 054·63 508 Isaac Hayes - Light My Fire Isaac Hayes Light My Fire(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 0C 054·63 508 UK 1980 Sell This Version
0C 054-63 704 The Staple Singers Featuring Mavis Staples - Brand New Day The Staple Singers Featuring Mavis Staples The Staple Singers Featuring Mavis Staples - Brand New Day(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 0C 054-63 704 UK 1980 Sell This Version
0C 062 ◦ 60 215 Fat Larry's Band - Off The Wall Fat Larry's Band Off The Wall(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 0C 062 ◦ 60 215 UK 1977 Sell This Version
0C 062-60 223 The Emotions - Sunshine The Emotions Sunshine(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 0C 062-60 223 UK 1977 Sell This Version
0C 062-62 028 Various - Stax Gold The 20 Greatest Hits Various Stax Gold The 20 Greatest Hits(LP, Comp) Stax, Stax 0C 062-62 028 UK 1979 Sell This Version
0C 062-62 074 The Emotions - The Best Of The Emotions: Heart Association The Emotions The Best Of The Emotions: Heart Association(LP, Comp) Stax, Stax 0C 062-62 074 UK 1979 Sell This Version
0C 062-62 842 Shirley Brown - For The Real Feeling Shirley Brown For The Real Feeling(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 0C 062-62 842 UK 1979 Sell This Version
0C 062-90 396 Albert King, Steve Cropper, Pops Staples - Jammed Together Albert King, Steve Cropper, Pops Staples Albert King, Steve Cropper, Pops Staples - Jammed Together(LP, Album, RE) Stax, Stax 0C 062-90 396 UK 1979 Sell This Version
0C 254-60 352 Isaac Hayes - Chronicle Isaac Hayes Chronicle(Cass, Album, Comp) Stax, Stax 0C 254-60 352 UK 1978 Sell This Version
0C 254-62 066 Booker T & The MG's - Time Is Tight-The Best Of Booker T Booker T & The MG's Time Is Tight-The Best Of Booker T(Cass, Comp) Stax, Stax 0C 254-62 066 UK 1979 Sell This Version
0C 156-60760/1 Isaac Hayes - Shaft Isaac Hayes Shaft(2xLP, Album, RE, Gat) Stax, Stax 0C 156-60760/1 UK 1978 Sell This Version
1A-006-63361 Shirley Brown - Hang On Louie Shirley Brown Hang On Louie(7") Stax 1A-006-63361 Netherlands 1979 Sell This Version
1A 006-63489 Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft / (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right Isaac Hayes Theme From Shaft / (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right(7") Stax 1A 006-63489 Netherlands 1979 Sell This Version
1A 006-63490 Booker T.* - Time Is Tight / Soul Limbo Booker T.* Time Is Tight / Soul Limbo(7", Single) Stax 1A 006-63490 Netherlands 1979 Sell This Version
1A006-63491 Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood / Bring It On Home To Me Eddie Floyd Knock On Wood / Bring It On Home To Me(7", Single, RE) Stax 1A006-63491 Netherlands 1979 Sell This Version
1A 038-62637 Various - Solid Soul 4 Various Solid Soul 4(LP, Comp, RE) Stax, Stax 1A 038-62637 Netherlands Unknown Sell This Version
1C 006-90 005 Johnnie Taylor - Take Care Of Your Homework / Hold On This Time Johnnie Taylor Take Care Of Your Homework / Hold On This Time(7", Single) Stax 1C 006-90 005 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 006-90 088 Carla Thomas - I Like What You're Doing (To Me) / Strung Out Carla Thomas I Like What You're Doing (To Me) / Strung Out 1 C 006-90 088 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 006-90 091 Eddie Floyd - I've Got To Have Your Love Eddie Floyd I've Got To Have Your Love(7", Single) Stax 1 C 006-90 091 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C006-90 109 William Bell & Judy Clay - My Baby Specializes / Left Over Love William Bell & Judy Clay William Bell & Judy Clay - My Baby Specializes / Left Over Love (Single) 1 C006-90 109 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1C 006-90188 Booker T. & The MG's* - Time Is Tight / Johnny, I Love You Booker T. & The MG's* Time Is Tight / Johnny, I Love You (Single) 1C 006-90188 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1C 006-90188 M Booker T. & The M.G.'s* - Time Is Tight Booker T. & The M.G.'s* Time Is Tight (Single) 1C 006-90188 M Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 006-90 198 The Staple Singers - (Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay / Top Of The Mountain The Staple Singers (Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay / Top Of The Mountain(7", Single) Stax 1 C 006-90 198 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 006-90286 Johnnie Taylor - Testify (I Wonna) / I Had A Fight With Love Johnnie Taylor Testify (I Wonna) / I Had A Fight With Love(7", Single) Stax 1 C 006-90286 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 006-90 312 M Booker T And The MG's* - Mrs. Robinson / Soul Clap '69 Booker T And The MG's* Mrs. Robinson / Soul Clap '69(7", Single, Mono) Stax 1 C 006-90 312 M Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1c 006-90 375 William Bell, Carla Thomas - I Need You Woman William Bell, Carla Thomas William Bell, Carla Thomas - I Need You Woman(7", Single) Stax 1c 006-90 375 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1C006-90380 The Emotions - So I Can Love You / Got To Be The Man The Emotions So I Can Love You / Got To Be The Man(7", Single) Stax 1C006-90380 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1 C006-90382 M William Bell - My Whole World Is Falling Down / All God's Children Got Soul William Bell My Whole World Is Falling Down / All God's Children Got Soul (Single) 1 C006-90382 M Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1C 006-90 407 The Staple Singers - The Challenge / The Gardner The Staple Singers The Challenge / The Gardner(7") Stax 1C 006-90 407 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C006-90 408 William Bell, Mavis Staples - Love's Sweet Sensation William Bell, Mavis Staples William Bell, Mavis Staples - Love's Sweet Sensation(7", Single) Stax 1 C006-90 408 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1C 006-90 494 Eddie Floyd - Don't Tell Your Mama / Consider Me Eddie Floyd Don't Tell Your Mama / Consider Me(7", Single) Stax 1C 006-90 494 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 006-90 526 M Johnnie Taylor - I Could Never Be President / It's Amazing Johnnie Taylor I Could Never Be President / It's Amazing(7", Single, Mono) Stax, Stax 1 C 006-90 526 M Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1C 006-90 577 Booker T  & The M.G.'s* - Slum Baby Booker T & The M.G.'s* Slum Baby (Single) 1C 006-90 577 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1C 006-90 714 Eddie Floyd - Why Is The Wine Sweeter / People, Get It Together Eddie Floyd Why Is The Wine Sweeter / People, Get It Together(7") Stax 1C 006-90 714 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C006-91 059 M Johnnie Taylor - Love Bones Johnnie Taylor Love Bones(7", Single, Mono) Stax, Stax 1 C006-91 059 M Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1 C 006-91 182 Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Chicken Rufus Thomas Do The Funky Chicken(7", Single) Stax 1 C 006-91 182 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 006-91 258 Eddie Floyd - California Girl / Woodman Eddie Floyd California Girl / Woodman(7") Stax 1C 006-91 258 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 006-91 558 Johnnie Taylor - Steal Away / Friday Night Johnnie Taylor Steal Away / Friday Night(7") Stax 1C 006-91 558 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 006-91649M Carla Thomas - The Time For Love Is Anytime / (I'm Going Back To) Living In The City Carla Thomas The Time For Love Is Anytime / (I'm Going Back To) Living In The City(7", Single) Stax 1C 006-91649M Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 006-91 700 Booker T. & The M.G.'s* - Something / Sunday Sermon Booker T. & The M.G.'s* Something / Sunday Sermon 1C 006-91 700 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 006-91 867 Isaac Hayes - I Stand Accused Isaac Hayes I Stand Accused(7", Single) Stax 1C 006-91 867 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1 C 006-91987 Johnnie Taylor - I Am Somebody Johnnie Taylor I Am Somebody(7") Stax 1 C 006-91987 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1C 006-91 989 M Eddie Floyd - The Best Years Of My Life Eddie Floyd The Best Years Of My Life(7", Single) Stax 1C 006-91 989 M Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 048-91723 Various - Memphis Soul Sound Various Memphis Soul Sound(LP, Comp) Stax, Stax 1C 048-91723 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 052-28 402 Various - Soul Train U.S.A. Various Soul Train U.S.A.(LP, Comp) Stax 1C 052-28 402 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1 C 062-90 024 Eddie Floyd - I've Never Found A Girl Eddie Floyd I've Never Found A Girl(LP, Album) Stax 1 C 062-90 024 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1 C 062-90 028 Johnnie Taylor - Who's Making Love Johnnie Taylor Who's Making Love(LP, Album) Stax 1 C 062-90 028 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 062-90 200 Booker T And The M.G.'s* - Up Tight (Music From The Score Of The Motion Picture) Booker T And The M.G.'s* Up Tight (Music From The Score Of The Motion Picture)(LP, Album) Stax 1 C 062-90 200 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1C 062-90357 The Staple Singers - We'll Get Over The Staple Singers We'll Get Over(LP, Album) Stax 1C 062-90357 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 062-90 358 Carla Thomas - Memphis Queen Carla Thomas Memphis Queen(LP, Album) Stax 1 C 062-90 358 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1C 062-90 359 Booker T. & The M.G.'s* - The Booker T. Set Booker T. & The M.G.'s* The Booker T. Set(LP, Album) Stax 1C 062-90 359 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1C 062-90 680 Booker T & The MG's - Soul Limbo Booker T & The MG's Soul Limbo(LP, Album, RE) Stax 1C 062-90 680 Germany Unknown Sell This Version
1C 062-90 704 Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul (Album) 1C 062-90 704 Germany 1969 Sell This Version
1 C 062-90 967 Delaney & Bonnie - Home Delaney & Bonnie Home(LP, Album) Stax 1 C 062-90 967 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1C 062-91 242 Booker T & The Mg's - McLemore Avenue Booker T & The Mg's McLemore Avenue(LP, Album, Gat) Stax 1C 062-91 242 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1 C 062-91 426 Isaac Hayes - The Isaac Hayes Movement Isaac Hayes The Isaac Hayes Movement(LP, Album, Gat) Stax 1 C 062-91 426 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1 C062-92 144 Isaac Hayes - ...To Be Continued Isaac Hayes ...To Be Continued(LP, Album) Stax, Stax, Enterprise, Enterprise 1 C062-92 144 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1 C062-92 145 Booker T & The MG's - Greatest Hits Booker T & The MG's Greatest Hits(LP, Comp) Stax 1 C062-92 145 Germany 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90207 Various - Stax Soul Explosion Various Stax Soul Explosion (Comp) 1E 062 ◦ 90207 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062-90207 M Various - Stax Soul Explosion Various Stax Soul Explosion(LP, Comp) Stax, Stax, Stax 1E 062-90207 M Denmark 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ○ 90357 The Staple Singers - We'll Get Over The Staple Singers We'll Get Over(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ○ 90357 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90358 Carla Thomas - Memphis Queen Carla Thomas Memphis Queen(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90358 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90359 Booker T & The MG's - The Booker T. Set Booker T & The MG's The Booker T. Set(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90359 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90387 Steve Cropper - With A Little Help From My Friends Steve Cropper With A Little Help From My Friends(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90387 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90388 Bar-Kays - Gotta Groove Bar-Kays Gotta Groove(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90388 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90388 M Bar-Kays - Gotta Groove Bar-Kays Gotta Groove(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90388 M UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90389 Jimmy Hughes - Something Special Jimmy Hughes Something Special(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90389 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90390 Darrell Banks - Here To Stay Darrell Banks Here To Stay(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90390 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90391 J.J. Barnes* & Steve Mancha - Rare Stamps Vol 1 J.J. Barnes* & Steve Mancha J.J. Barnes* & Steve Mancha - Rare Stamps Vol 1(LP, Comp) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90391 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ○ 90394 William Bell - Bound To Happen William Bell Bound To Happen(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ○ 90394 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90395 Albert King - King, Does The King's Things Albert King King, Does The King's Things(LP) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90395 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90396 Albert King, Steve Cropper & Pop Staples* - Jammed Together Albert King, Steve Cropper & Pop Staples* Albert King, Steve Cropper & Pop Staples* - Jammed Together(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90396 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90397 The Mar-Keys - Damifiknow! The Mar-Keys Damifiknow!(LP, Ste) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90397 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90411 Johnnie Taylor - The Johnnie Taylor Philosophy Continues Johnnie Taylor The Johnnie Taylor Philosophy Continues(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90411 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90412 Eddie Floyd - You've Got To Have Eddie Eddie Floyd You've Got To Have Eddie(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90412 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90440 Albert King - Years Gone By Albert King Years Gone By(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90440 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90702 John Lee Hooker - That's Where It's At! John Lee Hooker That's Where It's At!(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90702 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90703 Mavis Staples - Mavis Staples Mavis Staples Mavis Staples(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90703 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90704 Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90704 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90748 Various - Boy Meets Girl Various Boy Meets Girl(LP, Comp) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90748 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 90967 Delaney & Bonnie - Home Delaney & Bonnie Home(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 90967 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 91222 The Emotions - So I Can Love You The Emotions So I Can Love You(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 91222 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 91242 Booker T & The MG's - McLemore Avenue Booker T & The MG's McLemore Avenue(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 91242 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 91426 Isaac Hayes - The Isaac Hayes Movement Isaac Hayes The Isaac Hayes Movement(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 91426 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 91428 Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Chicken Rufus Thomas Do The Funky Chicken (Album) 1E 062 ◦ 91428 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ○ 91476 Barbara Lewis - The Many Grooves Of Barbara Lewis Barbara Lewis The Many Grooves Of Barbara Lewis(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ○ 91476 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ○ 91502 David Porter - Gritty, Groovy & Gettin' It David Porter Gritty, Groovy & Gettin' It(LP, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ○ 91502 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 91662 Eddie Floyd - California Girl Eddie Floyd California Girl(LP) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 91662 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 062 ◦ 91751 Various - The Deep Soul Of Stax Various The Deep Soul Of Stax(LP, Album, Comp) Stax, Stax 1E 062 ◦ 91751 UK 1970 Sell This Version
1E 262 ○ 90359 Booker T. & The M.G.'s* - The Booker T. Set Booker T. & The M.G.'s* The Booker T. Set(Cass, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 262 ○ 90359 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1E 362 ○ 90359 Booker T & The MG's - The Booker T. Set Booker T & The MG's The Booker T. Set(8-Trk, Album) Stax, Stax 1E 362 ○ 90359 UK 1969 Sell This Version
1 SAM 017 Various - Wattstax: The Living Word Various Wattstax: The Living Word(2xLP, Album, Gat) Stax, Stax 1 SAM 017 Spain 1973 Sell This Version
1T1-8495 Jimmy McCracklin - High On The Blues Jimmy McCracklin High On The Blues(Cass, Album, RE, Dol) Stax 1T1-8495 US 1992 Sell This Version
2SCD-88004-2 Isaac Hayes - Live At The Sahara Tahoe Isaac Hayes Live At The Sahara Tahoe (Album) 2SCD-88004-2 US 1989 Sell This Version
2SCD-88006-2 Isaac Hayes - Black Moses Isaac Hayes Black Moses (Album) 2SCD-88006-2 US 1989 Sell This Version
2SCD-88007-2 Various - Wattstax - The Living Word Various Wattstax The Living Word (Album) 2SCD-88007-2 Europe 1989 Sell This Version
2SCD-88007/SD2 88007 Various - Wattstax The Living Word Various Wattstax The Living Word(2xCD, Comp, Club, CRC) Stax 2SCD-88007/SD2 88007 US 1989 Sell This Version
2SCD-88014-2 Isaac Hayes - Double Feature Isaac Hayes Double Feature (Comp) 2SCD-88014-2 US 1993 Sell This Version
2SCD-88040-2 Melvin Van Peebles - The Melvin Van Peebles Collection Melvin Van Peebles The Melvin Van Peebles Collection(CD, Album, RE, RM + CD, Album, RE, RM + Comp) Stax 2SCD-88040-2 US 1999 Sell This Version