Continued from page 42
proven many times over through live
recordings. A 2006 concert performance of
the meditative “Southern Accents” imbues
the song with gentleness and calm under-
pinned by pride in humble beginnings.
The sheer span of An American Treasure
suggests that it’s a journey for committed
fans, but the immersive set should be fun
for casual listeners willing to devote some
attention beyond hot live performances of
singles like “Breakdown,” “Listen to Her
Heart” and “A Woman in Love (It’s Not
Me).” Chances are, those fans won’t be
casual anymore after the deep dive into
Petty’s buried treasure.
- Jeff Elbel
8
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Stax '68: A Memphis Story
(Craft/Stax)
The year 1968 was a pivotal time for
Memphis, Tennessee both in the realms of
American culture and popular music. The
civil rights movement suffered a tremen-
dous blow when Reverend Martin Luther
King Jr. was shot dead at the Lorraine
Motel on April 4. The event sparked riots
across the country, but ultimately became
a rallying point for those promoting the
causes of equality and peace. Fortunately,
there was another reason that people had
their eyes and ears attuned to Memphis.
Local record labels Stax and Volt released
a staggering number of quality soul-pop
singles during the year. One hundred thir-
ty-eight of them are spread across five CDs
in A Memphis Story, bound into a hard-
bound book including 58 pages of photos,
essays, and track notes. Against the back-
drop of union unrest, the Vietnam War
and entrenched racial tension, these tracks
were created by interracial musicians and
enjoyed by interracial fans. Most of the
tracks are about finding peace at home,
like Otis Redding and Carla Thomas’
“New Year’s Resolution.” Some were
about searching for peace within, like
Redding’s timeless “(Sittin’ On) The Dock
of the Bay.” Many of the songs feature
famed house band Booker T & the MGs.
Contemporary listeners who aren’t famil-
iar with much beyond “Green Onions”
will thrill to the heavyweight propulsion
that artists like Eddie Floyd built with his
group on the dynamite “Big Bird.” Key
tracks from the pop charts include Sam &
Dave’s “I Thank You” and “Wrap it Up,”
as well as Johnnie Taylor’s indignant
“Who’s Making Love.” William Bell offers
timely commentary with his soulful “A
Tribute to a King,” honoring the slain civil
rights leader. Shirley Walton’s “Send
Peace and Harmony Home” was another
pleading against wearying social unrest.
Bell’s “Every Man Oughta Have a
Woman” may not seem particularly liber-
ated today, but in 1968 the underlying
message was that people need each other,
and that compassion, love, and trust were
ideals worth pursuing. The set continues
with dozens of other artists, and tracks by
the more obscure names like Judy Clay
and Billy Lee Riley show why they
deserve to be remembered along with
those like Isaac Hayes with bigger radio
success. Delaney & Bonnie’s “It’s Been a
Long Time Coming” and “We’ve Just Been
Feeling Bad” display the rock, soul and
Gospel fusion that would influence major
stars including George Harrison, Eric
Clapton, and Joe Cocker. Albert King
offers his own influential “Blues Power”
and potent “Night Stomp.” The spirit of
the age shines through the Gospel protest
of The Staple Singers “Got to Be Some
Changes Made.” The compilation may be
a trip down memory lane, but the music
still sounds invigorated and urgent.
– Jeff Elbel
8
80 minute long free music
compilations featuring intriguingly mixed
rock and rock-based music.
Satisfying musical appetites around the
globe since 2005
november
2018
illinoisentertainer.com
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