A new live album from Craft Recordings, Stax Revue: Live in ’65!, brings together two Summer ’65 performances into one tightly focused 2LP document of the vocal firepower and instrumental rock-’n-soul punch that defined Stax Records in its heyday.
From official press materials for this release we learn about the album’s roots:
“The audio from this historic concert was shelved for decades, with highlights initially released in 1991 as Stax Revue Live At The 5/4 Ballroom. Now, Craft Recordings proudly presents Stax Revue: Live in ’65!—a deluxe collection that not only includes the electrifying Los Angeles engagement, but also unearths a rare hometown showcase, captured earlier that summer at Memphis’ Club Paradise, featuring David Porter, Booker T. & The M.G.’s, The Astors, and Wendy Rene. As a special bonus, the expanded album features previously unreleased recordings from both cities’ shows […] Available August 8th on 2-LP, 2-CD, HD digital, and standard digital, Stax Revue: Live in ’65! features newly remastered audio by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer Joe Tarantino, while lacquers for the LP were cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl. Rounding out the physical formats are insightful new liner notes from GRAMMY-winning author and journalist Lynell George and the compilation’s GRAMMY-nominated producer, Alec Palao.”
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the historic shows at The 5-4 Ballroom, L.A. & Club Paradise, Memphis
- Including 18 live recordings from the Stax Records archive – 6 previously unreleased!
- Featuring Rufus Thomas, Booker T. & The M.G.’s, William Bell, Carla Thomas, Wilson Pickett and more
- New liner notes from GRAMMY winning writer Lynell George
- Newly mastered by Joe Tarantino, with lacquers cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl
Stax Revue: Live in ’65! feels especially timely given the recent passing—just last week—of legendary guitarist, composer, producer, and cornerstone of Booker T & The MG’s, Steve Cropper. His innovative guitar work is in full bloom throughout these performances. Roughly a third of the set is devoted to Booker T & The MG’s themselves, and they appear to serve as the house band for every other act on the bill.
Hearing Steve Cropper with Booker T & The MG’s on stage is a very different beast from their tight, carefully sculpted studio work. Here they’re flying without a net—amps pushed into overdrive, stage adrenaline spiking, crowd feeding the fire. Just listen to Cropper tearing into “Soul Twist.” The band is absolutely locked in on Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour” (a Cropper co-write!) and Rufus Thomas’ “Walking the Dog,” both of which close the album on a high-octane note.
But the finesse is there too: on The Mad Lads’ “Don’t Have to Shop Around,” Cropper’s vibrato guitar gently fills the open spaces before he caps the tune with a wonderfully melodic solo. And don’t miss The Astors delivering a sweet slow-burner Cropper wrote with Isaac Hayes, “Candy”—a kind of inside-out “Time Is Tight” with vocals.
While the sound quality on this 2LP set is quite good, it’s worth calibrating expectations—these are 60-year-old club recordings, likely captured on basic portable gear. You’ll hear occasional distortion and rough edges, but once you settle into the sonic palette, the energy and immediacy more than carry the day. My pressings are well-centered and quiet, and overall this release stands as another strong, worthy addition to the Stax catalog.
Where to buy: $32.99 at Amazon | Craft Recordings
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
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