Stax Records: Funk / Soul
Founded 1957 in Memphis, US
About
Stax Records launched in Memphis in 1957 as Satellite Records before rebranding in 1961. The label defined Southern soul through house band Booker T. & the MGs, whose tight, stripped-back arrangements created a rawer, earthier sound than its Motown rival. Stax collapsed financially in 1975 but its catalog endures as one of the most important in American music.
Producer notes
Stax recordings sit in a narrow frequency range (bass-heavy, midrange-forward, with minimal top-end sheen) which makes them sit perfectly under sampled beats without heavy EQ. The interplay between guitar, organ, and horns leaves enormous negative space for producers to work within.
Notable Funk / Soul artists
Otis ReddingIsaac HayesSam & DaveBooker T. & the MGsThe Staple SingersRufus ThomasCarla Thomas
Dig Stax Records
Each press plays a random funk / soul record from the label.