In which the Curmudgeons go way back--all the way back to 1960 for starters--to celebrate the sounds, the innovations and the incredible legacy of the musicians--and the labels--that created and performed Memphis's soul music. Stax/Volt, as the production house was known as, originated as a source for a kind of counterprogramming to what Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and others were launching into cultural relevance across town. For Stax/Volt, R&B, blues and soul were the thing man. And they lined up an incredible roster of artists to help them introduce their Memphis swing to the world. Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Albert King, Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave, Booker & the M.G.s, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Rufus Thomas and Carla Thomas soothed, titillated and entertained tremendously all throughout the 1960s. It was glorious run, one we describe and analyze in detail during this episode.
Enjoy the wonderful music of 1960s Memphis by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0TZ5YELmBVZAuv0YVCFgkK?si=cdcbdc35f7eb4e1c
Here's a handy navigation companion for this episode:
(00:52 - 04:00) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of 1960s Memphis soul
(04:02 - 22:10) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of recent albums from Upchuck and YHWH Nailgun
(23:10 - 01:03:54) - We tell the tragicomic story of Stax/Volt's rise and fall, and celebrate songs and albums by Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, William Bell, the Mar-Keys, Booker T. & the M.G.s and Otis Redding
(01:05:34 - 01:33:41) - We celebrate songs and albums by Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, Johnnie Taylor and Isaac Hayes
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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
