Massive Stax Records Box Set To Include Every 1968 Single Released

A new box set from Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, is set to be released commemorating the Stax recordings of 1968, during that tumultuous year, which did see much success for soul music and the Stax label.  Featured artists include:

Otis Redding
Sam & Dave
The Memphis Nomads
Shirley Walton
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
Ollie & The Nightingales
Eddie Floyd
Bar-Kays
Johnnie Taylor
William Bell
Mable John
Rufus Thomas
Jeanne & The Darlings

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/massive-stax-records-box-set-to-include-every-1968-single-label-released-717329/

Marcus King Band “Where I’m Headed”

From the August 28th episode of “Late Night With Conan O’Brien, here is the Marcus King Band with a tune from their upcoming debut record.  The song is called “Where I’m Headed”.

Tower of Power NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Check out Tower of Power and their recent NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance.  It features a new track from their just released 2018 studio record, the title track, “On The Soul Side of Town”, plus, two of their original hit songs, “So Very Hard To Go”, and, “What Is Hip”.

“Magic Sam” Maghett “All Your Love”/“Lookin’ Good”

Enjoy bluesman “Magic Sam” Maghett, and his guitar boogie, which has certainly influenced a number of players, even though his is not a household name necessarily in the pantheon of blues guitar.  The man has some great chops, and in this performance, it appears he may be playing a guitar, borrowed from fellow blues great, Earl Hooker.

Scott Sharrard & Taj Mahal “Everything A Good Man Needs”

A new tune set to be released on guitarist Scott Sharrard’s upcoming solo record, this is the last song that Gregg Allman wrote, before his death, and it features, among others, Taj Mahal on vocals, and Bernard Purdie on drums.  The song is “Everything A Good Man Needs”, referring to a saying Gregg Allman always used to use, and I quote the legend, when people might ask him, how is life treating you?  His answer, “I’ve got everything a good man needs.”

Aretha Franklin “Spirit In The Dark”

Another tribute to the “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin.  Here she is, performing the soul gospel song she wrote called “Spirit In The Dark” from her 1970 album of the same name.

Spooner Oldham Shares His Memories of Cranking Out Hits With Aretha Franklin in the ‘60s

A private celebration of life for Aretha Franklin was held yesterday.  Her spirit lives on, and in an interview with Billboard magazine, keyboardist Spooner Oldham, who played on Franklin’s first five records, reflects on who she was as a musician and a person.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8472647/spooner-oldham-aretha-franklin