This documentary premiered on US TV this summer (07) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the label which rode the wave that was Soul, the soundtrack to the struggle for Civil Rights. From it's beginnings in a old cinema on McLemore Avenue in Memphis, through it's golden era(s), the story of Stax is the story of the rise and fall of Soul as the dominant musical genre, to the point where disco took over.



The influence exerted by Soul though is still felt today, and the music has never been allowed to die by those who love it. In 2007 the label has been reborn, with re-releases and new material, and the 50th anniversary is a great excuse for this documentary, to celebrate the part the music played in influencing change in the 60's and 70's



Samuel L. Jackson narrates things, and you'll hear from giants of Soul like Isaac Hayes, Mavis Staples, Carla Thomas, Sam Moore, Booker T. Jones, and Eddie Floyd. THere are concert performances by Otis Redding, Booker T & the MGs and Isaac Hayes, plus footage from the legendary 1972 Wattstax concert. You also getthe first interview by Stax founder and co-owner Jim Stewart in 15 years, plus never-before-seen home movies and performances by Stax artists.



Add in the Stax/Volt revue footage, from the European tour in 1967 and you have a unique record of the music that helped change the world - superb performances by all concerned, particularly Sam and Dave and most poignantly Otis Redding. Essential for any Soul fan