Stax Profiles (Compiled By Lee Hildebrand) - Little Milton

Advantages: Well compiled collection
Disadvantages: Not all best tracks included

...Stax is one of the most famous Blues and Soul record labels, which was responsible for recording some of the best known artist of that genre. It was formed in Memphis in 1957 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton as Satellite records but changed its name to Stax (a play on the owners surnames STewart and Axton). It will always be associated with the development of Southern Soul, Chicago Blues and early funk as well as recording some of the first ethnically mixed bands, something very rare in that period. The label finally went bankrupt in 1976 but Fantasy Records eventually bought it primarily for its superb back catalogue and since 2004 they have been re-issuing some of the more popular recording s as well as some compilations. ‘The Stax Story’ is a massive four cd compilation of the best of the output from the famous Stax record label... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Unusual tracks
Disadvantages: None

...I don't usually go out and buy compilations as I tend to find that I already have most of the tracks on other albums. This particular set was given to me as a Christmas present and I was very pleasantly surprised. There are a few well played tracks on here, in particular, those by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, The Staples Singers and Booker T but there are many others, some of which have not had airplay in a long time. Classics Stax artists such as Rufus and Carla Thomas, Albert King, Isaac Hayes, William Bell and the Bar-Kays appear alongside those who are less well known outside the circles of Stax afficionados - Linda Lyndell, Little Milton, Eddie Floyd and Johnnie Taylor being just a few. There are a total of 98 tracks on this set and I didn't find one that I wanted to skip. Stax and B&S fans will love this set. For those new... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Groovy 60's music
Disadvantages: -

...Released in 1969 following the massive success of the fourteen-hour long (OK it just seemed like it) rock epic In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, this was the third offering from those Cali hippie heads known as Iron Butterfly. Gave them a US no 1 album too, spending nearly a year on the charts. The Butterfly have sometimes been credited (wrongly, in my opinion) with inventing heavy metal. True, they did have Erik Braun's scratchy guitar sound, but dominating throughout we have Doug Ingle with his magic organ and Lee Dorman's walking basslines. "Ball" by Iron Butterfly is a mix of seriously mellow hippy sounds, wacked-out trippy stuff and naïve but sweet pop and all the better for it. Sadly there's no 17-minute composition on this album, nor does Ron Dorman get another 3-minute drum solo either, but overall this CD is kinda cute... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful