Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story

The story of Stax Records is a story of dizzying success and gut-wrenching heartbreak; of great good fortune and the vicissitudes of fate. In short, the label's history is much like the best soul music: It can make you dance with joy one moment, and sob achingly in a way Frank Sinatra's "Only The Lonely" ballads could only aspire to without actually attaining.

"Respect Yourself: The Story of Stax Records" documents the astonishing musicians who came together to create some of the greatest rhythm and blues/soul/gospel music of the 1960's and 1970's. And it is a story about how a small independent record label defied the Jim Crow segregation of Memphis -- and the result in the form of timeless music speaks for itself. As label founder Estelle Axton notes in the film, "We never looked at color -- we looked at talent."

The talent of these men and women is properly highlighted in the film: Rufus and Carla Thomas, Booker T. and the MG's, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Rance Allen, the Staple Singers, Albert King, et. al. found at 926 East McLemore Avenue a place where they could come together to exchange ideas and make music -- even as the rest of the city was rigidly imposing an American apartheid.

[The quote I've used for this review comes from Donald "Duck" Dunn, legendary bass player for Booker T. and the MG's].

The second thread of the story is how this small company was royally shafted (no pun intended) by a series of other companies. Stax founder Jim Stewart discovered that the distribution deal he signed with Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records gave Wexler's firm ownership of the master recordings -- so that Stax found itself a record company with no records. Stax attempted (rather successfully) to rebuild its catalog from 1968 forward, and had an agreement with Clive Davis of CBS Records that effectively ended when Davis was fired from that company. Stax was ultimately purchased by Fantasy Records -- which was later itself sold to the Concord Music Group which is today reviving the label and embarking on an ambitious reissue program.

In addition to being informative and entertaining, this program is a great educational resource as it places the Stax story within the context of larger cultural and historical matters. All these factors make this a MUST for all music fans and students of the music business.

Anyone who is a fan of Stax music should own this DVD. Excellent insight of the trials and tribulations of the label that produced so many great artists, such as Booker T and the MG's, the Staples Singers, Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes, just to name a few.

This excellent documentary on the classic Stax Records label emerges as a fascinating social and cultural overview. From Booker T. and the MGs to the Staple Singers, the Stax icons are seen in all their glory. Filmmakers Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville have done a remarkable job chronicling the soulful triumphs and brutal realities of the Memphis hit factory. "Respect Yourself" packs a dynamic musical punch.

Best yet documentary on Soul Powerhouse STAX Records. Includes rare video footage of late 60's and eary 70's. A must buy for the Soul and R & B fans.

This DVD was very good. A must for anyone that was a fan of the Stax Records Sound. The history of Stax Records and the entertainers that recorded there is worth the purchase of the DVD. Another part of music history that must be kept alive. Very well put together.

Bev