Various Artists
''Respect Yourself' & 'Live In Norway 1967'
The Stax Records Story DVD
UK Release Date: 1st October 2007

When this little package dropped through the door the other day to say that I was excited about receiving it would be an understatement to say the least. This new release from Reelin' In The Years Productions who have already delivered some mouthwatering DVD's of late from the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Supremes and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles this time take a step away from Detroit and Motown and travel south to the state of Memphis where the home of the legendary Stax label ruled supreme through the 1960/70's.

What we have here is nothing short of precious. Anyone with an inkling towards good soul music will want to own a copy of this double disc. Whilst Sam & Dave may have been tagged as double dynamite this new DVD goes one step further and delivers nothing short of triple dynamite. How does it differ from the the usual run of the mill documentaries  - well - for a start we are treated to some real in your face interviews with some of the greatest names still around who were associated with this legendary label including Al Bell, Isaac Hayes, Sam Moore the late Rufus Thomas as well as his daughter Carla (a fabulous talent) Eddie Floyd, David Porter, Bettye Crutcher, and not forgetting Booker T Jones with 'Duck' Dunn and the fabulous MG's guitarist Steve Cropper.

Between them they take you on a journey from the late fifties when Stax was born in Memphis running through the labels glory years during the middle to late sixties right up until the change of decade when Isaac Hayes became their leading artist after the million selling Shaft soundtrack took the world by storm. What makes this documentary so special is the fabulous archive film footage which has been been enhanced and restored to what one can only describe as near perfect quality (my opinion) and whilst the film clips concentrate heavily on the late Otis Redding you'll experience some breathtaking clips of Johnnie Taylor performing 'Who's Making Love' from 1968 to excerpts from Wattstax in 1972 where the Staple Singers, Albert King, Carla Thomas and the Bar-Kays were among the many artists performing that day.

You'll see Sam & Dave, Arthur Conley, The Mar-Keys, Eddie Floyd and Booker T & the MG's in full swing backing Otis Redding at the famous Stax/Volt tour of 1967 and a very rare colour clip of 'Time Is Tight' being performed live in the early seventies. Otis Redding performs in colour at the Monterey pop festival. What makes this so interesting and exciting is that during the many interview clips with Al Bell the viewer gets a previously unknown insight as to the problems that the label was faced with during those glory years including threats. extortion, and problems with their then banking organisation which was cited as the reason that the company eventually went bust during the mid seventies.

Whatever the reason, the record buying public will forever owe a debt of gratitude to the labels founders Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton (both of whom are featured heavily within this film) for bringing us some of the most potent, soulful, and funkiest sounds ever to export out the USA.

As an extra bonus this package includes an extra DVD containing the whole of the 1967 Stax/Volt tour live in Oslo in absolutely wonderful restored sound and vision. I personally thought, having already having this concert on bootleg VHS that I had already seen it all - WRONG - the film producers had located another previously unseen 20 mins which they have very kindly included featuring Arthur Conley's version of 'In The Midnight Hour'  as well as Otis Redding performing his 1966 classic 'Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song). Backed as always by the ever faithful Booker T & the MG's you can also endure 70 minutes of Otis, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Arthur Conley and the Mar-Keys - COOKIN' OR WHAT?

There is only one way to really appreciate what has been said above and that is to order your copy today.

Nothing short of breathtaking........equally as interesting and enthralling as Standing In The Shadows Of Motown.

Absolutely essential viewing without delay!

Rating 11/10