New Stax Sets Arrive in Time For "Soulsville U.S.A."

As the former publicity director of Stax Records and onetime Stax recording artist and songwriter, Deanie has been steeped in Stax music for more than 40 years. So it's no surprise that her dozen best-loved songs are solid Stax: “I CANNOT settle for TEN," she declares. “Even now, there are a couple more that I wish I could include."

Few would argue with her choices, among them such indisputable classics as Sam & Dave's “Hold On, I'm Coming," Eddie Floyd's “Knock on Wood," Isaac Hayes's “Shaft," and “Green Onions" by Booker T. & the MGs. But Deanie also cites less obvious gems like “I'll Be the Other Woman" by the Soul Children, Johnnie Taylor's “Cheaper to Keep Her," and the Dramatics' “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get." (Nine of Deanie's 12 picks are contained in the 2000 4-CD box “The Stax Story.")

Over the next several weeks, Deanie Parker will be consumed with final preparations for the grand opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis on April 28-29 and May 1.

A screening of the new edition of the 1973 documentary feature “Wattstax" is being scheduled as part of the opening festivities.

“Wattstax" will also be shown in limited theatrical release through Columbia Pictures Repertory beginning June 6 in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. The film will play in additional markets in late June and July.

Fantasy has also released three new Stax CDs:

At Wattstax, which contains the entire hour-long performance given by Isaac Hayes at the 1972 Wattstax concert (all but one of the tracks are previously unissued)

Stax Instrumentals, the first U.S. release of 25 tracks by Booker T. & the MGs and the Mar-Keys, with detailed booklet notes by Alec Palao

Soul Men, the first U.S. release of a Booker T. & The MGs compilation on which the premier R&B combo reworks 25 hits of the 1960s.

LINK: http://www.fantasyjazz.com/html/picks_main.html