"Wattstax" on DVD, on CD and on PBS

Originally billed as the “black Woodstock," WATTSTAX was a seven-hour concert for the benefit of the Watts Summer Festival, held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 1972. More than 100,000 people were in attendance; among the artists who performed were the Staple Singers, the Bar-Kays, Albert King, Rufus Thomas, and Isaac Hayes, all of whom were signed to Stax Records of Memphis, Tennessee.

Wattstax the film, first released in 1973, intersperses concert footage with ribald, down-to-earth commentary by Watts residents and, in dazzling form, the young Richard Pryor. It was directed by Mel Stuart, who also produced the film with Larry Shaw (Al Bell and David L. Wolper were executive producers).

Last summer, in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Wattstax film's release, a newly remastered edition of Wattstax enjoyed a brief theatrical run in major American markets and made its film festival debut at Sundance. It also screened at film festivals throughout the year in Atlanta, London, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The 30th anniversary edition restores the film's original ending -- Isaac Hayes's performance of “Shaft" and “Soulsville" (which had to be cut prior to the 1973 theatrical run because of a re-recording rights dispute) -- and has a superb audio track completely remastered from the original concert 2-inch 16-track masters.

The DVD release of Wattstax -- The Special Edition also contains audio and video commentary with Chuck D and Stax historian Rob Bowman; audio commentary by cast and crew, including Isaac Hayes, Mel Stuart, and Al Bell; the complete Albert King performance of “I'll Play the Blues for You"; and the original 1973 trailer as well as the 2003 Special Edition trailer.

The new CD contains full performances of virtually every song included in the original soundtrack, from the Dramatics' “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" (heard over the opening credits) to Isaac Hayes's climactic “Theme from Shaft."

“Over 30 years after Wattstax: The Living Word was first released," writes Rob Bowman in his notes for the new CD, “the film remains one of the finest examples of social commentary involving music committed to celluloid, effectively dramatizing the reality of contemporary African-American life and the absolutely vital role that music plays within, and as a reflection of, the community. As such, in many ways it represents the apogee of the incredible saga of Stax Records."