Soul Comes Home: A Celebration of Stax Records

Starring:Various Artists
Studio: Shout Factory
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The '60s and '70s soul-R&B revival rolls on with this entertaining 2003 tribute to Stax Records, the Memphis-based label responsible for so much great music during those two decades. Shows featuring the revue format, in which one artist after another performs a hit or two for a rapturous audience comprised largely of aging Baby Boomers, have become something of a cottage industry of late (indeed, this isn't even the first Stax-related tribute; Back to Stax: Memphis Soul was released in '02)--and it's easy to see why, what with the likes of Booker T. & the MGs, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, and Mavis Staples still around to deliver such classics as "Green Onions," "Let's Stay Together," "Theme from Shaft," and "Respect Yourself," respectively. There are few surprises here, and while that certainly doesn't seem to bother the boisterous crowd at Memphis' Orpheum Theater, the emphasis on pure nostalgia tends to make it all seem a bit predictable--all the more reason why the appearance of Public Enemy's Chuck D (who raps on the Bar-Kays' infectious "Soul Finger") is a welcome change of pace. Bonus material includes several short features focusing on the new Stax Museum, the greatness of the late Otis Redding, and so on. --Sam Graham
Description
This DVD captures the once-in-a-lifetime concert held on April 30, 2003 to commemorate the grand opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN. This unique gathering of soul music's biggest stars performing their greatest hits first aired as a successful PBS special beginning in August and now is available on DVD.

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis is located on the original site of the Stax Records studios. It is dedicated to preserving, promoting and interpreting Soul music recorded in the 1960s and `70s. Located next door to the Stax Museum, the Stax Music Academy provides free music education to at-risk young people. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the CD and DVD benefit the Stax Museum.

The DVD features all 16 of the performances seen in the PBS special as well as a bonus track featuring the Bar-Kays and Chuck D performing "Soul Finger."

Program Listing:
1. Eddie Floyd - Knock on Wood
2. Jean Knight - Mr. Big Stuff
3. William Bell -You Don't Miss Your Water
4. Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman
5. Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft
6. Rance Allen - That Will Be Good Enough For Me
7. Michael McDonald & Carla Thomas - When Something's Wrong With My Baby
8. Michael McDonald - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
9. The Bar-Kays with Chuck D - Soul Finger
10. Little Milton and Jimmie Vaughan - That's What Love Will Make You Do
11. Al Green - Let's Stay Together
12. Al Green- Love and Happiness
13. Booker T. & The MGs - Green Onions
14. Solomon Burke - Try A Little Tenderness
15. Solomon Burke with Mack Rice - Mustang Sally
16. Mavis Staples - Respect Yourself
17. Mavis Staples and Ensemble - I'll Take You There

Amazon.com

The '60s and '70s soul-R&B revival rolls on with this entertaining 2003 tribute to Stax Records, the Memphis-based label responsible for so much great music during those two decades. Shows featuring the revue format, in which one artist after another performs a hit or two for a rapturous audience comprised largely of aging Baby Boomers, have become something of a cottage industry of late (indeed, this isn't even the first Stax-related tribute; Back to Stax: Memphis Soul was released in '02)--and it's easy to see why, what with the likes of Booker T. & the MGs, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, and Mavis Staples still around to deliver such classics as "Green Onions," "Let's Stay Together," "Theme from Shaft," and "Respect Yourself," respectively. There are few surprises here, and while that certainly doesn't seem to bother the boisterous crowd at Memphis' Orpheum Theater, the emphasis on pure nostalgia tends to make it all seem a bit predictable--all the more reason why the appearance of Public Enemy's Chuck D (who raps on the Bar-Kays' infectious "Soul Finger") is a welcome change of pace. Bonus material includes several short features focusing on the new Stax Museum, the greatness of the late Otis Redding, and so on. --Sam Graham

Description

This DVD captures the once-in-a-lifetime concert held on April 30, 2003 to commemorate the grand opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN. This unique gathering of soul music's biggest stars performing their greatest hits first aired as a successful PBS special beginning in August and now is available on DVD.

The DVD features all 16 of the performances seen in the PBS special as well as a bonus track featuring the Bar-Kays and Chuck D performing "Soul Finger."

Special Features:
5.1 audio
Widescreen/letterbox edition
Documentary features about the Stax Museum, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Booker T. & The MGs and The Bar-Kays.

Customer Reviews:

A/V Sync issues ruin this disc.......2007-01-02

I agree with the commenter who raised this issue: the last (and best) third of the performers here (Al Green -> Solomon Burke) are impossible to enjoy if you're bothered by mismatching between audio and video.

Also, uou will pay Amazon for shipping after realizing this & deciding to send it back.

Excelente DVD.......2006-09-25

Soul, blues, gospel... toda la riqueza de la musica afroamericana presente en este recital.
Muy buena calidad de imagen y sonido. Mejores interpretes y repertorio.
100% recomendable.

Can't get any better!.......2006-02-21

Great performances from the best of the best. The world would be at a loss without these great songs and great performances.

Great Music, BUT.......2006-02-10

This could and should have been easily a 5 star review. The music is just plain wonderful, and the performers, for the most part (there are a couple of minor exceptions) sound nearly as good as they did 30 years ago. A lot of vibrancy, and the band(s) were uniformly tight and enthusiastic. A wonderful musical experience.

HOWEVER, my copy of the DVD (which they may have fixed by now), had a VERY annoying mismatch between the sound and the visuals. That is, the performers lip and mouth movements were never in sync with what you were hearing - always a delay or lag. I mean, c'mon people... I thought that this sort of thing went out with 1950's public service cafeteria school films. In this digital day and age, there is simply NO EXCUSE for this. It's pure laziness or sloppiness for something that should have been easily fixed prior to letting the DVD go out. I'm sorry, but I have to take points off for this, as it detracts from the viewing experience.

That said, again, the music is wonderful. After having evacuated New Orleans for Katrina, I am now living in Memphis, and happy to be in what I view as the 2nd most important American city for music. This DVD gives a good argument for that. By the way, the DVD puts in a plug for the STAX records museum here (the DVD is actually a tribute to STAX, filmed at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis). The museum is worth seeing, and contains 2 items that thrilled me: the actual Hammond Organ that Booker T used to record "Green Onions", and the actual Wah-Wah pedal used on the intro to Isaac Haye's "Shaft". These are like holy relics to me, and there are many more. Memphis also has several other music related museums, etc.

If you don't mind the performer's mouths not matching the sound, you'll love this Dvd!

If you love soul music go out and buy this DVD !!!.......2004-09-20

If you love soul music, Go out and buy this DVD !!!
It's that good period !!, One of the best DVD's I own !!
Great sound ! I had the CD , But the DVD gave me goose bumps !!

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