“Do you like good music, that sweet soul music, just as long as it’s swinging, oh yeah, oh yeah.”

Above are the opening lyrics to Arthur Conley’s 1967 smash hit “Sweet Soul Music” which was co-written by Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Conley.  This song remains a shining example of excellent soul singles released by Stax Records, which had recording studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

With this month’s music blog message, I am featuring some of the most beloved Southern soul music singles from Stax Records. I will countdown my baker’s dozen: what I consider to be the 13 best and most influential Stax soul top 40 hits spanning from 1965 until 1972.

Before I share my selections, I want to give a brief history of Stax which was founded during 1957. This Memphis recording company was on the forefront with the advancement of Southern Black Music:  Soul, rhythm and blues, gospel and funk.

Stax became the second largest company producing soul music, just behind Motown Records of Detroit, Michigan during the mid 60s to early 70s.

According to the current 2023 Stax Records Dot Com website: “Stax placed more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 on the pop charts, and a staggering 243 hits in the Top 100 R&B charts.”

When discussing the early years of Stax, it must be noted that there were other record label names associated with the Memphis music company: the biggest in this category is Volt Records.  It was founded in 1961 as a Stax subsidiary R&B label.  

Music recorded by Stax/Volt Records and other subsidiary labels during the early years (1957-1968) was distributed by ATCO Records, which was owned by Atlantic Records.   

After Atlantic departed ways with Stax, the company was independent until 1972 when CBS Records distributed for the Memphis organization.  Five years later, Fantasy Records bought Stax as the label had declared bankruptcy.

Below are the criterion I am using for my Stax/Volt soul singles countdown: 

• Only one song per artist.  This will allow 13 different recording acts to be a part of the countdown instead of multiple songs from a singer like Otis Redding.

•  Song was a Top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot R&B (Soul) singles chart.

•  Selection also was a crossover hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking #30 or higher.

Below are excellent Stax soul singles outside of my countdown.  Songs listed in random order and not ranked:

• Groovin’ – Booker T. and the MG’s – 1967
• Hang ‘Em High – Booker T. and the MG’s – 1968
• Hold on! I’m Comin’–Sam and Dave – 1966
• I Thank You – Sam and Dave – 1968
• B-A-B-Y – Carla Thomas – 1966

• Do the Funky Chicken–Rufus Thomas – 1970
• I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Otis Redding – 1965
• Try a Little Tenderness – Otis Redding – 1966
• Tramp – Otis Redding and Carla Thomas – 1967
• Respect – Otis Redding – 1965

• In the Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett — 1965
• Satisfaction – Otis Redding – 1966
• Knock on Wood – Otis Redding and Carla Thomas – 1967
• Testify (I Wonna) – Johnnie Taylor – 1969
• I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Otis Redding — 1965

Without further ado, here are my selections:

13. (If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to be Right—Luther Ingram (1972)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #1 Hot R&B, #3 Hot 100, 16^th biggest song 1972

Singer-songwriter born in Jackson, Tennessee. Biggest hit by artist. Song was covered by multiple artists including a number one country single by Barbara Mandrell.

12. Whatcha See is Whatcha Get—The Dramatics (1971)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #3 Hot R&B, #9 Hot 100, 46^th biggest song 1971

Vocal music group from Detroit, Michigan.  Lead singer Ron Banks provides scatting on song. The Dramatics had a second top ten smash with “In the Rain” in 1972.

11. Who’s Making Love—Johnnie Taylor (1968)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #1 Hot R&B, #5 Hot 100

Song features Stax house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and Isaac Hayes playing keyboards.

Johnnie Taylor nicknamed “The Philosopher of Soul.”  Instruments on tune were played by Booker T and the MGs and keyboards by Isaac Hayes.  Had a number one in 1976 with “Disco Lady.”

10. Soul Finger—The Bar-Kays (1967)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #3 Hot R&B, #17 Hot 100, 67^th biggest song 1967

Instrumental ensemble that was Otis Redding’s band. Tune became group’s first hit.  Tragedy struck in December 1967 as Redding and four members of the band died in a plane crash. The Bar Kays re-formed in the 70s as a funk band.

9. Theme from Shaft—Isaac Hayes (1971)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, #2 Hot R&B, 89^th biggest song 1971

Theme song from the 1971 film “Shaft” was written by Isaac Hayes. The mostly instrumental single won two Grammy Awards for “Best Instrumental Arrangement” and “Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or TV Special.”

8. Mr. Big Stuff—Jean Knight (1971)

Peak position on Billboard Charts:  #1 R&B, #2 Hot 100:  17th biggest song 1971

A sassy, upbeat soul song, that has an excellent bass line. Jean Knight’s song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1972 Grammy Awards.

7. Knock on Wood—Eddie Floyd (1966)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #1 Hot R&B, #28 Hot 100

Written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cooper.  Song was covered by fellow Stax artists Otis Redding and Carla Thomas in 1967 and later in 1979 from Amii Stewart.  Floyd was named to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2018.

6. Sweet Soul Music—Arthur Conley (1967)

Peak Position of Billboard Charts:  #2 Hot 100, #2 Hot R&B, 17th Biggest Song of 1967

“Sweet Soul Music” was co-written by Arthur Conley and Otis Redding. Lyrics honors some of the biggest R&B artists from the mid 60s:  The Miracles, Lou Rawls, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and James Brown. Brass instruments create a rich sound on the tune.

5. Time is Tight—Booker T & the MGs (1969)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #6 Hot 100, #7 Hot R&B, 63rd Biggest Hit of 1969

Booker T and the MGs were a mainstay with Stax and are considered the quintessential R&B instrumental band of the 60s. These musicians had seven Top 40 hits and the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

4. I’ll Take You There—The Staple Singers (1972)

Peak positions on Billboard Charts:  #1 Hot 100, #1 Hot R&B, 19^th biggest song 1972

Lyrics feature message on civil rights, social conditions and has religious overtones.  Song is in the Grammy Hall of Fame. The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

3. Soul Man—Sam and Dave (1967)

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #1 Hot R&B, #2 Hot 100, 19^th biggest song 1967

Sam Moore and Dave Prater are considered one of the greatest live performing artists of the 60s.  “Soul Man” received a Grammy Award in 1968 and this dynamic duo have been inducted into 4 musical hall of fame organizations.

2. Mustang Sally—Wilson Pickett (1965)

Peak Positions on Billboard Hot 100:  #6 Hot R&B, #23 Hot 100

Singer-songwriter Wilson Pickett is recognized as a pioneer in the development of Southern soul music.  Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.  “Mustang Sally” is on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of all-time” listing.

1. (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay—Otis Redding (1967)

Otis Redding is regarded as one of the all-time greatest singers of the 20^th Century. Known as the “King of Soul”, this singer-songwriter gave spirited concert performances during his short music career.

As a songwriter, Redding penned the song “Respect” that Aretha Franklin covered and turned into a massive hit.  Another well-known song by the King of Soul” is “Try a Little Tenderness.”

“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” by Redding is my number one top selection on my countdown of the best Stax songs of all-time. Redding recorded this composition 3 days before he perished in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin on December 10, 1967.

Released as a single during January 1968, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” became the first posthumous number 1 song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.  It remains one of the most iconic top 40 singles of the 60s.

During 1969, Redding received 2 posthumous Grammy Awards for his best known and well-loved signature song.  Without a doubt, I have “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” as the #1 greatest Stax superb soul single ever made.

That wraps up what I consider to be the 13 essential Stax/Volt soul singles from the 60s and 70s. I completely understand that my listing of songs in this category was written from my point of view and is subjective.

If you were creating a similar register of excellent soul hits, your tabulation may be totally different. What do you consider to be the best musical tunes in this category?  I hope you will comment below.

Listening to Southern soul singles from Stax Records will always have a special place in my heart.  I still cherish and fondly remember every song on my countdown.  Rock on!

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.