? The first Stax-Volt box was a monolith, standing as the definitive document of the labels and, therefore, gritty Southern soul. Its sequel, The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 is considerably more problematic. Covering only four years compared to its predecessor, which showcased nine years, Vol. 2 contains 216 tracks, including all of the A- and B-sides released during that era. Most critics consider these four years to be substantially less interesting than Staxs earlier years, and in a sense, theyre right. Theres no Otis Redding or Sam & Dave, and the music doesnt have the same innovative, kinetic spark of the early years. Theres still a lot of great, great music here, but its difficult to sort it out among these nine discs. About three or four discs worth of material is truly essential, and it might have been better to boil this era down to a smaller box set, since that would have made for a necessary purchase. As it stands, its too sprawling and comprehensive to be an essential purchase for anyone other than soul fetishists and hardcore collectors, but those listeners should find much of this fascinating.

Tracklist:

cd1 01 - Shirley Walton - I Was Born To Love You
cd1 02 - Isaac Hayes - Precious, Precious
cd1 03 - Shirley Walton - Send Peace And Harmony Home
cd1 04 - Booker T. & The MGs - Soul Limbo
cd1 05 - Eddie Floyd - Ive Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)
cd1 06 - Delaney & Bonnie - Its Been A Long Time Coming
cd1 07 - Linda Lyndell - What A Man
cd1 08 - Jimmy Hughes - I Like Everything About You
cd1 09 - Johnny Daye - Stay Baby Stay
cd1 10 - Judy Clay & William Bell - Private Number
cd1 11 - The Mad Lads - So Nice
cd1 12 - The Staple Singers - Long Walk To D.C
cd1 13 - The Soul Children - Give Em Love
cd1 14 - Rufus Thomas - Funky Mississippi
cd1 15 - The Charmels - Lovin Feeling
cd1 16 - Carla Thomas - Where Do I Go
cd1 17 - Judy Clay - Bed Of Roses
cd1 18 - Eddie Floyd - Bring It On Home To Me
cd1 19 - Jeanne And The Darlings - Its Unbelievable (How You Control My Soul)
cd1 20 - Johnnie Taylor - Whos Making Love
cd1 21 - Dino And Doc - Mighty Cold Winter
cd1 22 - Booker T. & The MGs - Hang Em High
cd1 23 - Ollie & The Nightingales - Youre Leaving Me
cd1 24 - The Bar-Kays - Copy Kat
cd1 25 - William Bell - I Forget To Be Your Lover
cd1 26 - Mable John - Running Out
cd1 27 - William Bell & Judy Clay - My Baby Specializes
cd1 28 - The Soul Children - Ill Understand

cd2 01 - The Staple Singers - The Ghetto
cd2 02 - Albert King - Blues Power
cd2 03 - The Epsilons - The Echo
cd2 04 - Rufus Thomas - Funky Way
cd2 05 - Johnnie Taylor - Take Care Of Your Homework
cd2 06 - Carla Thomas - I Like What Youre Doing (To Me)
cd2 07 - Eddie Floyd - Ive Got To Have Your Love
cd2 08 - Jimmy Hughes - Let Em Down Baby
cd2 09 - The Mad Lads - Love Is Here Today And Gone Tomorrow
cd2 10 - Judy Clay - It Aint Long Enough
cd2 11 - Ollie & The Nightingales - Mellow Way You Treat Your Man
cd2 12 - Sonny Stitt - Private Number
cd2 13 - Booker T. & The MGs - Time Is Tight
cd2 14 - The Mar-Keys - Double Or Nothing
cd2 15 - The Staple Singers - (Sittin On The) Dock Of The Bay
cd2 16 - The Emotions - So I Can Love You
cd2 17 - The Bar-Kays - Dont Stop Dancing (To The Music)(Part 1)
cd2 18 - Margie Joseph - One More Chance
cd2 19 - Jimmy Dotson - I Wanna Be Good (To You)
cd2 20 - Art Jerry Miller - Finger Lickin Good
cd2 21 - The Soul Children - Tighten Up My Thang
cd2 22 - William Bell - My Whole World Is Falling Down
cd2 23 - Johnnie Taylor - Testify (I Wonna)
cd2 24 - Albert King - Drowning On Dry Land
cd2 25 - The Stingers - Do The Cissy
cd2 26 - Eddie Floyd - Dont Tell Your Mom (Where Youve Been)

cd3 01 - Booker T. & The MGs - Mrs. Robinson
cd3 02 - William Bell & Mavis Staples - Loves Sweet Sensation
cd3 03 - Darrell Banks - Just Because Your Love Is Gone
cd3 04 - Jimmy Hughes - Chains Of Love
cd3 05 - William Bell - Happy
cd3 06 - The Staple Singers - The Challenge
cd3 07 - Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Etc - Soul-a-lujah
cd3 08 - Eddie Floyd & Mavis Staples - Never, Never Let You Go
cd3 09 - Johnnie Taylor & Carla Thomas - Just Keep On Loving Me
cd3 10 - William Bell & Carla Thomas - I Need You Woman
cd3 11 - Ollie & The Nightingales - Ive Got A Feeling
cd3 12 - Jeanne And The Darlings - Its Time To Pay For The Fun (Weve Had)
cd3 13 - Johnnie Taylor - I Could Never Be President
cd3 14 - The Mad Lads - By The Time I Get To Phoenix
cd3 15 - Colette Kelly - Long And Lonely World
cd3 16 - The Bar-Kays - Midnight Cowboy
cd3 17 - Carla Thomas - Ive Fallen In Love (With You)
cd3 18 - Booker T. & The MGs - Slum Baby
cd3 19 - The Emotions - The Best Part Of A Love Affair
cd3 20 - Isaac Hayes - By The Time I Get To Phoenix (2)
cd3 21 - Isaac Hayes - Walk On By
cd3 22 - Pop Staples, Albert King, Steve Cropper - Tupelo (Part 1)
cd3 23 - Steve Cropper, Albert King, Pop Staples - Water
cd3 24 - The Soul Children - The Sweeter He Is (Part 1)
cd3 25 - Mavis Staples - Youre Driving Me (To The Arms Of A Stranger)

cd4 01 - The Newcomers - Open Up Your Heart (Let Me In)
cd4 02 - Eddie Floyd - Why Is The Wine Sweeter (On The Other Side)
cd4 03 - The Staple Singers - When Will We Be Paid
cd4 04 - John Lee Hooker - Grinder Man
cd4 05 - William Bell - Born Under A Bad Sign
cd4 06 - Margie Joseph - What You Gonna Do
cd4 07 - Jimmy Hughes - Im So Glad
cd4 08 - Darrell Banks - Beautiful Feelings
cd4 09 - The Dramatics - Your Love Was Strange
cd4 10 - Johnnie Taylor - Love Bones
cd4 11 - Delaney & Bonnie - Hard To Say Goodbye
cd4 12 - J.J. Barnes - Got To Get Rid Of You
cd4 13 - Reggie Milner - Habit Forming Love
cd4 14 - The T.S.U. Toronadoes - My Thing Is A Moving Thing
cd4 15 - The Emotions - Stealing Love
cd4 16 - The Emotions - When Tomorrow Comes
cd4 17 - Albert King - Wrapped Up In Love Again
cd4 18 - Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Chicken
cd4 19 - Eddiie Floyd - California Girl
cd4 20 - Bernie Hayes - Tribute To A Black Woman (Part 1)
cd4 21 - The Bar-Kays - Sang And Dance
cd4 22 - The Soul Children - Hold On, Im Comin
cd4 23 - Chuck Brooks - Loves Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (Part 1)
cd4 24 - Ernie Hines - Help Me Put Out The Flames (In My Heart)
cd4 25 - Roebuck Pop Staples - Black Boy

cd5 01 - Ollie & The Nightingales - Bracing Myself For The Fall
cd5 02 - William Bell & Carla Thomas - All I Have To Do Is Dream
cd5 03 - Jeanne And The Darlings - Singing About Love
cd5 04 - Chris And Shack - Goodies
cd5 05 - Barbara Lewis - Just The Way You Are Today
cd5 06 - Little Sonny - The Creeper Returns
cd5 07 - Carla Thomas - Guide Me Well
cd5 08 - The Staple Singers - Give A Damn
cd5 09 - Johnnie Taylor - Steal Away
cd5 10 - Margie Joseph - Your Sweet Lovin
cd5 11 - James And Blumenberg - I Forgot To Remember
cd5 12 - David Porter - Cant See You When I Want To
cd5 13 - Carla Thomas - Never Be True
cd5 14 - Albert King - Cant You See What Youre Doing To Me
cd5 15 - Rufus Thomas - Sixty Minute Man (Part 2)
cd5 16 - Rufus Thomas - The Preacher And The Bear
cd5 17 - Booker T. & The MGs - Something
cd5 18 - The Mad Lads - Seeing Is Believin
cd5 19 - Roz Ryan - Youre My Only Temptation
cd5 20 - Paul Thompson - What I Dont Know Wont Hurt Me
cd5 21 - Branding Iron - Right, Tight And Out Of Sight
cd5 22 - John KaSandra - (Whats Under) The Natural Do

cd6 01 - Eddie Floyd - My Girl
cd6 02 - Mavis Staples - I Have Learned To Do Without You
cd6 03 - The T.S.U. Toronadoes - Play The Music Toronadoes
cd6 04 - William Bell - Lonely Soldier
cd6 05 - The Emotions - Heart Association
cd6 06 - Isaac Hayes - I Stand Accused
cd6 07 - The Staples Singers - Brand New Day
cd6 08 - Margie Jospeh - Sweeter Tomororow
cd6 09 - Bernie Hayes - Cool Strut
cd6 10 - The Newcomers - You Put The Sunshine In My World
cd6 11 - The Bar-Kays - Montego Bay
cd6 12 - Rudy & The Hungry Robinson - Got It Together (Parts 1 & 2)
cd6 13 - Little Sonny - Wade In The Water
cd6 14 - The Nightingales - Youre Movin Much Too Fast
cd6 15 - Eddie Floyd - Best Years Of My Life
cd6 16 - Johnny Taylor - I Am Somebody (Part 2)
cd6 17 - Carla Thomas - I Loved You Like I Love My Very Life
cd6 18 - Reggie Milner - Soul Machine
cd6 19 - The Temprees - (Follow Her) Rules And Regulations
cd6 20 - Rufus Thomas - (Do The) Push And Pull (Part 1)
cd6 21 - Charlene And The Soul Serenaders - Love Changes
cd6 22 - The Soul Children - Put Your Would In My World (Best Of Two Worlds)
cd6 23 - The Staple Singers - Love Is Plentiful

cd7 01 - The Staple Singers - Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)
cd7 02 - The Staple Singers - Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas
cd7 03 - Shack - Too Many Lovers
cd7 04 - The Emotions - Black Christmas
cd7 05 - Isaac Hayes - The Mistletoe And Me
cd7 06 - Barbara Lewis - Ask The Lonely
cd7 07 - Johnny Taylor - Jodys Got Your Girl And Gone
cd7 08 - The Soul Children - Finish Me Off
cd7 09 - Eddie Floyd - Oh, How It Rained
cd7 10 - Isaac Hayes - The Look Of Love
cd7 11 - Ernie Hines - Electrfied Love
cd7 12 - Booker T & The MGs - Melting Pot
cd7 13 - Barbara Lewis - Thats The Way I Like It (I Like It That Way)
cd7 14 - Jean Knight - Mr. Big Stuff
cd7 15 - The Emotions - You Make Me Want To Love You
cd7 16 - Margie Joseph - Stop! In The Name Of Love
cd7 17 - Johnny Taylor - I Dont Wanna Lose You
cd7 18 - The Tempres - (Girl) I Love You
cd7 19 - Rufus Thomas - The World Is Round
cd7 20 - William Bell - A Penny For Your Thoughts
cd7 21 - Isaac Hayes - Never Can Say Goodbye
cd7 22 - The Nightingales - I Dont Want To Be Like My Daddy

cd8 01 - The Staple Singers - Youve Got To Earn It
cd8 02 - The Limitations - Hold On To It
cd8 03 - The Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
cd8 04 - Branding Iron - Born Too Late
cd8 05 - Jimmy Hughes - Just Aint Strong As I Used To Be
cd8 06 - Margie Joseph - That Other Woman Got My Man And Gone
cd8 07 - The Emotions - If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)
cd8 08 - Calvin Scott - Shame On The Family Name
cd8 09 - Eddie Floyd - Blood Is Thicker Than Water
cd8 10 - Johnnie Taylor - Hijackin Love
cd8 11 - Melvin Van Peebles - Sweetbacks Theme
cd8 12 - Rufus Thomas - Breakdown, The (Part 1)
cd8 13 - The Newcomers - Pin The Tail On The Donkey
cd8 14 - Lee Sain - Them Hot Pants
cd8 15 - Little Milton - If That Aint A Reason
cd8 16 - Shack - Its Good To Be Careful (But Its Better To Be Loved)
cd8 17 - Ilana - Where Would You Be Today
cd8 18 - Albert King - Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven
cd8 19 - The Soul Children - Got To Get Away From It All
cd8 20 - United Image - Loves Creeping Up On Me
cd8 21 - The Emotions - Show Me How
cd8 22 - David Porter - If I Give It Up, I Want It Back
cd8 23 - Little Sonny - A Woman Named Trouble

cd9 01 - Eddie Giles - Losing Boy
cd9 02 - The Staple Singers - Respect Yourself
cd9 03 - Hot Sauce - Ill Kill A Brick (About My Man)
cd9 04 - Jean Knight - You Think Youre Hot Stuff
cd9 05 - William Bell - All For The Love Of A Woman
cd9 06 - Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft
cd9 07 - The MGs - Jamaica, This Morning
cd9 08 - The Mad Lads - Gone! The Promises Of Yesterday
cd9 09 - Major Lance - Girl, Come On Home
cd9 10 - Joni Wilson - (Let Hurt Put You In The) Losers Seat
cd9 11 - The Temprees - My Baby Love
cd9 12 - The Leaders - How Do You Move A Mountain
cd9 13 - Black Nasty - Black Nasty Boogie (Part 6)
cd9 14 - Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Penguin (Part 1)
cd9 15 - Carla Thomas - Youve Got A Cushion To Fall On
cd9 16 - The Dramatics - Get Up And Get Down
cd9 17 - The Bar-Kays - Son Of Shaft
cd9 18 - L.V. Johnson - Dont Cha Mess With My Money, My Honey, Or My Woman
cd9 19 - Eric Mercury - I Can Smell That Funky Music
cd9 20 - Calvin Scott - A Sadness For Things
cd9 21 - Little Milton - Thats What Love Will Make You Do
cd9 22 - Johnnie Taylor - Standing In For Jody

These files have no ID3v2 tags but do have ID3v1 and Apev2 tags. Some programs (Foobar for sure) read the Apev2 tags and the info is complete. Others read the ID3v1 tags and the info is cut off after a certain number of characters. I have more uploaded like this that I havent posted yet but all future uploads will have ID3v2 included. There are several tracks that some of you will find the tag info truncated. I was not aware that was going to be a problem. Sorry about that. btw, the tracklist above is generated from Foobar reading the tags.


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