One of the greatest music festivals of the '70s is getting celebrated with an exhaustive array of reissues in 2023: Wattstax, the multi-dimensional Los Angeles celebration of soul, funk, blues and gospel courtesy of Stax Records.

A half-century after the premiere of a Golden Globe-nominated documentary on the star-studded 1972 event, Craft Recordings, custodian of the Stax catalogue, will release the most definitive looks at Wattstax, most recently addressed in a 3CD box set in 2003 that took the highlights of both double albums from 1973 and added even more material. Soul'd Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection, expands on that mightily: 12 CDs, including the complete concert on six CDs, four soulful engagements (also recorded for the documentary) at Los Angeles' Summit Club in the weeks that followed, and a handful of studio recordings and other ephemera that were also included on original releases. (A total of 31 tracks have never been released; even between-set speeches and introductions are retained.) The set comes with a full-color 76-page book featuring a new introduction from Al Bell, the festival's organizer and the then-president of Stax, as well as new essays from Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway.

Several smaller sets will be released alongside Soul'd Out on February 24. Wattstax: The Complete Concert offers half of the big box's audio content (just the concert) alongside the same book of notes on six CDs or 10 LPs. A new single-CD distillation, The Best of Wattstax, will capture the magic in compact form, and the original 1973 double albums chronicling the concert and documentary as they were released will also be newly remastered and repressed on vinyl. (The documentary, restored in 2003 for its 30th anniversary, will be reissued by Sony Pictures at select Alamo Drafthouse locations.)

Long before Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul excavated the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969, the idea of a "Black Woodstock" might have best been associated with 1972's Wattstax, a massive festival organized by the Memphis soul label on August 20, 1972 in recognition of the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles. Seven years prior, the working-class Black neighborhood was shattered by abusive police action that in turn inspired members of the community to protest, leading to National Guard intervention and 34 deaths.

The label's director on the West Coast, Forrest Hamilton, lived in the neighborhood, and saw a burgeoning opportunity around an annual summer festival that sprung up every August afterward. Stax president Al Bell loved the idea, and persuaded the city to let them hold it in an even larger arena: the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Though city officials were unconvinced that a seemingly smaller label on the other side of the country could fill what was then the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, every ticket - sold for $1 and guaranteeing a seat - was booked.

And the assembled crowd - and a canny documentary team - got an incredible day's worth of entertainment: performances by Motown alumna Kim Weston, gospel/crossover pop group The Staple Singers, appearances by soul survivors like William Bell and Eddie Floyd, David Porter, The Bar-Kays, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas (presiding over the crowd when the audience memorably spilled from the stands to the grass of the football field and had to be coaxed back), and a closing set by the legendary Isaac Hayes, 30 years old that day and fresh off his Oscar win for the funky score to Shaft. Orchestra leader Dale Warren kept the music going, and political activist Rev. Jesse Jackson introduced several acts as well as delivering a memorable call-and-response speech to the crowd.

In February 1973, the Wattstax documentary premiered in theaters; it was quickly edited before its national release, replacing two of Watts' Shaft songs with a newly-recorded performance of a new single, "Rolling Down a Mountainside," to avoid conflicts with Shaft distributor MGM. There was more footage shot in the wake of the concert that made it into the final film, as well: several performances were recorded at L.A.'s Summit Club, including sets by Johnnie Taylor and The Emotions. Stand-up segments by Richard Pryor were also included in the final cut. All of this formed the basis for two double albums the label would release, and the documentary would not only take home a Golden Globe nomination but also be added into the Library of Congress' National Film Registry in 2020.

All these funky reissues hit stores February 24. Amazon links and full track lists are below, and merchandise bundles are also available through the label's official store.

Soul'd Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection (Stax/Craft Recordings CR00534, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

* previously unreleased
+ released on Wattstax: The Living Word - Stax STS-2-3010, 1973
++ released on Wattstax 2: The Living Word - Stax STS-2-3018, 1973
^ released on Music from the Wattstax Festival and Film - Stax 3SCD 4440-2, 2003
^^ released on Blues at Sunset (Live at Wattstax and Montreux) - Stax SCD 8581-2, 1993
# released on Isaac Hayes at Wattstax - Stax SCD 88042-2, 2003
## released on Johnnie Taylor Live at The Summit Club - Stax STXCD-8628-2, 2007
= released on Grits Ain't Groceries - Stax MPS-8529, 1984

Disc 1: Live at Wattstax (Part 1)

1. Salvation Symphony - Dale Warren & The Wattstax '72 Orchestra ^
2. The Star Spangled Banner - Kim Weston *
3. Opening Announcements - Tommy Jacquette & Jesse Jackson ++
4. Lift Every Voice and Sing - Kim Weston ++
5. "We're here to consecrate, not desecrate" - Melvin Van Peebles
6. Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) - The Staple Singers ^
7. Are You Sure - The Staple Singers ^
8. I Like the Things About Me - The Staple Singers +
9. Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers +
10. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers +

Disc 2: Live at Wattstax (Part 2)

1. Wattstax Day Proclamation - Tommy Jacquette & Richard Roundtree
2. Somebody Bigger Than You and I - Jimmy Jones ++
3. Better Get a Move On - Louise McCord ^
4. Precious Lord Take My Hand - Deborah Manning ^
5. I Shall Not Be Moved - Eric Mercury *
6. At the Drive-In - Freddie Robinson *
7. Them Hot Pants - Lee Sain ^
8. What Would I Do - Ernie Hines *
9.  Wade in the Water - Little Sonny ^
10. I Forgot to Be Your Lover - William Bell ^
11. Pin the Tail on the Donkey - The Newcomers ^
12. Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd +
13. Explain It to Her Mama - The Temprees ^
14. I've Been Lonely for So Long - Frederick Knight ^
15. Old Time Religion - The Golden 13 ++
16. Al Bell award presentation - William Bell
17. Lying on the Truth - The Rance Allen Group ++
18. Up Above My Head - The Rance Allen Group ^

Disc 3: Live at Wattstax (Part 3)

1. David Porter introduction - William Bell
2. Introduction - The David Porter Show ++
3. Ain't That Loving You (for More Reasons Than One) - David Porter ++
4. Can't See You When I Want To - David Porter ++
5. Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) - David Porter ++
6. The Bar-Kays introduction - William Bell
7. Son of Shaft/Feel It - The Bar-Kays +
8. In the Hole - The Bar-Kays ^
9. I Can't Turn You Loose - The Bar-Kays +
10. Tommy Tate introduction - William Bell
11. I Remember - Tommy Tate *
12. "Please move back to the stands" - William Bell
13. Help Me Love - Tommy Tate *
14. School of Life - Tommy Tate *

Disc 4: Live at Wattstax (Part 4)

1. Carla Thomas introduction - William Bell & John KaSandra
2. Pick Up the Pieces - Carla Thomas ^
3. I Like What You're Doing (to Me) - Carla Thomas +
4. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas ^
5. Gee Whiz - Carla Thomas +
6. I Have a God Who Loves - Carla Thomas +
7. Albert King introduction - John KaSandra
8. Match Box Blues - Albert King ^^
9. Got to Be Some Changes Made - Albert King ^^
10. I'll Play the Blues for You - Albert King +
11. Killing Floor - Albert King +
12. Angel of Mercy - Albert King +
13. Rufus Thomas introduction - John KaSandra
14. Rufus Thomas entrance - John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas
15. The Breakdown - Rufus Thomas +
16. "Kindly go back to your seats" - John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas

Disc 5: Live at Wattstax (Part 5)

1. Do the Funky Chicken - Rufus Thomas +
2. Do the Funky Penguin - Rufus Thomas +
3. "I am, somebody" - Jesse Jackson ++
4. I Don't Know What This World is Coming To - The Soul Children +
5. Hearsay - The Soul Children +
6. "Let us stand and raise our fists together" - John KaSandra, Fred Williamson & Jesse Jackson
7. If I Can Help Somebody - Billy Eckstine *
8. "There is a curfew here" - Billy Eckstine

Disc 6: Live at Wattstax (Part 6)

1. Isaac Hayes introduction - Jesse Jackson
2. Theme from Shaft (Version 1) - Isaac Hayes *
3. Theme from Shaft (Version 2) - Isaac Hayes #
4. Soulsville - Isaac Hayes #
5. Never Can Say Goodbye - Isaac Hayes #
6. Part-Time Love - Isaac Hayes *
7. Your Love is So Doggone Good - Isaac Hayes #
8. Ain't No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue - Isaac Hayes +
9. I Stand Accused - Isaac Hayes #
10. "Let everybody stand and join hands" - Jesse Jackson
11. If I Had a Hammer - Jimmy Jones #

Disc 7: Live at The Summit Club (Part 1) *

1. Introduction - Rufus Thomas
2. Comedy Set - Rufus Thomas
3. Night Time is the Right Time - Rufus Thomas

Disc 8: Live at The Summit Club (Part 2)

1. Johnnie Taylor introduction - Rufus Thomas ++
2. Take Care of Your Homework (Set 1) - Johnnie Taylor ##
3. Little Bluebird (Set 1) - Johnnie Taylor ##
4. Steal Away (Set 1) - Johnnie Taylor ##
5. I Don't Wanna Lose You (Set 1) - Johnnie Taylor ##
6. Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone (Set 1) - Johnnie Taylor *
7. Who's Making Love (Set 2) - Johnnie Taylor ##
8. Hello Sundown (Set 2) - Johnnie Taylor ##
9. Steal Away (Set 2) - Johnnie Taylor ++
10. Stop Doggin' Me (Set 2) - Johnnie Taylor ++
11. Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone (Set 2) - Johnnie Taylor ++

Disc 9: Live at The Summit Club (Part 3)

1. Think (About It) - Sons of Slum *
2. Respect - Sons of Slum *
3. The Man - Sons of Slum *
4. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone/Dance to the Music/Music Lover/I Want to Take You Higher - Sons of Slum *
5. So I Can Love You - The Emotions ++
6. Blind Alley - The Emotions *
7. Introductions - The Emotions ++
8. Show Me How - The Emotions ++
9. When Tomorrow Comes - The Emotions *
10. I Could Never Be Happy - The Emotions *

Disc 10: Live at The Summit Club (Part 4)

1. Open the Door to Your Heart - Little Milton ^
2. Let Me Down Easy - Little Milton =
3. Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around the World) - Little Milton =
4. Blind Man - Little Milton =
5. I Can't Quit You Baby - Little Milton =
6. That's What Love Will Make You Do - Little Milton =
7. Walking the Back Streets and Crying - Little Milton ++

Disc 11: Live at The Summit Club (Part 5) *

1. Introduction - Mel & Tim
2. Warm It Up - Mel & Tim
3. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - Mel & Tim
4. Groovy Situation - Mel & Tim
5. Good Guys Only Win in the Movies - Mel & Tim
6. Backfield in Motion/Starting All Over Again - Mel & Tim
7. Friendship Train - Mel & Tim

Disc 12: Additional Recordings

1. Peace Be Still (Rehearsal) - The Emotions *
   
2. Peace Be Still (Take 1) - The Emotions *
   
3. Peace Be Still (Take 2) - The Emotions ++
   
4. Rolling Down a Mountainside - Isaac Hayes ++
   
5. Rolling Down a Mountainside (Alternate Version) - Isaac Hayes *
   
6. Oh La De Da - The Staple Singers +
   
7. Lay Your Loving on Me - Eddie Floyd +
   
8. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - The Dramatics ++
   
9. I May Not Be What You Want - Mel & Tim ++
   
10. Saturday Night/Blue Note, Backroom - Richard Pryor ++
    
11. Arrest/Line-Up - Richard Pryor ++
    
12. Niggers - Richard Pryor ++
    
13. Negroes - Richard Pryor ++
    
14. Handshake - Richard Pryor ++
    
15. Wino Get a Job - Richard Pryor ++
    

All tracks on Discs 1-6 recorded live at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA - 8/20/1972
All tracks on Disc 7-11 recorded live at The Summit Club, Los Angeles, CA - 9/23/1972 (Discs 7-8), 9/29/1972 (Disc 9), and 10/4/1972 (Discs 10-11)

Wattstax: The Complete Concert (Stax/Craft Recordings CR00535 (LP)/CR00536 (CD), 2023) - contains first six discs of Soul'd Out

6CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
10LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The Best of Wattstax (Stax/Craft Recordings CR00538, 2023) - highlights CD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Lift Every Voice and Sing - Kim Weston
2. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
3. Better Get a Move On - Louise McCord
4. Precious Lord Take My Hand - Deborah Manning
5. I Shall Not Be Moved - Eric Mercury *
6. Them Hot Pants - Lee Sain
7. I Forgot to Be Your Lover - William Bell
8. Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd
9. Explain It to Her Mama - The Temprees
10. I've Been Lonely for So Long - Frederick Knight
11. Old Time Religion - The Golden 13
12. Lying on the Truth - The Rance Allen Group
13. Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) - David Porter
14. I Can't Turn You Loose - The Bar-Kays
15. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
16. I'll Play the Blues for You - Albert King
17. The Breakdown - Rufus Thomas
18. "I Am, Somebody" - Jesse Jackson
19. Hearsay - The Soul Children
20. Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes

Wattstax: The Living Word (originally released as Stax STS-2-3010, 1972 - reissued Stax/Craft Recordings CR00539, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

LP 1

1. Oh La De Da - The Staple Singers
2. I Like the Things About Me - The Staple Singers
3. Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers
4. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
5. Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd
6. Lay Your Loving on Me - Eddie Floyd
7. I Like What You're Doing to Me - Carla Thomas
8. Gee Whiz - Carla Thomas
9. I Have a God Who Loves - Carla Thomas
10. The Breakdown - Rufus Thomas
11. Do the Funky Chicken - Rufus Thomas
12. Do the Funky Penguin - Rufus Thomas

LP 2

1. Son of Shaft/Feel It - The Bar-Kays
2. I Can't Turn You Loose - The Bar-Kays
3. Killing Floor - Albert King
4. I'll Play the Blues for You - Albert King
5. Angel of Mercy - Albert King
6. I Don't Know What This World is Coming To - The Soul Children
7. Hearsay - The Soul Children
8. Ain't No Sunshine - Isaac Hayes

Wattstax 2: The Living Word (originally released as Stax STS-2-3018, 1973 - reissued Stax/Craft Recordings CR00537, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

LP 1

1. Introduction - Jesse Jackson
2. Lift Every Voice and Sing - Kim Weston
3. Lying on the Truth - The Rance Allen Group
4. Someone Greater Than You and I - Jimmy Jones
5. Old-Time Religion - The Golden 13
6. Peace Be Still - The Emotions
7. Saturday Night - Richard Pryor
8. Blue Note - Richard Pryor
9. Back Room - Richard Pryor
10. Introduction - David Porter Show
11. Ain't That Loving You (for More Reasons Than One) - David Porter Show
12. Can't See You When I Want To - David Porter Show
13. Reach Out and Touch - David Porter Show
14. Arrest - Richard Pryor
15. Line Up - Richard Pryor

LP 2

1. Introduction - Johnnie Taylor Show
2. Steal Away - Johnnie Taylor Show
3. Stop Doggin' Me - Johnnie Taylor Show
4. Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone - Johnnie Taylor Show
5. Walking the Back Streets and Crying - Little Milton
6. Niggers - Richard Pryor
7. Group Introduction - The Emotions
8. So I Can Love You - The Emotions
9. Show Me How - The Emotions
10. Negroes - Richard Pryor
11. Whatcha See is Whatcha Get - The Dramatics
12. Handshake - Richard Pryor
13. I May Not Be What You Want - Mel & Tim
14. Wino Got a Job - Richard Pryor
15. Rolling Down a Mountainside - Isaac Hayes