This fall, Craft Recordings will continue its celebration of the rich and varied sounds of Stax Records with a further batch of reissues in the Soul Explosion series. The year-long campaign puts a spotlight on Stax's years as an independent label following their split from Atlantic fifty years ago. During that period, the label released a staggering 27 albums and 30 singles in just a handful of months. With a host of hits and best-selling albums from evergreen acts and new signers-on alike, Stax
When the latest sequel/reboot of Shaft hit screens this past June, one essential element was missing: the music of Isaac Hayes. While the late composer-artist's seminal "Theme from Shaft" was referenced in Christopher Lennertz's score, Hayes' commanding voice was nowhere to be found - some said to the detriment of the film. While the new Shaft underperformed in theatres, it had at least one happy byproduct as Craft Recordings revisited the classic original 1971 film soundtrack with a new
Now in their sixth decade, The Bar-Kays' place in the R&B pantheon is assured. From the Memphis soul stew of their first single "Soul Finger" in 1967 through the funk-drenched workouts of the 1970s, the common factors have been the band's authenticity, grit, and musicianship. Now, the full story of the band has been told on Cherry Red and Robinsongs' recent release The Definitive Collection, a 3-CD, 46-song anthology spanning their 1967-1989 recordings on the Stax/Volt and Mercury
Record Store Day announcements are coming fast and furious, and one of the first out of the gate hails from Craft Recordings. The label has a variety of packages coming soon for the RSD festivities at your local independent retailer on Saturday, April 13! Here's the full list from Craft with descriptions provided by the label. Violent Femmes, Hallowed Ground (LP): Hallowed Ground is the follow up to the Violent Femmes' legendary self-titled 1983 debut. As with the first album, all of the