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APRIL 2007
I have spent the past week or so listening to the STAX 50th Anniversary
two CD set (STX2-30203-2). It contains 50 songs released by STAX
records between its inception in 1957 and its bankruptcy in 1975. Most
of the songs on these CDs weren’t played on the pop stations I listened
to over those years so I missed a lot of great music.
Fortunately, some of these songs did cross over. “Green Onions” by
Booker T. and the MGs hit #3 on the Pop charts and #1 on the R&B
charts in August 1962. (Am I the only one scared by how old this song
actually is?) I also remember hearing “Hold On! I’m Comin’” sung by Sam
& Dave. It hit #21 on the Pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts in April
1966. And of course, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding,
which was #1 on both charts in February of 1968. Much of the
enjoyment of these CDs has come (for me) from its mix of the unfamiliar
and familiar. There are some great voices featured here and listening to
them leaves me wondering just what happened to these artists. What
are they doing today? Why aren’t they household names?
From the liner notes, which are excellent, it appears that these songs
were part of the four CD set The STAX Story, which came out a few years
ago. This is great stuff, the sound quality is excellent, and I can fill in yet
another gap in my musical experience. Buy it.
On March 21, 2007 an obituary appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
for Luther Ingram. He died at the age of 69 on March 19th. Mr. Ingram
is known for writing the songs, “If Loving You is Wrong (I Don’t Want to
Be Right)” and “Respect Yourself” among others. “Respect Yourself” was
STAX records biggest hit. Sung by the Staple Singers, and co-written by
Sir Mack Rice (“Mustang Sally”), it went to #12 on the Pop charts and #2
on the R&B charts in October 1971.
Luther Ingram was living in O’Fallon, Illinois at the time of his death, just
across the river from St. Louis. He had lived in the area for the past ten
years.
It feels like such an odd symmetry; I was listening to music by Mr. Ingram
right at the very time he was leaving us. I hope that the release of this
CD set provides Luther Ingram and the other great artists on it with a
new audience. It’s sad that Mr. Ingram won’t be here to benefit from it.
I also recently watched The U.S. vs. John Lennon (Lionsgate), which is
out on video. It’s impossible to watch this documentary without a sense
of sorrow as well. At the time John Lennon was using his celebrity as a
“Peacenik” to oppose the Vietnam war, I was going to school and trying to
stay out of the draft. I didn’t have the time or energy to focus on all of
Lennon’s efforts. This video makes it possible to see just how big an
effort he made to stop the war and the sort of viciousness he was
exposed to as a result. What is truly appalling, however, is how
everything in this film applies directly and unequivocally to our situation
with Iraq today. Clearly my generation learned nothing from Vietnam and
we have allowed ourselves to be mis-led by people who would make
Richard Nixon proud, and even envious, of their venality, treachery, and
moral depravity.
I have always thought highly of John Lennon, but it is now clear, not
highly enough.
Consider doing this for Easter… Go to www.defendersofwildlife.com and
click on Adoption Center near the top of the page. Instead of buying a lot
of obesity-generating, corporate-made junk food for the kids or
grandkids, adopt a real animal whose habitat, and very existence, is
threatened. Easter is a time of renewal; give another species on the
planet a chance to live.
Kent Johnson
March 29, 2007
I have spent the past week or so listening to the STAX 50th Anniversary
two CD set (STX2-30203-2). It contains 50 songs released by STAX
records between its inception in 1957 and its bankruptcy in 1975. Most
of the songs on these CDs weren’t played on the pop stations I listened
to over those years so I missed a lot of great music.
Fortunately, some of these songs did cross over. “Green Onions” by
Booker T. and the MGs hit #3 on the Pop charts and #1 on the R&B
charts in August 1962. (Am I the only one scared by how old this song
actually is?) I also remember hearing “Hold On! I’m Comin’” sung by Sam
& Dave. It hit #21 on the Pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts in April
1966. And of course, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding,
which was #1 on both charts in February of 1968. Much of the
enjoyment of these CDs has come (for me) from its mix of the unfamiliar
and familiar. There are some great voices featured here and listening to
them leaves me wondering just what happened to these artists. What
are they doing today? Why aren’t they household names?
From the liner notes, which are excellent, it appears that these songs
were part of the four CD set The STAX Story, which came out a few years
ago. This is great stuff, the sound quality is excellent, and I can fill in yet
another gap in my musical experience. Buy it.
On March 21, 2007 an obituary appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
for Luther Ingram. He died at the age of 69 on March 19th. Mr. Ingram
is known for writing the songs, “If Loving You is Wrong (I Don’t Want to
Be Right)” and “Respect Yourself” among others. “Respect Yourself” was
STAX records biggest hit. Sung by the Staple Singers, and co-written by
Sir Mack Rice (“Mustang Sally”), it went to #12 on the Pop charts and #2
on the R&B charts in October 1971.
Luther Ingram was living in O’Fallon, Illinois at the time of his death, just
across the river from St. Louis. He had lived in the area for the past ten
years.
It feels like such an odd symmetry; I was listening to music by Mr. Ingram
right at the very time he was leaving us. I hope that the release of this
CD set provides Luther Ingram and the other great artists on it with a
new audience. It’s sad that Mr. Ingram won’t be here to benefit from it.
I also recently watched The U.S. vs. John Lennon (Lionsgate), which is
out on video. It’s impossible to watch this documentary without a sense
of sorrow as well. At the time John Lennon was using his celebrity as a
“Peacenik” to oppose the Vietnam war, I was going to school and trying to
stay out of the draft. I didn’t have the time or energy to focus on all of
Lennon’s efforts. This video makes it possible to see just how big an
effort he made to stop the war and the sort of viciousness he was
exposed to as a result. What is truly appalling, however, is how
everything in this film applies directly and unequivocally to our situation
with Iraq today. Clearly my generation learned nothing from Vietnam and
we have allowed ourselves to be mis-led by people who would make
Richard Nixon proud, and even envious, of their venality, treachery, and
moral depravity.
I have always thought highly of John Lennon, but it is now clear, not
highly enough.
Consider doing this for Easter… Go to www.defendersofwildlife.com and
click on Adoption Center near the top of the page. Instead of buying a lot
of obesity-generating, corporate-made junk food for the kids or
grandkids, adopt a real animal whose habitat, and very existence, is
threatened. Easter is a time of renewal; give another species on the
planet a chance to live.
Kent Johnson
March 29, 2007