VMP Anthology: The Story of Stax

The upcoming VMP Anthology is The Story of Stax:

Introducing VMP Anthology: The Story Of Stax Records, an 8-album journey through the label’s first golden period from 1957-1975. Over the course of a month, we’ll tell the story of Stax via these albums, chosen by VMP and Stax Records, and through interviews with the artists who made them.

12/9 at 5pm ET - Sale begins
Only 1,000 available
8 album, 180g audiophile vinyl box set
AAA cut by Ryan Smith, pressed at QRP

Vinyl Me, Please Anthology | The Story of Stax Records

This time around VMP is announcing the featured artists in advance:

1. BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S
2. SAM & DAVE
3. OTIS REDDING
4. BAR-KAYS
5. EDDIE FLOYD
6. JOHNNIE TAYLOR
7. ALBERT KING
8. WILLIAM BELL

 

Hmm . . . 8 LP’s in a single month is liable to choke me going down. Too fast. Also, despite effort, I can’t find a price. I’m guessing $250 minimum.

 

Booker T And The MG’s - Mclemore Avenue
Sam & Dave - Soul Men
Eddie Floyd - Knock Wood
Otis Redding - The Soul Album or Dictionary of Soul
Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign (mono)

These are my predictions.

 

The VMP Anthology " The Women of Motown" was also a 8 LP set. Its price was $295.

 

Maybe I’m from the old school but I want to know what albums I will be buying before plunking down a couple hundred dollars for a box set. Some of these artists listed didn’t have the most consistent catalogues and some of these albums were in the times where an album was one or two singles and a bunch of filler.

 

I’m in. I love Stax!

 

I loved Women of Motown, pretty sure I’m in for this one.

 

Green Onions above McLemore Avenue. Not everything has to involve The Beatles!

The Beatle free Otis Blue above Dictionary of Soul too.

It would be better to have compilations from each artist though.

 

Born Under A Bad Sign has been reissued in stereo and mono in recent years, so hopefully not that title.

 

I can see it being the most popular titles from each artist. It will probably include Otis Blue even though that's been released countless times. I wonder what they include from 1957 and 1975? It's not going to span those years. Stax didn't release LPs that early and was past it's prime by 1975.

That doesn't tend to be the case with Stax. The singles are obvious and often classics, but the albums tend to be strong too. I'm not denying there's some filler, but it's usually quality filler.

 

They already issued Knock on Wood. An AAA version would be welcome though!

 

i'm reading elsewhere that VMP said there won't be any duplicates of stuff that's already in-print/currently reissued. which is a good thing and also makes me a little leery given @jlykos sentiments that i concur with. craft has some AAA reissues in-print of taylor & the bar-kays, for example:

Johnnie Taylor - Who's Making Love (180g LP)

The Bar-Kays - Gotta Groove (180g LP)

 

Apparently, according to Storf -who selected the albums for this Anthology - they’ll only be titles that haven’t had recent reissues, so some of your guesses won’t be right.

Can’t wait for this.

Storf also said it will be less than $300

I’m hoping the William Bell record is Phases of Reality.

 

Yes it does!!

 

VMP reposted this list recently so I’m basing my predictions according to their list. Of course, I’m sure they’re not going to give away the titles that easily and predictions aren’t always right on either.

The 10 Best Stax Albums To Own On Vinyl — Vinyl Me, Please

 

Yeah, after the Women of Motown set I am in for the Stax Set.

 

You could have a good point, especially here! Genuinely, I'd be surprised if it is McLemore Avenue. It's a good album but there's better Booker T & the MGs albums. I like Soul Dressing and Soul Limbo more.

 

I’m going to sit out this one, for the reasons I set forth above, as well as this music isn’t quite my thing.

I’ll be all over some jazz boxes tho (the Blue Note Anthology was great). I will pray for an Impulse one. Or, God willing, Pablo.

 

I remember reading that article & it includes some great titles. However, I suppose the purpose of that list was to point people in the direction of some excellent Stax albums that are readily available to buy on vinyl; whereas the Anthology box-sets are focussed on pressing quality, limited edition pressings of albums that have not been reissued in recent times.

With Storf -who is a massive Stax fan - curating this, I'm confident that the albums selected will be top notch; his VMP Classics picks have been first-rate all the way.

 

I'm in for this set. Can't wait.

 

Price of the box set is $280. If you're a previous VMP Anthology subscriber, you get a $30 discount with a code that was emailed:

https://anthology.vinylmeplease.com/products/vmp-anthology-the-story-of-stax-records

 

Ker-plunk, I’m in.

 

They got me too, spacedog.

 

Just ordered mine (uk VMP subscriber). Had a few issues making the payment but after several attempts with different cards it went through.

So wish I could fast forward to January!

 

Done! Signed, sealed, and waiting for a January delivery!