Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story (1 Aug. 2007)

Spectacular rise & disgraced collapse of Memphis' socially-conscious, neighborhood-based Stax Records, which spawned many of the best soul sounds of the 60's and 70's is told mostly by its ... See full summary »

Directors:

Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville

Writers:

Mark Crosby, Robert Gordon,

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Jim Stewart, Estelle Axton

1 nomination.

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Narrator (voice)
Jim Stewart
Estelle Axton
Deanie Parker	...	Himself
Rufus Thomas	...	Himself
Carla Thomas	...	Herself
Booker T. Jones	...	Himself
Robert Talley	...	Himself - Studio Musician
Rickey Vincent	...	Himself
Don Nix	...	Himself
Steve Cropper
Donald Dunn	...	Himself (as Donald 'Duck' Dunn)
Wayne Jackson	...	Himself
Jerry Wexler	...	Himself
William Bell	...	Himself

Storyline

Spectacular rise & disgraced collapse of Memphis' socially-conscious, neighborhood-based Stax Records, which spawned many of the best soul sounds of the 60's and 70's is told mostly by its groundbreaking, colorblind executives and artists. Stax's family atmosphere and the challenges it faced in a turbulent era of social revolution and Black empowerment are illustrated by the label's great music, from Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Booker T and the MGs, Sam and Dave etc.

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Taglines:

Soul Music.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 2007 (USA)

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tremolo Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

155 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story is one fascinating doc

Quick, what recording studio became known as "Soulsville, U.S.A"? Stax Records. Founded by Caucasians Jim STewart and Estelle AXton, this Memphis-based company showcased some of the most soulful musicians on the planet and was colorblind concerning equal employment of black executives like Al Bell. Among the great songs chronicled here: "Last Night"-The Markeys, "Green Onion"-Booker T and the MGs, "Knock on Wood"-Eddie Floyd, "Soul Man"-Sam and Dave, original version of "Respect"-Oits Redding, "Shaft"-Issac Hayes, "Respect Yourself"-The Staple Singers, and many more from some of those artists. From the '60s through the '70s, Stax's rise and fall is chronicled by many of that label's participants I've mentioned with the bittersweet nostalgia that colors how unique that era truly was. And how fortunate we now are to have a museum and training institute built in Stax's honor. All in all, a very interesting documentary narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. Personal note: I was fascinated to learn that a cherished hit from my childhood, Rick Dees' "Disco Duck", was produced by Ms. Axton after the company she co-founded closed.