The Living Word: Wattstax 2

Wattstax was a benefit concert organized by Stax Records in conjunction with the Watt Summer Festival to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles. Attended by more than 100,000 people and lasting 7 hours, the concert took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 1972, and featured a mix of Soul, Funk and Gospel. It featured performances by Staxs biggest artists with a line-up that included Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, the Bar-Kays and many more. Rev. Jesse Jackson was featured at the event, acting as MC for the day and opening the event with his often referenced I Am Somebody speech. A 2-LP soundtrack of the concerts highlights was releases several month later selling more than 500,000 copies just weeks after its release. This was followed in 1973 by the Mel Stuart directed concert film Wattstax which features Richard Pryor as the host of the film and went on to be nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Documentary in 1974. In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. (Note: The film at the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress also includes an essay by Al Bell, the President/owner of Stax at the time of the concert).

To celebrate the 50thanniversary of the iconic Wattstax event that took place at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on 20thAugust 1972,Stax Recordsreissues Wattstax: The Living Word 2. These two LPs are cut from the original tapes by Chris Muth and feature performances by The Emotions, Johnnie Taylor, Kim Weston, Isaac Hayes and more.

Tracklist:

LP1 – Side A

1. Jessie JacksonIntroduction
2. Kim WestonLift Every Voice And Sing
3. The Rance Allen GroupLying On The Truth
4. Jimmy JonesSomeone Greater Than You And I
5. The Golden 13Old Time Religion
6. The EmotionsPeace Be Still

LP1 – Side B

1. Richard PryorSaturday Night
2. Richard PryorBlue Note
3. Richard PryorBack Room
4. David Porter ShowIntroduction
5. David Porter ShowAin’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
6. David Porter ShowCan’t See You When I Want To
7. David Porter ShowReach Out And Touch
8. David Porter ShowFinale
9. Richard PryorArrest
10. Richard PryorLine Up

LP2 – Side C

1. Johnnie Taylor ShowIntroduction
2. Johnnie Taylor ShowSteal Away
3. Johnnie Taylor ShowStop Doggin’ Me
4. Johnnie Taylor ShowJody’s Got Your Girl And Gone
5. Little MiltonWalking The Back Streets And Crying

LP2 – Side D

1. Richard PryorNiggers
2. The EmotionsGroup Introduction
3. The EmotionsSo I Can Love You
4. The EmotionsShow Me How
5. Richard PryorNegroes
6. The DramaticsWhatcha See Is Whatcha Get
7. Richard PryorHandshake
8. Mel & TimI May Not Be What You Want
9. Richard PryorWino Get A Job
10. Isaac HayesRolling Down A Mountainside