Wattstax: The Complete Concert

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 in 1972,Stax Recordspresents Wattstax: The Complete Concert. Featuring the full L.A. Memorial Coliseum show with speeches and other talk from the stage. The set also features a 68-page, full-color book with introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, plus new essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway. Featured artists include Isaac Haves, Eddie Floyd, The Staple Singers and more.

Tracklist:

LP1 – Side A

1. Dale Warren & The Wattstax 72 OrchestraSalvation Symphony

LP1 – Side B

1. Kim WestonThe Star Spangled Banner*
2. Tommy Jacquette & Jesse JacksonOpening Announcements
3. Kim WestonLift Every Voice and Sing
4. Melvin Van PeeblesWere here to consecrate, not desecrate

LP2 – Side C

1. The Staple SingersHeavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)
2. The Staple SingersAre You Sure
3. The Staple SingersI Like the Things About You
4. The Staple SingersRespect Yourself
5. The Staple SingersIll Take You There

LP2 – Side D

1. Tommy Jacquette & Richard RoundtreeWattstax Day Proclamation
2. Jimmy JonesSomebody Bigger Than You and I
3. Louise McCordBetter Get A Move On
4. Debra ManningPrecious Lord Take My Hand

LP3 – Side E

1. Eric MercuryI Shall Not Be Moved*
2. Freddie RobinsonAt the Drive In*
3. Lee SainThem Hot Pants
4. Ernie HinesWhat Would I Do*
5. Little SonnyWade In the Water

LP3 – Side F

1. William BellI Forgot to Be Your Lover
2. The NewcomersPin the Tail On the Donkey
3. Eddie FloydKnock On Wood
4. The TempreesExplain It to Her Mama
5. Frederick KnightIve Been Lonely for So Long
6. The Golden 13Old Time Religion

LP4 – Side G

1. William BellAl Bell Award Presentation
2. The Rance Allen GroupLying On the Truth
3. The Rance Allen GroupUp Above My Head
4. William BellDavid Porter Introduction

LP4 – Side H

1. The David Porter ShowIntroduction
2. David PorterAint That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
3. David PorterI Cant See When I Want To
4. David PorterReach Out and Touch (Somebodys Hand)

LP5 – Side I

1. William BellThe Bar-Kays Introduction
2. The Bar-KaysSon of Shaft/Feel It
3. The Bar-KaysIn the Hole
4. The Bar-KaysI Cant Turn You Loose

LP5 – Side J

1. William BellTommy Tate Introduction
2. Tommy TateI Remember*
3. William BellPlease move back to the stands
4. Tommy TateHelp Me Love*
5. Tommy TateSchool of Life*

LP6 – Side K

1. William Bell & John KasandraCarla Thomas Introduction
2. Carla ThomasPick Up the Pieces
3. Carla ThomasI Like What Youre Doing (To Me)
4. Carla ThomasB-A-B-Y
5. Carla ThomasGee Whiz

LP6 – Side L

1. Carla ThomasI Have A God Who Loves
2. John KaSandraAlbert King Introduction
3. Albert KingMatch Box Blues
4. Albert KingGot to Be Some Changes Made
5. Albert KingIll Play the Blues For You

LP7 – Side M

1. Albert KingKilling Floor
2. Albert KingAngel of Mercy
3. John KaSandraRufus Thomas Introduction
4. John KaSandra & Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas Entrance
5. Rufus ThomasThe Breakdown
6. John KaSandra & Rufus ThomasKindly go back to your seats

LP7 – Side N

1. Rufus ThomasDo the Funky Chicken
2. Rufus ThomasDo the Funky Penguin

LP8 – Side O

1. Jesse JacksonI am, somebody
2. The Soul ChildrenI Dont Know What This World Is Coming To
3. The Soul ChildrenHearsay
4. John KaSandra, Fred Williamson & Jesse JacksonLet us stand and raise our fists together

LP8 – Side P

1. Billy EckstineIf I Can Help Somebody*
2. Billy EckstineThere is a curfew here

LP9 – Side Q

1. Jesse JacksonIsaac Hayes Introduction
2. Isaac HayesTheme From Shaft (Version 1)*
3. Isaac HayesTheme From Shaft (Version 2)
4. Isaac HayesSoulsville

LP9 – Side R

1. Isaac HayesNever Can Say Goodbye
2. Isaac HayesPart-Time Love
3. Isaac HayesYour Love Is So Doggone Good

LP10 – Side S

1. Isaac HayesAint No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue

LP10 – Side T

1. Isaac HayesI Stand Accused
2. Jesse JacksonLet everybody stand and join hands
3. Jimmy JonesIf I Had A Hammer