Granted, the '60s ended mostly all about "the album," but when it came to soul music, even tho' there are a few fantastic examples of well-made soul albums, the single was the biggest driving force for every artist, group, and record label. Next to Motown, the mighty Stax Records was one of the best, most prolific, and successful single-driven soul labels, EVER. And with that kinda cultural weight comes great recognition; it's why Stax is afforded these way-deep, and COMPLETE, singles sets rather than a simple, casual "best of" compilation.

The two sets, The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 and The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975, follow the label's evolution from raw, Southern R&B into formalized, of sorts, funky soul, modern soul, funk, and everything else in the run up to disco. Volume 2 covers the catalog from 1968-'71, after Stax left the Atlantic stable, and includes MAJOR jams like Isaac Hayes’ “Theme From Shaft,” Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff," and the Staple Singers’ “Respect Yourself.” All told the set contains 216 sides! Volume 3 covers the label's full bell-botttomed stride from 1972-'75. It too is packed with Stax's biggest heroes: the Dramatics, Rufus Thomas, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, and the Soul Children. In 1976, the Stax story, at least on wax, ends as the label went bankrupt. God damn, what a legacy tho'.

These two sets were first issued in the early '90s, following the The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 1: 1959-1968, and it's nice to see them get a contemporary update/nod. Volume 2 is released today and Volume 3 will follow in the spring.