Product Review

Part two of the definitive collection of the great Memphis soul label, Stax, focuses on the post-Atlantic years, 1968 through 1971, when Stax began its transition from a small, down-home enterprise to a corporate soul powerhouse. Vol. 2 contains all soul singles issued by Stax/Volt during that time period, and features some of the biggest hits of the day, as well as a number of little-known gems by both major and less familiar artists.

This 2014 reissue comes in sleek, new packaging, presented in a rigid lift-off 5.5-inch x 5.5-inch box. The 9 disc set features 216 tracks and a full-color booklet with 40,000-word essay by Stax historian Rob Bowman.