Be Altitude: Respect Yourself [Stax Remasters] [Original recording remastered]

The Staple Singers had been a together for nearly two decades when they landed at Stax in 1968. They'd recorded old-school spirituals for Vee Jay and folk-influenced sides for Riverside before finding a new direction with the Memphis soul powerhouse; not only did the Staples adapt to the soul and funk energy of Stax, but they evolved their material from the pointed social topics of the folk era to less specific, but highly empowering "message music." Their first two Stax albums, 1968's Soul Folk in Action and 1970's We'll Get Over, featured backing from the label's house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and mixed terrific material from Stax songwriters with Staples' originals. Despite the quality of each release, nothing clicked on the charts, and the group's third long-player, 1971's Staple Swingers, found Stax executive Al Bell taking over production chores from M.G.'s guitarist Steve Cropper.

Even more importantly, Bell began recording the Staples' backing sessions in Alabama with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section: Eddie Hinton (lead guitar), Jimmy Johnson (rhythm guitar), David Hood (bass), Barry Beckett (keyboards) and Roger Hawkins (drums). Hood's deep bass lines and Hawkins' rhythm touch anchor this album, solidified by Johnson's chords, Beckett's vamping and Hinton's inventive fills; the Memphis horns add texture and accents without ever needing to step out front to announce themselves. Produced at a time that Stax was evolving from its soul glories of the `60s to its funkier output of the early `70s, the Staples hit a third gear as they built the album's tracks, particularly the hit singles "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself," from perfectly intertwined strands of soul, funk, and gospel. Also blended in to "I'll Take You There," as Rob Bowman astutely observes in the liner notes, is the reggae of the Harry J All-Stars' instrumental "The Liquidator."

The album's original ten tracks include longer versions of the singles, stretching each to nearly five minutes. You can understand why the extra vocalizing of "Respect Yourself" was trimmed for radio play, but Staples fans will treasure the full-length production. Concord's 2011 reissue adds two previously unreleased bonus tracks: the cautionary "Walking in Water Over Our Head" and an alternate take of Jeff Barry and Bobby Bloom's "Heavy Makes You Happy." The latter forgoes the horn arrangement of the original single, emphasizes the rhythm section (as did all of engineer Terry Manning's album mixes), and adds forty-three seconds to the running time. These are great additions to an album that's already the best full-length of the Staples' career, and one of the best Stax ever produced. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

In 2004 the Fantasy Group acquired the entire Stax catalogue and its mastertapes - and through their 'Concord Music Group, Inc' Division - this release is the first of 3 inaugural CDs re-launching the famous Soul label. They all feature brand-new 24-bit remasters, bonus tracks, updated booklets and are pitched at mid-price. The other two titles so far are "Tailored In Silk" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973) and "McLemore Avenue" by BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'s (1970). Each title carries the generic logo "Stax Remasters" on their spine to differentiate them from previous issues.

Released May 2011, Concord Music Group, Inc 0888072328761 breaks down as follows (49:38 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself" released March 1972 in the USA on Stax STS-3002 and April 1972 in the UK on Stax Super 2325 069

Tracks 11 and 12 are "Walking In Water Over Our Head" and "Heavy Makes You Happy (Alternate)" - both tracks are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

The new 12-page booklet has very knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by ROB BOWMAN (author of "Soulsville U.S.A. - The Story Of Stax Records"). You get the original artwork and production credits also and there's a collage of 3 photos on the inlay beneath the see-through tray and the disc itself pictures the group too. But it's a shame the booklet goes no further - there's no new photos, none of those magical Stax sevens pictured nor any memorabilia. It makes the inlay feel workmanlike at best - even a little dull - when it should have spread its wings a little. But the big news is the SOUND...

24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes by JOE TARANTINO at Joe Tarantino Mastering in Berkeley, California - the audio quality is truly GORGEOUS. Having had previous versions of this great Soul album on CD from the mid 1990's - the sound was good rather than great - hissy in places too. That's all gone - and it's not loud for loudness sake either - but clear and warm and full of presence. The bass is beautiful as is the rhythm section - and the powerhouse vocals of Mavis Staples now take centre stage in a way they've never done before. "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" are so common to our ears that it comes as a genuine shock to hear them sound this good. The other single off the album "This World" is so clear and muscular too (lyrics above). A fantastic job done.

The bonus tracks are way better than I had expected - the 'Alternate' version of Jeff Barry and Bobby Bloom's "Heavy Makes You Happy" was recorded August 1970 at their first session in the Muscle Shoals Studios and sounds like a live rehearsal - it's excellent. You can clearly hear EDDIE HINTON on Guitar and BARRY BECKETT on Keyboards and the end of the song hears them ad-lib for a full minute longer than the finished single did. But then we get the real deal - an outtake that could easily have been an album track. Recorded in Muscle Shoals in October 1972 and written by PHILLIP MITCHELL, TERRY WOODFORD and OSCAR FRANCK - it features the other in-house band members for the album DAVID HOOD on Bass and ROGER HAWKINS on Drums and it's a winner. "Walking In Water Over Our Head" is a fully finished upbeat song that could easily have been recorded yesterday. Genuinely - after all these years - to hear any new material by The Staples Singers from that stunningly creative period is an out-and-out blast.

To sum up - as a voracious lover of the label, these reissues are incredibly exciting to me. With this properly realised sound quality - I immediately order the other two. As for The Staple Singers - their uplifting Soul and Funk music combined with their message of love and positive thinking have resonated with generations of listeners for decades now - and at last - both the group and their admirers can get to hear their efforts at Stax really shine...

A bit of a forgotten Soul classic frankly and recommended big time.

PS: titles in the "STAX REMASTERS" series are (all reviewed):
1. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (1970)
2. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1974)
3. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)
4. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)
5. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)
6. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1969)

Enjoy uplifting, bubbling funk from the gifted Staple Singers on "This World," "Respect Yourself," "I'll Take You There," and an alternate version of "Heavy Makes You Happy." The Staple Singers took musical risks, and what joy for listeners that Pops encouraged Mavis, and his other children, to just let loose when they move from blues/gospel/soul, to a unique combo of all. You'll only do yourself a favor by hearing this version of "Respect Yourself." Other songs experiment with reggae and other genres, and don't work quite as well. The collection is digitally remastered; I highly recommend their masterpiece: Best of the Staple Singers.