[youtube id=”vRcEVKDx69M”] On May 19th Concord Music Group and Rhino Entertainment will launch the Stax Classics series to acknowledge the legendary soul label’s 60th anniversary. Ten collections with new liner notes celebrating the careers of Johnnie Taylor, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas,  William Bell, Eddie Floyd, The Dramatics. Albert King,  Booker T & The MG’s and Sam & Dave will be available on CD and streaming services.

A variety of iconic albums from the label including Melvin Van Pebbles’ soundtrack to Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song and The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads will be released on vinyl throughout the year. The four-CD anthology Isaac Hayes: The Spirit Of Memphis (1962-1976) will be released in August to coincide with his 75th birthday.

Concord and Rhino will collaborate on a three-CD Stax 60th set and a new installment in the Complete Stax Singles box series. Volume four will have music not only from Stax but Enterprise, Hip, Chalice, Gospel Truth and more.

For more info, visit StaxRecords.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Leela Jame’s last album Let’s Do It Again was a collection of covers. The end result was OK but not as inspiring as a voice as strong as hers needs to be. Hopefully her new deal with Stax and the upcoming My Soul at the end of May will correct the obscurity of her profile and bring deserved attention to a lady who’s been called a great singer by James Brown

Leela James has a new song “Tell Me You Love Me” that you can hear at her site. She also has a new album coming June 1st on the Concord/Stax label called My Soul.