Stax/Volt Revue: Live in Norway 1967

DVD

Label: Stax

Style: Soul

Stax/Volt Revue: Live in Norway 1967

UPC: 888072703094

Release Date: 10/02/2007

Original Release Date: 10/02/2007

Number of Discs: 1

Lindsay Planer

The dearth of quality footage capturing the legends featured here make DVD packages such as this nothing short of indispensable. Industrious enthusiasts have circulated a roughly hour-long bootleg of the NRK (Norway's state owned and operated television) broadcast for years. However, good things indeed come to those who have waited for a legit version. Another 20 minutes of previously unseen footage initially excised from the initial broadcast was located and seamlessly edited in by Steve Scoville. In doing so, he created the most accurate and complete audio-visual documentation of the all-star "Stax/Volt Review" during their historic 1967 European tour. Headlining the multi-act show was Otis Redding, followed by Sam & Dave, Arthur Conley, and Eddie Floyd. As always, support came in the form of the Mar-Keys' three-piece horn section and Stax house band Booker T. & the M.G.'s with Steve Cropper (guitar), Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass), Al Jackson (drums), and the combo's namesake Booker T. Jones (keyboards). As evidenced by every note they play, the Mar-Keys and Booker T. & the M.G.'s are clearly as responsible for the hit-making as the vocalists who often garnered the spotlight. The show opens with a pair of instrumentals that had been hits in Europe for Booker T. & The M.G.'s -- "Red Beans & Rice" and the quartet's signature "Green Onions." A second take of the latter is among the disc's bonus material. More about the rest of those extras in a moment. A triple shot of the Mar-Keys follows with "Philly Dog," the rarely played "Grab This Thing" -- which was a huge platter in Euro discotheques at the time -- and a particularly inspired stab at "Last Night" -- undoubtedly the best-known selection of the three. Arthur Conley -- the sole Atlantic Records representative on the program -- comes out swinging with his stomping take of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" followed by an extended rave-up of his own smash "Sweet Soul Music." The criminally underrated Eddie Floyd makes a brief but memorable appearance as he wails passionately, summoning a verve sadly missing from most modern (i.e. 21st century) R&B acts. The double dynamite of Sam Moore (vocals) and Dave Prater (vocals) is absolutely absorbing. Between their high-energy and step-perfect dance routines the pair stalk the edge of the stage like caged animals, belting out transcendent readings of "You Don't Know Like I Know," "Soothe Me," a slightly truncated but emotively essential "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby, Something Is Wrong with Me" and -- as if fuelled by sheer will -- a showstopping encore of "Hold On, I'm Comin'" that causes brief pandemonium as the stars jump down and mingle with the otherwise responsive, yet respectful crowd. Few could follow the dynamic duo of Sam & Dave, luckily Otis Redding (vocals) fits the bill with soul to spare. With only five songs represented here, it is likely that Redding's set is being joined in-progress as viewers are treated to one of the only known videos of the artist singing the fun and funky "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)," before launching into a groovy interpretation of the Temptations' "My Girl." The pilot light gets lit underneath Redding as he propels through his update of Sam Cooke's "Shake." The final one-two punch begins with an incendiary trouncing of the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" and concludes with the suitable benediction of "Try a Little Tenderness." In retrospect, how else could he have ended? In some respects, the bonuses rival that of the main event. In addition to being retrofitted with Dolby stereo and extrapolated 5.1 audio playback options, there is a full-length running commentary hosted by Stax historian Rob Bowman, Steve Cropper, and Wayne Jackson from the Mar-Keys. Additional snapshots of life behind-the-music also come from Stax founder Jim Stewart -- who rarely grants interviews -- and Sam Moore as they join Cropper and Jackson in lending their perspective on the mini-documentary "A Look Back at the Tour." Accompanying the DVD is a 24-page booklet packed with rarely seen photos, an essay from Bowman, as well as David Peck and Phillip Galloway's "producer's notes" detailing the years it has taken to create such a vital video entry in the annals of music history. ~ Lindsay Planer, Rovi