Jewels of ‘Stax/Volt’ Releases

Remember the excitement among soul music fans last spring when Atlantic Records released “The Complete Stax/Volt Singles” box set, a salute to the heralded Memphis soul labels of the ‘60s?

The problem, a lot of people discovered when they went to the stores in search of the 234-song collection, was the $99 price tag. Seeing that, many soul fans figured they’d just wait and buy one or two of their favorite individual albums by such respected Stax and Volt artists as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas and Booker T. & the MGs.

Those individual CDs began rolling into the stores last summer, but the biggest barrage of them has just arrived. The jewels: four albums by Redding, the company’s most important figure and one of the greatest singers of the modern pop era.

The Redding albums, in order of original release:

* “Pain in My Heart.” This 1964 debut only reached No. 103 on the pop charts, but it telegraphed Redding’s greatness and future stardom through a series of gripping vocals. The 12 songs featured both Redding originals (including the title track and “These Arms of Mine”) and remakes of old favorites (from Little Richard’s “Lucille” to Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me”).

* “Live in Europe.” By the time this was recorded in 1967, Redding had already registered a dozen R&B; hits, including “Respect” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.” Live versions of both songs are included in this highly recommended set, along with versions of the Stones’ “Satisfaction” and the Beatles’ “Day Tripper.”

* “The Dock of the Bay.” A show-stopping performance at the Monterey Pop Festival during the summer of ’67 and the runaway success of the haunting “Dock of the Bay” single later that year made Redding--who was killed in a ’67 plane crash at age 26--a pop star by the time this album was released in early 1968. As usual, the album contained both Redding compositions (notably the title track and “Open the Door”) and unoriginals (“The Glory of Love” and “Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out).” Good, but not up to the level of the first two albums.

* “The Immortal Otis Redding.” Though the title makes this second posthumous album sound like a greatest-hits package, it consisted chiefly of previously unreleased recordings. Surprisingly, given the uneven quality of the “Dock of the Bay” album, this CD is one of Redding’s strongest works--from the wistful “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” to the spunky “Hard to Handle,” which was revived last year by the rock group the Black Crowes.

More Stax/Volt: Redding is also featured on Volumes 1 and 2 of “The Stax/Volt Revue,” a pair of live albums recorded in Europe in ’67. He sings “Shake” on Volume 1, which also features selections by Booker T. & the MGs, Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, the Mar-Keys and Sam & Dave. He offers “Try a Little Tenderness” on Volume 2, where the lineup also includes Thomas, Floyd and Sam & Dave.