On Aug. 20, 1972, the Wattstax Benefit Concert was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Organized by Stax Records and held in honor of the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles, the show hosted various musical stars and more than 100,000 fans.
Featuring some of Stax’s best-known artists, like Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas and the Bar-Kays, the event also included appearances from William Bell, Albert King and Richard Pryor, plus speeches from Jesse Jackson, Fred Williamson and others.
Released earlier this year, Wattstax: The Complete Concert, features the entire performance, including previously unreleased tracks. Three UCR readers can each win the 10-LP version of the set, which includes a full-color book with an introduction by Wattstax creator and Stax co-owner Al Bell. You can see the set’s complete track listing below.
The contest is open to U.S. applicants only and will end on May 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
“I believed then that soul music is an art form born of the African American culture, and that Stax should support the people who supported us,” Al Bell said in a press release. “I also wanted to garner more recognition for our roster of Southern soul artists by taking them to Hollywood for a performance that no one would ever forget.”
‘Wattstax: The Complete Concert’ Track ListingSIDE A1. Dale Warren & The Wattstax ’72 Orchestra – “Salvation Symphony”
SIDE B1. Kim Weston – “The Star Spangled Banner” *2. Tommy Jacquette & Jesse Jackson – Opening announcements3. Kim Weston – “Lift Every Voice and Sing”4. Melvin Van Peebles – We’re here to consecrate, not desecrate
SIDE C1. The Staple Singers – “Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)”2. The Staple Singers – “Are You Sure”3. The Staple Singers – “I Like the Things About Me”4. The Staple Singers – “Respect Yourself”5. The Staple Singers – “I’ll Take You There”
SIDE D1. Tommy Jacquette & Richard Roundtree – Wattstax Day proclamation2. Jimmy Jones – “Somebody Bigger Than You and I”3. Louise McCord – “Better Get a Move On”4. Deborah Manning – “Precious Lord Take My Hand”
SIDE E1. Eric Mercury – “I Shall Not Be Moved” *2. Freddie Robinson – “At the Drive-In” *3. Lee Sain – “Them Hot Pants”4. Ernie Hines – “What Would I Do” *5. Little Sonny – “Wade in the Water”
SIDE F1. William Bell – “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”2. The Newcomers – “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”3. Eddie Floyd – “Knock on Wood”4. The Temprees – “Explain It to Her Mama”5. Frederick Knight – “I’ve Been Lonely for So Long”6. The Golden 13 – “Old Time Religion”
SIDE G1. William Bell – Al Bell Award presentation2. The Rance Allen Group – “Lying on the Truth”3. The Rance Allen Group – “Up Above My Head”4. William Bell – David Porter introduction
SIDE H1. The David Porter Show – Introduction2. David Porter – “Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)”3. David Porter – “Can’t See You When I Want To”4. David Porter – “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)”
SIDE I1. William Bell – The Bar-Kays Introduction2. The Bar-Kays – “Son of Shaft/Feel It”3. The Bar-Kays – “In the Hole”4. The Bar-Kays – “I Can’t Turn You Loose”
SIDE J1. William Bell – Tommy Tate introduction2. Tommy Tate – “I Remember” *3. William Bell – Please move back to the stands4. Tommy Tate – “Help Me Love” *5. Tommy Tate – “School of Life” *
SIDE K1. William Bell & John Kasandra – Carla Thomas introduction2. Carla Thomas – “Pick Up the Pieces”3. Carla Thomas – “I Like What You’re Doing (To Me)”4. Carla Thomas – “B-A-B-Y”5. Carla Thomas – “Gee Whiz”
SIDE L1. Carla Thomas – “I Have a God Who Loves”2. John KaSandra – Albert King introduction3. Albert King – “Match Box Blues”4. Albert King – “Got to Be Some Changes Made”5. Albert King – “I’ll Play the Blues for You”
SIDE M1. Albert King – “Killing Floor”2. Albert King – “Angel of Mercy”3. John KaSandra – Rufus Thomas introduction4. John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas entrance5. Rufus Thomas – “The Breakdown”6. John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Kindly go back to your seats
SIDE N1. Rufus Thomas – “Do the Funky Chicken”2. Rufus Thomas – “Do the Funky Penguin”
SIDE O1. Jesse Jackson – I am, somebody2. The Soul Children – “I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To”3. The Soul Children – “Hearsay”4. John KaSandra, Fred Williamson & Jesse Jackson – Let us stand and raise our fists together
SIDE P1. Billy Eckstine – “If I Can Help Somebody” *2. Billy Eckstine – There is a curfew here
SIDE Q1. Jesse Jackson – Isaac Hayes introduction2. Isaac Hayes – “Theme From Shaft (Version 1)” *3. Isaac Hayes – “Theme From Shaft (Version 2)”4. Isaac Hayes – “Soulsville”
SIDE R1. Isaac Hayes – “Never Can Say Goodbye”2. Isaac Hayes – “Part-Time Love”3. Isaac Hayes – “Your Love Is So Doggone Good”
SIDE S1. Isaac Hayes – “Ain’t No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue”
SIDE T1. Isaac Hayes – “I Stand Accused”2. Jesse Jackson – Let everybody stand and join hands3. Jimmy Jones – “If I Had a Hammer”
* = Previously Unreleased
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