The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971

Disc 1
1	I Was Born to Love You / Shirley Walton 2:39
2	Precious, Precious / Isaac Hayes 2:40
3	Send Peace and Harmony Home / Shirley Walton 2:43
4	Soul Limbo / Booker T. & the MG's 2:23
5	I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) / Eddie Floyd 2:40
6	It's Been a Long Time Coming / Delaney & Bonnie 2:20
7	What A Man / Linda Lyndell 2:39
8	I Like Everything About You / Jimmy Hughes 2:49
9	Stay Baby Stay / Johnny Daye 2:45
10	Private Number / Judy Clay 2:40
11	So Nice / The Mad Lads 2:48
12	Long Walk To D.C. / The Staple Singers 2:34
13	Give 'Em Love / The Soul Children 2:35
14	Funky Mississippi / Rufus Thomas 2:55
15	Lovin' Feeling / The Charmels 2:54
16	Where Do I Go? / Carla Thomas 2:19
17	Bed of Roses / Judy Clay 2:41
18	Bring It On Home To Me / Eddie Floyd 2:29
19	It's Unbelievable (How Do You Control My Soul) / Jeanne & the Darlings 2:12
20	Who's Making Love? / Johnnie Taylor 2:47
21	Mighty Cold Winter / Dino & Doc 2:37
22	Hang 'Em High / Booker T. & the MG's 2:53
23	You're Leaving Me / Ollie & the Nightingales 2:50
24	Copycat / The Bar-Kays 2:20
25	I Forgot to Be Your Lover / William Bell 2:19
26	Running Out / Mable John 2:11
27	My Baby Specializes / William Bell 2:47
28	I'll Understand / The Soul Children 2:41
Disc 2
1	The Ghetto / The Staple Singers 3:41
2	Blues Power / Albert King 3:07
3	The Echo / The Epsilons 2:38
4	Funky Way / Rufus Thomas 2:56
5	Take Care of Your Homework / Johnnie Taylor 2:35
6	I Like What You're Doing (To Me) / Carla Thomas 2:50
7	I've Got To Have Your Love / Eddie Floyd 2:45
8	Let 'Em Down Baby / Jimmy Hughes 2:38
9	Love Is Here Today And Gone Tomorrow / The Mad Lads 2:45
10	It Ain't Long Enough / Judy Clay 3:20
11	Mellow Way You Treat Your Man / Ollie & the Nightingales 2:22
12	Private Number / Sonny Stitt 2:54
13	Time Is Tight / Booker T. & the MG's 3:14
14	Double Or Nothing / The Mar-Keys 2:49
15	(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay / The Staple Singers 2:54
16	So I Can Love You / The Emotions 2:49
17	Don't Stop Dancing (To The Music) / The Bar-Kays 2:47
18	One More Chance / Margie Joseph 2:24
19	I Wanna Be Good (To You) / Jimmy Dotson 2:56
20	Finger Lickin' Good / Art Jerry Miller 2:39
21	Tighten up My Thang / The Soul Children 3:01
22	My Whole World Is Falling Down / William Bell 3:08
23	Testify (I Wanna) / Johnnie Taylor 4:01
24	Drownin' on Dry Land / Albert King 3:54
25	Do The Cissy / The Stingers 2:48
26	Don't Tell Your Mama (Where You've Been) / Eddie Floyd 3:03
Disc 3
1	Mrs. Robinson / Booker T. & the MG's 3:38
2	Love's Sweet Sensation / William Bell 3:02
3	Just Because Your Love Is Gone / Darrell Banks 3:35
4	Chains of Love / Jimmy Hughes 2:56
5	Happy / William Bell 2:31
6	The Challenge / The Staple Singers 3:11
7	Soul-A-Lujah / Johnnie Taylor 2:26
8	Never, Never Let You Go / Eddie Floyd 2:28
9	Just Keep on Loving Me / Johnnie Taylor 2:38
10	I Need You Woman / William Bell 2:38
11	I've Got a Feeling / Ollie & the Nightingales 2:47
12	It's Time to Pay For The Fun (We've Had) / Jeanne & the Darlings 2:31
13	I Could Never Be President / Johnnie Taylor 2:16
14	By The Time I Get To Phoenix / The Mad Lads 2:44
15	Long And Lonely World / Colette Kelly 2:56
16	Midnight Cowboy / The Bar-Kays 2:46
17	I've Fallen in Love With You / Carla Thomas 2:39
18	Slum Baby / Booker T. & the MG's 2:36
19	The Best Part Of A Love Affair / The Emotions 3:30
20	By The Time I Get To Phoenix / Isaac Hayes 6:45
21	Walk on By / Isaac Hayes 4:32
22	Tupelo / Steve Cropper 2:52
23	Water / Steve Cropper 3:07
24	The Sweeter He Is, Pt. 1 / The Soul Children 2:52
25	You're Driving Me (To The Arms Of A Stranger) / Mavis Staples 3:23
Disc 4
1	Open Up Your Heart (Let Me In) / The Newcomers 2:33
2	Why Is The Wine Sweeter (On The Other Side) / Eddie Floyd 2:43
3	When Will We Be Paid / The Staple Singers 2:31
4	Grinder Man / John Lee Hooker 3:56
5	Born Under a Bad Sign / William Bell 3:11
6	What You Gonna Do (When Your Love Is Gone) / Margie Joseph 3:00
7	I'm So Glad / Jimmy Hughes 2:52
8	Beautiful Feelings / Barrell Banks 2:44
9	Your Love Was Strange / The Dramatics 3:00
10	Love Bones / Johnnie Taylor 3:17
11	Hard to Say Goodbye / Delaney & Bonnie 2:30
12	Got to Get Rid of You / J.J. Barnes 3:26
13	Habit Forming Love / Reggie Milner 2:10
14	My Thing Is a Moving Thing / T.S.U. Toronados 2:45
15	Stealing Love / The Emotions 3:08
16	When Tomorrow Comes / The Emotions 2:58
17	Wrapped Up In Love Again / Albert King 2:18
18	Do The Funky Chicken / Rufus Thomas 3:15
19	California Girl / Eddie Floyd 3:39
20	Tribute To A Black Woman / Bernice Hayes 2:19
21	Sang And Dance / The Bar-Kays 3:07
22	Hold on! I'm Comin' / The Soul Children 3:28
23	Love's Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, Part1 / Chuck Brooks 3:21
24	Help Me Put Out The Flame (In My Heart) / Ernie Hines 3:10
25	Black Boy 3:21
Disc 5
1	Bracing Myself For The Fall / Ollie & the Nightingales 2:53
2	All I Have to Do Is Dream / William Bell 3:12
3	Singing About Love / Jeanne & the Darlings 2:20
4	Goodies / Chris & Shack 2:40
5	Just The Way You Are Today / Barbara Lewis 3:31
6	The Creeper Returns / Little Sonny 4:12
7	Guide Me Well / Carla Thomas 3:51
8	Give a Damn / The Staple Singers 3:06
9	Steal Away / Johnnie Taylor 3:25
10	Your Sweet Lovin' / Margie Joseph 3:36
11	I Forgot to Remember / Jones & Blumenberg 3:40
12	Can't See You When I Want To / David Porter 4:30
13	Never Be True / Carla Thomas 4:16
14	Can't You See What You're Doing to Me / Albert King 3:38
15	Sixty Minute Man, Pt. 2 / Rufus Thomas 3:30
16	The Preacher And The Bear / Rufus Thomas 3:51
17	Something / Booker T. & the MG's 3:31
18	Seeing Is Believing / The Mad Lads 4:10
19	You're My Only Temptation / Roz Ryan 2:35
20	What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me / Paul Thompson 2:55
21	Right, Tight and Out of Sight / Branding Iron 2:59
22	(What's Under) The Natural Do / John Ka Sandra 3:00
Disc 6
1	My Girl / Eddie Floyd 3:19
2	I Have Learned To Do Without You / Mavis Staples 4:09
3	Play The Music Toronadoes / T.S.U. Toronados 2:33
4	Lonely Soldier / William Bell 3:58
5	Heart Association / The Emotions 3:01
6	I Stand Accused / Isaac Hayes 4:02
7	Brand New Day / The Staple Singers 3:42
8	Sweeter Tomorrow / Margie Joseph 3:12
9	Cool Strut / Bernice Hayes 2:54
10	You Put The Sunshine Back In My World / The Newcomers 3:03
11	Montego Bay / The Bar-Kays 2:32
12	Got It Together, Pts. 1 & 2 / Rudy Robinson & the Hungry Five 5:27
13	Wade In The Water / Little Sonny 3:14
14	You're Movin' Much Too Fast / The Nightingales 2:50
15	The Best Years of My Life / Eddie Floyd 3:03
16	I Am Somebody, Pt. 2 / Johnnie Taylor 3:18
17	I Loved You Like I Love My Very Life / Carla Thomas 2:45
18	Soul Machine / Reggie Milner 2:25
19	(Follow Her) Rules And Regulations / The Temprees 2:52
20	(Do the) Push and Pull, Pt. 1 / Rufus Thomas 3:14
21	Love Changes / Charlene & the Soul Serenaders 3:50
22	Put Your World In My World (Best Of Two Worlds) / The Soul Children 2:54
23	Love Is Plentiful / The Staple Singers 2:30
Disc 7
1	Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) / The Staple Singers 2:58
2	Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas? / The Staple Singers 2:29
3	Too Many Lovers / Shack 2:43
4	Black Christmas / The Emotions 2:46
5	The Mistletoe And Me / Isaac Hayes 3:56
6	Ask the Lonely / Barbara Lewis 3:11
7	Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone / Johnnie Taylor 3:00
8	Finish Me Off / The Soul Children 3:35
9	Oh, How It Rained / Eddie Floyd 3:10
10	The Look of Love / Isaac Hayes 3:18
11	Electrified Love / Ernie Hines 3:06
12	Melting Pot / Booker T. & the MG's 3:50
13	That's the Way I Like It (I Like It That Way) / Barbara Lewis 3:04
14	Mr. Big Stuff / Jean Knight 2:27
15	You Make Me Want to Love You / The Emotions 3:12
16	Stop! In The Name Of Love / Margie Joseph 4:48
17	I Don't Wanna Lose You / Johnnie Taylor 2:55
18	(Girl) I Love You / The Temprees 3:12
19	The World Is Round / Rufus Thomas 3:12
20	A Penny For Your Thoughts / William Bell 3:08
21	Never Can Say Goodbye / Isaac Hayes 3:32
22	I Don't Want to Be Like My Daddy / The Nightingales 3:20
Disc 8
1	You've Got to Earn It / The Staple Singers 3:28
2	Hold On To It / Limitations 2:33
3	Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get / The Dramatics 3:30
4	Born Too Late / Branding Iron 2:33
5	Just Ain't Strong As I Used To Be (You Done Fed Me Sumpin') / Jimmy Hughes 3:00
6	That Other Woman Got My Man And Gone / Margie Joseph 3:31
7	If You Think It (You May As Well Do It) / The Emotions 3:00
8	Shame On The Family Name / Calvin Scott 2:45
9	Blood Is Thicker Than Water / Eddie Floyd 2:40
10	Hijackin' Love / Johnnie Taylor 3:17
11	Sweetback's Theme / Melvin Van Peebles 3:25
12	The Breakdown, Pt. 1 / Rufus Thomas 3:11
13	Pin The Tail On The Donkey / The Newcomers 2:59
14	Them Hot Pants / Lee Sain 3:05
15	If That Ain't a Reason (For Your Woman to Leave You) / Little Milton 3:22
16	It's Good To Be Careful (But It's Better To Be Loved) / Shack 2:50
17	Where Would You Be Today / Ilana 3:15
18	Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven / Albert King 3:45
19	Got To Get Away From It All / The Soul Children 3:20
20	Love's Creeping Up On Me / United Image 2:24
21	Show Me How / The Emotions 3:04
22	If I Give It Up, I Want It Back / David Porter 2:28
23	A Woman Named Trouble / Little Sonny 4:25
Disc 9
1	Losing Boy / Eddy "G" Giles 3:04
2	Respect Yourself / The Staple Singers 3:30
3	I'll Kill A Brick (About My Man) / Hot Sauce 2:45
4	You Think You're Hot Stuff / Jean Knight 2:25
5	All For The Love Of A Woman / William Bell 3:12
6	Theme From Shaft / Isaac Hayes 3:15
7	Jamaica, This Morning / Booker T. & the MG's 3:06
8	Gone! The Promise Of Yesterday / The Mad Lads 3:14
9	Girl, Come on Home / Major Lance 2:38
10	(Let Hurt Put You In The) Loser's Seat / Joni Wilson 3:15
11	My Baby Love / The Temprees 2:54
12	How Do You Move a Mountain / The Leaders 2:20
13	Black Nasty Boogie, Pt. 6 / Black Nasty 2:37
14	Do the Funky Penguin, Pt. 1 / Rufus Thomas 3:08
15	You've Got A Cushion To Fall On / Carla Thomas 3:36
16	Get Up And Get Down / The Dramatics 3:10
17	Son of Shaft / The Bar-Kays 3:13
18	Don't Cha Mess With My Money, My Honey, Or My Woman / L.V. Johnson 3:38
19	I Can Smell That Funky Music / Eric Mercury 3:00
20	A Sadness For Things / Calvin Scott 3:15
21	That's What Love Will Make You Do / Little Milton 3:53
22	Standing in for Jody / Johnnie Taylor 3:42

All Music Guide

The first Stax-Volt box was a monolith, standing as the definitive document of the labels and, therefore, gritty Southern soul. Its sequel, The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 is considerably more problematic. Covering only four years compared to its predecessor, which showcased nine years, Vol. 2 contains 216 tracks, including all of the A- and B-sides released during that era. Most critics consider these four years to be substantially less interesting than Stax's earlier years, and in a sense, they're right. There's no Otis Redding or Sam & Dave, and the music doesn't have the same innovative, kinetic spark of the early years. There's still a lot of great, great music here, but it's difficult to sort it out among these nine discs. About three or four discs' worth of material is truly essential, and it might have been better to boil this era down to a smaller box set, since that would have made for a necessary purchase. As it stands, it's too sprawling and comprehensive to be an essential purchase for anyone other than soul fetishists and hardcore collectors, but those listeners should find much of this fascinating. Stephen Thomas Erlewine