The Stereo Singles Project, Part 4
Stax & Related Labels Stereo 45s (1968-70)

By Mike Callahan, Dave Edwards, Patrice Eyries, Randy Watts, and Tim Neely
Last update: January 13, 2016



The Stax Labels...

Stax/Volt put out no commercial stereo singles until late 1971. Their stereo on 45 during the 1968-70 period was limited to mono/stereo promotional singles.

When Stax left Atlantic, they started over with their catalog sequence, as well as their master numbers, with STA-0001 and ST-001, respectively. This continued from June, 1968, to March, 1970. In March, 1970, the Ollie & The Nightingales single "Bracing Myself For The Fall"/"I'll Be Your Anything" [STA-0065] was the last to carry the "ST-" prefix for the master numbers (ST-0326/ST-0327). The next single, the Staple Singers' "Give a Damn" [STA-0066] used the master number SM-00338 (the promo was mono/mono A-side). The "SM-" prefix denoted a mono master, in preparation for issuing stereo promos, which would use the "SS-" prefix. The first mono/stereo promo was released two months later.

The Volt label shared the mastering sequence with Stax, and the shift from the "VO" prefix used up to the March, 1970, Jeanne & The Darlings single [Volt VOA-4035] "Singing About Love"/"Let Them See Me In" (VO-0322/VO-0323) was followed that same month with VOA-4036, Chris and Shack's "Goodies"/"Satisfied With The Love You Give" (VM-00332/VM-00333). As with Stax, the first mono/stereo promo 45 was issued in May, 1970.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with any of these record labels. Should you be interested in acquiring the 45s listed in this discography (which are all out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2015 by Mike Callahan.




STAX & RELATED LABELS STEREO SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY (1968-70):

Label Scan


Number - Release Date - Artist - Songs

STAX

Stax did not issue any commercial stereo singles during the 1968-70 period. All the old blue Stax singles, as well as the 1968-vintage green Stax (distributed by Atlantic) singles were mono, and their promos were mono, too.

When Stax broke away from Atlantic in June, 1968, they designed a new yellow label. All of the yellow- label Stax commercial singles from 1968-1970 were mono, also, but there was one difference. In 1970, Stax began issuing some mono/stereo promotional singles. These are listed below.

Promotional mono/stereo singles, 1968-70:
STA-0069 - 6/70 - Albert King - Can't You See What You're Doing To Me (M/S)
STA-0073 - 5/70 - Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Something (M/S)
STA-0074 - 8/70 - Staple Singers - Brand New Day (M/S)
STA-0077 - 9/70 - Eddie Floyd - The Best Years Of My Life (M/S)
STA-0080 - 9/70 - Carla Thomas - I Loved You Like I Love My Very Life (M/S)
STA-0083 - 11/70 - Staple Singers - Love Is Plentiful (M/S)

Stax Notes:
1. Stax began issuing commercial stereo singles in December, 1971, with Johnnie Taylor's "Standing Up For Jody" [STA-0114].



VOLT

Volt put out no commercial stereo singles during 1968-70. The did issue a few mono/stereo promos, which are listed below.

Promotional mono/stereo singles, 1968-70:
VOA-4042 - 5/70 - Paul Thompson - What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me (M/S)
VOA-4038 - 7/70 - T.S.U. Toronados - Play The Music Toronados (M/S)
VOA-4049 - 9/70 - Newcomers - You Put The Sunshine Back In My World (M/S)
VOA-4050 - 9/70 - Bar-Kays - Montego Bay (M/S)

Volt Notes:
1. Volt began issuing stereo commercial singles in November, 1971, but these were not marked "Stereo." They can be identified by the "VS-" master numbers printed on the labels.




ENTERPRISE

Enterprise was a Stax-owned label started in 1967. They (like Stax) were distributed by Atlantic until May, 1968, or for their first four singles. There were no stereo promo or commercial singles in this first phase.

In January, 1969, Enterprise restarted releasing singles under a new ENA-9000 series. There were no commercial stereo singles by the end of 1970, but there were several mono/stereo promos released (see below).

ENA-9020 - 8/70 - Smithstonian - Mississippi Mud (M/S)
ENA-9024 - 9/70 - Caboose - Recipe (M/S)
ENA-9025 - 9/70 - Billy Eckstine - Name Of My Sorrow (M/S)
ENA-9027 - 11/70 - Barbara Lewis - Ask The Lonely (M/S)



H.I.P.

The H.I.P. label was a Stax subsidiary, releasing singles from August, 1966, to November, 1969. We found no stereo singles, either commercial or promotional, released during that time.



KOKO

KoKo was distributed by Stax Records. We found no stereo singles, either commercial or promotional, from 1968-1970. They began issuing mono/stereo promos in 1971.






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