Motown vs Stax

The Musicophile · 09-15-2009, 06:19 AM

Stax by a mile! The records sound better, they're less trebly because they didn't go down the the 'lets mix these records for awful radio speakers' route. You can actually hear Mr 'Duck' Dunn properly. Also Steve Cropper is the man, and Motown never had Otis Redding.

Also, where would the Boss be without stax?

goodfoot · 10-06-2009, 12:44 PM

don't think it's it's fair to compare two outstanding record labels, there's some tunes on motown i like & dislike, same with stax, so here's the answer.

Macneil1 · 10-13-2009, 08:14 AM

Im with mr. goth glam on this. Its far too hard to call, both made amazing music. I dont think I'll vote this one.

krissi · 10-18-2009, 08:33 PM

i dont think you can put issac in the 'stax' category.... for me its mainly weak soul with no drive.... the singers are good admittedly but still its not real for me....

u cant say dock of the bay has anywhere near the lyrical content of whats going on or living for the city etc....

issac was controlled and forced to obey throughout his time at stax.... it wasnt until he released hot buttered soul and shaft ost etc that he realised he was the label lol

im really annoyed that stax are winning this poll!

apart from the wilson/booker t/issac stuff i think stax is a really weak label to be honest.... i think the best stax would have ended up at atlantic anyway! i agree with their business ethics but they did go bankrupt as a result, and again treated ike like sh!t

the only REAL talent on stax for me are the female singers like Carla Thomas / Wendy Rene / Deanie Parker etc.. and theyre not even mentioned here!

cant believe you lot would put sam and dave over stevie wonder lol thats shameful !

i agree with right track (again).... add Checker/Chess to the poll and ill vote for that!!

MAStudent · 01-28-2010, 12:38 AM

Hard to get down on Marvin ***e, James Jamerson, Supremes, Stevie Wonder, etc. Motown was definitely more prolific, but, as James Brown himself said, they turned down the bass and adjusted the sound more for mass consumption.

I'm a Stax guy. Love that raw sound. Sad to hear Duck Dunn etc say in the Stax movie that the black people drove out the white people, but still, it started out with a mix and thats partly what made it special.

How do you choose, really?

Necromancer · 03-04-2013, 08:00 PM

The Funk Brothers.

~~Road Dog~~ · 05-01-2013, 12:08 PM

I love both. It's a tie.

crazed · 05-01-2013, 04:19 PM

Both labels are great but I'd give the edge to Motown.

~~Scotty The Rebel~~ · 05-09-2013, 01:53 PM

The Temptations > Otis Redding
Marvin Gaye > Sam and Dave
Stevie Wonder > Rufus Thomas
Diana Ross & The Supremes < Isaac Hayes
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles > Wilson Pickett
The Four Tops < Albert King
Martha & The Vendellas < The Staple Singers
Jackson 5 < Booker T & The MGs
Gladys Knight & The Pips < Johnnie Taylor

Had to add Johnnie Taylor to the list to even the two sides. So with a score of Motown 4 - Stax 4, Its a tie.

~~Lord Larehip~~ · 06-08-2013, 07:44 PM

I'm from Detroit and the influence of Motown here is so tremendous. I learned how to be a recording engineer from Bob Dennis who mastered everything Motown put out from '64-'68 and who actually ran Hitsville before he split to go to Hotwax which was HDH's label. And that's the other thing about Motown were the spin-offs they indirectly created.

Stax was certainly very good. I listened to enough of their records. But I have to say in terms of legacy that Motown wins hands down. The changes they brought to the industry are indelible.

But let's also not forget the Philly sound of Gamble & Huff.

View Poll Results: Who's better?
Motown	18	46.15%
Stax	21	53.85%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

10-18-2009, 08:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
krissi Groupie Join Date: May 2009 Location: north west UK Posts: 39	i dont think you can put issac in the 'stax' category.... for me its mainly weak soul with no drive.... the singers are good admittedly but still its not real for me.... u cant say dock of the bay has anywhere near the lyrical content of whats going on or living for the city etc.... issac was controlled and forced to obey throughout his time at stax.... it wasnt until he released hot buttered soul and shaft ost etc that he realised he was the label lol im really annoyed that stax are winning this poll! apart from the wilson/booker t/issac stuff i think stax is a really weak label to be honest.... i think the best stax would have ended up at atlantic anyway! i agree with their business ethics but they did go bankrupt as a result, and again treated ike like sh!t the only REAL talent on stax for me are the female singers like Carla Thomas / Wendy Rene / Deanie Parker etc.. and theyre not even mentioned here! cant believe you lot would put sam and dave over stevie wonder lol thats shameful ! i agree with right track (again).... add Checker/Chess to the poll and ill vote for that!! Last edited by krissi; 10-18-2009 at 08:40 PM.

05-09-2013, 01:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
~~Scotty The Rebel~~ Account Disabled Join Date: May 2013 Location: The South Posts: 72	The Temptations > Otis Redding Marvin Gaye > Sam and Dave Stevie Wonder > Rufus Thomas Diana Ross & The Supremes < Isaac Hayes Smokey Robinson & The Miracles > Wilson Pickett The Four Tops < Albert King Martha & The Vendellas < The Staple Singers Jackson 5 < Booker T & The MGs Gladys Knight & The Pips < Johnnie Taylor Had to add Johnnie Taylor to the list to even the two sides. So with a score of Motown 4 - Stax 4, Its a tie. Last edited by Scotty The Rebel; 05-13-2013 at 08:45 PM.

09-15-2009, 06:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
The Musicophile Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 19	Stax by a mile! The records sound better, they're less trebly because they didn't go down the the 'lets mix these records for awful radio speakers' route. You can actually hear Mr 'Duck' Dunn properly. Also Steve Cropper is the man, and Motown never had Otis Redding. Also, where would the Boss be without stax?

10-06-2009, 12:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
goodfoot Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: scotland Posts: 408	don't think it's it's fair to compare two outstanding record labels, there's some tunes on motown i like & dislike, same with stax, so here's the answer.

10-13-2009, 08:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
Macneil1 Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 13	Im with mr. goth glam on this. Its far too hard to call, both made amazing music. I dont think I'll vote this one.

01-28-2010, 12:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
MAStudent Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Eureka, CA Posts: 87	Hard to get down on Marvin ***e, James Jamerson, Supremes, Stevie Wonder, etc. Motown was definitely more prolific, but, as James Brown himself said, they turned down the bass and adjusted the sound more for mass consumption. I'm a Stax guy. Love that raw sound. Sad to hear Duck Dunn etc say in the Stax movie that the black people drove out the white people, but still, it started out with a mix and thats partly what made it special. How do you choose, really?

03-04-2013, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Necromancer Divination Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,655	The Funk Brothers.

05-01-2013, 12:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
~~Road Dog~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 14	I love both. It's a tie.

05-01-2013, 04:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
crazed Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indiana Posts: 552	Both labels are great but I'd give the edge to Motown.

06-08-2013, 07:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
~~Lord Larehip~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 899	I'm from Detroit and the influence of Motown here is so tremendous. I learned how to be a recording engineer from Bob Dennis who mastered everything Motown put out from '64-'68 and who actually ran Hitsville before he split to go to Hotwax which was HDH's label. And that's the other thing about Motown were the spin-offs they indirectly created. Stax was certainly very good. I listened to enough of their records. But I have to say in terms of legacy that Motown wins hands down. The changes they brought to the industry are indelible. But let's also not forget the Philly sound of Gamble & Huff.