Wattstax

Wattstax (1973)

Runtime: 98 minutes

Directed by: Mel Stuart

Starring: This is a documentary, so you’ll see many performances from people on the Stax label, but there’s also soliloquies from Richard Pryor

From: Wolper Productions

Here’s a documentary I first saw on PBS a few years ago (with the cursing bleeped out) and I later tracked down on DVD. It’s not only a documentary-something I’m inclined to like-but it also features great music. It’s about the title event, held in 1972 in the huge Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; it was presented by the Memphis-based record company Stax Records to note the anniversary of the Watts riots of ’65.

Besides all the songs you hear from the likes of Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, The Staple Singers, The Bar-Kays, Luther Ingram, and others, there’s also soliloquies you get to hear from Richard Pryor where he humorously talks about a variety of things, AND you also hear various people in the area talk about the Watts riots and whether or not things were changed for the African-American or not. It’s all very interesting and you can be any race, creed or color and enjoy the discussion, laugh at what Pryor says (oh, and Isaac the Bartender from The Love Boat also appears, and a dancer you briefly get to see is Rerun from What’s Happening!!) and enjoy quality songs back when R&B music was actually good rather than the lameness most of it is now.

You also get to hear a short speech from Jesse Jackson. No matter what you think of him and his ideological beliefs, you have to laugh at the afro he sports! At least that made me laugh.

If you enjoy any of the things I mentioned above, then you should track this down. The DVD is pretty cool too, with some nice bonus stuff.

I’ll be back tomorrow night something with something new.