[Cover photo credit to Stax Records]

Stax Records and Craft Recordings have recently announced Johnnie Taylor, One Step From the Blues, a new collection featuring a dozen songs from the Gospel, Soul, and R&B singer. Arriving October 25th, 2024 on LP, CD, and digital formats, the album includes selections from the artist’s prolific Stax Records period.

In addition to the standard black vinyl release, fans can order a limited-edition Blue vinyl pressing exclusively at Barnes & Noble. The single “Steal Away” is out now.

One Step From the Blues captures the Blues side of Taylor’s output, for which he would go on to be nominated for a trio of Grammys, receive a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, and get inducted into both the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame. For his work at Stax Records, he was dubbed “The Philosopher of Soul.”

Taylor honed his craft in West Memphis, Arkansas, where he grew up in Gospel groups. He ultimately joined the Soul Stirrers in 1957, in which he replaced Sam Cooke who left for a solo career. Cooke would sign Taylor to his label, SAR, four years later.

After Cooke’s death, Taylor signed to Stax Records, where his secular career would truly take off. The lovesick lament “I Had a Dream” in 1966 was his debut single there, from first album Wanted: One Soul Singer.

At Stax, Taylor went on to shepherd several hits for the label, among them his breakthrough single in 1968, “Who’s Making Love” and later, Steal Away” (1970), “Stop Doggin’ Me” (1972), “Cheaper to Keep Her,” a 1973 single penned by Mack Rice, the genius behind the Staples Sisters’ “Respect Yourself.”

One year after Stax closed in 1975, Taylor would go on to score another major hit on his album Eargasm with “Disco Lady,” which became the first single ever to be certified platinum by the RIAA. He’d continue releasing music through 1999.