The artists who created countless hits at Stax Records from the early-'60s to the mid-'70s were every bit as responsible for the real foundation for modern day soul music as anyone else, probably more so. Providing a gritty alternative to the clean Motown sound, artists such as Mavis Staples, Johnnie Taylor and the inimitable Isaac Hayes pushed boundaries, offering real-life tales in their songs that often tackled taboo subjects such as racism and infidelity with funk and rhythm. The list below is a great cross section from the vast Stax catalog that will get your booty moving.

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  You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

  Sylvester, from The Original Hits

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