5 Things to Know About Otis Blue and Volt Records

Otis Blue was released on Volt Records, a subsidiary of Stax Records. Volt was created by Stax to handle its growing roster of artists.

Volt Records operated as a separate label within the Stax family. It distributed through the same channels but maintained its own catalog numbers and identity.

The album is often associated with Stax because of this ownership structure. Many fans and collectors refer to it as a Stax release, though the original label is Volt.

Volt Records released other notable soul and R&B acts during its run. Artists like the Mad Lads and William Bell also recorded for the label.

The Volt label was phased out after Stax’s decline in the mid-1970s. Today, Otis Blue is typically reissued under the Stax name due to brand recognition.