The Abbott never sleeps: after a couple years spent producing and then pushing his directorial debut The Man With the Iron Fists, which I still haven’t seen, RZA is back again with his sorta-new project with Stax Records. Seeing as he’s already made a small fortune based on their catalogue alone, there’s nothing wrong with making a little more.

The Shaolin Soul Selection Vol. I (2CD/3LP) features 24 classic tracks from the Stax vaults hand-selected by Mr. Robert Diggs himself. As RZA and Wu-Tang have enjoyed a modest resurgence via their influence on artists like The Black Keys and others (yes, even Beiber counts), it’s nice to see the boss giving a nod back to his own influences. And while offering nothing new (especially to those who’ve already consumed volumes 1-4 of Shaolin Soul), this one should still find some space in your expanded Wu-Tang library. You can order the deluxe 2CD or 3LP package w/ t-shirt from RZA’s new Soul Temple label + download a nine-minute preview mix from DJ 7L here, or watch via YouTube below.

tracklisting after the jump

RZA presents Shaolin Soul Selection Volume 1

1. The Mad Lads – I Forgot To Be Your Lover

2. Isaac Hayes – Joy

3. The Dramatics – In The Rain

4. The Emotions – I Could Never Be Happy

5. The Soul Children – Don’t Take My Kindness For Weakness

6. David Porter – I’m Afraid The Masquerade Is Over

7. Booker T and the MGs – Sing A Simple Song

8. Little Milton – Packed Up and Took My Mind

9. 24-Carat Black – Poverty’s Paradise

10. Albert King – I’ll Play The Blues For You

11. The Sweet Inspirations – All It Takes Is You and Me

12. The Emotions – As Long As I’ve Got You

13. William Bell – I Forgot To Be Your Lover

14. Isaac Hayes – Ike’s Mood

15. The Soul Children – Move Over

16. David Porter – Hang On Sloopy

17. Johnnie Taylor – Steal Away

18. Albert King – Cold Feet

19. The Sweet Inspirations – Why Marry

20. The Emotions – I Like It

21. Mel and Tim – Keep The Faith

22. Isaac Hayes – Walk On By

23. Booker T and the MGs – L.A. Jazz Song

24. Judy Clay – Children Don’t Get Weary