Listen: Sweetback’s Theme / Melvin Van Peebles MelvinVanPeeblesSweetback.mp3

Melvin Van Peebles was, actually still is, an actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, novelist and composer.

Yes, this music exists because he has the talent to take complete control and responsibility for all parts of the job as a film maker, even the soundtrack. There may be others that do that as well, I’m not sure.

This wasn’t something I realized at the time. By assumption, he was an other great from the Stax roster. Not until getting a reissue of his work several years ago, the advent of the cd had some benefits, did I learn the above.

I say it often, but still worth repeating here. This track is literally made for a jukebox. It’s the life of every party I’ve ever had.