The Staple Singers<div hidden>The Staples</div>
The Staple Singers, an iconic American gospel, soul, and R&B group, were founded by Roebuck "Pops" Staples alongside his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis. The group originated in the 1930s and began performing in a variety of styles, primarily drawing upon gospel, folk, and Delta blues influences. Roebuck Staples, born on December 28, 1914, in Winona, Mississippi, grew up on a plantation and developed a profound connection to music early in his life, influenced by both his upbringing and the music culture around him.
They gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, becoming known for their powerful harmonies and socially conscious lyrics. Their music often addressed civil rights themes, and they became anthems for movements advocating social justice. Their performances ranged from intimate church settings to large concert arenas, highlighting their versatility. They were significant figures in the Chicago music scene, where Pops Staples shared his musical passion with his children, which ultimately contributed to the group's formation.
Throughout their career, the Staple Singers released many successful albums and singles, with notable hits like "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself." Their ability to blend genres attracted a wide audience, and they played a crucial role in bridging gospel music with the broader R&B and pop music landscape of their time. Their legacy is marked not only by their musical achievements but also by their contributions to the civil rights movement and their ability to inspire future generations of artists.
The Staple Singers remain a significant part of American musical history, celebrated for their unique sound and impactful messages that transcended genres and societal boundaries. Today, their music continues to resonate, inspiring both audiences and artists alike.
Be What You Are
Written-By – C. Hampton, H. Banks, R. Jackson 5:01
A2 If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)
Written-By – C. Hampton, H. Banks, R. Jackson 4:27
Love Comes In All Colors / Tellin' Lies (8:49)
A3 Love Comes In All Colors Written-By – Bettye Crutcher
A4 Tellin' Lies
Written-By – Carl Smith
A5 Touch A Hand, Make A Friend
Written-By – C. Hampton, H. Banks, R. Jackson 4:02
A6 Drown Yourself
Written-By – Bettye Crutcher 4:39
B1 I Ain't Raisin' No Sand
Written-By – Darryl Carter, Mack Rice 6:32
B2 Grandma's Hands
Written-By – Bill Withers 2:41
B3 Bridges Instead Of Walls
Written-By – C. Hampton, H. Banks, R. Jackson 4:03
B4 I'm On Your Side
Written-By – C. Hampton, H. Banks, R. Jackson 3:57
B5 That's What Friends Are For
Written-By – Mark Rice 4:12
B6 Heaven
Written-By – Terry Manning 3:35
Label: Stax – STS-3015
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Southern Soul-Gospel
Be What You Are released in 1973, is a highly regarded Southern Soul album by The Staple Singers that successfully built upon the commercial and critical success of their previous work, Be Altitude: Respect Yourself. It is celebrated for its blend of social commentary, gospel roots, and deep Stax soul grooves, featuring powerful vocals from Mavis Staples and distinctive guitar work from Pops Staples.
Critics generally consider Be What You Are to be a strong entry in the group's discography, with some user and retrospective reviews rating it as one of the greatest soul albums of the 1970s. The album is praised for:
The album maintains the signature Stax sound, featuring the tight and funky instrumentation of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
Mavis Staples' magnificent lead vocals, full of emotion and feeling, are a consistent highlight, complemented by the unified family harmonies and Pops Staples' blues-drenched guitar.
The songs are noted for their positive and empowering messages, continuing the group's tradition of blending spiritual, social, and political consciousness within a universally accessible soul/gospel framework.
The album features several tracks that became significant hits, solidifying the group's crossover appeal:
"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)": This track was a major hit, reaching number one on the R&B chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It is a standout example of the album's gospel-infused soul, essentially a gospel song refitted for secular charts.
"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend": Another successful single, this song climbed to number three on the R&B chart and number 23 on the Hot 100, exemplifying the album's optimistic and communal themes.
"Be What You Are" (title track): This self-empowering, anthemic track serves as an apt follow-up to the theme of "Respect Yourself".
Be What You Are is highly recommended for fans of 70s soul and gospel music, offering a timeless listening experience that has not aged. The production is clean and lets the voices shine, making it a definitive example of Southern Soul at its peak.
The Staple Singers – Let’s Do It Again (Original Soundtrack)
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
4:52
A2 Funky Love
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
4:48
A3 A Whole Lot Of Love
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
3:52
A4 New Orleans
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
4:23
B1 I Want To Thank You
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
5:22
B2 Big Mac
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
6:05
B3 After Sex
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
6:43
B4 Chase
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield, Floyd Morris, Gary Thompson (25), Joseph Scott, Phillip Upchurch*, Quinton Joseph
4:14
Label: Curtom – CU 5005
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Soul, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Soul, Funk
The Staple Singers' 1975 Let's Do It Again soundtrack, produced by Curtis Mayfield, is celebrated for its iconic, chart-topping title track and joyful funk/soul, balancing the group's spiritual roots with worldly themes, though some reviews note unevenness with forgettable instrumentals; it's considered an essential, underrated gem for soul collectors, especially for Mavis Staples' stunning vocals.
The centerpiece, "Let's Do It Again," is a gorgeous, risqué funk-soul classic, a huge #1 pop/R&B hit, praised for Mavis Staples' voice and its blissful, ambling groove. The album beautifully blends The Staples' trademark sanctified vocals with deep funk, featuring tracks like the funkafied "New Orleans" and the uplifting "I Want To Thank You".
Written and produced by Mayfield, it showcases his genius for crafting soulful, transcendental content, elevating it above many blaxploitation soundtracks. While the Mayfield-penned vocal tracks are stellar, some instrumental cuts (like "Big Mac") are seen as filler, but the overall album is deemed a must-have for soul fans.
The soundtrack influenced pop culture (influencing artists like Camp Lo) and remains a significant part of The Staple Singers' legendary catalog, marking their first major success post-Stax.
Despite some instrumental filler, Let's Do It Again is a standout soundtrack, a testament to the synergy between The Staple Singers and Curtis Mayfield, delivering classic soul and funk that remains deeply loved and highly recommended for fans of the genre.
The Staple Swingers
Written-By – Bettye Crutcher, Mack Rice, Tommy Tate 4:20
A2 What's Your Thing
Written-By – Mark Rice 4:21
A3 You've Got To Earn It
Written-By – Cornelius Grant, Smokey Robinson 3:28
A4 You're Gonna Make Me Cry
Written-By – D. Malone 5:04
A5 Little Boy
Written-By – Carson Whitsett 3:25
A6 How Do You Move A Mountain
Written-By – Adam Levy, Myrna March 2:34
B1 Almost
Written-By – Harold Thomas, Leroy Mason 4:16
B2 I'm A Lover
Written-By – Charles Bevel, James Mabone 3:43
B3 Love Is Plentiful
Written-By – Bettye Crutcher, Bobby Manuel 2:30
B4 Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)
Written-By – Bobby Bloom, Jeff Barry 2:58
B5 I Like The Things About You
Written-By – Martha Stubbs, Roebuck "Pops" Staples 3:21
B6 Give A Hand - Take A Hand
Written-By – Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb 3:55
Label: Stax – STS 2034
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
The Staple Swingers (1971) is a landmark album for The Staple Singers, marking their full embrace of 70s funk-pop with hits like "Heavy Makes You Happy," showcasing their gospel roots fused with Stax's Muscle Shoals soul, featuring the Bar-Kays' horns, and delivering powerful, optimistic messages on tracks like "This Is a Perfect World," making it a gritty, essential release praised with perfect scores by critics like AllMusic.
A pivotal shift from soul-folk to funk-pop, blending gospel purity with bluesy grit, heavy bass, organ, and the iconic guitar of Pops Staples. The first album with Stax producer Al Bell and sister Yvonne replacing Tyrone, recorded with The Bar-Kays' horns in Muscle Shoals.
Uplifting, subtly delivering social and political messages with hope, evident in songs like "This Is a Perfect World" and "What's Your Thing". Produced iconic singles like "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)" and "You've Got To Earn It".
The album captures the group at their creative peak during their Stax Records heyday. It's considered one of their finest overall, with no weak tracks, full of infectious grooves and powerful vocals. It's a definitive Americana record, blending deep-south soul with the burgeoning funk sound of the early 70s.
Reviewers consistently highlight the album as a turning point, "the flowering of the Staple Singers' mid-tempo, gospel-flavored '70s funk-pop". It was their first commercial breakthrough, reaching number nine on Billboard's R&B albums chart.
Turning Point
Producer, Arranged By – Gary Goetzman
Saxophone [Solo] – Joel Peskin
Synthesizer, Bass, Drums, Guitar, Producer, Arranged By – Mike Piccirillo
Written-By – G. Goetzman, M. Piccirillo
4:03
A2 Slippery People
Guitar – David Byrne
Percussion – Mark Wolfson
Producer, Arranged By – Gary Goetzman
Synthesizer, Drums, Bass – Mike Piccirillo
Written-By – C. Frantz, D. Byrne, J. Harrison, T/ Weymouth
4:19
A3 Bridges Instead Of Walls
Written-By – C. Hampton, H. Banks, R. Jackson
3:48
A4 The Turning Point
Written-By – J. Black, L.J. McNally
3:22
B1 Right Decision
Written-By – B. Rush
5:30
B2 H-A-T-E (Don't Live Here Anymore)
Written-By – E. Thomas, G. Jackson, M. Franklin
4:19
B3 On My Own Again
Written-By – B. Bowles, B.L. Eager
4:30
B4 That's What Friends Are For
Written-By – M. Rice
3:30
Label: Epic – EPC 26212
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk
The Staple Singers' "Turning Point" (1984) is a significant album noted for its stylistic shift to 80s synth-funk and boogie, updating their classic soul sound with electronic textures, yet retaining their signature gospel harmonies and social message, highlighted by David Byrne's guest appearance on their popular cover of "Slippery People," making it a strong, if different, comeback album for the legendary family group.
It moved from their classic Stax soul towards mid-80s synth-funk, boogie, and New Wave, incorporating synthesizers and electronic rhythms. The album maintained the group's commitment to spiritual and social themes, with songs like "Hate Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Right Decision".
Featured production by Pervis Staples and Henry Bush, with key tracks produced by Gary Goetzman and Mike Piccirillo, bringing a modern, danceable feel.
The cover of Talking Heads' "Slippery People," with David Byrne on guitar, became a major R&B and dance hit, showcasing their ability to adapt. Despite the electronic sound, critics praised the enduring, powerful four-part harmonies and Mavis Staples' soulful lead vocals.
Standout Tracks:-
"Slippery People": This cover of the Talking Heads song is considered the album's centerpiece. It features David Byrne on guitar and became a major club hit, reaching #4 on the Dance/Club charts.
"This Is Our Night": A "joyous," uptempo dance-floor friendly track that served as the third single.
"H-A-T-E (Don't Live Here Anymore)": A message song featuring Pops Staples on lead, praised for its relevant lyrics and funky arrangement.
"On My Own Again": Described as the "slowest and probably saddest" song, highlighting Mavis Staples' raw emotional range.
Many reviewers found it a successful, stylish update, praising its energy and the effective blending of classic Staples strengths with contemporary sounds, particularly "Slippery People" and "This Is Our Night".
Some felt the heavy 80s production, especially the bright synths, didn't age as well as their earlier work, though the vocals often rescued the tracks.
Considered a worthwhile "new direction" and a strong comeback that proved the legendary group could evolve, even if it didn't replicate the iconic Stax era.
A digitally remastered and expanded edition was released in January 2012 by SoulMusic.com, featuring five bonus tracks, including the single "Can You Hang".
We’ll Get Over
A2 Give A Damn 3:53
A3 Everyday People 3:09
A4 The End Of Our Road 3:03
A5 Tend To Your Own Business 2:20
A6 Solon Bushi (Japanese Folk Song) 2:38
B1 The Challenge 2:53
B2 God Bless The Children 3:14
B3 Games People Play 3:24
B4 A Wednesday In Your Garden 2:32
B5 The Gardner 2:16
B6 When Will We Be Paid 2:38
Label: Stax – STS 2016
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul
We'll Get Over is the Staple Singers' second album for Stax Records, released in 1969. The album captures the group in a transitional phase, continuing to blend their gospel and folk roots with the contemporary Stax sound while exploring more secular "message songs" and cover material.
The album is often considered a solid, though somewhat overlooked, entry in the Staple Singers' discography compared to later classics like Be Altitude: Respect Yourself.
Critics highlight the album as an important musical step that pointed the way for their future commercial success. It features the classic Stax rhythm section, including Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, and Al Jackson, Jr., providing a robust soul-funk backdrop to the group's powerful harmonies.
The album is noted for featuring the group primarily as "interpretive singers," concentrating largely on cover material given their unique Stax-era treatment.
The album's highlight is often cited as the original "When Will We Be Paid?" (written by Randall Stewart). Other notable tracks include their R&B influenced cover of Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" and the self-written "Tend To Your Own Business," both considered classic Memphis-style soul-funk.
A unique and widely discussed element is "Solon Bushi," a traditional Japanese folk song sung in the original language, which is seen as a fascinating, albeit unusual, attempt to fuse different cultural sounds in keeping with the Staples' vision of human unity.
While some covers, like "Games People Play," are viewed by some critics as "milquetoast" or less innovative, the album is praised for its strong, socially conscious message songs that reflect the spirit of the times.
We'll Get Over was the last album to feature Pervis Staples before he left the group to pursue business ventures (he was replaced by his sister Yvonne). It remains a significant album for fans, showcasing the group's evolving sound and their powerful commitment to message-driven music during a pivotal era in American history.