The Staple Singers
SOUL FOLK IN ACTION
Stax - 8561
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also available on cd universe
This is one you are probably going to have to search out, but this is one of the gems that is worth all the effort, persevere until you can shout out "Got It!" If you take the stunning voices of the Staple Singers, with the close blending harmonies that can only come from the years of a family singing together. Put in the wonderful vibrato guitar of Pops, he was early on a blues player, add in a top notch rhythm section that play as close as it gets without it being your real skin, and then lets throw in the Memphis Horns for an added additional bonus. Then there is the material that was just about custom tailored for them, mixed and mastered by the production of Steve Cropper, and you have the makings of a fantastic disc. Still, how many times have we seen all the 'right ingredients' and put the music on and been disappointed? Not this time. The only disappointment might come from the seeming brevity of the disc; you just want it to continue. The power and majesty that these voices carry comes as close to 'heaven' as can be felt here on earth. I consider myself fortunate to have seen these people on a number of occasions, and never have I walked away with anything but a feeling that I am blessed to hear such divine singing. They are truly performers that give their all. When they get going it seems at times as if they are truly possessed of 'the spirit'. I have seen them from 1965 to the present and their power has only increased with their experience. There are few performers that could rival Otis Redding, and to try and do one of his songs while he was still with us in this world was almost considered sacrilege, yet listen to what they do with (SITTING ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY. It is a completely different take than his, yet it loses absolutely nothing and in fact gains a new dimension with their controlled power. True it probably helps that Steve Cropper, the co-writer, of the song is leading the band that is backing them. Two of the highlights, of an incredibly strong disc (perhaps there is one song I am not sure of still), are SLOW TRAIN for its slow adept building of potency, and THE WEIGHT. That might be sentimental, as I once had the sheer joy of seeing Mavis Staple and Levon Helm greet each other with an a cappella
version of the song that still brings goose bumps onto my skin. There can be many reasons to like a disc, but this is one that blares out through the speakers with all the love that went into making it. It is a vital testament to belief and love. You will thank yourself for following a hunch.
Songs, times, and writers.
1 WE'VE GOT TO GET OURSELVES TOGETHER - 2:40 - Bramlett-Rable
2 (SITTING' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY - 3:08 - Cropper-Redding
3 TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN - 2:58 - Thomas- Crutcher
4 SLOW TRAIN - 2:43 - Cropper- Bell
5 THE WEIGHT - 4:31 - Robbie Robertson
6 LONG WALK TO D.C. - 2:28 - Banks-Thomas
7 GOT TO BE SOME CHANGES MADE - 2:35 - Leroy Crume
8 THE GETTO - 3:42 - Banks-Bramlett- Crutcher
9 PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE - 2:28 - Cropper-Banks
10 I SEE IT - 2:57 - Staples-Edwards
11 THIS YEAR - 1:56 - Cropper-Riley
12 THE LADY'S LETTER - 2:15 - Roebuck Staples
13 POP'S INSTRUMENTAL - 2:09 - Staples
Personnel
The Staple Singers
Roebuck, Mavis, Cleotha, and Pervis Staples
Marvell Thomas - keyboards
Steve Cropper, Roebuck Staples - guitar
Donald 'Duck' Dunn - bass
Al Jackson Jr. - drums
The Memphis Horns
Wayne Jackson
Andrew Love
Joe Arnold
Produced by - Steve Cropper