The Ultimate Staple Singers: A Family Affair 1955-1984 




This 2-CD reelease is a long-overdue salute to the first family of gospel soul – Pops, Mavis, Pervis, Cleotha and Yvonne - the Staple Singers. Incorporating selections from almost every label the Staples recorded for between 1954 and 1984, the 150+ minutes running time features all the important hits, the best B-sides and album tracks, alternate mixes of familiar recordings and several previously unreleased solo sides by Mavis and Pops. First time on UK CD for around a third of the tracks – including the group’s take on Talking Heads’ "Slippery People" (featuring TH’s David Byrne on guitar).


 The Staple Singers were an American  gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914-2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (b. 1934), Pervis (b. 1935), Yvonne (b. 1936), and Mavis (b. 1939). They are best known for their 1970s hits "I'll Take You There", "Respect Yourself", and "Let's Do It Again".


The family began appearing in Chicago-area churches in 1948, and signed their first professional contract in 1952.[1] During their early career they recorded in an acoustic gospel-folk style with various labels: United Records, Vee-Jay Records, Checker Records, Riverside Records, and then Epic Records in 1965. While the family surname is "Staples", the group used the singular form for its name, resulting in the group's name being "The Staple Singers".

It was on Epic that the Staple Singers began moving into mainstream pop markets, with "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" and "For What It's Worth" (Stephen Stills) in 1967. In 1968, the Staple Singers signed to Stax Records and released two albums with Steve Cropper and Booker T & the MG's — Soul Folk in Action and We'll Get Over. By 1970, Al Bell had become producer, and with Engineer Terry Manning, the family began recording at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, and Memphis' Ardent Studios, moving in a more funk and soul direction.

The first Stax hit was "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)". Their 1971 recording of "Respect Yourself", written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, peaked at number 2 on the R&B charts and was a number 12 pop hit as well. The song's theme of self-empowerment had universal appeal, released in the period immediately following the intense American civil rights movement of the 1960s. In 1972, the group had a huge No. 1 hit in the United States with "I'll Take You There". It topped both pop and R&B charts. "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)" would become another big hit, reaching number 9 pop and number 1 on the R&B chart in 1973.

Then, after Stax's bankruptcy in 1975, they signed to Curtis Mayfield's label, Curtom Records, and released "Let's Do It Again", produced by Mayfield; the song became their second No. 1 pop hit in the US. In 1976, they collaborated with The Band on the song "The Weight" for their film The Last Waltz. However, they were not able to regain their momentum, releasing only occasional minor hits. 

Their 1984 album Turning Point featured their final Top 40 hit, a cover of Talking Heads' "Slippery People" (which also reached the Top 5 on the Dance chart). In 1994, they again performed the song "The Weight" with Country music artist Marty Stuart for MCA Nashville's Rhythm, Country and Blues compilation, somewhat re-establishing an audience. The song "Respect Yourself" was used by Spike Lee in the soundtrack to his movie Crooklyn, made in 1994.

In 1999, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Pops Staples died of complications from a concussion suffered in December 2000. In 2005, the group was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Mavis Staples has continued to carry on the family tradition and continues to add her vocal talents to both the projects of other artists and her own solo ventures.



Track Listings


Disc 1:

1. Hammer And Nails
2. Nobody's Fault But Mine
3. Too Close
4. Uncloudy Day
5. Won't You Sit Down (Sit Down Servant)
6. I Wish I Had Answered
7. Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
8. Swing Low
9. This May Be The Last Time
10. For What It's Worth
11. Be Careful Of Stone's That You Throw
12. Why (Am I Treated So Bad)
13. It's Been A Change
14. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
15. Ghetto
16. Long Walk To DC
17. God Bless The Children
18. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
19. Gardener
20. When Will We Be Paid For The Work We Do
21. Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas
22. John Henry - Pop Staples
23. You're Gonna Make Me Cry
24. Solon Bushi

Disc 2:

1. This World
2. I Have Learned To Do Without You - Staples, Mavis
3. Respect Yourself
4. Tryin' Me - Pop Staples
5. Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha Na Boom Boom)
6. I'll Take You There
7. You've Got To Earn It
8. Only Time You Ever Say You Love Me - Staples, Mavis
9. Oh La De Da
10. If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)
11. City In The Sky
12. I Got To Be Myself
13. Touch A Hand Make A Friend
14. Trippin' On Your Love - Staples, Mavis
15. Let's Do It Again
16. New Orleans
17. Love Me Love Me Love Me
18. I Honestly Love You
19. Slippery People
20. HATE (Don't Love Here Any More) 


These CDs are glorious and a must-have. I listen to them all the time.