The Staple Singers - The Best of the Staple Singers

After making their mark in the early '60s with gospel, folk, and social-protest songs, the Staples joined the Stax label in 1968. These 16 cuts find the Staples straddling the sacred and secular worlds, offering positive-message songs that aren't explicitly religious. Backed by the rock-solid grooves of Stax's urgent soul, the Staples produce a series of buoyant, infectious numbers. With Mavis's gritty, emotionally charged lead vocals in command, they roll through horn-driven celebrations such as "I'll Take You There" and "We'll Get Over" plus superb covers of "Dock of the Bay" and "The Weight." Pops's warm lead vocals grace earthy self-affirmations including "Respect Yourself" and "Be What You Are." These "secular spirituals" deftly combine socially conscious lyrics with joyous melodies. --Marc Greilsamer Amazon.com essential recording

It's A Blessing

I don't listen to music to get lessons in life any more than I read literature to learn how to rebuild automatic transmissions. That said, there is something completely undeniable about the attitude driving every note and word of this music. Ironically, it never comes across as "preachy" - although it often is - it's just that the Staple family - Pops and daughters Mavis, Cleo, and Yvonne, have a philosophy, a point of view - and they talk it, walk it, sing about it, and exude it in everything they do. It's joyful, healthy, righteous, tough-minded, and most of all - loving. Plenty of music makes you feel good; this music makes you feel good about life - and being human.

The CD captures the Staple Singers in the glory days of their career. It has the obligatory hits you must have, Respect Yourself, Come Go With Me, I'll Take You There, and Be What You Are - (the latter sounds as current today as the latest, hippest, self-help seminar held in Aspen for $5,000 a seat). But when you dig a little deeper to the tracks that didn't make it onto jukeboxes across the nation and the world, the news is just as good. There really are no dogs on this CD at all; the closest I found were the remakes of standards - Dock Of The Bay and The Weight. While these covers played a role in keeping the Staples in business, they offer nothing new. Both songs were overexposed and covered by countless others, at this point they are dead horses with "Please Do Not Beat" signs on them.

What the Staple Singers achieved is nothing less than amazing. This music is funky enough to satisfy even the most hardcore James Brown devotee, and yet, there's a lightness and sweetness to it that makes you feel like you just opened a window. The Mississippi jubilee gospel roots are never far away, but they're never too thick either, the balance is always perfect. If you imagine The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi as a hurricane of redemption, ecstasy, and testifying - The Staple Singers are a stroll in the park on a beautiful spring day. The message is the same - you are blessed, and you owe it to yourself and your creator to behave as if you're blessed. But the style is different. An extraordinary CD that puts it all together - and - you can dance to it. Pretty hard to top that. June 20, 2008

Phenomenal music with great instrumentation and positive messages

I was about four years old when I first heard a song by The Staple Singers. I was so impressed, even at that young age. What drew my attention more than anything was the singing voice of Mavis Staples. The sound and soul of her voice remained with me long after their song went off. When I was about seven, Mavis recorded an album and every time her song came on the television or radio, I would take a close listen. She has the most intense, soulful voice I have ever heard. No one's singing voice can compare. I had to have a Staples Singers compilation in my collection. After listening, I am very pleased. This is true music with a message. This family always interpolated great instrumentation with soulful singing and memorable lyrics. I commend them for doing that effectively. They are definitely one of my favorite acts of all time.

Although many of these songs are akin, it is still worth listening to entirely. The Staple Singers infused secular music with gospel; not many musical acts have done that, so they were innovators. "I'll Take You There", "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)", "The Weight", "Heavy Makes You Happy", and "Respect Yourself" are all masterfully crafted pieces. Also, they sound great together. Pops makes sure give us a dose of his guitar skills with every song, and it is a great added touch. Their melodies will have you snapping your fingers and tapping your feet uncontrollably while singing along. Their lyrics are very easy to remember, but don't think that their music was not profound. For example, "I'll Take You There" is about accompanying someone to heaven. Make sure you give this song a close listen.

This album is essential to musical collections both small and great. The Staple Singers were popular during a truly definitive era of music, and they stood out because they didn't conform in any way. Well worth the purchase. 4 shining stars.

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "I'll Take You There"
2. "My Main Man"
3. "This Old Town (People in this Town"
4. "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)"
5. "Heavy Makes You Happy"
March 1, 2008

Just dues

Great old rhythm and blues! On the song,"I'll Take You There" you almost get the feel of sitting in with the Staples and the awesome Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. You can hear Mavis calling out to Barry (Beckett)to play that piano. And then "David, little David" as she brings out the thumping bass of David Hood. And when she calls for Daddy to play the guitar, its actually one of the greatest ever blues players that most have never heard of, the late Eddie Hinton. This album was just another one of the greats to come out of that soulful, ex-casket factory of a studio there in Sheffield, Alabama. September 27, 2007

The Staple Singers will take you there!

There's something about music that touches the soul and this cd does that and more. It takes you back before rap and disco to the time when a simple groove was just fine. A must for any cd collection. January 26, 2007

The Best of the Staple Singers

Gospel at its Best...Soul at its Best...Encouragement at its Best... August 29, 2006

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