It's been quite a couple months, eh? Severe weather, revolutions, earthquake, tsunami, nuclear disaster, and now what looks like may become another war. Know what? It's high time for the Staple Singers. It took me a while (years) to warm up to the Staples. When I finally did, there was no ignoring their unique role in the lineage of soul. They somehow managed to get gospel influenced music on AM radio. That's a feat in itself. But the gospel thing is only a part of it. Their funky relaxed grooves make you move, or at least do some swaying of some sort. (Come to think of it, reggae seems to have the same effect.) And that Pop Staples guitar! It's total understated swamp guitar, a sort of stealth "Polk Salad Annie." On top of all that, you have the vocals. They're understated as well. almost Isaac Hayes like in their laid back-ness. And they are beautiful, not sexpot beautiful, more like tree beautiful. Mavis Staples' in particular. But the backing vocals are just as important, and key to the Staples sound.
The first two down there you should know. Those were the big hits. "Masters of War" is a Dylan cover. "Samson & Delilah" was covered by the Blasters. The title track from their 1959 LP, "Uncloudy Day," has some really cool guitar by Pops. Then there's a Buffalo Springfield cover down there, and after that, a Talking Heads cover (which sounds very 80's, but is cool nonetheless). (They also covered the Talking Heads "Life During Wartime," but I couldn't find an mp3. You can hear it streaming here.) The last song, "Wade In the Water," is an audio only thing at YouTube, which I wouldn't ordinarily post, but it's an early Staples cut, and it smokes. Way more gospel than their later stuff.
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Music:The Staple Singers - Respect Yourself mp3 at Inventati
The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There mp3 at Pro Creations Salon
The Staple Singers - Masters of War mp3 at Aquarium Drunkard
The Staple Singers - Samson & Delilah mp3 at Beware of the Blog
The Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day mp3 at Liberated Syndication
The Staple Singers - God Bless the Children mp3 at Art Decade
The Staple Singers - For What It's Worth mp3 at Funky 16 Corners
The Staple Singers - Slippery People mp3 (via Box.net) at The Beat
The Staple Singers - Wade In the Water (audio only) at YouTube
Video:
The Staple Singers - Respect Yourself (Wattstax) at Daily Motion
The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There (Soul Train, 1972) at YouTube
The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There (Grammy Awards 1973) at YouTube
The Staple Singers - If You're Ready (Soul Train, 1973) at YouTube
The Staple Singers - When Will We Be Paid (live, 1971) at YouTube
The Staple Singers - Reach Out, Touch a Hand, Make a Friend (live 1981) at YouTube
A Short History of the Staple Singers at YouTube
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