The path that the Staple Singers' sound took through the '50s to the mid-'80s reflected the social climate as much as music trends. From acoustic gospel-folk to socially aware soul that reflected the aspirations of the civil rights movement, to a grittier funk-pop style that hammered home the black pride message, the quartet effortlessly blended spiritual with secular.
Though the milestones have been many, one special release marks the Staple Singers' most successful commercial effort. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself (1972), the group's fourth album for Stax Records, spawned crossover hits Respect Yourself, which peaked at No5 of the Billboard Hot 100, and I'll Take You There, which topped the R&B Singles chart.
While Stax albums one to three are no duds, Be Altitude: Respect Yourself struts with an assurance they don't possess, courtesy of an emerging powerhouse in accompaniment and arrangement.
The Muscle Shoals rhythm section - Eddie Hinton (lead guitar), Jimmy Johnson (rhythm guitar), David Hood (bass), Barry Beckett (keyboards) and Roger Hawkins (drums) - are captured at the crossroads of soul and funk, clearly buoyed by the developing new sound. This vigour rubs off on the singers and songs, beefing up the likes of This World, This Old Town and Name The Missing Word and giving them their danceable edge.
Mavis flourishes in this new territory. Never one to favour power over restraint, she's like a simmering pot whose lid rattles with escaping steam. It's one of the great vocal performances of her remarkable career.
