Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod the Mod finds his solo footing, headed for stardom, with the Faces in his wake.
6:00 AM GMT 22/06/2011
Features Disc of the day
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples/Only For The Lonely
(Volt, 1969/Stax, 1970; reissued, Stax, 1993)
Don't change her now. Overlooked solo gems from the Staples Singers' vocal star.
By the time Mavis Staples released her first solo album for Stax in 1969, the 30-year old Chicagoan gospel belter had almost 20 years of singing behind her. That debut LP - packaged here with its equally compelling follow-up - draws on those decades of sanctified soul worship by combining powerhouse vocals with rubbery funk grooves, southern horn bounce and epic string-soaked ballads. Unlike the call-to-arms anthems she recorded with the Staple Singers throughout the previous ten years, both albums shun political fervour in favour of matters of the heart. Not that this makes any difference to Mavis's warm, oak-smoked vocals. Whether it's the light pop-soul of Until I Met You, the churchy magnificence of Don't Change Me Now or her heartbreaking reading of Buddy Johnson's blues standard Since I Fell For You, Staples manages to wring every last drop of emotion out of each syllable. Like some of the other albums released under the rejuvenated Stax banner of the late '60s - Hot Buttered Soul among them - there's an emphasis on big, sweeping arrangements. A lesser voice could have easily been swamped, but Mavis remains in charge throughout - no easy task given the musical pedigree surrounding her (Isaac Hayes, Eddie Hinton, Duck Dunn, Steve Cropper and Al Jackson are among her collaborators). After the release of Only For The Lonely, Mavis would return to the Staple Singers to play her part in the most successful phase of their lifespan. And what if you want to experience one of soul music's finest voices today? Well, if you're in London this week you're in luck. Mavis plays The Jazz Café on Wednesday (November 17).
Ross Bennett
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 6:00 AM GMT 16/11/2010
Further Listening
Etta James – Tell Mama (Cadet, 1968)
Bettye Swann – Bettye Swann (Astralwerks/Honest Jons, 2004)
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone, 2007)
Previous Disc of the day
-
-
Earl Brutus - Larky
Last salvo of Ginsters Pasty-Warholism from Britpop ramraiders.
12:04 PM GMT 08/06/2011
-
Loudon Wainwright - T-Shirt
An overlooked small wonder from an unpredictable career.
6:00 AM GMT 03/06/2011
-
Landscape - From The Tea-rooms Of Mars… To The Hell-holes Of Uranus
Dry computer club Futurists, upon hitting implausible chart paydirt.
6:00 AM GMT 17/05/2011
-
-
Causa Sui - Summer Sessions Vol 1-3
Epic Danish jams, for when the neighbours get you down.
6:00 AM GMT 12/05/2011
end of body content back to top
Footer
Join us on:
© Copyright Bauer - all
rights reserved.
Reproduction of this
website, in whole or in
part, in any form or
medium without express
written permission from
Bauer is prohibited. All
use is subject to our
Terms of Use
|
|
Comments
Comment on this post
you're slipping again mojo....
Posted by Danni Minogue at 1:54 PM GMT 23/11/2010 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
you're slipping again mojo....
Posted by Danni Minogue at 1:55 PM GMT 23/11/2010 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
In fact, Miss Minogue is that disappointed she felt the need to comment twice...
Posted by Simon Cowell at 1:57 PM GMT 23/11/2010 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
I'm a big fan of Mojo, and I have been from the start. It's a shame to see them slip up this week, but I believe in Mojo and I think we'll see them raise their game next week!
Posted by Louis Walsh at 2:01 PM GMT 23/11/2010 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
I have to say, Louis, that I disagree with everything you've just said. I think the public are starting to tire of Mojo's inconsistent performances. I'd love to be proved wrong, but I just don't see that happening. Cheryl?
Posted by Simon Walsh at 2:03 PM GMT 23/11/2010 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
I have to say, Louis, that I disagree with everything you've just said. I think the public are starting to tire of Mojo's inconsistent performances. I'd love to be proved wrong, but I just don't see that happening. Cheryl?
Posted by Simon Cowell at 2:04 PM GMT 23/11/2010 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Wor Mojo, you're lookin' reet gorgeous pet!
Posted by Cheryl Cole at 2:10 PM GMT 23/11/2010 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Comment on this post