MAVIS STAPLES You Are Not Alone (2010 UK 13-track CD album -
When Jeff Tweedy and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and legend Mavis
Staples sat down to talk about what they wanted the new Mavis
Staples album to sound like, they both turned to the original spiritual
roots of the Staples Singers as a backbone. Both wanted to make a
record about connection, about reaching out to someone through the
power of music. What they achieved is possibly the album of Staples
career, a warm, powerful and fervent collection of brilliantly chosen
and interpreted songs. Produced by fellow Chicagoan Jeff Tweedy at
Wilco's studio The Loft, the intimate and textured production mixes
traditional gospel numbers with two new songs written for Mavis by
Tweedy, plus her unique interpretations of songs by Pops Staples,
Randy Newman, Allen Toussaint, John Fogerty, Rev. Gary Davis and
Little Milton. Backed by Mavis' smoking touring band and featuring
guest turns from Tweedy and Wilco's Patrick Sansone, with
background vocals by Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor, the album
cradles Mavis' exquisite voice, allowing her to stretch out emotionally
on tracks like Randy Newman's 'Losing You' and the Creedence
Clearwater chesnut 'Wrote a Song For Everyone.')
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