Mavis Staples Live In London 2LP (Vinyl)

Live Performance On Double LP w/Etching On 4th Side!

Mavis Staples has been a soul and gospel music legend for more than 50 years. Her work fronting the legendary Staples Singers defined the sound of politically-committed soul and influenced generations of musicians. As a solo artist in her own right, she has helped to define much of what is righteous and soulful in American music. There are few people who can claim to have been performing as long as Mavis Staples, let alone to her standards. This album captures her live at the Union Chapel in London with her band performing some of the greatest songs from her musical catalog, while celebrating her 79th birthday.

The focus of this collection is material she has recorded since signing with ANTI- Records in 2007. In recent years, Staples has had songs written for her by iconoclastic artists like Nick Cave, Neko Case, and Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards); collaborated with modern rock powerhouses Arcade Fire, Gorillaz, and Hozier; and recorded multiple albums working with Jeff Tweedy from Wilco. "I've stretched out—I'm singing songs that rock stars have written for me," says Staples, "but they know me and the kind of songs I want to sing." She points to the opening song on Live in London, "Love And Trust", which was composed by Ben Harper. "I love that song, it's a beauty," she says. "I've been sending a message of love and trust since the Sixties, and I'm still searching for that." Mixed in with these newer songs (and "Let's Do It Again", which she notes is "the only secular song that the Staple Singers ever recorded") are a few selections chosen just to bring the funk—Funkadelic's "Can You Get To That" and "Slippery People" by Talking Heads. "We drop those songs in just to kinda spice things up," she says.

"Spellbinding and ass-kicking ... There is no sound on earth more joyful than Mavis Staples singing." - NME

• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
• Rock & Roll Hall of Famer
• Kennedy Center Honoree
• National Heritage Fellowship Award Recipient

Features:
• Double LP
• 3 sides of music
• 4th side etching
• Gatefold jacket

Selections:
Side 1:
1. Love And Trust
2. Who Told You That
3. Slippery People
4. What You Gonna Do Intro
5. What You Gonna Do
Side 2:
1. Take Us Back
2. You Are Not Alone
3. No Time For Cryin'
4. Can You Get To That
Side 3:
1. Let's Do It Again
2. Dedicated
3. We're Gonna Make it
4. Encore: Happy Birthday
5. Touch A Hand
Side 4:
Etching