About Product Images
This image is a general representation of the item and the actual product may differ slightly in terms of color shading, logo placement, borders, or other small details. Used items may have various cosmetic differences as well.![Enlarge](javascript:show_product_image("https://cdn1.dustygroove.org/images/products/s/staplesinge_bewhatyou_101b.jpg"); "View larger image")
Be What You Are
LP (Item 23801) Stax, 1973 — Condition: Very Good+
Related searches
Warmly grooving 70s soul from The Staple Singers – recorded in a fuller Memphis mode that's miles from their gospel roots, but still plenty darn nice! The style here is very much in keeping with the hit Staples mode of the time – righteous, full, but still nice and earthy at the bottom – a beautiful blending of the group's one male and three female vocals – served up with some slight electric touches in the rhythms. Tracks are tight and catchy, but never poppy – and titles include "If You're Ready", an obvious follow up to "I'll Take You There" – plus "Tellin Lies", "Love Comes In All Colors", "Drown Yourself", "I Ain't Raisin No Sand", and a nice version of "Grandma's Hands". © 1996-2025, Dusty Groove, Inc.
(In the embossed cover – with staining on the spine, a cutout hole, and a few small corner bends.)
(In the embossed cover – with staining on the spine, a cutout hole, and a few small corner bends.)
Very Good + (plus)
- Vinyl should be very clean, but can have less luster than near mint.
- Should still shine under a light, but one or two marks may show up when tilted.
- Can have a few small marks that may show up easily, but which do not affect play at all. Most marks of this quality will disappear when the record is tilted, and will not be felt with the back of a fingernail.
- This is the kind of record that will play "near mint", but which will have some signs of use (although not major ones).
- May have slight surface noise when played.
Additional Marks & Notes
If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record. This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip, cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.
You might be interested
Dramatics
Whatcha See Is Whatcha GetStax/Volt, 1971. Very Good Gatefold
A fantastic album by The Dramatics – with a harder funkier sound than you'll find on most of their other records of the time – a gritty gem from the group's early years, and a record that really deserves its placement on the Stax label! The record has the group moving into a post-Tempta ... LP, Vinyl record album
Emotions
SunshineStax, Early 70s/1977. Near Mint-
Earlier Stax work recorded by The Emotions, not issued at the time and packaged together into a pretty great album during the time of the girls' bigger fame on Columbia! The work here is surprisingly great – not really filler at all, and in a style that's almost hipper than any of the ... LP, Vinyl record album
Mar-Keys
Do The Pop Eye With The Mar-KeysStax, 1962. Sealed
Vintage Memphis instrumentals from The Mar-Keys – a record cut at a time when the group were still rising up with the same power as Booker T & The MGs! There's a very similar vibe going on here – tight rhythms and no-nonsense combo instrumentation that's heavy on organ and tenor, ... LP, Vinyl record album
Booker T & The MGs
Booker T & The MGs Greatest HitsStax, 1960s. Very Good+
LP...$9.99
11.99
Classic Memphis organ grooves from Booker T and the mighty MGs! Includes plenty of nice early tracks – like the funky sample classic "Hip Hug Her", and "Soul Limbo", "Time Is Tight", "Heads Or Tails", and "Hang Em High". LP, Vinyl record album
William Bell
Phases Of RealityStax, 1972. Very Good+
A full, rich set from William Bell – one that's got a headier 70s approach than some of his earlier work for Stax – with a set of themes that clearly pick up on the socially conscious vibe of the time, set to arrangements that include a bit more keyboards and funky guitar than usual! ... LP, Vinyl record album
Stylistics
Best Of The StylisticsAvco, 1975. Very Good
Some of the greatest falsetto harmony ever recorded – and a smoking batch of the group's biggest hits! 10 tracks in all, with titles that include "Stone In Love With You", "People Make The World Go Round", "Break Up To Make Up", "Betcha By Golly, Wow", ... LP, Vinyl record album
Funkadelic
FunkadelicWestbound, 1970. Very Good+
One of the darkest records to ever come out of the Detroit soul scene! As you might guess from the title, the album is Funkadelic's first – and it's a swirling mass of psychedelic guitars, echoey drums, and bass-heavy riffing, all topped off by the band's harmony vocals, which sound like a ... LP, Vinyl record album
Funkadelic
Hardcore JolliesWarner, 1976. Very Good+ Gatefold
One of the sweetest Funkadelic albums from the middle period, and a good batch of tracks that often gets overlooked in the haze of similar Pedro Bell covers! Don't miss this one, though – because it is a very strong album – key in the shift from more guitar-based funk to more groove-ori ... LP, Vinyl record album
Love Unlimited
In Heat20th Century, 1974. Very Good
Classic 70s female soul – and one of the best albums ever recorded by Love Unlimited – a trio of ladies recording with Barry White during his glory years! The album's got a really incredible approach – partly in the mode of older female group soul, but also done with a hipper, ... LP, Vinyl record album
Ray Charles
Modern Sounds In Country & Western MusicABC, 1962. Very Good+
A classic! What seemed a silly idea at the time was true proof of Ray's genius, and the result was the most successful album of his career – and a bona-fide number one hit that rode the charts for years and years! Ray's voice works perfectly with the material, and thanks to soulful ... LP, Vinyl record album
Mass Production
Welcome To Our WorldCotillion, 1976. Very Good+
The group may be named Mass Production, but their sound is anything but – a really special fusion of key instrumental talents and vocal elements – all brought together in one of the tightest ensemble funk grooves of the time! Mass Production draw a bit from an Earth Wind & Fire ... LP, Vinyl record album
Bobby Womack
Roads Of LifeArista, 1978. Very Good
A great album from Bobby – different than his earlier albums for United Artists, but in a good way – one that revives his whole career, and takes his sound into a whole new direction! The album's got a smooth soul finish with some touches of synth funk – produced by Bobby and ... LP, Vinyl record album
