... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Lost work from a really obscure period in the career of Mavis Staples – post-Stax, but before her big revival of later years – and a date that has her working with the Holland Dozier Holland time in a mighty nice mode! The classic Mavis vocals are very firmly in place, but the record's also got a warmer glow than usual – great arrangements from Jesse Saunders, who again comes to the record as a bit of a surprise – but really helps make a setting that's very fresh for the Staples sound, especially if you've heard as many records by Mavis as us! The style is great – almost like some of the coolest southern/modern soul blends of the period – and titles include "Love Gone Bad", "Show Me", "Falling In Love", "Beat Well Done", "See What You Started", and "Holding On To Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Mavis Staples follows up her strong run of recent solo albums by a live set that's maybe even rootsier than the studio material – recorded in London with a nicely small band – which gives the music a nice sort of bite, right from the start! Guitarist Rick Holmstrom is almost an equal star in the spotlight – as his bluesy guitar licks are a big part of the album's sound, and either kick off a tune with a bold lead, or solo for a bit right in the middle. Mavis hardly needs an introduction here – given all the recent acclaim she's gotten in the press – and she does a nice job of throwing in a few surprises along the way, on titles that include "Love & Trust", "What You Gonna Do", "You Are Not Alone", "Can You Get To That", "Let's Do It Again", "Slippery People", "We're Gonna Make It", "Touch A Hand", "Dedicated", and "Who Told You That". CD

Mavis Staples works here in great partnership with Ben Harper – who not only produced the record, but also wrote all the songs in the set too! Yet unlike a Harper album, the vibe here is definitely focused more in the mode of Mavis – as the songs really provide her with a great platform for both her vocals and the inspired message in her music in recent years – the sorts of tracks that feel almost as if they could be older nuggets from Staples' catalog. Harper wisely steps back throughout – and only makes a guest appearance on one track – leaving Mavis and a sharp small combo to work through titles that include "Change", "Stronger", "Never Needed Anyone", "Chance On Me", "Hard To Leave", and "Heavy On My Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

Mavis Staples works here in great partnership with Ben Harper – who not only produced the record, but also wrote all the songs in the set too! Yet unlike a Harper album, the vibe here is definitely focused more in the mode of Mavis – as the songs really provide her with a great platform for both her vocals and the inspired message in her music in recent years – the sorts of tracks that feel almost as if they could be older nuggets from Staples' catalog. Harper wisely steps back throughout – and only makes a guest appearance on one track – leaving Mavis and a sharp small combo to work through titles that include "Change", "Stronger", "Never Needed Anyone", "Chance On Me", "Hard To Leave", and "Heavy On My Mind". CD

Norah is joined by the legendary Mavis Stapes on "I'll Be Gone" and Tarriona Tank Ball of Tank & The Bangas on "Playing Along". 7-inch, Vinyl record

Mavis Staples follows up her strong run of recent solo albums by a live set that's maybe even rootsier than the studio material – recorded in London with a nicely small band – which gives the music a nice sort of bite, right from the start! Guitarist Rick Holmstrom is almost an equal star in the spotlight – as his bluesy guitar licks are a big part of the album's sound, and either kick off a tune with a bold lead, or solo for a bit right in the middle. Mavis hardly needs an introduction here – given all the recent acclaim she's gotten in the press – and she does a nice job of throwing in a few surprises along the way, on titles that include "Love & Trust", "What You Gonna Do", "You Are Not Alone", "Can You Get To That", "Let's Do It Again", "Slippery People", "We're Gonna Make It", "Touch A Hand", "Dedicated", and "Who Told You That". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful little book from one of the more inspired creative talents on the Chicago scene – writer/artist Dmitry Samarov, who's always got a talent for getting to the heart of the city – and for being very open about what matters, and why! This book is Dmitry's love letter to the Chicago music scene – and maybe music in general – and the volume mixes both Samarov's drawings and words, as he makes his way through shows, clubs, bars, and other points in the Windy City – all while also stopping to take us further back in time, to sounds that inspired him at an earlier age – all with a voice that's very honest and down to earth, and a bit of a change from the usual rock criticism you might read. The hardcover book looks like a little sketchbook, but it's much bigger than that – over 250 pages, with drawings throughout – covering subjects as wide-ranging as Peter Brotzmann, Neko Case, Mavis Staples, Marc Maron, James Blood Ulmer, David Yow, Handsome Family, Low, The Gories, Silver Jews, Joe Jackson, Rob Mazurek, Eleventh Dream Day, Mekons, Evan Dando, Shellac, Mission Of Burma, and countless others – including some film and literary talents as well. Book

Music from George Clinton, Nona Gaye & Prince, Mayte, the Steeles, the NPG, Margie Cox, Mavis Staples, Madhouse & MPLS. CD

Music from George Clinton, Nona Gaye & Prince, Mayte, the Steeles, the NPG, Margie Cox, Mavis Staples, Madhouse & MPLS. LP, Vinyl record album

A UK-only collection, with rare female soul from the later years of Stax Records – tracks by Veda Brown, Inez Foxx, The Emotions, Mavis Staples, Jeanne & The Darlings, Margie Alexander, Judy Clay, Shirley Brown, Sweet Inspirations, Hot Sauce, and Kim Weston! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest female soul records ever to come from Chicago – a killer set of work from the legendary Ruby Andrews! Ruby's a hell of a talent that should have been huge at a national level – possessed with a deep soul style that matched the best from Betty Lavette or Mavis Staples, but often set up in more sophisticated arrangements too – in a mode that worked perfectly in a "double-edged sword" model that was often employed by other Chicago singers, like Barbara Acklin or Patty Drew. The album was issued as a follow-up to Ruby's massive cut "Casanova", which is a perfect example of this style – with Ruby's raw vocals over the top, some loping string arrangements underneath, and the whole thing working perfectly together in an amazing blend of styles! The whole album's incredibly strong, and other tracks include "Casanova 70", "You Made A Believer Out Of Me", "Tit For Tat", and "Can You Get Away". LP, Vinyl record album

Well, it wasn't Purple Rain – nor Parade – but this 3rd Prince soundtrack still had some nice moments, thanks to an ever-expanding Paisley Park family that included George Clinton, Morris Day, and Mavis Staples! The older funk acts don't come off as nicely as Prince and The Time do – but with 2LPs worth of material, there's enough good numbers to pick out of the set. Titles include "New Power Generation", "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got", "Love Machine", "Tick Tick Bang", "Shake", "Thieves In The Temple", "Still Would Stand All Time", "Graffiti Bridge", and "The Latest Fashion". CD

One of the greatest female soul records ever to come from Chicago – a killer set of work from the legendary Ruby Andrews! Ruby's a hell of a talent that should have been huge at a national level – possessed with a deep soul style that matched the best from Betty Lavette or Mavis Staples, but often set up in more sophisticated arrangements too – in a mode that worked perfectly in a "double-edged sword" model that was often employed by other Chicago singers, like Barbara Acklin or Patty Drew. The album was issued as a follow-up to Ruby's massive cut "Casanova", which is a perfect example of this style – with Ruby's raw vocals over the top, some loping string arrangements underneath, and the whole thing working perfectly together in an amazing blend of styles! The whole album's incredibly strong, and other tracks include "Casanova 70", "You Made A Believer Out Of Me", "Tit For Tat", and "Can You Get Away". LP, Vinyl record album

Two rare Stax Records gems – back to back on a funky 45! "Trippin On Love" is a fantastic funky club number from The Staple Singers – a tune that begins slow, then slides into a snapping midtempo groove that's topped by better-than-usual vocals from Mavis Staples – and that's really saying a lot! "That's Why I Love You" is fantastic early 70s harmony soul from The Temprees – an upbeat track that really has the group soaring at their vocal best – presented here in a rare mono mix too! 7-inch, Vinyl record