The Best of the Staple Singers [Stax] (CD - 1990)

Includes liner notes by Lee Hildebrand.

Digitally remastered by Joe Tarantino (1986, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

Audio Remasterer: Joe Tarantino.

Liner Note Author: Lee Hildebrand.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Cleotha Staples; Mavis Staples; Pervis Staples; Roebuck "Pops" Staples.

The best and most famous cuts from their glory years at Stax. Includes their massive hits "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There"; less famous but similar gospel-funk fusions like "Touch a Hand (Make a Friend)" and "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)"; and less expected items like a cover of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." It does not, however, have their 1975 number one single "Let's Do It Again," which they recorded just after cutting their ties to Stax. ~ Richie Unterberger

Of the many Staple Singers compilations, the 1986 set on the Stax label is the most concise overview of the brief period where the family group weren't just gospel superstars, but a regular presence on the pop and R&B charts. BEST OF THE STAPLE SINGERS includes all seven of the group's Top 40 hits between 1971 and 1974, including the Number One smash "I'll Take You There." (The group's second and final Number One single, the 1975 movie theme "Let's Do It Again," is not included, since it was recorded for Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label after Stax's dissolution.) Also included are a handful of the gospel showcases for lead singer Mavis Staples that first made the group's name, along with sanctified covers of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay" and the Band's "The Weight." BEST OF THE STAPLE SINGERS is a basic, no-nonsense, 16-track overview that does the job for casual fans, but it will also serve as a springboard for those who wish to explore further into the group's enormous catalogue. minimize