Billy Sherrill (1936-2015)

A post to mark the passing last week of songwriter and record producer Billy Sherrill. Among other credits, he co-wrote "Stand By Your Man" with Tammy Wynette. He also produced "He Stopped Loving Her Today" for George Jones, and The Staple Singers album "Freedom Highway".

Great Day

The Staple Singers performing "Great Day".

Tribute To Pops Staples

A tribute video for Pops Staples.

Mavis and Arcade Fire

Now that she has turned 75 and has a new knee, Mavis Staples is out performing with all the kids. Here she is performing the Rolling Stone's "The Last Time" with Arcade Fire. 



Actually the Rolling Stones based this song on a traditional song the Staple Singers performed earlier. Here is the recording of the song that the Staple Singers made over 50 years ago, when Mavis was just a young thing.

Unexpected Covers - Slippery People

This week I am going to post some unexpected covers, where one artist covers something that I would never expect them to do.

Here is the Staple Singers' cover of "Slippery People" and the Talking Head's original version. Despite the differences in these two groups, the arrangements are surprisingly similar.

Sit Down Servant

The Staple Singers performing "Sit Down Servant".  Looks like 40 or 50 years ago.  I love to hear Mavis clap.

More Than A Hammer And Nails

Here is a clip of the Staple Singers performing "More Than A Hammer And Nails". Earlier this week the oldest Staples sister, Cleotha, passed away at 78. She was the sister who aways stood closest to Pops when they performed.

The Weight

To follow up yesterday's post on the passing of Levon Helm, here are two versions of a classic, "The Weight". 

With Pops and Mavis Staples helping out, from the film The Last Waltz.

A much more recent version of the song recorded at the Ryman Auditorium with John Hiatt

Tedeschi Trucks channel the Staples

Friday night I want to see the Tedeschi Trucks Band, out on tour to promote their album Revelator. (Video of songs from that album on my June 29, 2001 post) As part of the encore they performed "Wade in the Water". While they were singing I got the feeling they were channeling The Staple Singers from over 40 years ago. Below is the Tedeschi Trucks Band's version of the song, followed by a 1968 version of it performed by The Staple Singers. Someday I would like to hear Mavis and Susan sing this together.

The Staple Singers

I took a little break from posting on this blog, but I am starting back up. My last post was on Mavis Staples. Continuing on, here are a couple videos of the whole Staples family from back in the Staple Singers days.

"Why Am I Treated So Bad"



"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend"



"We the People"

Mavis Staples

Last Friday night I went to see Mavis Staples at the Kennedy Center. She started performing with her family 60 years ago, and she is still going strong. Her sister Yvonne still sings with her.

Here is a recent performance of a song originally from The Staples Singers days, "March Up Freedom's Highway".



Here is an interview with Mavis talking about Martin Luther King and Freedom Songs.



Mavis performing another hit from The Staple Singers days, in Central Park, "I'll Take You There".



Here is a scene from the 1978 film The Last Waltz. The Band and The Staples Singers performing "The Weight".javascript:void(0)