''Mavis Staples'' is the debut solo studio by American

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...

and

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

singer

Mavis Staples Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress, and civil rights activist. She rose to fame as a member of her family's band The Staple Singers (she is the last surviving member of that band). Durin ...

. It was released on June 16, 1969, by

Volt Records Stax Records is an American record company, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the label changed its name to Stax Records in 1961. It also shared its operations with sister label Volt Records. Stax was ...

Critical reception

'' Cashbox'' published a review of the album in the issue dated June 28, 1969, which said, "Mavis Staples, of the famed Staple Singers gospel group, goes solo and soul in this Steve Cropper-produced set, and the album's appeal could easily spread to the underground/contemporary market. Mavis unleashes a trained, experienced and powerful voice on such items as "The Choking Kind," "A House Is Not a Home," "Son of a Preacher Man," "Chained," "Security" and "You Send Me."

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes. * James Alexander - bass *

Barry Beckett Barry Edward Beckett (February 4, 1943 – June 10, 2009) was an American keyboardist, session musician, record producer, and studio founder. He is best known for his work with David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, and Roger Hawkins, his bandmates in th ...

- keyboards * Al Bell - producer * Ron Capone - engineer *

Steve Cropper Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941), sometimes known as "The Colonel", is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which backed artists such as Ot ...

- producer, arranger, guitar *

Donald "Duck" Dunn Donald "Duck" Dunn (November 24, 1941 – May 13, 2012) was an American bass guitarist, session musician, record producer, and songwriter. Dunn was notable for his 1960s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and as a session bassist for Stax Rec ...

- bass * Willie Hall - drums * Roger Hawkins - drums *

Isaac Hayes Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was an American singer, actor, songwriter, and composer. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwri ...

- organ * Edward Hinton - guitar *

David Hood David Hood (born September 21, 1943) is an American bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also plays the trombone. He is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Early life and education Hood was born in Sheffield, Alabama and attende ...

- bass * Al Jackson, Jr. - drums * Beverly Parker - cover design * Bob Smith - cover photography * Mavis Staples - lead vocals * Marvell Thomas - piano * Honeya Thompson - art direction

References

{{Authority control Mavis Staples albums 1969 debut albums Albums produced by Steve Cropper Albums produced by Al Bell