By Brian Wise.
MAVIS STAPLES – SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD (ANTI-)
The fact that Mavis Staples turned 86 this year and is still out on tour is amazing, but what is even better is that her new recording ranks amongst her best to date. With the 14th album of her solo career since 1969, Staples’ voice is still as rich and clear as it has ever been. The only sign at all of age over the past decade might be that the tone has assumed even more character. A couple of years older than her long-time admirer Bob Dylan, Staples’ voice has probably aged a lot better than his – and that of many of their contemporaries. It is a wonderful and soothing thing. The same with this new album, though the title might be a little ominous.
The other aspect of Staples’ career that has also not aged is her political commitment that started in the Civil Rights era with her father and sisters. Mavis was last in Australia just a couple of years ago, touring with Bonnie Raitt (who guests on the new album), and the songs on the new album reinforce the messages that she was preaching then. However, back on home soil Mavis has been far more forthright. During the last reign of the current President she refused to even mention his name on stage, referring to him as ‘the orange one’ and comparing him in one interview to Satan. It’s safe to say that Mavis won’t be on the White House greeting card list this festive season – as if she cares. Good on her.
Sad And Beautiful World was produced by Brad Cook – known for his work with Bon Iver, Waxahatchee, and Nathaniel Rateliff – and he includes them here along with many other guests, some from Chicago, including Buddy Guy, Jeff Tweedy, Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks, Katie Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman and Justin Vernon. Over the past two decades Staples has also worked with a variety of different producers and Cook joins a list that includes Ben Harper, M. Ward, Jeff Tweedy (three times) and Ry Cooder.
The album opens with ‘Chicago’, a song about Staples’ home city. Written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, originally appearing on Waits’ album Bad As Me back in 2011, the song is timely given the recent threat to send in the National Guard. ‘Not alone, not afraid,’ sings Staples defiantly. ‘Maybe things will be better in Chicago,’ she continues in a theme that is echoed in other songs. Appropriately, Buddy Guy, another Chicago legend, plays guitar while Derek Trucks adds slide. While this version dispenses with a few of the rough edges of the original it still retains the percussive energy and rawness. It is slightly longer than the original at 2:37 but I could have happily heard another five minutes or so! (This might have others scrambling through the Waits back catalogue for more undiscovered gems).
On Kevin Morby’s ‘Beautiful Strangers,’ the lyrics resonate. “If you ever hear that gunshot… you may think about what you do but you don’t got / Say a prayer / think of mother / I am a rock.” Rick Holstrom is joined by MJ Lenderman on guitar.
Current events in America must be infuriating for someone of Staples’ strong principles but rather than rage about it Staples approaches the new album preaching love and tolerance. Written by the late Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) ‘Sad and Beautiful World’, could almost be an admission of resignation, as it originally sounded. But it is not.
‘Human Mind,’ written for and about Mavis by Hozier and Allison Russell is a more reflective ballad in which Mavis sings, “God bless the human mind / Even in these days, I find / This far down the line / I find good in it sometimes” and later adds, “Find a reason Lord to keep on trying / With every tear you cry / You find good in it sometimes.” (Watch a video of Mavis performing this on the Late Show here: Human Mind).
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ ‘Hard Times’ plays a similar role to Ry Cooder’s version of Blind Alfred Reed’s ‘How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live’ on his debut album 55 years ago. It is a reminder that there are many people but that ‘hard times aren’t going to rule my mind.’ There is some beautiful slide guitar added by Derek Trucks with Kara Jackson and Katie Crutchfield on backing vocals. The version of Frank Ocean’s ‘Godspeed’ is another contemporary choice that offers hope. “There will be mountains you won’t move. / I’ll always be there for you.” The song ends with a poem read by Kara Jackson. Curtis Mayfield’s ‘We Got To Have Peace’, is almost a meditation and a plea. “The little ones just don’t understand / Give them a chance to live their lives / And purify the land.” Synths are augmented with mandolin, keyboards and percussion. The interpretation of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Anthem’ is another superlative choice as Mavis sings ‘There is a crack in everything / That’s how the light gets in.” MJ Lenderman adds electric guitar and drums and the horn section colours the song exquisitely.
The album closes on two reflective notes. Mavis sings the Jack Rhodes and Red Hayes song ‘Satisfied Mind’, which Porter Wagoner took to No.1 exactly 50 years ago. (Jeff Buckley also did one of the many other versions). There there is some gorgeous pedal steel added by Colin Croom and backing vocals by Justin Vernon. It is understated but majestic.
One of the most pleasing song choices comes with the closer, Eddie Hinton’s ‘Everybody Needs Love.’ (It is also the title of a recent Hinton biography). Hinton was not only a fantastic singer, as you can read elsewhere in this edition, but a great songwriter. There is some lovely slide guitar from Bonnie Raitt who adds backing vocals along with Paterson Hood, Katie Crutchfield and Nathaniel Rateliffe. Staples’ glorious version even exceeds the original 1986 recording which Hinton recorded at Muscle Shoals – and that is the ultimate compliment. It is a mighty reminder of one of the great under-recognised talents. What a treat!
‘Everybody Needs Love’ also finishes off the album with the optimism that permeates most of the other songs and reflects Mavis Staples’ approach to life. Just when we were thinking the worst and that the world is going to hell in a handbasket along comes Mavis Staples with Sad And Beautiful World to remind us that there is still hope. You should play this album every day!
You can read the full review in Rhythms print edition.
Wow. That review is enough to make me find a record store and buy Mavis’s album.