Artist	Song
The Staple Singers	My Main Man / There Is a God
from The Very Best of the Staple Singers (2007)
The Staple Singers	Swing Down Chariot
from Swing Low Sweet Chariot (2007)
Mavis Staples	I Have Learned to Do Without You
from Only for the Lonely (2006)
Pops Staples	Trying Times
from Celebrating the Life of Pops Staples (2003)
The Staple Singers	There Was a Star
from The 25th Day of December (2007)
Staple Singers	Let's Go Home
from Uncloudy Day & Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (2007)
The Staple Singers	You're Gonna Make Me Cry
from The Staple Swingers (2006)
The Staple Singers	Nobody's Fault But Mine
from Freedom Highway (1991)
The Staple Singers	I Got to Be Myself
from The Very Best of the Staple Singers (2007)
Staple Singers	Pray On
from Uncloudy Day & Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (2007)
The Staple Singers	Be What You Are
from The Very Best of the Staple Singers (2007)
Staple Singers	Don't Knock
from Uncloudy Day & Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (2007)
The Staple Singers	Hammer and Nails
from Freedom Highway (1991)
The Staple Singers	Love Is Plentiful
from The Staple Swingers (2006)
The Staple Singers	Be Careful of Stones That You Throw
from Freedom Highway (1991)

Comment:

No matter the setting — stadium, stage, or studio — the Staples always keep one foot firmly planted under the gospel tent flap. In "Swing Down Chariot," Pops builds a head of steam like a locomotive leading a devil-chased dash to the Promised Land, his kids stoking the firebox with the fevered chant of "swing, swing, swing, swing, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet." With just a rockabluesy electric guitar, a brush-shuffled drum kit, and a family chorus chiming in their support, daughter Mavis baptizes the faithful in the volcanic rapture of "Pray On," filling every open space with a from-the-haunches holler of salvation. And if that was the call to meeting, then the satin-cloaked, silver-tongued "Hammer and Nails" is the spit-shined, freshly conked preacher sealing the deal, every [i]doo-doot-doo[/i]ing voice in the choir loft locked together like hands in prayer, just [i]itching[/i] for the chance to save one more sinner.

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