| Average Rating: |
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| Sales Rank: | 6423 (lower is better) |
| Price as of: | 12/31/2008 9:09:23 PM MST |
| Price Used: | $6.98 |
| Shipping: | Free Shipping on most orders over $25* |
| Availability: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| Release Date: | 2004-08-17 |
| Label: | Alligator Records |
| UPC: | 014551489924 |
| Binding: | Audio CD |
| Published By: | Alligator Records |
| ASIN: | B0002A5R6A |
| Category: | Music |
Tracks on Have a Little Faith by Alligator Records
- Step Into The Light
- Pop's Recipe
- Have A Little Faith
- God Is Not Sleeping
- A Dying Man's Plea
- Ain't No Better Than You
- I Wanna Thank You
- I Still Believe In You
- At The End of the Day
- There's A Devil On The Loose
- In Times Like These
- Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions
Album Description
HAVE A LITTLE FAITH is a stirring collection of uplifting, gospel-rooted songs deeply-seated in Staples’faith and spirituality. Produced by Jim Tullio and Staples, the album features the strongest collection of material—both originals and interpretations—Mavis has ever assembled. With help from the Dixie Hummingbirds, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH takes listeners deep into the heart of the singer Vibe magazine called "one of pop’s most distinctive voices."
Amazon.com
As the lead female voice of family gospel band the Staple Singers, Mavis Staples has shown more than a little faith across four decades, using her voice as a powerful instrument in the battle for civil rights and the eternal struggle for salvation (as well as pop hits). Here, on her first CD of new material since 1993's Prince-produced The Voice, the 64-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer seems relaxed. That's why acoustic treatments of tunes like "Step Into the Light" and the Blind Lemon Jefferson tribute "A Dying Man's Plea" sound so good wrapped around her warm honey-and-grits tones, with slide guitars and fiddles following the easy flow of her melodies. Nonetheless, there's a simmering intensity to her performances, though she eases for sweet recollections in the uplifting biography of her late father Roebuck, "Pop's Recipe." Yet Staples always remains strong enough to render the disc's overabundance of lite-funk arrangements irrelevant. --Ted Drozdowski
Customer Reviews
Staples is spiritually and musically convicted - Reviewed on 2006-04-02
4 customers found this review helpful.
Mavis Staples
Have A Little Faith Alligator
On her first album of new material since 1993, Mavis Staples proves to be, spiritually and musically, convicted. She still has her instantly recognizable and dynamic voice. It distinctively features throughout 12 songs on her Alligator debut. All are uplifting and contain encouraging messages about being the best you can be, equal rights, helping each other, spirituality in God, believing in your dreams, and keeping the faith. Her unheralded backing band, features her sister, Yvonne, on background vocals. The production is very polished.
"Pops Recipe" is rather funky and is an homage to Mavis' father. He had 13 siblings, dropped out of school to pick cotton yet became a gospel and soul legend. Pops taught his children to ("Accept responsibility / don't subscribe to bigotry, hypocrisy, duplicity.") "Ain't No Better Than You" contains equally strong lyrics such as ("Change will come but not overnight / it's the waiting / that's so frustrating.") The slow and deeply moving, "God Is Not Sleeping", is beautiful and brilliant. Several numbers mix gospel with R&B such as "I Still Believe In You" and "There's A Devil On The Loose". The latter describes the evil that is brought to individuals and society. The Chicago Music Community Choir's gospel backing vocals are astounding on "In Times Like These".
The meaningful lyrics to these inspirational songs are a stark reminder of the strife's and struggles that many have to endure. Yet, this is healing music -- designed to help our hurting and deeply suffering world. Like an open door, Staples' powerful voice and contemporary musical arrangements are welcoming so that you don't miss out on a lost opportunity. For 51 minutes, she instills faith in the deepest cynic and provides hope for the broken-hearted.
-- Tim Holek
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Book Subjects
- Black Gospel
- Early R&B
- Gospel
- Pop
- R&B
- Soul
- Soul/R&B
- Southern Gospel
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