Mavis Staples has kept the faith since the 1950s, delivering a message of uplift and determination in hopeful and dark days alike. First as the young powerhouse of The Staple Singers and later as a solo artist, she has brought an inspiring gospel-fired fervor to both secular and spiritual settings. While her family’s songs served as a vital voice of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, Staples’ music might be even more relevant today, when it can feel as though decades of social progress are unravelling. A welcome antidote to despair and terrific listening to boot, Sad and Beautiful World couldn’t come at a better time.
Produced by Brad Cook, this splendid album boasts a striking lineup of players and backup singers, including: Anjimile, Sam Beam, Tré Burt, Katie Crutchfield, Buddy Guy, Patterson Hood, MJ Lenderman, Bonnie Raitt, Nathaniel Rateliff, Amy Ray, Derek Trucks, Jeff Tweedy, and Justin Vernon. Apart from a few fierce guitar licks, however, none of the support crew step out, leaving center stage to the star, who sings with her distinctive solemn authority, despite being well past 80. If Staples’ voice has inevitably grown deeper and rougher with age, she remains a compelling artist of sublime grace.
