Feb 20, 2025
365 blk!
Wattstax blk!
seen from India
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from China
seen from Netherlands
seen from India
seen from Iraq
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from China
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Türkiye
seen from Netherlands
seen from Thailand
seen from Iraq
365 blk!
Wattstax blk!
Roebuck "Pops" Staples
December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000
Currently three deep into The Staples Singers Stax Records catalog tonight. Gotta say Mavis Staples is the voice I need for these times we’re in!
Roebuck “Pops” Staples (28 December 1914 – 19 December 2000)
Song Review: Mavis Staples - “Human Mind” (Colbert)
Mavis Staples’ exquisite performance notwithstanding, Hozier and Allison Russell deserve humongous props for channeling the singer in writing “Human Mind” for her forthcoming Sad and Beautiful World.
The lyrics reference Pops Staples and Mavis being the last surviving member of the Singers. They allude to B-sides, “By and By” and Staples’ religious beliefs.
God bless the human mind/who would dream the sweet design/even in these days I find/this far down the line/I find good in it sometimes
With gentle and sympathetic backing from her touring band, Staples sung these words on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” bringing recording-studio quality to a television sound stage and infusing childlike wonder in an 86-year-old mind.
Staples is magnificent, as is the band. Hozier and Russell? Utterly amazing in the grace they tapped in giving words to Staples’ voice. That she believes them to her core is obvious.
“Godspeed,” “Beautiful Strangers” and the title track have preceded Sad and Beautiful World’s Nov. 7 release date. Read Sound Bites’ previous coverage here.
Grade card: Mavis Staples - “Human Mind” (Colbert) - A
11/5/25
We The People - The Staple Singers (1972)
The Staple Singers - Power of Love (1968)
Recorded as the Staples were moving to secular music, there's still a strong gospel sound backing Mavis' powerful and gritty vocals. Cool guitar by Pops, as well.
True Stories
1986. Satirical Musical Comedy
By David Byrne
Starring: David Byrne, John Goodman, Spalding Gray, Annie McEnroe, Swoosie Kurtz, Pops Staples, John Ingle, Tito Larriva, Jo Harvey Allen, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison
Country: United States
Language: English
