A good choice for those trying to collect pre-Stax Staple Si
traderje | Through the Window | 08/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I happen to prefer the pre-Stax period of the Staple Singers with their raw gospel/blues numbers. This CD is the only modern compilation I have yet seen that concentrates a little less on their more well known later pop songs and has the classics from their church days. Pops' guitar shines along with those powerful voices we all love. I would spend the extra few bucks to get this one over the other "Best of" collections. The next best thing to having the original albums.
Of course, there are some post-Stax selections included, too."
Good Opportunity Blown!!
Ho Chi Minh | Texas | 07/31/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Finally a Comprehensive Staples Anthology is here, One that includes Gems from their Early Gospel Period along with The Stax Classics AND "Let's Do it Again"...However...The Single Versions of these Tunes are used, not the Longer, decidedly Superior Album Versions; Regrettably I Must Reccomend Against Purchasing this Set, I Wish I could Love it, but perhaps with all the Consolidation going on With Big Record Companies We will get a Proper Staples Collection Soon....Still Waiting..."
From gospel to pop to gospel again
Carlos A. Marsh | pasadena, ca. | 09/24/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"by the time i got into the staples they had become a pop group with BEALTITUDE which contained their number one I'LL TAKE YOU THERE and RESPECT YOURSELF and THIS WORLD. all three songs are on this collection but the first two are the single edits. i read a review at the time that pop had made inroads into their gospel sound making it seem like they sold out but BEALTITUDE was very inspiring to me and still one of my all time favorite albums. but the review has always made me think how did they sound before? well this remastered gem starts out at the beginning. and though they were a family and started out in the church the first recordings were pretty shoddy and primitive but that was starting in 53 like real old blues records. by the mid sixties they got very spiritual and cohesive and the spirit really started to flow. there are some nice mavis solo songs .she has an excellent voice. i just saw her on soul train in 74 doing A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME and it floored me. too bad thats not on here but there are enough gems to fill the two cds. al green was not the only one to take a talking heads song and put a soulful spin on it. in 85 so many years since they began they layed down a funky spiritual groove on the head's SLIPPERY PEOPLE. a rousing number. and maybe they did go commercial in the 70s with island rythm songs like IF YOURE READY(COME GO WITH ME) and TOUCH A HAND MAKE A FRIEND and the very secular and sensous number one LET'S DO IT AGAIN but those songs were no less spiritual than many of their so called gospel songs. pure joy. one of the best family groups ever. gospel , pop, whatever."
