Mavis Staples gets funky with the new song Anytime, from her upcoming album We Get By. Produced by Ben Harper, the full project will be released May 10th.
Give me a one way ticket, somewhere Ive never been/Im rock, paper, scissors and Im bound to win, sings Staples, her inimitable purr backed by a strutting bass-and-guitar groove. She adopts an optimistic outlook for the future, though not one that happens without some hard work and sacrifice. Its an earthy, uplifting sound reminiscent of the Staple Singers classic Ill Take You There, complete with some electric guitar curlicues that nod to the lasting influence of as well as Staples role in defining Muscle Shoals and Stax Records soul.
We Get By, featuring a group of all original songs penned by Harper for Staples, offers meditations on civil rights, gun violence and progressive work yet to be finished in the United States. She previously released the song Change as the first taste of the album.
In May, Staples will celebrate her 80th birthday with a series of concerts in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. Guests will be different at each show, but performers announced so far include David Byrne, Jason Isbell, Jon Batiste, John Prine, Elle King and Benjamin Booker. Proceeds from the events will go toward Newport Folk Festival Foundations work with music education programs.