April 20 street date. RECORD STORE DAY release. Alligator is proud to release Mavis Staples' landmark album "Have A Little Faith" in a silver vinyl 20th anniversary edition with new liner notes by Mavis, expanded artwork, and remastered recordings pressed on two 12-inch records at 45rpm for the best possible sound. Mavis Staples' legendary career has seen the gospel, soul, and civil rights icon embraced by new generations of fans through her collaborations with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Run The Jewels, Neko Case, and Justin Vernon. And it all began with "Have A Little Faith", the 2004 album that brought her stirring, positive messages into the 21st century. After being turned down by major labels unable to see the commercial appeal of this legend's fresh, genre-busting approach to spiritual music, it was embraced by Alligator Records, who helped Mavis fulfill her dream and launch her solo career. "Have A Little Faith" is an exhilarating collection of uplifting songs deeply seated in Mavis' faith and spirituality and features one of the strongest collections of material ever chosen for a Mavis Staples solo recording.
August 12 street date. Coloured vinyl 15th anniversary edition of Mavis Staples' 2007 album "We'll Never Turn Back". "When we started our family group, The Staple Singers, we started out mostly singing in churches in the south. Pops saw Dr. Martin Luther King speak in 1963 and from there we started to broaden our musical vision beyond just gospel songs. Like many in the civil rights movement, we drew on the spirituality and the strength from the church to help gain social justice and try to achieve equal rights. We became a major voice for the civil rights movement and hopefully helped to make a difference in this country. It was a diffiicult and dangerous time but we felt we needed to stand up and be heard. So for us, and for many in the civil rights movement, we looked to the church for inner strength and to help make positive changes. And that seems to be missing today. Here it is, 2007, and there are still so many problems and social injustices in the world. With this record, I hope to get across the same feeling, the same spirit and the same message as we did with the Staple Singers and to hopefully continue to make positive changes. Things are better but we're not where we need to be and we'll never turn back" - Mavis Staples.
Please note new street date: August 5 (LP) / June 17 for CD. Iconic singer Mavis Staples is an alchemist of American music, and during her 70+ year career one of her most beloved musical moments was her riveting performance in Martin Scorsese's film "The Last Waltz", performing "The Weight" with The Band, a moment that forged a life-long friendship between her and Levon Helm. Staples came to Woodstock, NY to perform as part of Helm's renowned Midnight Ramble series, and the ensuing concert - vailable now for the first time on the rousing new ANTI- Records release "Carry Me Home" - would mark a personal high watermark for both artists. Captured live in the summer of 2011, "Carry Me Home" showcases two of the past century's most iconic voices coming together in love and joy, tracing their shared roots and celebrating the enduring power of faith and music. The setlist was righteous that night, mixing vintage gospel and soul with timeless folk and blues, and the performances were loose and playful, fueled by an ecstatic atmosphere that was equal parts family reunion and tent revival.