The Staple Singers

The Staple Singers had been around for years before they crossed over from Gospel royalty to pop stars. Believe it or not, the classic "Respect Yourself" only reached No. 12 (wake up and start respecting yourself, America!) but the follow-up, "I'll Take You There" soared to No. 1 on the pop charts. While both magic numbers are still played daily, the rest of this album is up to their rarified level of excellence. "Name The Missing Word," "Who" and every other cut is made close-to-perfect by Mavis Staple's heart-breaking lead vocals, Pop's benevolent leadership and the family band's tight harmonies.

Musically, this is a triumph of the Staples' evolving pop style. The arrangements fit, and Roebuck and Mavis have never sounded more at home. But despite "I'll Take You There," a lot of the material is as silly as the contorted title pun. Even "Respect Yourself," you will recall, has that line about stopping pollution by coughing into your hand. (Grade - B-)