The Staple Singers

Don't be put off by the title. The Staples haven't been a gospel group for years, and now that they're admitting it they can build a credible pop-soul sound on their two extraordinary assets--Mavis's urgent voice and Pop's laggard lick. This has its clumsy moments, but it also has its transcendent one: "Heavy Makes You Happy," a hit single from the same pen that gave us "Sugar Sugar." And Smokey Robinson provides moral suasion. (Grade - B)