The Staple Singers: For What It's Worth, The Complete Epic Recordings 1964 - 1968, 3CD Clamshell Boxset

In 1964, The Staple Singers signed with Epic Records after leaving Jazz/Blues/Folk label Riverside Records. From then until the middle of 1968, they recorded six albums for the label, all of which are featured in this 3CD box.

Three of these classic albums, “Pray On”, “For What It’s Worth” and “What The World Needs Now Is Love”, are making their CD debut and this now makes virtually all of their recorded work available on CD.

During the years with Epic, The Staple Singers’ sound developed into the Soul/Folk sub-genre that came to a commercial peak at Stax Records during the 1970s.

This 66-track box set is the first-ever retrospective of their Epic years and features songs by Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, Burt Bacharach and Hal David as well as numerous original compositions by Pop Staples. His original song, ‘Why (Am I Treated So Bad)’, has become a soul standard.

Despite their newly-found commercial success, the group did not leave any of their gospel roots behind. All of the songs that are not gospel standards are imbued with a message of hope and inspiration, fully in keeping with their Christian music roots.

Mavis Staples is featured on lead vocals on the majority of tracks but there are also several vocals from Pops Staples and his blues-drenched guitar gets much exposure too. Pervis Staples can be heard on three recitations with Bob Dylan’s ‘John Brown’, which are especially notable.

Mavis Staples is the only member of the family still active and regularly touring the world, keeping The Staples Singers legacy alive. Pervis has been long retired and Pops, Yvonne and Cleotha have all passed away.

Soul Music.Com are very proud to bring these six keenly sought-after albums back into circulation.

DISC ONE:
AMEN! (1965)
1. MORE THAN A HAMMER AND NAIL
2. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS
3. MY JESUS IS ALL
4. THIS TRAIN
5. PRAYING TIME
6. BE CAREFUL OF STONES THAT YOU THROW
7. SAMSON AND DELILAH
8.NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE
9. MARY DON’T YOU WEEP
10. AS AN EAGLE STIRRETH HER NEST
11. DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF
12. AMEN (From “Lillies Of The Field”) PRAY ON (1966)
13. IT’S BEEN A CHANGE
14. WAITING FOR MY CHILD
15. HOW GREAT THOU ART
16. WISH I HAD ANSWERED
17. TRAMP ON THE STREET
18. WHEN WAS JESUS BORN
19. PRAY ON
20. GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH
21. THE LORD’S PRAYER
22. HAD NO ROOM
23. JOHN BROWN

DISC TWO:
FREEDOM HIGHWAY –
LIVE AT CHICAGO’S NEW NAZARETH CHURCH (1965)
1. FREEDOM HIGHWAY
2. WHAT YOU GONNA DO
3. TAKE MY HAND PRECIOUS LORD
4. WHEN I’M GONE
5. HELP ME JESUS
6. WE SHALL OVERCOME
7. WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
8. THE FUNERAL
9. BUILD ON THAT SHORE
10. TELL HEAVEN
11. HE’S ALLRIGHT WHY (1966)
12.WHY? AM, I TREATED SO BAD
13. KING OF KINGS
14.STEP ASIDE
15. IF I COULD HEAR MY MOTHER PRAY AGAIN
16.WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN HEAVEN TODAY?
17. WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN?
18. I’VE BEEN SCORNED
19. I’M GONNA TELL GOD (ABOUT MY TROUBLES)
20. MY SWEET HOME
21. MOVE ALONG TRAIN

DISC THREE:
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH (1967)
1. FOR WHAT ITS WORTH
2. FATHER LET ME RIDE
3. DELIVER ME
4. HE
5. IF I HAD A HAMMER
6. ARE YOU SURE
7. WADE IN THE WATER
8. I’M THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
9. JACOB’S LADDER
10. GOOD NEWS WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE (1968)
11.WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE
12. DON’T LET NOBODY TURN YOU AROUND
13. A PLACE IN THE SUN
14. I WONDER WHY
15.LET THAT LIAR ALONE
16. LET’S GET TOGETHER
17. CRYING IN THE CHAPEL – Mavis Staples
18. DOWNWARD ROAD
19. A HARD RAIN’S GONNA FALL
20. NOTHING LASTS FOREVER – Mavis Staples
21. PEOPLE GET READY

BONUS TRACK
22. POWER OF LOVE (B-side)