Mavis Staples: You Are Not Alone

The power of music: the soul legend sings gospel, Newman and Toussaint; produced by Jeff Tweedy (Wilco). When Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and Mavis Staples were thinking about how "You Are Not Alone", the twelfth studio album by the soul legend, should sound, they both turned to the spiritual roots of the Staple Singers. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and the singer/songwriter from the alternative country scene both wanted to make an album about connections. About how you can reach someone through the power of music. The result is perhaps the best album in Mavis Staples' long career: a warm, powerful and fervent collection of cleverly selected and interpreted songs. Produced by Tweedy at Wilco's The Loft studio, "You Are Not Alone" combines traditional gospel numbers with two new songs Tweedy wrote for Staples, as well as interpretations of songs by Pops Staples, Randy Newman, Allen Toussaint, John Fogerty, Gary Davis and Little Milton. A great statement from a great artist.