Omnivore Recordings have announced, on behalf of the legendary R&B vocal group The Staple Singers, the May release of their new album: "Africa 80," which will feature performances from their first-ever Africa tour.
The record will be available as a CD and through digital platforms starting May 10. The collection of hits includes tracks like "Let's Do It Again," Respect Yourself," and "Touch A Hand, Make A Friend," among others.
Rediscovering The Staple Singers, Gospel Innovators of the 1950s
The group first emerged into the public consciousness in the first half of the '50s, eventually altering the way listeners of the time viewed and experienced gospel music across their expansive careers.
Patriarch Roebuck "Pops" Staples spearheaded the creation of the vocal group after realizing their brand music could help inspire and enlighten a new generation, especially during the height of the Civil Rights movement, all while entertaining them with an unfamiliar soundscape.
Thereafter, The Staple Singers signed with Stax Records and began to dominate not only the gospel charts of the era but also the pop and R&B ladder as well, through hits such as "Ill Take You There," "Respect Yourself," "Touch A Hand, Make A Friend," and more.
However, over time, Stax Records had to close down, which prompted the group to join under Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records. By 1975, the family of singers hit the top spot in both pop and R&B charts again, with their "Let's Do It Again" single.
This string of success eventually garnered the attention of the US Government, which consequently sponsored their first African tour in 1980.
Their set included fresh singles and classics alike, alongside covers like "Ease On Down The Road" from The Wiz, and the Bacharach/David classic, "A House Is Not A Home."
Now, this monumental and continent-spanning set is undergoing restoration and mastering magic from the hands of multi-Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves and spawning "Africa 80," a new look at the group's ever-progressing music.
In addition, new liner notes from Tim Dillinger-Curenton, a gospel music journalist, present a new perspective on the band's legacy and notable details during their African tour.
You can now pre-order "Africa 80" by clicking here and you can also watch its trailer below.
Africa 80 tracklist:
1. Introduction
2. Ease On Down The Road
3. Let's Do It Again
4. Respect Yourself
5. Come Go With Me
6. Why Am I Treated So Bad
7. A House Is Not A Home
8. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
9. He's Alright
10. Touch A Hand, Make A Friend
11. Touch A Hand, Make A Friend (Reprise)
