Mavis Staples Announces New Live Album, Releases Performance Video

Gospel/blues titan and civil-rights warrior Mavis Staples has announced her first new live album in 10 years, Live in London. Set for release on Feb. 8 of next year, the album was recorded in London’s Union Chapel over the course of two nights and produced by Staples herself.

Following the deaths of Aretha Franklin and Mavis’ sister Yvonne earlier this year, Staples—with her almost 70-year-spanning career—is one of the few remaining gospel divas of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

“I’ve stretched out—I’m singing songs that rock stars have written for me,” said Staples in a statement. “But they know me and the kind of songs I want to sing … I’ve been sending a message of love and trust since the Sixties, and I’m still searching for that.”

With the announcement, Staples released a video of her performing one of the tracks from the album, “No Time For Cryin’,” at the Union Chapel. With election season in full swing, the single and its message that “we’ve got work to do” couldn’t be more timely.

Check out the video for “No Time For Cryin’” below and Paste’s 2011 interview with Staples below that. Find the Live in London tracklist and Staples’ tour dates further down.

Live in London Tracklist:
01. Love and Trust (Written by Ben Harper)
02. Who Told You That (Written by Jeff Tweedy)
03. Slippery People (Written by Talking Heads)
04. What You Gonna Do – Intro
05. What You Gonna Do (Written by Pops Staples)
06. Take Us Back (Written by Benjamin Booker)
07. You Are Not Alone (Written by Jeff Tweedy)
08. No Time For Cryin’ (Written by Jeff Tweedy and Mavis Staples)
09. Can You Get to That (Written by George Clinton and Ernie Harris)
10. Let’s Do It Again (Written by Curtis Mayfield)
11. Dedicated (Written by Justin Vernon and Matthew Ward)
12. We’re Gonna Make It (Written by Gene Barge, Billy Davis, Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith)
13. Encore: Happy Birthday
14. Touch A Hand (Written by Homer Banks, Carl Hampton and Raymond Jackson)

Mavis Staples Tour Dates:

November
09 – Lafayette, La. @ Acadiana Center For The Arts
11 – Highlands, N.C. @ Highlands Food and Wine Festival

December
01 – Seattle, Wash. @ Moore Theatre
06 – Lynchburg, Va. @ Academy of Music Theatre
07 – Philadelphia, Penn. @ World Café Live
08 – Philadelphia, Penn. @ World Café Live

January
18 – Aspen, Col. @ Belly Up
20 – Fort Collins, Col. @ Lincoln Center Performance Hall

February
21 – Paducah, Ky. @ Clemens Fine Arts Center

March
22 – Jackson, Miss. @ Thalia Mara Hall

April
18-20 – Byron Bay, Australia @ Byron Bay Bluesfest