Throwback Thursday: Hear A Powerful Unreleased Ballad From The Staples Singers ca '65
Before Mavis, Pervis, Yvonne and Pops Staples were bringing their light to the world with soul standards like "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself" they, like many of their contemporaries, were children of the church. In 1965, The Staples Singers were tapped to help honor those taking part in the Selma marches with a sprawling performance at Chicago's historic New Nazareth Church, which played host to their very first live recording. Today, we have the pleasure of sharing the haunting blues of "View The Holy City", which will soon be released in the remastered and remixed compilation Freedom Highway Complete. Twangy guitars and a stone-cold kit permeate the alter as the three sisters wail something fierce into that hollowed space, adding mountains of reverb to an already harrowing ballad. 50 years down the line and the song's spirited, hopeful refrain rings true as ever. Freedom Highway Complete arrives both digitally and on wax March 3rd via Legacy Records with preorders available on iTunes and Amazon for the vinyl. Listen to the bluesy gospel of The Staples Singers' "View The Holy City" below.
