If All I Was Was Black
Mavis Staples · 2017
37 min · 10 tracks · blues
Soulful melodies intertwine with poignant lyrics reflecting on race and identity in contemporary America.
Top tracks — play these first
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If All I Was Was Black — This title track encapsulates the album's central themes of racial identity and personal resilience, weaving a narrative that resonates with contemporary social issues.
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We Go High — In this track, Staples blends hope and defiance, offering a powerful message about rising above adversity, making it a standout anthem of empowerment.
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Build a Bridge — This song highlights Staples' ability to convey messages of unity and healing, serving as a call to action for building connections across divides.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's strong thematic focus and vocal delivery create a powerful listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of call-and-response vocals, particularly in tracks like 'Who Told You That' and 'Ain't No Doubt About It'.
- Several tracks incorporate sparse instrumentation, allowing Staples' voice and lyrics to take center stage, notably in 'Peaceful Dream' and 'No Time for Crying'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- resilient themes of identity
- uplifting anthems for togetherness
- intimate listening for connection
- thoughtful reflections on struggle
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- If All I Was Was Black is Mavis Staples' first studio album since her celebrated collaboration with Jeff Tweedy on One True Vine in 2013. This release marked a return to her solo work, showcasing her evolution as an artist deeply engaged with social issues, particularly in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Aretha Franklin· Tina Turner· Etta James
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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If All I Was Was Black
The singer directly confronts societal perceptions of race and identity.
This direct engagement challenges listeners to reflect on their own views while grounding the discussion in personal experience rather than abstraction.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Little Bit 4:11
- 2 If All I Was Was Black 4:16
- 3 Who Told You That 3:03
- 4 Ain’t No Doubt About It 3:36
- 5 Peaceful Dream 3:38
- 6 No Time for Crying 5:01
- 7 Build a Bridge 3:56
- 8 We Go High 3:44
- 9 Try Harder 4:11
- 10 All Over Again 2:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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