The Staple Swingers
The Staple Singers · 1971
45 min · 12 tracks · rhythm and blues
Soulful harmonies intertwine with rhythm and blues grooves, creating an uplifting sound that celebrates love and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
This Is a Perfect World — Opening the album, this track sets an optimistic tone with infectious melodies that encapsulate the group's hopeful vision for society.
-
→
You've Got to Earn It — This song features engaging call-and-response vocals, showcasing the group's harmonies while delivering a message about effort and commitment in relationships.
-
→
Love Is Plentiful — With its upbeat tempo and joyful lyrics, this track exemplifies the album's theme of abundance in love, reflecting the group's positive outlook.
-
→
Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) — This lively tune blends catchy hooks with a message about letting go of burdens, demonstrating the group's ability to combine fun with meaningful content.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends R&B grooves with gospel influences, showcasing strong vocal arrangements and varied tempos.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of call-and-response vocals, particularly in tracks like 'What's Your Thing' and 'Heavy Makes You Happy'.
- Several songs incorporate layered harmonies that build on the lead vocals, enhancing the soulful quality throughout.
- The tempo varies across tracks, with upbeat songs like 'You're Gonna Make Me Cry' contrasted by slower ballads such as 'Little Boy'.
- The last track, 'Give a Hand, Take a Hand', concludes with a gradual fade-out, creating a sense of closure.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
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 groove throughout
- uplifting vibes for gatherings
- warmth for relaxation
- joyful sing-alongs with friends
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, high-energy tracks
- seek heavy introspective themes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1971, The Staple Swingers marked The Staple Singers' transition into a more mainstream R&B sound following their earlier gospel roots. This album came after their breakthrough with 'I'll Take You There' and showcased their ability to appeal to a broader audience while maintaining their spiritual essence.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Impressions· Mavis Staples· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 This Is a Perfect World 4:23
- 2 What's Your Thing 4:23
- 3 You've Got to Earn It 3:31
- 4 You're Gonna Make Me Cry 5:08
- 5 Little Boy 3:28
- 6 How Do You Move a Mountain 2:40
- 7 Almost 4:18
- 8 I'm a Lover 3:46
- 9 Love Is Plentiful 2:33
- 10 Heavy Maks You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) 3:09
- 11 I Like the Things About You 3:19
- 12 Give a Hand, Take a Hand 5:01
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.