Freedom Highway Complete: Recorded Live at Chicago's New Nazareth Church [LP]

by The Staple Singers

Overview

In April 1965, the Staple Singers had not yet crossed over to the R&B charts, and were devoted gospel artists at a time when the African-American church was playing a major role in the civil rights movement. Just a month before, Dr. Martin Luther King's march from Selma to Montgomery had pushed violence against peaceful activists onto the nation's front pages and nightly news broadcasts, and made the battle for racial equality the key issue of the day. The Staple Singers had recently signed to Epic Records, and the label wanted to record a live performance by the Staples in their natural environment, Chicago's New Nazareth Church, where the family worshiped when not on the road. Producer Billy Sherrill set up recording equipment at the church, and the result was the album Freedom Highway, which not only captured the sound of the Staple Singers bringing forth the spirit for the Lord, but saw them debuting their song "Freedom Highway," in which they spoke in no uncertain term about the need for civil rights, the first of many songs in their repertoire that spoke of issues in the secular world as well as celebrating God and Jesus. Fifty years after Freedom Highway was recorded, Epic/Legacy have issued Freedom Highway Complete, which presents the April 9, 1965 performance by the Staple Singers in full, in a new mix that emphasizes the interaction between the artists and the spectators, as well as presenting the concert in full, unedited form. While there are some minor flaws in this thinking -- most notably including seven minutes of Rev. Hopkins taking collection and scolding the flock for not donating enough -- the result is a truly extraordinary document. At the opening, "Pops" Staples reminds the audience that they're at a worship service, not a concert, and should react as the spirit guides them, and the joy of the worshipers is genuine and enthusiastic, and it flows back through the Staples, who reveal why the were one of the leading gospel acts of the day as they stretch these songs into glorious testaments of belief. At the same time, you can also hear what set them apart -- "Pops" Staples' guitar work is brilliant, a spectral variation on country blues figures transformed into magic by his sure touch and a bit of reverb, and Mavis Staples, 25 years old at the time, was already singing with the force and authority that would make her a legend. Freedom Highway Complete is a deeply moving document of a handful of gifted artists guided by their talents, their spirits, and their consciences at a critical moment in American history, and it's one of the most important archival releases of recent years. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/2015
Label:	Epic / Legacy
UPC:	0888750636317
Rank:	64736

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Intro by Pops Staples
2. When the Saints Go Marching In
3. The Funeral
4. Build on That Shore
5. We Shall Overcome
6. Freedom Highway
7. What You Gonna Do?
8. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
9. When I'm Gone
10. Help Me Jesus

Disc 2

11. Rev. Hopkins Offering
12. Jesus Is All
13. Samson and Delilah
14. View the Holy City
15. Tell Heaven
16. He's All Right
17. Pops Outro
18. Benediction

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Staple Singers   Primary Artist
Roebuck "Pops" Staples   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Rev. Hopkins   Primary Artist
Brother Bob   Primary Artist
Phil Upchurch   Bass
Al Duncan   Drums

Technical Credits

Billy Sherrill   Original Album Producer
Pete Seeger   Composer
Pervis Staples   Group Member
Nedra Olds-Neal   Liner Notes,Release Production
Mark Wilder   Mastering
Jim Lane   Production Director
Mavis Staples   Group Member
Hank Williams   Composer
Zilphia Horton   Composer
Frank Hamilton   Composer
Roebuck "Pops" Staples   Arranger,Composer,Group Member
Rev. William Herbert Brewster   Composer
Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey   Composer
Guy Carawan   Composer
Frank Harkins   Art Direction
Yvonne Staples   Group Member
Matt Kelly   Tape Research
Matt Cavaluzzo   Tape Research
Federico Ruiz   Design
Robert Gordon   Liner Notes
Steve Berkowitz   Liner Notes,Release Production
Sean Brennan   Digital Transfers
Steve Addabo   Mixing
Saul Lambert   Cover Art
William McKinney   Project Director