Customer Reviews

Mavis Staples/Only for the Lonely

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Mavis Staples has a voice from the angels, when the subject of all time great arise in R&B we normally think of Aretha and Patty (rightfully so) but what makes Mavis so different is the deep gritty soulfulness in her voice. She combines the earthliness of Aretha but with that bluesy, hard times, living in the inner city type of funk. She is in my opinion the best female singer ever. Mariah and Whitney may have sold more, Aretha is universally ranked as the best, but vocally, I dare to say that mavis has all of them beat. I say this with the utmost respect for Aretha and Patty but Mavis is Raw! She has that old store front gospel sound in her voice, baby ain't no joke. Wake up everybody and listen to the sista.

No disrespect to Luther or Dionne but I have always thought Mavis Staples version of A house is not a home is the BEST and then Luther. There aren't any singers out there today who can touch Mavis voice. When they are throwing out accolades of diva (many of whom don't deserve it) Mavis should be included. If you want to know what real music sounds like get this cd you won't be diappointed.

I first heard Mavis Staples' album 'Only for the Lonely' about a year before I purchased it. It was a bonus in that not only does the CD contain all the originals from the first album but it has about six from another earlier album, all of which add up to a fabulous easy listening album. Mavis' voice is, I feel, unique and she does every track with feeling.

Although not as famous as other great singers like Dione Warwick or Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples is made of the same unquestionable star material. She will knock anyone down with her voice, her style and her talent.

She one of the brightest stars on the American music firmament.

This CD comprises two LPs: "Mavis Staples" (tracks 1-11) and "Only for the Lonely (tracks 12-20). The last track is from another album: "Boy Meets Girl". All recordings date from 1969.

Interesting to hear Isaac Hayes playing the organ here. :-)

My favorite song here is "Since I Fell for You". It tops any other version available from any other artist. But this song is just one from a total of 21 tracks of sheer brilliance.

Now I must get her other albums... and also the ones from the Staples Singers. You'll find a gold mine in Mavis Staples: the only thing you have to do is dig. :-)

This CD is a gem to hold and treasure.

until I played this for my friends they all thought nothing touched the original. Now they agree, MAVIS OWNS IT! What an amazing talent!

I first came across "Only For The Lonely" by chance. I was rummaging through a music store sale in Kohinoor, Johannesburg, South Africa in 1992 when I found this gem. Back then at this store the album was available only in vinyl - the trademark of good music lover - and I snapped it up. I have listened to singers whose voices are not accorded the praise they deserve; I have listend to singers whose artistry and sheer soulfulness are underated - much like Ella Washington of "He Called Me Baby" masterpiece - and sadly Mavis Staple is one of them. I did purchase a newer version in CD format in later years, and the bonus tracks included make it all a worthwhile investment.

It was Clive Rollings, the influential music reviewer and writer, who penned: "The golden age of soul is agreed to have ended 4 April 1968 when Martin Luther King was murdered..." but with Mavis we are allowed to make the only - and the only - exception. Her voice and sheer soulfulness still have the mass it takes to tingle the spine of the troubled soul crusader decades after that golden era ended. It is, I offer, fair to mention that Mavis deserves a place among the Top 10 Soul Prophets of all time...

But then again, to paraphrase Rollings, Soul is a trademark of good taste, and the term should never be used carelessly - because as a phenomenon there it is guaranteed never to be reincarnated as simply a pure and deep artistical movement.