A Piece of the Action [Import]

Mavis Staples | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 27, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Snapper UK
• ASIN: B000ECXTI4
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,623 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Chocolate City

2. Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid

3. Orientation

4. Piece Of The Action

5. Good Lovin’ Daddy

6. ‘Til Blossoms Bloom

7. Getting Deeper

8. Getting Deeper

Editorial Reviews

Best known as the lead singer of the Staple Singers, Mavis hasn't always kept to singing about the good book: in the '70s she made several ventures into secular music including this album, produced and written by Curtis Mayfield for his Curtom label in 1977. This was also of course the soundtrack to the Poitier/Crosby film of the same name: it features some heady sexual innuendo (particularly on 'Getting Deeper' 'Koochie, Koochie, Koochie' and 'Good Lovin Daddy', that one you would not expect from such a churchgoing lady, as well as several ventures into hard funk ('Chocolate City' 'Orientation') that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a Stax record. An overlooked gem that has been unavailable for far too long. Snapper. 2006.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mavis Staples Best Solo Album Ever!!!!!!, June 29, 2006

By 

Spree Playa (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Piece of the Action (Audio CD)

Mavis Staples surprised me with this one when she let her inhibitions go and recorded this phenominal piece of music. Curtis Mayfield was a genius for coining the right melodies and tempos to let Mavis do something totally different than she had ever had. Now, let me get this straight (for all the haters) yes the lyrics of the soundtrack has little to nothing to do with the film. Yes Mavis came out the box and sang seductive, sexy, and alluring about sex and all the different ways she wished to achieve her ambitions. But the haters are missing the picture here. This is a soundtrack for the people who live in the city the film was shot in (Chicago). Even now, thirty years later that music and those lyrics are what's really going on; scheming, players playing, and trying to have fun without the drama. As far as I am concerned, this was Mavis Staples' coming out album - a solo record to assert her independence (away from the Staple Singers, her womanhood (hence the seductive songs), and her vocal range and richness as a singer (Start at track 1, play until over, and repeat). This album needs to be on the top 10 best albums of all time Funk/R&B.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY PLEASED!!!!, November 7, 2011

By 

PAS - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Piece of the Action (Audio CD)

A Piece of the ActionI had been searching for this CD for a long time and could not find it in any of the local stores. A friend told me to try this site. I didn't know what to expect and/or what the quality of the product would be like. Got it in a timely manner as stated and was very pleased with this product. I give this two thumbs up!! GOOD WORK AMAZON!!!!!