Customer Reviews

Turning Point

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Although they'd continued to record somewhat obscure albums The Staple Singers had really gone pretty much unnoticed since their City in the Sky album was released. This was their bid to be recognized in the 80's.It is second release of the decade-the other being the completely overlooked 1981 release Hold On To Your Dream. Either way this represented an important stylistic innovation for the family. The move to Private I records and the production by brother Pervis resulted in an album that meant only one thing. While their inspirational,secularized gospel "people music" themes were firmly intact the production was completely overhauled to include everything from modern Afro funk on a cover of "Slippery People",complete with David Byrne on guitar and "This Is Our Night" and the title song-both of which showcase heavy drum machines,synthesizer riffs and just in case this all sounds too stereotypically mid 1980's plenty of Minneapolis-by-way-of-Southern-Soul style rhythm guitars and a lot of heavy bass. That strong sense of rhythm take complete hold on several slices of slinkly naked funk such as "Bridges Instead Of Walls","H-A-T-E (Don't Live Here Anymore)" and "That's What Friends Are For". Mavis is naturally more than up to the challange vocally as her powerful wail of a voice easily brings all the life you can get from any electronic gizmo this style of production might throw at her so,vocally she's kind of holding down the fort by allowing her voice to enhance rather than be absorbed by the material she's given. Pops' softer voice on the other hand seems to struggle a little bit in the foreground but,fact is he's still his same old self;the material has just moved somewhat outside his comfort zone in the singing department but again he still sounds pretty good. That same electro production also lends itself in the same wonderful way to bring uptempo soul on "Bridges Instead Of Walls" and "Right Decision" as well as "On My Own Again"-the lone ballad. Considering the shallowness both lyrically and production wise it was wonderful to have the Staples keep their secularized inspirational/gospel soul music with a message intact during this time and it did sustain the band long enough for a little mini comeback during the decade.

This remarkable album opens with the fairly mainstream dance number This Is Our Night, before revealing the splendour of The Staple's riveting interpretation of the Talking Heads song Slipper People. The vocals are sublime and the instruments shine - David Byrne plays the guitar.

Bridges Instead Of Walls is a beautiful lilting mid tempo song in their famous inspirational style, whilst the title track provides a gorgeous interplay of vocals over a swaying beat. Right Decision is a bubbly number with a funky beat and celebratory instrumental mix and Hate Don't Live Here Anymore is a most soulful workout with stirring gospel vocals. More on the pop side, On My Own Again is a tuneful ballad with lots of soul. The album concludes with an uptempo song That's What Friends Are For.

I love the Staple's Stax sound that gave us classics like Respect Yourself, I'll Take You There and If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) but Turning Point offers a new direction that is equally worth of investigation. Nothing will ever equal those early masterpieces but this album provides a new perspective on the magic of this legendary family.