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This Friday will bring new music from Mavis Staples. A doyenne of American soul now fifty (plus!) years and running, her new album Livin' on a High Note is a collection of songs written for her by a host of modern day indie-rockers. Among those who have contributed to the project is Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards, whose "Action" premieres today on The FADER.
An easygoing call to arms, the song opens with Staples—who, now 76, has a touch of sage husk to her voice—begging the question, Who's going to do it if I don't?. "I wanted to write what she asked for: an upbeat, danceable song," Garbus elaborated in a note to The FADER, "but which also honored the Staples Singers’ tradition of songs that are relevant to right now, and which might inspire audiences to be brave themselves."
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Livin' on a High Note will be released this Friday, February 19, via anti. Additional contributors include Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Nick Cave, Neko Case, Aloe Blacc, and M. Ward; peek the full track list below.
Livin’ on a High Note track list:
1. “Take Us Back” (Benjamin Booker)
2. “Love and Trust” (Ben Harper)
3. “If It’s a Light” (The Head & the Heart)
4. “Action” (tUnE-yArds)
5. “High Note” (Valerie June)
6. “Don’t Cry” (M. Ward)
7. “Tomorrow” (Aloe Blacc/John Batiste)
8. “Dedicated” (Justin Vernon/M.Ward)
9. “History Now” (Neko Case)
10. “One Love” (Son Little)
11. “Jesus Lay Down Beside Me” (Nick Cave)
12. MLK Song (M. Ward / Martin Luther King)
