You Are Not Alone

When Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and soul legend and 'Rock and Roll Hall of Famer' Mavis Staples sat down to talk about what they wanted the new Mavis Staples album to sound like, they both turned to the original spiritual roots of The Staples Singers as a backbone. What they achieved is possibly the album of Staples career, a warm, powerful and fervent collection of brilliantly chosen and interpreted songs.

'You Are Not Alone' is produced by Jeff Tweedy at Wilco's studio The Loft, the intimate and textured production mixes traditional gospel numbers with two new songs written for Mavis by Tweedy, plus her unique interpretations of songs by Pops Staples, Randy Newman, John Fogerty, Allen Toussaint, Rev. Gary Davis and Little Milton. Backed by Mavis' smoking touring band and featuring guest turns from Tweedy and Wilco's Patrick Sansone, and background vocals by Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor, the new album cradles Mavis' exquisite voice, allowing her to 'stretch out' emotionally.

'You Are Not Alone' is sure to be one of the best-received releases of 2010, Mavis' message of joy and redemption has found the setting it has always deserved.