Before his death in 2000, Roebuck “Pops” Staples gave the world nearly five decades’ worth of gospel and soul, both on his own and as the leader of the Staples Singers, the family singing group he put together with his kids. In 1999, Pops got to work on his final album, but he never had the chance to finish it. But now, Mavis Staples’, Pops’ legendary daughter, has finished that album, now called Don’t Lose This, and she’s called in help. Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, who produced Mavis’ last two albums, serves as co-producer with Mavis. Tweedy plays bass on the album, and his son Spencer plays drums. Listen to the lovely first single “Somebody Was Watching” and check out a short making-of video that includes a few musical heavyweights singing Pops’ praises, available on the links here.
Don’t Lose This came out 2/17 on Wilco and Staples' label, Anti-.