Staple Singers – "I'll Take You There" (1972)

I know a place

Ain't nobody cryin'

Ain't nobody worried

Roebuck “Pops” Staples and his children (Cleotha, Pervis, Mavis, and Yvonne) started singing in Chicago-area churches in 1948, when “Pops” was 33 and the children ranged in age from nine to 14.

For some reason, they called themselves the Staple Singers – not the Staples Singers.

In the beginning

The group signed its first recording contract in 1952, and had a few hits with traditional gospel songs.  Their performing style took a sharp turn in the direction of Memphis soul when they signed with Stax Records in 1968.

“I’ll Take You There,” which was recorded at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama, made it to the #1 spot on both the Billboard “Hot 100” and rhythm-and-blues charts in 1972.  

Mavis Staples in 1972

The song is lyrically and musically quite simple and repetitive, but lead singer Mavis Staples absolutely kills it.

The short instrumental introduction was taken from “The Liquidator,” a 1969 reggae record by the Harry J Allstars:

Here’s “I’ll Take You There”:

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