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"Pops" Last Stand

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The iconic Robuck “Pops” Staples was responsible for some of the most essential music of the last 50 years.  He and his family carved out distinct spaces in both the gospel and R&B genres, while creating a soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement with songs like “I’ll Take You There,” and “Respect Yourself.”  Just days short of his 86th birthday, as he laid on his dying bed, Pops handed daughter Mavis Staples a recording of some of his final tracks, with the instruction, “Mavis, don’t lose this here.” Ten years later “this here” has been released, and it’s the subject of this edition of Cyprus Avenue.

Track List:

The Staples Singers - “Intro”

The Staples Singers - “When The Saints Come Marching In”

The Staples Singers - “We Shall Overcome”

Pop Staples - “Somebody Was Watching”

The Staples Singers - “Build On That Shore”

Pop Staples - “The Lady’s Letter”

The Staples Singers - “Freedom Highway”

The Staples Singers - “View The Holy City”

Pop Staples - “Gotta Serve Somebody”

The Staples Singers – “Precious Lord Take My Hand”

The Staples Singers – “Samson & Delilah”

The Staples Singers – “When I’m Gone”

The Staples Singers – “Jesus Is All”

Pop Staples – “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”

Ron Jones returned to KCUR in September, 2013 as Director of Community Engagement. He is now the program director. You can reach him at ron@kcur.org.
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