Mavis Staples "You Are Not Alone"

Mavis Staples just says “Don’t Knock,” but prefers her gospel soul to bop the bass and have the courtesy to do so before interrupting her concentration. “You Are Not Alone” Mavis, who likes to be bothered without warning when in complete concentration? The song's slow muted blues background lends a great companion to the vocals of Staples. “Downward Road” is one that leads directly to heck, but “In Christ There is No East or West” which has us joining hands and having faith while laying on the gospoul and this boppin bass, xylophone, and forgiving those enemies, so we can be one big family(happy..hopefully).The timid guitar solo may have us “Creep Along Moses” quietly. Track three has that looping, marching note, along with that lightly echoing bass, and unbelievable soul. “In christ now meet both east and west/There is no black or white/Only one great love/Hatred cannot divide” with this whole choir of voices and that guitar riff  “tryin’ to cross the red sea.“ Losing You” will probably kill me, but is very minimal; it needs no more than her voice and the backing guitar the song is about losing someone very close to her. Doo-wop Funk and a reinterpretation of Hallelujah make me wish “I Belong To the Band.” The “Last Train” has arrived, but her observation she makes is that “This world is getting so much faster/It's too sad/Poor trains are goin' down slow/And I'm about to keep up with the latter/It's too bad/When it's in my nature to let go” has this guitar huffin' and puffin' while the bass just glides along the tracks; I would like to ride this train.“Only The Lord Knows” where this bass goes, and she addresses someone or many others who believes they are better or just as good as the lord, but “What can you do, what can you do when you can't trust/ Anybody to tell you the truth/Can't trust 'em can't trust em' what to do, what to do now/Only the Lord knows and He ain't you.” She “Wrote a Song for Everyone” yet it was so much more difficult to speak to one person in particular. It’s funny how that happens, but it is easier to address a group of people rather than one that you have this deep love for because of fear of unreciprocated love; with a crowd you will have people that reject you, but also people that will return the favor. With one person it’s either one or the other, and it costs much more in self confidence. “We’re Gonna Make It” through this review and this uplifting song with solo will help us push through. Thank you for keeping it simple on this acapella-style nod to our “Wonderful Savior.” I am“Too Close/On My Way To Heaven,” so I must continue to be good.The first two minutes are predominately vocals, but then part two has us closer to heaven, I don't know, was that cheesy?  "You Are Not Alone" thes songs are here for you: You Are Not Alone, In Christ There is No East or West, Creep Along Moses, I Belong To The Band, Last Train, Only The Lord Knows, and We’re Gonna Make It.