We'll Never Turn Back

For over fifty years, soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples has been a national treasure. Her work fronting the legendary Staples Singers defined the sound of politically-committed soul and influenced generations of musicians. As a solo artist in her own right she has helped to define much of what is righteous and soulful in American music.

'We'll Never Turn Back' is the most personal and polemical album of her career, and perhaps her greatest life work; produced by Ry Cooder, the visionary behind projects like Buena Vista Social Club, the album combines raw, emotional, contemporized versions of some of the freedom songs that provided the soundtrack to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, along with new originals written by Mavis and Ry.

Featuring a crack band of Cooder regulars like Jim Keltner (drums) and Mike Elizando (Dr. Dre's in-house bassist), and spectacular vocal backing from South African choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo and members of the original Freedom Singers, We'll Never Turn Back recreates the magic of classic Staples Singers sides, anchored by some of the most expressive blues guitar Ry Cooder has ever recorded. Musically and lyrically, 'We'll Never Turn Back' will inspire many of us to find bravery in our own hearts, conquer the rampant apathy that blankets our society and take action to right the wrongs in our present day society.