Mavis Staples Announces New Album ‘If All I Was Was Black’
Brittney McKenna
Posted On September 12, 2017
Mavis Staples just announced plans to release a new studio album, titled If All I Was Was Black.
The album marks Staples’ third outing with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, who wrote and produced all of the album’s songs (Staples co-writes with Tweedy on three of the tracks). Their first collaboration came with 2010’s You Are Not Alone and was followed by One True Vine.
The songs on If All I Was Was Black take stock of the current racial and social injustices plaguing contemporary American society, subject matter made all the more poignant when considered alongside Staples’ legacy with the Staple Singers, who were integral contributors to protest music during the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-twentieth century.
Staples also announced plans to join Bob Dylan on a string of tour dates this fall. Her first date with Dylan is on October 17 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
If All I Was Was Black is out November 17. Check out the track listing, Staples’ tour dates, and the title track below.
If All I Was Was Black track listing:
1. Little Bit
2. If All I Was Was Black
3. Who Told You That
4. Ain’t No Doubt About It (feat. Jeff Tweedy)
5. Peaceful Dream
6. No Time For Crying
7. Build A Bridge
8. We Go High
9. Try Harder
10. All Over Again
Tour dates with Bob Dylan
10/17 Eccles Theater. Salt Lake City, UT
10/18 Eccles Theater. Salt Lake City, UT
10/21 1st Bank Center. Denver, CO
10/23 Century Link Center. Omaha, NE
10/24 Stephens Auditorium. Ames, IA
10/25 Xcel Energy Center. St Paul, MN
10/27 Wintrust Arena. Chicago, IL
10/28 Van Andel Arena. Grand Rapids, MI
10/29 IU Auditorium. Bloomington, IN
11/1 Fox Theater. Detroit, MI
11/3 EJ Thomas Hall. Akron, OH
11/5 Palace Theater. Columbus, OH
11/6 Peterson Events Center. Pittsburgh, PA
11/8 Nassau Coliseum. Uniondale, NY
11/10 Coliseum. Richmond, VA
11/11 Tower Theatre. Philadelphia, PA
11/12 Tower Theatre. Philadelphia, PA
11/14 The Anthem. Washington, DC
11/16 Agannis Arena. Boston, MA
