Great Day

Gospel / Spiritual · 1991 · 27 tracks

Great Day

The Staple Singers

A massive 27-track journey through the foundational years of gospel-soul, defined by Pops's shimmering tremolo guitar and the family's haunting, hopeful harmonies.

1991 · Milestone (4)

Great Day is a masterclass in the power of restraint and spiritual conviction. While many gospel recordings of the era relied on massive choirs and pipe organs, The Staple Singers achieved a more profound impact through intimacy. The sound is anchored by Roebuck 'Pops' Staples' iconic electric guitar: a clean, shimmering tone drenched in tremolo that feels both ancient and futuristic. This isn't just music for a church; it's music for the soul's private struggles and public triumphs. It carries the weight of the Civil Rights movement while maintaining a gentle, inviting warmth.

Tracklist · 27 Tracks

01

Gloryland

3:11

02

Everybody Will Be Happy

2:38

03

Hear My Call, Here

4:14

04

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

2:38

05

I'm Willin', Part 1

2:58

06

I'm Willin', Part 2

3:18

07

Great Day

2:05

08

Do You Know Him?

2:18

09

New-Born Soul

2:15

10

A Dying Man’s Plea

2:51

11

New Home

3:49

12

Wish I Had Answered

2:50

13

A Better Home

3:20

14

Old Time Religion

2:33

15

Swing Down, Chariot

2:41

16

Motherless Children

3:03

17

Gamblin’ Man

2:44

18

I Know I've Been Changed

2:40

19

Jesus Is All

3:30

20

You Got Shoes

2:38

21

What Are They Doing (In Heaven Today)

2:12

22

Will the Lord Remember Me

2:53

23

My Dying Bed

2:33

24

Let Jesus Lead You

2:17

25

Praying Time

2:11

26

I Can’t Help From Cryin’ Sometime

2:20

27

Masters of War

4:35

Moments Worth Listening For

the moment Mavis's voice drops into a deep, resonant growl on a traditional spiritual

Pops's signature tremolo guitar cutting through a sparse arrangement with hypnotic precision

the seamless blend of four voices on an a cappella passage that creates a wall of sound

the rhythmic hand-claps that slowly build the energy of a quiet track into a fervor

Where This Album Departs

How does Great Day sound next to the rest of The Staple Singers's catalogue?

Low Energy-0.9σ

It runs a touch cooler and more held-back than this artist's baseline.

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