We Get By
| We Get By | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 24, 2019 | |||
| Studio | Henson (Hollywood)[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:52 | |||
| Label | Anti- | |||
| Producer | Ben Harper | |||
| Mavis Staples chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from We Get By | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.7/10[2] |
| Metacritic | 82/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| American Songwriter |  [5] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[6] |
| The Guardian | [7] |
| Mojo | [8] |
| Q | [9] |
| Pitchfork | 7.5/10[10] |
| Rolling Stone | [11] |
| Uncut | 8/10[12] |
| Under the Radar | 8/10[13] |
We Get By is the fourteenth studio album by American R&B, soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples. It was released on May 24, 2019, by Anti-.[14]
The album's cover features the photograph "Outside Looking In" by Gordon Parks from his 1956 photo essay The Restraints: Open and Hidden.[15] The album was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic.[16]
Background
The album was announced on March 20, 2019.[14] It was produced and written by Ben Harper. Staples and Harper had previously collaborated on "Love and Trust", a song from Staples' 2016 album, Livin' on a High Note.[17] The album's lead single, "Change", was released on the same day, along with the album's pre-order.[18] In a statement, Staples said, "These songs are delivering such a strong message. We truly need to make a change if we want this world to be better."[17]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ben Harper; music on "Anytime" composed with Jason Mozersky.[1]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Change" | 2:56 |
| 2. | "Anytime" | 2:48 |
| 3. | "We Get By" (featuring Ben Harper) | 3:35 |
| 4. | "Brothers and Sisters" | 3:33 |
| 5. | "Heavy on My Mind" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Sometime" | 2:40 |
| 7. | "Never Needed Anyone" | 3:37 |
| 8. | "Stronger" | 3:14 |
| 9. | "Chance on Me" | 3:30 |
| 10. | "Hard to Leave" | 3:06 |
| 11. | "One More Change" | 4:13 |
| Total length: | 36:52 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[1]
- Mavis Staples – vocals, co-production
- Ben Harper – production
- Rick Holmstrom – guitar, co-production
- Jeff Turmes – bass, co-production
- Stephen Hodges – drums, co-production
- Donny Gerrard – vocals, co-production
- C.C. White – backing vocals
- Laura Mace – backing vocals
- Ethan Allen – co-production, recording, mixing
- Matt Tuggle – engineering assistance
- Gordon Parks – cover photograph ("Outside Looking In")
Charts
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[19] | 171 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[20] | 114 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[21] | 113 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] | 54 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] | 100 |
References
- ^ a b c We Get By (Media notes). Mavis Staples. Anti-. May 24, 2019.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "We Get By by Mavis Staples reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ "We Get By by Mavis Staples Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "We Get By - Mavis Staples". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Horowitz, Hal (August 2, 2021). "Mavis Staples: We Get By". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
- ^ Khanna, Vish (June 4, 2019). "Mavis Staples We Get By". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By review – fearsome, eclectic, and on fine form". The Guardian. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Mavis's voice is still strong and convincing. [Jun 2019, p.87]
- ^ Staples's fire is undiminished. [Jul 2019, p.114]
- ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (May 22, 2019). "Mavis Staples Continues Her Amazing Late-Career Run With 'We Get By'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ A set that ranges from funky to subdued. It's a sparser affair than the Tweedy-produced trio. adding only backing voices to a bass/drum/guitar lineup in which Harper's searching playing provides the principal, sometimes sole counterpoint to Mavis's earthy, heartfelt vocals, their power remarkably intact in her advancing years. [Jun 2019, p.22]
- ^ Conner, Matt (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By (ANTI-) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Bernstein, Jonathan (March 20, 2019). "Mavis Staples Details New Ben Harper-Produced Album 'We Get By'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Mavis Staples Announces New Album We Get By, Shares New Song "Change": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ "Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ a b "Mavis Staples Announces Ben Harper-Produced Album 'We Get By'". JamBase. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ "Mavis Staples - "Change"". Stereogum. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Mavis Staples – We Get By" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Mavis Staples – We Get By" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 23, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 31/5/2019 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mavis Staples – We Get By". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
