Staples and Helm sound like home

They just don’t make soul like they used to. That was until Mavis Staples and Levon Helm reunited in 2011 to record their newest album. The two musical artist icons of the ’60s teamed up one final time to bring audiences what is Carry Me Home. Staples, Helm and his band met up in Helm’s Woodstock home to record this personal, live session studio album back in 2011. The album consists of R&B funk with Christian gospel undertones, neither of them overpowering the other. After Helm’s death in 2012, there had been talks of releasing the album for over a decade. The time has finally come, and listeners are in for a treat.

The work begins with one of the stars of the album, “This is My Country.” Reminiscent of an old protest anthem, the lyrics carry the same meaning that they would have 50 or 60 years ago. “Move Along Train” carries right along with crooning vocals and rich emotion. “Farther Along” is a powerful rendition of the Burnette Sisters’ original track. The only issue that one could find in the song, and possibly the album as a whole, is the consistent breathy vocals that Staples uses.

“You Got To Move” is an easy listening song, completed by its classic southern gospel sound. The pair make religious music widely available and tangible. Sure, there are Christian undertones, but what is being said is nothing that can’t apply to each and every listener. The final track, a cover of The Band’s “The Weight,” is an honorable performance, wrapping the album up very nicely. Staples and Helm brought a brighter voice to the track, making it the perfect one to end on. 

Staples and Helm show off most of their skill in the tracks “Trouble In My Mind” and “Wide River to Cross.” The first, respectively, sounded like a funeral procession in old-city New Orleans: a jazzy, bluesy, mellow tune. The distinct sound is brought on by the fiddle and steady brass. That being said, Staples’ raspy vocals make the track. “Wide River To Cross” is by far the best song on the album, though. Originally sung by Julie Miller, Staples definitely does the song justice. Her voice is at its most pure; she sounds as though she wrote the lyrics herself. Because of this, listeners can tell that she means what she’s singing. After Helm’s death, the line “I’m only halfway home” stands out. Like the message that is being described in the song, home is Heaven. When looking at Staples and Helm as one, they are only halfway home.

All in all, Staples and Helm have created a time machine. Listeners are taken back to the sounds of the ’60s and got nothing short of the best in the genre. The value and the impact that this album holds is unlike much else being released right now. Two icons came together one last time and brought listeners a fresh take on soul. Mavis Staples and Levon Helm were able to end their careers with tracks that have and will continue to span decades.