American singer Mavis Staples was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 10, 1939. Her initial recordings were as a member of her family group, the Staple Singers. Led by her father Roebuck "Pops" Staples the Staple Singers were major artists in gospel and soul music from 1957 to 1969. Commencing releasing albums as a solo artist in 1969, Mavis Staples has released 13 studio albums, two live albums, three compilations, one soundtrack, one EP, and 51 singles over a career spanning five decades.
Albums Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions US BEL(FL) NLD NZ SCO SWE SWI UKDown. Mavis StaplesReleased: June 16, 1969 Label: Volt Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — Only for the LonelyReleased: October 12, 1970 Label: Volt Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming 188 — — — — — — — Oh What a FeelingReleased: July 16, 1979 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — Time Waits for No OneReleased: May 19, 1989 Label: Paisley Park Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming — — 79 — — — — — The VoiceReleased: August 24, 1993 Label: Paisley Park Formats: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — Spirituals & Gospel: Dedicated to Mahalia JacksonReleased: November 5, 1996 Label: Verve Formats: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — Have a Little FaithReleased: August 17, 2004 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — We'll Never Turn BackReleased: April 24, 2007 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 180 56 40 — — 14 — — You Are Not AloneReleased: September 14, 2010 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 69 64 78 38 — 30 — — One True VineReleased: June 25, 2013 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 67 130 47 36 — 33 — — Livin' on a High NoteReleased: February 19, 2016 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — 105 89 — — — 74 — If All I Was Was BlackReleased: November 17, 2017 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — 106 — — — — — — We Get ByReleased: May 24, 2019 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — 171 — — 54 — 100 100 Sad and Beautiful WorldReleased: November 7, 2025 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — 125 — — 45 — 68 23
Live albums Title Details Peak chart positions USGospel USBlues USIndie Live: Hope at the HideoutReleased: November 4, 2008 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 17 — — Live in LondonReleased: February 8, 2019 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — 2 32 Carry Me HomeReleased: March 20, 2022 Label: ANTI- Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — —
Soundtrack albums Title Details Peak chart positions USR&B A Piece of the ActionReleased: October 10, 1977 Label: Curtom Formats: CD, LP, cassette, 8-track, digital download, streaming 51
Compilation albums Title Details Don't Change Me NowReleased: August 25, 1988 Label: Stax, Volt Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming Mavis Staples / Only for the LonelyReleased: May 3, 1993 Label: Stax, Volt Mavis StaplesReleased: December 20, 1995 Label: HDH Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
Tribute albums Title Details I'll Take You There: An All-Star Concert CelebrationReleased: June 2, 2017 Label: Blackbird Presents Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chartpositions USGospel Your Good FortuneReleased: April 21, 2015 Label: ANTI- 10
Singles As lead artist Title Year Peak chartpositions Album US USR&B USGospel USAAA "Crying in the Chapel" 1968 — — — — "Soul-A-Lujah" 1969 — — — — Boy Meets Girl "Never, Never Let You Go" 107 — — — "Love's Sweet Sensation" — — — — "You're Driving Me (To the Arms of a Stranger)" — — — — Mavis Staples "I Have Learned to Do Without You" 1970 87 13 — — Only for the Lonely "Endlessly" 1972 109 30 — — "A Piece of the Action" 1977 — 47 — — A Piece of the Action (Soundtrack) "Tonight I Feel Like Dancing" 1979 — 91 — — Oh What a Feeling "Oh What a Feeling" — — — — "Love Gone Bad" 1983 — — — — Mavis Staples "Show Me How It Works" 1986 — 68 — — Wildcats (Soundtrack) "Oh Happy Day" 1987 — — — — One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism "20th Century Express" 1989 — — — — Time Waits for No One "Jaguar" — — — — "Time Waits for No One" — 63 — — "Christmas Vacation" — — — — "Melody Cool" 1990 — 36 — — Graffiti Bridge "The Voice" 1993 — — — — The Voice "Blood Is Thicker Than Time" — — — — "Holding on to Your Love" 1994 — — — — Mavis Staples "Step Into the Light" 2004 — — — — Have a Little Faith "Have a Little Faith" — — — — "God Is Not Sleeping" — — 25 — "I'll Be Rested" 2007 — — — — We'll Never Turn Back "On My Way" — — — — "Down in Mississippi" — — — — "Waiting for My Child" 2008 — — — — Live: Hope at the Hideout "Freedom Highway" — — — — "Wrote a Song for Everyone" 2010 — — — — You Are Not Alone "I Belong to the Band" — — — — "Black Stars (Come Back Home)" 2011 — — — — Willie Henderson & Friends Again "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" 2012 — — — — "Can You Get to That" 2013 — — — — One True Vine "I Like the Things About Me" — — — — "Your Good Fortune" 2015 — — — — Your Good Fortune "Fight" — — — — "High Note" 2016 — — — — Livin' on a High Note "Love and Trust" — — — — "If All I Was Was Black" 2017 — — — — If All I Was Was Black "Little Bit" — — — — "Build a Bridge" — — — — "Ain't No Doubt About It" — — — — "No Time for Cryin'" 2018 — — — — Live in London "Love and Trust" 2019 — — — — "Slippery People" — — — — "Change" — — — 27 We Get By "Anytime" — — — — "We Get By" — — — — "I'll Be Gone" — — — — rowspan="2" "All In It Together"2020 — — — — "Godspeed" 2025 — — — — Sad and Beautiful World "Beautiful Strangers" — — — — "Sad and Beautiful World" — — — — "Human Mind" — — — 20
As featured artist Title Year Peak chartpositions Album US USRock USAAA USRapDig. CANDig. CANRock "I'll Take You There" 1992 90 — — — — — Different Lifestyles "Build a Levee" 2002 — — 17 — — — Motherland "I Give You Power" 2017 — 33 18 — 39 40 "Witness" — — 29 — — — Witness "Let Me Out" — 7 — 14 50 — Humanz "Nina Cried Power" 2018 — 13 1 — — 27 Wasteland, Baby!
Other charted songs Title Year Peak chartpositions Album USGospelDig."Wrote a Song for Everyone"2010 14You Are Not Alone"You Are Not Alone" 2"Every Step"2015 20One True Vine"I'll Take You There (Encore)"2017 9Live: Hope at the Hideout
Other appearances Title Year Album "I Ain't Particular" 1969 Girl Meets Boy "Ain't That Good" "I Thank You" "Hold on This Time" "That's the Way Love Is" "Piece of My Heart" "Leave the Girl Alone" "Strung Out" "We Need Power" 1987 One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism "Packing Up, Getting Ready to Go" "A Song for You" 1991 Music Of Quality And Distinction, Vol. 2 "We Will" 1994 Soul Embrace "Turn It Around" 1996 In Harmony with the Homeless "Gotta Serve Somebody" 1996 Tangled Up in Blues:Songs of Bob Dylan - This Ain't No Tribute "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" 2003 Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan "When the Saints Go Marching In" 2004 N'Awlinz: Dis Dat or D'Udda "Lay My Burden Down" "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" Lightning in a Bottle: A One Night History of the Blues "Men Are Just Like Street Cars" "Hard Times Come Again No More" Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster "Touch My Heart" Touch My Heart: A Tribute to Johnny Paycheck "You Must Have That True Religion" 2005 I Believe to My Soul "Keep on Pushing" "That's Enough" "God Is Not Sleeping" Broadcasts. Vol. 13 "Take a Look at Yourself" 2006 Willie Henderson & Friends Again "Waiting for My Child to Come Home" 2009 Oh Happy Day "Respect Yourself" 2013 Bring It on Home...The Soul Classics "Move Along Train" Love for Levon: A Benefit to Save the Barn "Wish I Had Answered" 2014 Take Me to the River "I've Been Buked" "Lay My Burden Down" 2016 The Musical Mojo of Dr. JohnCelebrating Mac and His Music "The Root" Greenleaf: The Gospel Companion Soundtrack, Vol. 1 "The Root" 2017 Greenleaf: Soundtrack, Vol. 2 "Why" 2018 Dumplin' "Pulling the Pin" 2020 Run the Jewels 4 "We Go Back" 2022 The Blues Don't Lie
Music videos Title Year "Oh Happy Day" 1987 "Time Waits for No One" 1989 "The Voice" 1993 "I Like the Things About Me" 2013 "If All I Was Was Black" 2017 "Nina Cried Power" 2018 "No Time for Cryin'" "Love and Trust" 2019 "Slippery People"
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