Thursday, August 28, 2025

Mavis Staples Returns With Sad and Beautiful World: A Celebration of Community and Timeless Music


Legendary singer Mavis Staples is set to release her much-anticipated new album, Sad and Beautiful World, via Anti Records. Known for her enduring voice, fearless artistry, and decades-long contributions to American music, Staples continues to bridge generations with her unmistakable sound.

Produced by Brad Cook, Sad and Beautiful World is a masterful exploration of seven decades of the American songbook. The album reimagines songs by artists as diverse as Tom Waits, Sparklehorse, Gillian Welch, and Frank Ocean, reflecting Mavis’ ability to make any song uniquely her own.

The spirit of collaboration is central to the project. Cook envisioned the album in the tradition of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken, bringing together a community of musicians to celebrate Mavis’ artistry. Collaborators on the album include Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy, Derek Trucks, Katie Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman, and Justin Vernon, each contributing their own voice to a project steeped in shared history and musical reverence.

Staples’ accolades speak for themselves: Blues, Rock, and Gospel Hall of Fame inductee, Kennedy Center Honoree, multiple GRAMMY Award winner, and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, she has collaborated with legends from Bob Dylan to Prince, Aretha Franklin to Willie Nelson, as well as countless artists from later generations. Sad and Beautiful World reaffirms why Mavis Staples remains a vital and inspiring figure in music today.

Tracklist

Disc 1 / Side 1:

  1. Chicago

  2. Beautiful Strangers

  3. Sad and Beautiful World

  4. Human Mind

  5. Hard Times

Disc 1 / Side 2:

  1. Godspeed

  2. We Got to Have Peace

  3. Anthem

  4. Satisfied Mind

  5. Everybody Needs Love


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