Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
Norah Jones sits down with legendary singer Mavis Staples at Jeff Tweedy’s studio, The Loft, in Chicago, to talk about her storied career, family history, and iconic music. Throughout the episode, the two artists reflect on working with Jeff Tweedy, share memories of Prince, and discuss Mavis’s deep involvement in the civil rights movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They also break into impromptu performances of classic songs like "You Are Not Alone," "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," and "Friendship."
- Mavis Staples carries bubbles on airplanes to blow for crying babies and make them smile. 15:06
- Pops Staples taught his children to sing by gathering them in a living room circle and teaching them old Mississippi vocal parts. 32:07
- The Staples Singers transitioned from gospel to protest songs after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak in Montgomery, Alabama. 1:07:06
- Pops Staples refused to perform in South Africa when venues attempted to segregate black audience members to the balcony. 1:15:30
Chapters
- 0:00Podcast Intro and Host Greeting
The episode opens with the host introducing the iHeart Podcast and setting the stage for a musical conversation.
- 1:07Mavis Staples Introduction and Album Highlights
Norah Jones introduces Mavis Staples, mentioning her latest album and upcoming tour dates.
- 2:11Emotional Reflection on the Recording Session
The hosts share how special and emotional the recording felt, praising Mavis’s energy and influence.
- 3:35Song Performances and Unexpected Choices
They discuss and perform several songs, including surprise selections that added fun to the session.
- 4:32Jeff Tweedy’s Song “You Are Not Alone” Story
They explore the background of Jeff Tweedy’s song written for Mavis and its emotional impact.
- 7:55Performance of “You Are Not Alone”
The duo performs the heartfelt song “You Are Not Alone,” sharing its meaning and personal resonance.
- 12:22Birthday Celebration and Apollo Performance
Norah reflects on celebrating Mavis’s 80th birthday and their memorable performance at the Apollo.
- 22:34Closing Reflections and Podcast Promotion
The episode concludes with final thoughts, a nod to the birthday, and promotion of the new podcast series.
- 59:39Revisiting a Lost Song
Mavis and the host reminisce about a song written by Pete Rem that was never performed due to the pandemic.
- 1:05:06Songwriting Roots with Pops
Mavis explains how her father taught her guitar and the early songwriting process within the family.
- 1:07:33Meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mavis recounts the family’s historic visit to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and their interaction with Dr. King.
- 1:08:33Freedom Songs Birth
The conversation shifts to how the Staples family began writing and performing protest songs inspired by the Civil Rights movement.
Highlights
- 5:24
Recording You Are Not Alonestory
The guest explains how Jeff Tweedy wrote "You Are Not Alone" right in the studio, and how the lyrics resonated deeply after the loss of her sister.
- 15:41
Origin of the Nickname Bubblesstory
The guest shares that her mother gave her the nickname Bubbles in her twenties because of her constantly happy and bubbly personality.
- 21:27
Singing Sacred Music Without Gimmicksstrategy
The guest recounts a time her father pulled her off stage for jumping around, teaching her that singing from the heart is all a spiritual performance needs.
- 53:37
Elvis Described Pops's Guitarstory
The guest recalls meeting Elvis Presley, who complimented her father's unique guitar playing by calling it a "nervous guitar" due to the tremolo effect.
- 1:06:46
The guest shares the heartbreaking story of a record executive taking advantage of her youth and stripping away the publishing rights to the songs she wrote.
- 1:13:24
The Inspiration Behind Why Am I Treated So Badstory
The guest explains how Pops Staples wrote "Why Am I Treated So Bad" after watching television news coverage of nine children integrating Central High School in Little Rock.
Quotes
“She is full of love, and we love her.”
Unnamed speaker · 2:36 “I met her for the first time in 2010, when we were both honoring Paul McCartney at the Kennedy Center Honors.”
Unnamed speaker · 3:51 “We were supposed to go on tour with that song.”
Unnamed speaker · 59:37 “They said, 'The Staples singers are singing the devil's music.'”
Unnamed speaker · 1:29:36 “I told them, I said, 'Look, we're telling you, I know a place.'”
Unnamed speaker · 1:30:07
Sponsored segments
- Granger 0:05–0:33
- Before the Moment 22:37–23:25
- Toyota 23:29–24:06
- Before the Moment 42:09–42:59
- Toyota 43:01–43:35
- Before the Moment 56:07–57:01
- Toyota 57:01–57:30
- Before the Moment 1:17:23–1:18:16
- Stugatz 1:18:18–1:18:20
- Toyota 1:18:20–1:18:56
- Before the Moment 1:38:05–1:39:17
- Colin Coward 1:38:11–1:38:43
- Chase Freedom Flex 1:39:25–1:40:00
- Food Lion 1:39:55–1:40:21
About this episode
Mavis Staples is pure love and light. She grew up as part of the Staples Singers, a family whose powerful messages of peace rang loud and clear through times of civil unrest.
Transcript
14,788 words · 7 speakers
Topics
- The Staples Singers
- Chicago
- iHeart Podcast
- Chic
- The Loft
- Red Rocks
- The Last Waltz
- iHeart Radio
- Lincoln
- Kennedy Center Honors
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