A timeless live album of soul, gospel, funk and blues capturing a 2011 Midnight Rambles show by the evergreen singer made at the home studio of the former drummer and co-lead singer of The Band who then died a year later. Helm hosted many bands at similar events at his home, which included Dr John, Drive-By Truckers, Elvis Costello, Donald Fagen, My Morning Jacket, Norah Jones, Kris Kristofferson, and this is one of the finest. It contains great versions of many other artists’ numbers including This Is My Country, a protest song by Curtis Mayfield where Mavis highlights the attacks on the then president Barack Obama from the far right. Other standouts include a far greater version of Bob Dylan’s Gotta Serve Somebody than the original, The Band number The Weight, and gospel-blues standards Hand Writing on the Wall, You Got to Move, Farther Along and This May Be the Last Time, the latter taking on special poignancy as it was, unknown at the time to be these great friends’ final gig together. With Staples’ powerful, gutsy, commanding vocals, and Helm at the drum kit, it feels like a throwback to better times, even though every era, including 1968 when they first began playing together, has its political and social challenges. Out on ANTI Records.
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