Pops Staples, leader and patriarch of famed gospel singing group Staple Singers, passed away in 2000 and left a huge hole in the web of gorgeous vocal harmonies he and his children had perfected. Singing together as a unit since the late 1940s, the legacy of recorded music Pops and the Staple Singers left behind is among the most loved and revered catalogs in gospel history. Lying on his deathbed, Pops handed his most famous singing daughter, Mavis, copies of his last recording sessions with the stern warning "Don't lose this!"; when preparing these fantastic sessions for their long awaited release, Mavis and recent cohort, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, decided to use those very words as the title of the album that contains the last songs Pops ever recorded.

Tweedy and drumming son Spencer round out the sessions with some newly-added instrumentation, all with the blessing of Mavis. Even in his final days, the smooth, soulful vocal delivery Pops was known for never lost any of its charm or finesse. Cool and effortlessly cooing his way through the 10 cuts, Pops flawlessly shows off his many talents, including his often overlooked guitar chops. Mavis' husky, commanding voice is present throughout her beloved father's last album, and the sound of the two vocals intertwining reminds listeners of the magic always present in any Staples recordings. The last track of Don't Lost This, a heartfelt, stirring version of Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody," is worth the price of admission alone. Pops makes the song all his own and closes his respected and honored musical legacy with much class and esteem.

Critics' Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2015.

I was born on a Sunday Morning.I soon received The Gift of loving music.Through music, I Found A Reason for living.It was when I discovered rock and roll that I Was Beginning To See The Light.Because through...