Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Originally released back in 1965, this is the full concert recorded by The Staples in Chicago with extra songs that weren't included on the vinyl version released back in the day. This is The Staples Singers before they crossed over into the mainstream with Stax and the recording almost has the feel of a bootleg album, recorded in a church that places the listener right into the middle of the congregation. It shows the way that Pop Staples leads the congregation in gospel praises but has a poignant setting for those who saw the recent film Selma which told the story of the Martin Luther King-led freedom march back in 1965. This album was recorded within weeks of the civil rights march that garnered so much notoriety and includes a central recording here inspired by those events, "Freedom Highway" which is a moving response to what happened. With gospel standards and songs from their '60s repertoire and backed by a full band including a very young Phil Upchurch on bass, this is magnificent gospel from one of the best outfits on the circuit. Songs like "We Shall Overcome" and the title cut point towards the social consciousness of their '70s output whilst "Help Me Jesus" is a powerful moving slab of gospel. Pop Staples lets loose and preaches and leads the group with powerful passion and the crowd holler and respond throughout. Obviously a young Mavis Staples is right there at the fore but the album gives you the full on total group expression including preaching and an offering from the preacher at the church, Rev Hopkins! 50 years on, it sounds like it was quite a night!

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