We Get By

Last updated

We Get By
WeGetBycover.jpeg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 24, 2019
Studio Henson (Hollywood) [1]
Genre
Length36:52
Label Anti-
Producer Ben Harper
Mavis Staples chronology
Live in London
(2019)
We Get By
(2019)
Carry Me Home
(2022)
Singles from We Get By
  1. "Change"
    Released: March 20, 2019
  2. "Anytime"
    Released: April 17, 2019
  3. "We Get By"
    Released: May 15, 2019
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.7/10 [2]
Metacritic 82/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
American Songwriter Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Exclaim! 8/10 [6]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [10]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Uncut 8/10 [12]
Under the Radar 8/10 [13]

We Get By is the fourteenth studio album by American R&B, soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples. It was released on May 24, 2019, by Anti-. [14]

Contents

The album's cover features the photograph "Outside Looking In" by Gordon Parks from his 1956 photo essay The Restraints: Open and Hidden. [15] The album was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic. [16]

Background

The album was announced on March 20, 2019. [14] It was produced and written by Ben Harper. Staples and Harper had previously collaborated on "Love and Trust", a song from Staples' 2016 album, Livin' on a High Note . [17] The album's lead single, "Change", was released on the same day, along with the album's pre-order. [18] In a statement, Staples said, "These songs are delivering such a strong message. We truly need to make a change if we want this world to be better." [17]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ben Harper; music on "Anytime" composed with Jason Mozersky. [1]

No.TitleLength
1."Change"2:56
2."Anytime"2:48
3."We Get By" (featuring Ben Harper)3:35
4."Brothers and Sisters"3:33
5."Heavy on My Mind"3:40
6."Sometime"2:40
7."Never Needed Anyone"3:37
8."Stronger"3:14
9."Chance on Me"3:30
10."Hard to Leave"3:06
11."One More Change"4:13
Total length:36:52

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [1]

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [19] 171
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [20] 114
French Albums (SNEP) [21] 113
Scottish Albums (OCC) [22] 54
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [23] 100

References

  1. 1 2 3 We Get By (Media notes). Mavis Staples. Anti-. May 24, 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ "We Get By by Mavis Staples reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  3. ↑ "We Get By by Mavis Staples Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "We Get By - Mavis Staples". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  5. ↑ Horowitz, Hal (August 2, 2021). "Mavis Staples: We Get By". American Songwriter . Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ Khanna, Vish (June 4, 2019). "Mavis Staples We Get By". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ↑ Simpson, Dave (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By review – fearsome, eclectic, and on fine form". The Guardian. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ↑ Mavis's voice is still strong and convincing. [Jun 2019, p.87]
  9. ↑ Staples's fire is undiminished. [Jul 2019, p.114]
  10. ↑ Deusner, Stephen M. (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan (May 22, 2019). "Mavis Staples Continues Her Amazing Late-Career Run With 'We Get By'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  12. ↑ A set that ranges from funky to subdued. It's a sparser affair than the Tweedy-produced trio. adding only backing voices to a bass/drum/guitar lineup in which Harper's searching playing provides the principal, sometimes sole counterpoint to Mavis's earthy, heartfelt vocals, their power remarkably intact in her advancing years. [Jun 2019, p.22]
  13. ↑ Conner, Matt (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By (ANTI-) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Bernstein, Jonathan (March 20, 2019). "Mavis Staples Details New Ben Harper-Produced Album 'We Get By'". Rolling Stone.
  15. ↑ "Mavis Staples Announces New Album We Get By, Shares New Song "Change": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic . Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Mavis Staples Announces Ben Harper-Produced Album 'We Get By'". JamBase. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Mavis Staples - "Change"". Stereogum. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Mavis Staples – We Get By" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Mavis Staples – We Get By" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 23, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Mavis Staples – We Get By". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 5, 2019.