FAITH AND GRACE. A Family Journey 1953-1976.

First edition. Hardcover box set. Original pictorial boards, with titles in black and yellow to the upper board and in black to the spine. Comprises a set of four compact discs housed within the original cardboard sleeves tipped-in to the rear, and a 7 inch vinyl record housed in the black paper sleeve fixed to the rear pastedown. A complete track list of the four CDs printed on a single leaf of glossy paper is loosely laid in. Illustrated throughout with black and white and colour photographs of the Staples Singers. A very near fine copy, the binding square and firm, bright and fresh, with some creasing to the spine joints, and just a little bumping to the spine tips and to the lower board edge. The contents, with a couple of light blue marks to the verso of the very slightly creased laid in track list, are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. The CDs and the vinyl record are clean and free from scratching.

An attractive example of this five-disc set, with detailed liner notes by writer and academic James Miller and gospel and blues music historian Opal Louis Nations. The book, produced by Joe McEwen and featuring an introductory essay by the youngest and last surviving member of The Staple Singers, Mavis Staples, chronicles the career of the Grammy-winning gospel, soul and R&B singing group from its inception through to their collaboration with The Band for their concert film 'The Last Waltz' in 1976. Disc 1 (tracks 7-13, 15, 17-20) and Disc 2 (tracks 1-7) were restored and mastered for this publication. With an exclusive 7 inch vinyl recording of the group's two earliest known recordings 'Faith and Grace' (A-side) and 'These Are They' (B-side). This publication marks the first time these two tracks have been available in any format since the group's self-released limited edition of 500 copies in 1953. Roebuck 'Pops' Staples (1914-2000) formed The Staple Singers with his son Pervis (1935-2021) and daughters Cleotha (1934-2013), Yvonne (1937-2018) and Mavis (1939-), beginning their musical journey as church performers in 1948, before signing with Royal Records in 1953. Best known for their freedom songs inspired by the civil rights movement in the 1960s and their chart-topping singles from the 1970s 'Respect Yourself', 'I'll Take You There' and 'Let's Do It Again', The Staples Singers were one of the most popular gospel acts in the United States, with notable fans including Bob Dylan, who considered The Staples Singers an early influence on his style, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whom the group met while on tour. The Staples Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. (Bibliography: 'The Staple Singers / Faith And Grace: A Family Journey 1953-1976' Justyn Barnes for Super Deluxe Edition, 2015; 'Mavis Staples' Memphis Music Hall of Fame Inductee Profile).