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-.[9]

We Get By
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 24, 2019
Genre
LabelAnti-
ProducerBen 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[1]
Metacritic82/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Exclaim!8/10[4]
The Guardian[5]
Pitchfork7.5/10[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Under the Radar[8]

The album's cover features the photograph "Outside Looking In" by Gordon Parks from his 1956 photo essay The Restraints: Open and Hidden.[10] The album was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic.[11]

Background

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The album was announced on March 20, 2019.[9] 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.[12] The album's lead single, "Change", was released on the same day, along with the album's pre-order.[13] 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."[12]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Ben Harper[9]

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

Charts

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Chart (2019) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 171
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[15] 114
French Albums (SNEP)[16] 113
Scottish Albums (OCC)[17] 54
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 100

References

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  1. ^ "We Get By by Mavis Staples reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "We Get By by Mavis Staples Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Kellman, Andy. "We Get By - Mavis Staples". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Khanna, Vish (June 4, 2019). "Mavis Staples We Get By". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Simpson, Dave (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By review – fearsome, eclectic, and on fine form". The Guardian. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (May 22, 2019). "Mavis Staples Continues Her Amazing Late-Career Run With 'We Get By'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Conner, Matt (May 24, 2019). "Mavis Staples: We Get By (ANTI-) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Bernstein, Jonathan (20 March 2019). "Mavis Staples Details New Ben Harper-Produced Album 'We Get By'". Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ "Mavis Staples Announces New Album We Get By, Shares New Song "Change": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Mavis Staples Announces Ben Harper-Produced Album 'We Get By'". JamBase. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Mavis Staples - "Change"". Stereogum. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Ultratop.be – Mavis Staples – We Get By" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Mavis Staples – We Get By" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 23, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mavis Staples – We Get By". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 5, 2019.