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Nov 08, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Jeff Tweedy

Soul legend and civil rights activist Mavis Staples is releasing a new album, If All I Was Was Black, on November 17 via ANTI-. Wilco‘s Jeff Tweedy produced If All I Was Was Black and also guests on one song. Last night Staples stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to perform “Build a Bridge,” Tweedy on guitar and backing vocals. Watch the performance below. Also below is the studio version of “Build a Bridge.”

Previously Staples shared the album’s title track, “If All I Was Was Black,” as well as “Little Bit.”

A previous press release says the album “speaks to our divided times.” Staples had this to say in the previous press release about the message of the album: “We’re not loving one another the way we should. Some people are saying they want to make the world great again, but we never lost our greatness. We just strayed into division.”

Tweedy had this to say: “I’ve always thought of art as a political statement in and of itself-that it was enough to be on the side of creation and not destruction. But there is something that feels complicit at this moment in time about not facing what is happening in this country head on.”

Back in January Arcade Fire released a brand new song, “I Give You Power,” that featured the guest vocals of Staples. Its release the day before President Donald Trump’s inauguration was probably no accident, especially as all proceeds from the song are being donated to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Staples also recently guested on a new Gorillaz song, “Let Me Out.”

Marvis Staples Tour Dates w/ Bob Dylan:

11/8 Nassau Coliseum. Uniondale, NY
11/10 Coliseum. Richmond, VA
11/11 Tower Theatre. Philadelphia, PA
11/12 Tower Theatre. Philadelphia, PA
11/14 The Anthem. Washington, DC
11/16 Agannis Arena. Boston, MA

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