The Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There"

In 1972, The Staple Singers delivered one of soul music’s most uplifting anthems with “I’ll Take You There.” Written and produced by Stax Records executive Al Bell, the gospel-rooted track soared to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts, spending 15 weeks on the charts overall. By the end of that year, it had sold over two million copies, cementing its place as one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time.
The single, featured on the group’s Be Altitude: Respect Yourself album, showcased Mavis Staples’ commanding vocals in a call-and-response style that invited listeners to imagine a brighter place. Backed by the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the track blended gospel fervor with Southern soul grooves, making it both deeply spiritual and irresistibly danceable. Its stripped-down two-chord structure only added to its infectious, feel-good energy.
Decades later, “I’ll Take You There” continues to resonate. The song has been covered by artists like BeBe & CeCe Winans and General Public, sampled by Salt-N-Pepa, and even featured in Chevrolet commercials. Rolling Stone hailed it as “the epitome of the Muscle Shoals Sound,” and in 1999 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. More than 50 years on, this Staple Singers classic remains a timeless call to joy, hope, and unity.









