(January 20, 2025) “Love Breakthrough,” the latest release from Candi Staton’s upcoming album, Back To My Roots, encompasses many elements of the legendary singer’s musical journey. Listeners will hear gospel in the lyrics; they will hear a bit of Motown in the upbeat, Sound of Young America arrangement and the tight backing vocals; and Blues and rock have a musical conversation in the guitar riffs.
Then, there is Staton’s voice: Somewhat weathered after 85 years of existence on this planet and more than six decades of singing everything from gospel to disco, yet still strong and speaking the plain truth. In that case, the truth is that about the urgency of love, both on a humanistic level and on a divine level. The message that love can break through the hate and pessimism is one that’s at odds with what is going on in our culture and country right now. However, as Staton sings toward the end of the song “we’ve been through it. What is left unspoken yet plainly clear in those four words is that we’ll get through it again.
Back to My Roots is Staton’s 32nd album, and as the title implies it represents a return to the musical styles that raised and sustained her. The 12-track project includes Staton-penned tunes as well as remakes of songs by gospel artist Thomas Dorsey and rock legends The Rolling Stones.
Staton’s roots are in Alabama and the album includes the spoken word piece “1963,” which is her recollection the day when four girls were murdered in a terrorist attack on the 16th Street Baptist Church. Staton was 23 at the time and the mother of two who was in service at another church when the attack happened. It’s a powerful testimony. Check out “Love Breakthrough” here.
By Howard Dukes