Mavis Staples has shared a new cover of Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed.” The Chicago R&B and gospel singer’s version of the Blonde album cut was produced by Brad Cook and features spoken word vocals from Kara Jackson. Staples has also announced a tour, which includes festival appearances and solo shows across North America and Europe. Check out Staples’ cover of “Godspeed,” plus her tour dates, below.
“Channel Orange was my first introduction to Frank Ocean and I was just amazed at the writing and soulfulness coming from his voice,” Staples said in a press release. “And I loved Blonde when that record came out. That first line in ‘Godspeed’ of ‘I will always love you’ just crushes me every time I hear it… or sing it. It’s just such a beautiful song and he sounds amazing on it so I was a little nervous if we could pull it off. I was honored to sing his words.”
Staples released her most recent album, the Levon Helm collaboration Carry Me Home, in 2022. Last year, she appeared alongside Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to perform the Staple Singers’ “Freedom Highway” in conjunction with the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Mavis Staples:
06-21 Ottawa, Ontario – Ottawa Jazz Festival06-23 Toronto, Ontario – Toronto Jazz Festival06-26 Montreal, Quebec – Montreal Jazz Festival06-28 Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre06-29 Brevard, NC – Brevard Music Center07-05 Sioux City, IA – Saturday in the Park07-13 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Winnipeg Folk Festival07-18 Detroit, MI – Concert of Colors07-20 Columbus, OH – Jazz & Rib Fest07-22 Cincinnati, OH – Memorial Hall08-02 Notodden, Norway – Notodden Blues Festival08-05 Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg08-07 Gothenburg, Sweden- Way Out West08-10 San Jose, CA – San Jose Jazz Summer Fest08-22 Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat08-23 Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center08-25 Ocean City, NJ – Ocean City Music Pier09-11 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern09-13 Napa, CA – Blue Note Summer Sessions10-04 Memphis, TN – Mempho Fest10-09 Tucson, AZ – Fox Theatre10-12 Chandler, AZ – Chandler Center for the Arts
