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 Festival
06-23 Toronto, Ontario – Toronto Jazz Festival
06-26 Montreal, Quebec – Montreal Jazz Festival
06-28 Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
06-29 Brevard, NC – Brevard Music Center
07-05 Sioux City, IA – Saturday in the Park
07-13 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Winnipeg Folk Festival
07-18 Detroit, MI – Concert of Colors
07-20 Columbus, OH – Jazz & Rib Fest
07-22 Cincinnati, OH – Memorial Hall
08-02 Notodden, Norway – Notodden Blues Festival
08-05 Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg
08-07 Gothenburg, Sweden- Way Out West
08-10 San Jose, CA – San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
08-22 Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat
08-23 Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center
08-25 Ocean City, NJ – Ocean City Music Pier
09-11 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
09-13 Napa, CA – Blue Note Summer Sessions
10-04 Memphis, TN – Mempho Fest
10-09 Tucson, AZ – Fox Theatre
10-12 Chandler, AZ – Chandler Center for the Arts