Be What You Are is a soul album by the Staple Singers, released in September 1973. It reached number 13 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart. The first single, "Be What You Are", fared poorly; however, the follow-up, "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)", was a top ten hit, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the R&B Singles chart. The third single, "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" charting at number 23 on the Hot 100 and number three on the R&B chart in 1974.
Guitarist Jimmy Page played acoustic and electric guitars as well as a solo on the last song, "Heaven." Stax engineer Terry Manning was a friend of Page's and worked on Led Zeppelin III.
Track listing #TitleWriter(s)Time1"Be What You Are"Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton5:032"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)"Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton4:293"Medley: Love Comes in All Colors/Tellin' Lies"Bettye Crutcher/Carl Smith8:514"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend"Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton4:045"Drown Yourself"Bettye Crutcher4:386"I Ain't Raisin' No Sand"Darryl Carter, Mack Rice6:337"Grandma's Hands"Bill Withers2:438"Bridges Instead of Walls"Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton4:049"I'm on Your Side"Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton4:0010"That's What Friends Are For"Mack Rice4:1611"Heaven"Terry Manning3:36
Personnel Cleotha Staples, Mavis Staples, Yvonne Staples - lead and backing vocals Roebuck "Pops" Staples - vocals, guitar Jimmy Page - uncredited guitar (on track 11)
Charts Chart (1973) Peakposition Billboard Top LPs102 Billboard Top Soul LPs13
Singles Year Single Chart positions USPop USSoul1973 "Be What You Are" 66 18 "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" 9 11974 "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" 23 3
References
External links The Staple Singers-Be What You Are at Discogs