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City in the Sky is an album by American music group the Staple Singers, released in 1974.[1][2] It was the group's final album for Stax Records.[3][4] The 1990s reissue appended bonus tracks from the group's set at Wattstax.[5]

City in the Sky
Studio album by Staple Singers
Released	1974
Studio	Ardent Studios
Genre	Soul, pop
Label	Stax Records
Producer	Al Bell
Staple Singers chronology
Be What You Are (1973) City in the Sky (1974) Let's Do It Again (1975)

The album peaked at No. 125 on the Billboard 200.[6]

Production

City in the Sky was recorded at Ardent Studios in October 1972, during sessions that were originally undertaken in order to construct a double album.[7] It was produced by Al Bell.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
Robert Christgau	B+[9]
The Commercial Appeal	[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[10]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[11]

Robert Christgau called City in the Sky the group's "toughest and best Stax LP," writing that "though their social vision may be vague, at least they were political before it was commercial, which gives them an edge."[9]

Reviewing a reissue, The Commercial Appeal wrote that "it's one classic interpretation after another with brilliant socio-political numbers like 'Back Road Into Town', 'Washington We're Watching You' and 'Something Ain't Right'."[5] Record Collector deemed it "a solid soul album without making too many claims to be essential."[3]

Track listing

Personnel

• Pop Staples - vocals, guitar
• Cleotha Staples - vocals
• Mavis Staples - vocals
• Yvonne Staples - vocals

References

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