Top songwriters pen songs for new Mavis Staples album

SOME OF America's most celebrated songwriters including Nick Cave, Justin Vernon and M Ward have written songs specially for the latest album by veteran gospel diva Mavis Staples. 'Livin' On A High Note' will be released by anti-Records on 19th February. Mavis Staples told Uncut magazine, "The president of anti-, Andy Kaulkin, knew M Ward and he thought he would be right to produce me. One of my friends told me he's very shy. I told her, that's no problem, Prince was very shy, but I broke through to him, just leave it to Mavis! The good thing about this session is that the band that I travel with are playing on all the songs. I been singing a lot of songs that make people cry, so I wanted to make people happy this time. One of the writers, Nick Cave, and his song 'Jesus Lay Down Beside Me' I just love it."