Consumer Guide Album

Staple Singers: Be What You Are [Stax, 1973]
This is a pleasing, consistent album--no gaffes. But no gifts either, unless you count Bettye Crutcher's apparently literal "Drown Yourself," which provides relief from a charity that's all too unremitting. In truth, the music sometimes seems a little unremitting too--bet I'd like both hit songs just as much if they didn't clock in at 5:01 and 4:27 on LP. B