The successful self-titled reissue of Fame-era material released in early 2004 allowed Candi Staton to make this, her first secular album in several years. Where 1999's Outside In was a way to take advantage of her unplanned return to the clubs – a couple singles released during the '90s used a vocal she recorded for a documentary about a man's struggle with life-threatening obesity – His Hands is 100 percent Southern soul. Staton involves several family members and longtime associates, including son Marcus Williams (a seasoned drummer who has played with her for years), daughter Cassandra Hightower, sister Maggie Staton Peebles, and Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section organist Barry Beckett. It might be surprising to see that Lambchop's Mark Nevers produced the session, and that Lambchop ally Lloyd Barry arranged the horns, but both men have done extensive work with Staton's peers in the gospel world.

Finally! For far too long, mega-talent soul singer Candi Staton had been lacking a comprehensive collection of her prime Southern R&B material from her glory years, 1969-1973. While it's true that Staton's chart success continued in the disco era with "Young Hearts Run Free," from 1975, that music is in a different universe from her Muscle Shoals period, when she recorded for Fame and other labels. This compilation contains 26 tracks form those hallowed years, when Staton's deep soul tomes rang up no less than 12 consecutive Billboard R&B hits, a pair of Grammy nominations, and a gold album. Like Aretha Franklin, Linda Jones, and Otis Redding, Staton's voice is the sound of emotion being ripped from the human heart and offered, bleeding and broken, pleading and yearning, to the listener. Highly recommended.

Over 2 hours of the smoothest soul from the 60s, 70s and 80s on 2 CDs featuring tracks by classic soul artists such as Luther Vandross, The Isley Brothers, Isaac Hayes, Fat Larry’s Band, The Chi-lites, Jackie Wilson and many more.
Soul Sessions takes us on a journey through the deepest soul cuts of the last 30 years. From the loved-up sixties stomp of Jackie Wilson’s ‘Sweetest Feeling’ through the blissed-out harmonies of The Chi-lites ‘Have You Seen Her’ to the smooth sensuality of eighties heart throb Luther Vandross. Soul Sessions offers enough soul food to satisfy the hungriest of lovers. So whatcha waiting for…get it on!