Prince took a great interest in Mavis Staples after she provided him rousing background vocals and appeared in the 1990 film Graffiti Bridge. He signed her to his label and wrote and produced some of the tracks on this disc. Unfortunately, it enjoyed little impact sales-wise, although Staples soared, shouted and roared with splendor. But her sound and approach were so soulful that it seemed out of place in the detached setting of urban radio. There were both fiery message tracks and blistering love songs, with Staples' assertive, tender and intense vocals. However, not even Prince's name could break the embargo on acts considered too old-school for modern audiences.