On Tuesday I will unveil my top 10 albums of 2007 (so far). On that list will be what is probably the most transcendent album of the year: Mavis Staples’ “We’ll Never Turn Back.”

It is a rocking, rollicking and yet heartfelt compendium of some of the most enduring songs to emerge from the Civil Rights Movement. With Ry Cooder’s guitar licks and production it brings the heart and emotion of those songs into the present age.

Watch this video of Mavis pounding out the classic song “Eyes On The Prize”

Here she is performing the same song on Leno where you can see Cooder performing along with her:

Get this album!