Be What You Are

Be What You Are
Studio album by The Staple Singers
Released	December 8, 1973
Recorded	1973
Genre	Soul
Length	51:56
Label	Stax
Producer	Al Bell
The Staple Singers chronology
Be Altitude: Respect Yourself (1972) Be What You Are (1973) City in the Sky (1974)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record Guide	B

Be What You Are is a soul album by the Staple Singers, released on December 8, 1973. It reached number 13 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart. The first single, "Be What You Are", fared poorly; however, the follow-up, "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)", was a top ten hit, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the R&B Singles chart. The third single, "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" charting at number 23 on the Hot 100 and number three on the R&B chart in 1974.

Track listing

#	Title	Writer(s)	Time
1	"Be What You Are"	Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton	5:03
2	"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)"	Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton	4:29
3	"Medley: Love Comes in All Colors/Tellin' Lies"	Bettye Crutcher/Carl Smith	8:51
4	"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend"	Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton	4:04
5	"Drown Yourself"	Bettye Crutcher	4:38
6	"I Ain't Raisin' No Sand"	Darryl Carter, Mack Rice	6:33
7	"Grandma's Hands"	Bill Withers	2:43
8	"Bridges Instead of Walls"	Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton	4:04
9	"I'm on Your Side"	Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton	4:00
10	"That's What Friends Are For"	Parsons, Penney, Mack Rice	4:16
11	"Heaven"	Terry Manning	3:36

Personnel

• Cleotha Staples, Mavis Staples, Yvonne Staples - lead and backing vocals
• Roebuck "Pops" Staples - vocals, guitar

Charts

Chart (1973)	Peak position
Billboard Top LPs	102
Billboard Top Soul LPs	13

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		US Pop	US Soul
1973	"Be What You Are"	66	18
	"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)"	9	1
1974	"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend"	23	3

External links

• The Staple Singers-Be What You Are at Discogs