Sounds of Soul
The song was written by Stax Records songwriter Mack Rice and singer Luther Ingram. The song was released in 1971 as a single, backed with “You’re Gonne Make Me Cry.” And in 1972, the song was released on The Staple Singers’ album Be Altitude: Respect Yourself. The 1970s were a time of change for minorities in the U.S. The story behind the song is that Ingram, frustrated with the world, said to Rice that “black folk need to learn to respect themselves.” Rica e built a funk groove around it. The Staple Singers, who had left Epic Records and were with Sax at the time, recorded it. “Respect Yourself” went to #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the U.S. Hot R&B chart, and #17 in Canada.
There have been numerous covers of “Respect Yourself.” These artists include B. B. King, The Kane Gang, Bruce Willis (with The Pointer Sisters), Robert Palmer, Big Tent Revival, Joe Cocker, The Temptations, Hey Lewis and the News, and Melissa Etheridge, to name a few.
A little bit of trivia is that the first Soul Train dance line was to “Respect Yourself.”
The Staple Singers were a gospel, R&B, and soul group. Roebuck “Pops” Staples formed them with his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis. Yvonne replaced her brother when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and again in 1970. On the track were Pops Staples, Mavis Staples, Cleotha Staples, Yvonne Staples, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and Ben Cauley & The Memphis Horns.
