I like anything early by the Staple Singers, love most of what the Dixie Hummingbirds did, especially early stuff. Have you heard the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet from the 40s? Amazing!
At one time, for a couple of years, I had to have a daily fix of this one particular Staples Singers record which proudly proclaimed "electronically re-recorded to simulate stereo" and was easily the worst sounding record in my collection. After I became familiar with its extreme distortion (like digital overload distortion, but all the time) I began to be able to ignore it. But what intensity and passion in the singing, and how appropriate Pop Staples' guitar work. Occasionally there would be a simple drum set that sounded like a cardboard box played with a brush and kick pedal, but he kept great time.
