Photo by Ben Kaye

This Friday brings the release of Livin’ on a High Note, the new album from Mavis Staples. Spanning 12 tracks, the record finds the Staple Singers legend enjoying her later-years resurgence by collaborating with a number of modern musicians on new material. Previously, we heard the Valerie June-penned “High Note”. Now, Pitchfork has premiered “Dedicated”, a track co-written by album producer M. Ward and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon.

“Dedicated” is a fireside folk track with reverberating guitar and Staples’ own husky vocals warming the soul. “If it’s us against the world,” she sings, “Then still I would bet on us/ But if you go your ways and I go mine/ All bets are off.”

“Mavis Staples is a true national treasure,” Vernon said in a statement. “The Staple Singers’ catalogue is one of the most important in my life history. I’m beyond humbled to hear her sing on a song I had a hand in writing and to have her perform this year at Eaux Claires.”

Take a listen below.

Update — February 16th: Staples has shared another new album cut in “Action”, which was penned by tUnE-yArDs’ Merrill Garbus.

Livin’ on a High Note is out February 19th. A new documentary, aptly titled Mavis!, is set to air on HBO on February 29th.

As Vernon mentioned, Staples will join Bon Iver, James Blake, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, and Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s Grateful Dead tribute group Day of the Dead at this year’s Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival.

Livin’ on a High Note Tracklist:

01. Take Us Back (Benjamin Booker)

02. Love and Trust (Ben Harper)

03. If It’s a Light (The Head and the Heart)

04. Action (tUnE-yArds)

05. High Note (Valerie June)

06. Don’t Cry (M. Ward)

07. Tomorrow (Aloe Blacc/John Batiste)

08. Dedicated (Justin Vernon/M.Ward)

09. History Now (Neko Case)

10. One Love (Son Little)

11. Jesus Lay Down Beside Me (Nick Cave)

12. MLK Song (M. Ward / Martin Luther King)