<P> "I'll Take You There" is a song written by Al Bell (using his real name Alvertis Isbell), and originally performed by soul / gospel family band The Staple Singers . The Staple Singers version, produced by Bell, was released on Stax Records in February 1972, and spent a total of 15 weeks on the charts and reached number - one on the Billboard Hot 100 . It is ranked as the 19th biggest American hit of 1972 . </P> <P> The song was also a significant chart hit in two later cover versions . A 1991 cover version by BeBe & CeCe Winans, with Mavis Staples featured as a guest artist, made it to number one on the R&B chart, and also made No. 90 on the Hot 100 . In 1994, the British band General Public released a cover of "I'll Take You There" which peaked at No. 22 on Hot 100 . As well, female rap trio Salt - N - Pepa sampled "I'll Take You There" in their 1991 hit "Let's Talk About Sex". </P> <P> Included on the group's 1972 album Be Altitude: Respect Yourself, "I'll Take You There" features lead singer Mavis Staples inviting her listeners to seek heaven . The song is "almost completely a call - and - response chorus", (1) with the introduction being lifted from "The Liquidator", a 1969 reggae hit by the Harry J Allstars . In fact, the entire song, written in the key of C, contains but two chords, C and F. A large portion of the song is set aside for Mavis' sisters Cleotha and Yvonne and their father "Pops" to seemingly perform solos on their respective instruments . In actuality, these solos (and all music in the song) were recorded by the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section . When Mavis Staples says "Daddy, now, Daddy, Daddy" (referring to "Pop's" guitar solo), it is actually Eddie Hinton who performs the solo on record . Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bass player David Hood performs the song's famed bass line . Terry Manning added harmonica and lead electric guitar . Roger Hawkins played drums, Barry Beckett was on electric piano, and Jimmy Johnson and Raymond Banks contributed guitar parts . The horn and string parts were arranged by Detroit arranger Johnny Allen . The horns and strings were recorded at Artie Fields Recording Studios in Detroit Michigan . </P> <P> Quite a few Staples Singers songs reference civil rights and social conditions . Many people interpret this song as describing an imagined world in which the civil rights movement has succeeded: "No more smilin' faces / lyin' to the races ." </P>

Who played bass on i'll take you there