AL GREEN: CLASSIC OR DUD?

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only Jess Hill knows anything about music shockah

-- M Matos

Man, all I said was that I can count. Maybe that's a shockah where you come from.

― Jess Hill (jesshill), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 15:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

Arithmetic is sorta taboo in Minneapolis (motherfucker's loves thems some algebra though)

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 15:17 (twenty-one years ago) link

It used to make me cry whenever he came on Ally McBeal.

I will leave that sentance as it stands for Dan's pleasure, but you know what I mean.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 19:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

Everyone loves and reveres Al Green, which pleases me. I go along with Clay, Wright, Peebles and maybe George Jackson and Syl Johnson as other Hi greats too. Don Bryant should get a mention too, and their girl group Quiet Elegance were terrific. I also like Norm West, Willie Walker, Philip Mitchell and others. And the musicians! Obviously Al Jackson is a god among musicians, but Howard Grimes only lacked the beauty of AJ's touch on the drums, Charles Hodges is my favourite organist ever, Leroy is a magnificent guitarist (listen to the start of Al's Love And Happiness), and Teenie a wonderful bassist - the three Hodges brothers. It's maybe the greatest house band the world has ever known. I think of Willie Mitchell as my favourite producer, but with these musicians and singers, how could he go wrong?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 11 April 2003 19:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

I have the -- or is it a? -- greatest hits comp and it's indeed v. pleasant. Which may be damning with faint praise for everyone else here, I dunno...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 11 April 2003 19:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

(grumbles)

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 11 April 2003 19:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

Oh, someone said they want an album of Al Green's covers: it's called Cover Me Green, unfortunately. Don't know how available it is.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

I've seen the Hi rhythm section several times, once behind Ann Peebles, once backing (disastrously) Alex Chilton...they're great. Grimes is really as good as Al Jackson, he's basically his successor. Teenie Hodges is a beautiful guitarist--Willie Mitchell has been quoted as saying that Al Green was in many ways really an extension of Teenie. "Teenie's Dream" which is on the Hi box set that came out in '95 is probably my favorite instrumental ever.

The thing that is interesting is the obvious connection between what Mitchell did and what Gamble and Huff did in Philly...and both scene's obvious role in the beginnings of disco music.

― Jess Hill (jesshill), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:32 (twenty-one years ago) link

Grimes was groomed to be Jackson's rhythmic duplicate, according to that book Sweet Soul Music. He is too, but he doesn't quite have the delicate and subtle touch Jackson did. It's true that in any other context, he sounds a fucking great drummer - he'd still be in my all-time top ten.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

Did anybody hear that, uh "comeback" cd that Syl Johnson released about a decade ago on Delmark, Back in the Game? A friend of mine produced it; he got Hi Rhythm to do the backing. I thought it was really enjoyable, but you definitely miss that Mitchell drum sound.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

Was grimes on drums? Because I don't find anything lacking in Al Green's later Hi LPs, all of which feature Grimes.

Jackson's drum sound on Stax records sounds quite a bit different than his sound on Hi records (at least in their respective golden ages). Hmm.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

Yeah, it's Grimes with the three Hodges brothers (and Fred Hodges on organ on two tracks - I didn't know there was a Fred Hodges!)

By "Mitchell drum sound" I meant the signature production style, not Grimes' playing, which is not in question.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

three weeks pass...

I am scandalized by the fact that I own nothing by Al Green. It's taken me forever to realize which songs I like are ones that he did, and then I have somehow forgotten about him over off and on. I promise that within a few months I will at least buy the greatest hits collection.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 8 May 2003 01:37 (twenty years ago) link

well, stick with the albums and don't buy the white boxed Al Green Anthology set, it's lazy, an embarrassment. I was indirectly responsible for the live stuff from the SOUL! TV show getting on that collection--some of the most amazing live performances ever by Green, and if you have seen his '73 Midnight Special show (Al as coked out sexed up rock star; in the middle of nowhere does a bit of J.J. Cale's 'After Midnight' (!)) or his Soul Train appearances, you know that's no small boast--and only two of the SOUL! performances were picked, one of them being the absolute dud "Judy." The rest of the live stuff mostly from the Mugge film is really lackluster (as is the film excepting the little bits of Green playing solo acoustic) and things like "That's The Way It Is" are also missing. I won't even comment on the usual ineptitude from Christgau.

Al Green obviously still has it when he cares to put out, it's a sin no one can extract a decent album from him.

Two killer Hi cuts: 'I Don't Know Why" OV Wright
"I Still Love You," Ann Peebles

Al Jackson, RIP

― rumplestiltskin, Thursday, 8 May 2003 04:48 (twenty years ago) link

five months pass...

I just got Call Me and I'm going bananas. For me the appeal of the 70s stuff I've heard is like 45% production, 35% Green's voice, 20% songs. The sound of those records, the drums, organ squelches, etc, fascinates me. I think of all the chillout/downtempo producers today & how in love they are with "atmosphere" & they never come close to that sound.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 02:31 (twenty years ago) link

ooo listen to those snares...

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 16:15 (twenty years ago) link

five months pass...

My contributions to this conversation:

a new Al Green Q&A:
http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1216/article11995.asp

interview outtakes on gay marriage:
http://babelogue.citypages.com:8080/pscholtes/2004/03/19

some other links for y'all:
The Al Green Ticket Debate
Al Green & Willie together again... should i get my hopes up?
http://www.memphisflyer.com/MFSearch/full_results.asp?xt_from=1&aID=5116
http://www.algreenmusic.com/

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 25 March 2004 02:28 (twenty years ago) link

BELLE BELLE BEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
all christ lo fi soul rules

― SexyDancer, Thursday, 25 March 2004 03:40 (twenty years ago) link

This was perhaps the stupidest question ever asked ILE.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 25 March 2004 06:29 (twenty years ago) link

The albums "Living for You" by Al Green and "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Anne Peebles are two of the only albums I've ever come across without a bad second on them. They are so perfect that they are better than the "Best ofs" because with the latter you pine for the ones that aren't on there.

This is exquisite shagging music, too, I must say. It doesn't matter which girl you bring home, from whatever walk of life and music, she'll always accept Al or Anne, in my limited experience.

― Baravelli. (Jake Proudlock), Thursday, 25 March 2004 13:05 (twenty years ago) link

five months pass...

...

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 01:03 (nineteen years ago) link

He is wihout equal, really.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 01:11 (nineteen years ago) link

without.

Even the b-sides/rarities are gems. I love the "Flipside To Al Green" collection so much.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 01:12 (nineteen years ago) link

Is this thread title a joke? It's like, "Breathing: C/D?" WTF?

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 01:17 (nineteen years ago) link

i think there are limits to how much he can tell me abt al green, but that christgau piece is a beautiful piece of writing, probably his best.

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 01:19 (nineteen years ago) link

As a younger adam., listening to Simply Beautiful gave me the biggest musical epiphany I will probably ever have. When that percussion comes in just for the last few seconds...wow.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 01:21 (nineteen years ago) link

seven months pass...

'Have You Been Making Out OK?' is the only song I can ever remember having soundtracked one of my dreams- it was beautiful.

Could Al Green be the much sought-after answer to the question of the artist EVERYONE agrees is amazing? Let's face it, anyone who doesn't has got serious issues.

And fuck me if the album 'I Can't Stand the Rain' (Ann Peebles) isn't a contender for best soul long-player of all time.

― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Anyone see him on the Daily Show a few weeks ago? Dude's batshit crazy.

― darin (darin), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:02 (eighteen years ago) link

he humped the couch!

― charleston charge (chaki), Thursday, 21 April 2005 22:36 (eighteen years ago) link

the one time I saw him, at Mud Isle in Memphis, he came on, did like twenty seconds of about a hundred songs, threw a lot of roses around, and went "ahhh" a lot. And it was great. He occasionally bore down and actually really sang one, and that was great too.

I like all his stuff but I always go back to the "Listen" comp. I love "Love Is Real" and "Mimi" and "I Think It's for the Feeling."

I also saw the Hi Rhythm Section a couple times while I lived in Memphis. Howard Grimes was incredible. He plays like Al Jackson but it's a little looser, maybe, and if anything even straighter. Teenie Hodges is one of my favorite guitarists, ever, in any style.

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Thursday, 21 April 2005 23:02 (eighteen years ago) link

one month passes...

yeah really, worst question ever.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 5 June 2005 07:31 (eighteen years ago) link

I love Al to pieces, distraction, etc. I saw the Daily Show interview, except I mostly just stared at the floor, and listened through it...it was too sad. He's still a classic though, there's nothing that could undermine a voice like that.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 5 June 2005 08:23 (eighteen years ago) link

Let us not forget his way with a guitar.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 5 June 2005 14:21 (eighteen years ago) link

al green is the ramones of soul, bitches. all his songs sound damn near the same but are perhaps more brilliant because of this. can i copyright this analogy? ha

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Sunday, 5 June 2005 19:14 (eighteen years ago) link

I was going to go to Al's church back when he was actively preaching when I was visiting my sister in Memphis with my then girlfriend, but she didn't want to go because she didn't know who he was.
She's not my girlfriend anymore. I still regret not going.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 6 June 2005 03:06 (eighteen years ago) link

two years pass...

i love al to death but i dont think he has any great albums... the true love compilation is really amazing though, not a bad track on there.

― titchyschneiderMk2, Sunday, 18 November 2007 14:14 (sixteen years ago) link

"Al Green Explores Your Mind" is great. Reminds me of the summer I pwned Virtua Tennis on the Dreamcast.

― caek, Sunday, 18 November 2007 14:19 (sixteen years ago) link

classic in my eyes

― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Sunday, 18 November 2007 14:21 (sixteen years ago) link

i love al to death but i dont think he has any great albums

You're missing out, man!

Al Green Gets Next To You is fire! Let's Stay Together is yoga flame! But I don't think it gets better than I'm Still in Love With You.

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Sunday, 18 November 2007 14:50 (sixteen years ago) link

hmm.

i actually harbour evil suspicions about people that dont like al green. if you dont love him, fine, but if you dont like him? something sinister is at work.

― titchyschneiderMk2, Sunday, 18 November 2007 15:01 (sixteen years ago) link

If you actively dislike Al Green, then I can never respect anything you have to say about anything.

― caek, Sunday, 18 November 2007 15:05 (sixteen years ago) link

one month passes...

the best al green album is the 'true love' compilation.

― veryloggedout, Monday, 31 December 2007 13:14 (sixteen years ago) link

no, it isn't...The Belle Album is...wonderful way of dealing with born-again-ism ("it's you I want but Him that I need"...the holy trinity love triangle)..."Feels Like Summer" couldn't be a more appropriate song title, and "Dream", well, if I ever get hitched (ILM Poster In Unmarried SHOCKER!) that will be "our" song...(if I can sell it, which I'm sure I can)...

― henry s, Monday, 31 December 2007 16:29 (sixteen years ago) link

I'm very fond of Livin' For You's "Beware."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 31 December 2007 16:38 (sixteen years ago) link

This is still the most retarded question ever asked on ILM.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 31 December 2007 16:43 (sixteen years ago) link

HOOS otm

― forksclovetofu, Monday, 31 December 2007 16:45 (sixteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

the best al green album is the belle album

― strgn, Saturday, 19 January 2008 11:37 (sixteen years ago) link

arguable

― The Brainwasher, Saturday, 19 January 2008 11:39 (sixteen years ago) link

― strgn, Saturday, 19 January 2008 11:41 (sixteen years ago) link

haha yes. but belle is at least top 3 rite

― strgn, Saturday, 19 January 2008 11:41 (sixteen years ago) link

Skipping 234 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

there is something problematic with the verses being in a higher register than the chorus. maybe it's something a non-singer can pull off better than a singer.

― Thus Sang Freud, Saturday, 26 August 2023 11:58 (seven months ago) link

the "You're going to reap just what you sow" outro has a very different vibe coming from the Rev. Green

― Brad C., Saturday, 26 August 2023 17:42 (seven months ago) link

Al has always been Christian obviously, but I love this one from his “Christian” albums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-rWMAfbNs

― bbq, Saturday, 26 August 2023 23:02 (seven months ago) link

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