AL GREEN: CLASSIC OR DUD?

Make room on that sofa, sailor

Quality isn't great - looks like a VHS recording - but Green's amazing, incredibly lively even with his arm in a sling.

There's some discussion (and dead links) about this upthread. Too bad there aren't better copies of it on YT, as what sparked that discussion was a remastered rerun from when Soul Train had ceased production and was airing classic episodes (the YMO appearance was also exhumed).

In the interview, he explains the sling as the result of "my fans and I haven't a disagreement about whether I should get into a car" (he'd had a limo door slammed on his arm after a gig).

Not sure if they're still up, but Shout Factory had a bunch of Soul!! eps up for free on Prime.

Not sure if they're still up, but Shout Factory had a bunch of Soul!! eps up for free on Prime.

― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain)

Not sure if they're still up, but Shout Factory had a bunch of Soul!! eps up for free on Prime.

― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain)

Not sure if they're still up, but Shout Factory had a bunch of Soul!! eps up for free on Prime.

― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain)

Not sure if they're still up, but Shout Factory had a bunch of Soul!! eps up for free on Prime.

― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain)

Not sure if they're still up, but Shout Factory had a bunch of Soul!! eps up for free on Prime.

― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain)

YES!!!!!!!!! it is all up there

I watched few today, they rule

episode 3 has max roach
episodes 4-5 are a two part interview between james baldwin and nikki giovanni (who i don't know, but every single person affiliated with this show seems to rule)
episode 6 bill withers singing ain't no sunshine (which didn't even make the damn wikipedia entry?!!)

it goes on and on

jeez, they had to throw in mccoy tyner on the bill withers episode too, just to fill it out a bit

Info on the PBS Doc: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/mr-soul/

nice, thanks! maybe the PBS doc led to the youtube upload which led to this al green revival (which is only appropriate), which led me to all of these nice episodes and now the doc as well! the bill withers episode has been sick. mccoy tyner's band is great of course, and i really enjoyed listening to bill withers talk about coming from nowhere and just being grounded. i always knew he was a great guy from reputation and his music, but it so cool to hear him speak at length, fumble at things like not knowing what "prognosis" was in a question, and just being as relatable as humanly possible.

yes -- when i saw this earlier today i was going to link to the doc but i got sidetracked. it's an independent lens production iirc?

sidebar: if anyone has not yet watched the bill withers still bill documentary from a few years ago, you're not really living your best life just yet. just saying.

y'all should play the second side of Livin' For You.

That's all.

also the first side.

and both the second and first sides of every other album al green released between the years of 1967 and 1977.

then join us on the couch

Is it odd to prefer the non-singles on Let's Stay Together to the non-singles on I'm Still in Love With You? I think Call Me is stronger than both.

Play The Love Sermon from Al Green Is Love, repeat as needed

is that ... ornette coleman in the front row at 43:44 ??

It looks like him, but about 20 years too young.

They released this performance on DVD a while ago. Stevie wonders soul TV performance was also meant to be released but I think it got pulled for some reason which is a big shame (I stupidly sold a promo DVD of it as I thought it would he released officialy).

Was listening to the album al made with questlove just a few weeks ago as it happens. It's pretty good. Maybe low on strong songs but I found it hard to resist, and was just pleased to hear al in the present day, even if I didnt totally buy some of the overtly romantic sentiments.

In the interview, he explains the sling as the result of "my fans and I haven't a disagreement about whether I should get into a car" (he'd had a limo door slammed on his arm after a gig).

McDonough's book talks about this. Linda Wills later claimed Green injured it going through a revolving door. Members of Green's band claim it happened on tour in Ft. Lauderdale - on that tour, they were playing theaters essentially run by gangsters. Green tried to cancel the gig because he wasn't feeling well. There was an argument with the theater owner, and eventually the band watched as this giant thug in a suit walked into Green's dressing room. After a bit of time, that thug came out and left, and ten minutes later, a doctor came in and went into Green's dressing room. The theater owners then told the band they were PLAYING, and when they went to rehearse, Green showed up later with the cast. After that, the band said Green started carrying a gun.

https://www.howardgrimesdrummer.com/about

Drummer Howard Grimes memoir coming July 1

https://staxmuseum.com/event/book-event-timekeeper-my-life-in-rhythm-an-evening-with-howard-grimes-preston-lauterbach/?fbclid=IwAR0xSrgaGSL3U_SjHsraltp8QqLp8DTpLhDGnlaksAsgsrseWauEnwRkiqk

Wed July 21 drummer Grimes talks with Preston Lauterbach at Stax on Zoom

No stems no seeds just Al Green

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/09/23/memphis-music-history-hi-rhythm-rev-charles-hodges-book/5790901001/?fbclid=IwAR0AqmljkfGAEhOIHTxnPX1rP2oYfHDTdC_Lo3cbtIT-jKtcsVUbIIaf5qo

Per writer Robert Gordon— Hi Records organist / keyboardist Charles Hodges has a book coming out . Release event at his church this Sunday!
The Rev. Charles Hodges discusses "My Story," a book about his life, at 3 p.m. Sunday at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 7786 Poplar Pike, Germantown. The event is free and open to the public

Sadly seeing on Facebook now that Memphis drummer Howard Grimes has passed away. He played on Stax and Hi records and efforts by Al Green and Ann Peebles. He released a book about his life last year.

Howard Grimes and Al Jackson both played on song “Love and Happiness “ I think. Grimes was on congas.

Great obituary from Bob Mehr, giving credit where it's due:

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/02/12/howard-grimes-obit-hi-rhythm-stax-memphis-music/6770160001/

Bob Mehr is the same guy who just won a Grammy for his liner notes to the Replacements' Dead Man's Pop box set, no surprise as he also wrote one of THE great bios on any band (again, the Replacements).

Opened this thread, saw the words "Great obituary" and just about lost my shit for a moment before reading more closely.

RIP Howard Grimes.

Glad Grimes survived that period after Hi Records when he was divorced, homeless, and having addiction issues.
Got a bit of recognition and work in recent years.

RIP to one of the greatest. Pretty sure Howard Grimes was on kit for "Love & Happiness". From Willie Mitchell:

“Usually I’d have Al (Jackson) play those sessions by himself,” Mitchell says. “Sometimes I’d play the conga drum with him, on things like ’Let’s Stay Together.’ But there were times that Al Jackson couldn’t get the feel I wanted, on songs like ’Take Me To The River’ or ’Love & Happiness,’ so I had Howard come in for that. Now, Al could actually play anything … but he couldn’t play it raggedy. And when that’s what I wanted to have, I called Howard.”

https://drummagazine.com/al-jackson-jr-the-sound-of-60s-soul/

Pretty sure he talks about it on his Trap Set interview too:
https://www.thetrapset.net/042-howard-grimes-al-green-ann-peebles-rufus-thomas-the-bo-keys/

Author Preston Lauterbach , who helped Howard Grimes prepare his book, is saying on his Substack that Grimes widow could use financial donations. He says just to contact him. He also notes that the wake of Friday, funeral Saturday, and on Saturday there will be a Beale Street processional beginning at 11:30am on the corner of Second and Beale.

i'm still in love with you is the greatest album of all time

checks out

Second only to Livin' For You.

I get caught up in the descending chord progressions of "What a Wonderful Thing Love Is" and "Look What You Done For Me".

I read that as "condescending" lol

No, they're deeply compassionate!

the best version of "for the good times"

If I had to pick only one, it would be Call Me, but why pick one masterpiece over another? There's at least five in a row, plus Belle later on and a bunch of good ones in between and after.

a lot of his albums are severely underrated. i scored Al Green Is Love for 5 bucks recently at a pretty expensive record store.

beat guitar sound, best drum sound

best

Love Ritual: Rare and Previously Unreleased 1968-1976 is a great one too. He left plenty of choice rarities in the can.

I just wish there was a definitive concert film, but you can at least piece together a great video compilation of his TV performances. (The live Tokyo album ain't bad, but it's not the great live album he has in him.)

Midnight Special YT channel just uploaded some clips from '73 & '74

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVMijYHnbGw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evv1xwK5UYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc1wS61RgEM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU4UNv13S58

ty these are greaat

oh dear

great revive