Greatest Hits Vol.1 - Al Green

Al Green puts everything into his music. He's now a Reverend, back to performing occasionally, but any recordings he makes nowadays are more likely to be gospel music than the smooth, sexy soul on this album.
On some songs he even sounds persuasively raunchy - in "Let's get married" when the song slows down and he starts pleading it turns into what must be the best love song ever.
He's very emotional - his hesitant vocal ...
...he means every word he's singing. He was involved in writing most of the songs, so it could all be based on his own experience. And yet, at times he manages to sound very laidback and understated.
It's not only when Green sings, either: a seductive brass section is a very important feature in his music, along with divine backing vocals, some of which remind you of earlier, 60s, Aretha Franklin tracks.
The introduction to "I'm ... more

Al Green puts everything into his music. He's now a Reverend, back to performing occasionally, but any recordings he makes nowadays are more likely to be gospel music than the smooth, sexy soul on this album.
On some songs he even sounds persuasively raunchy - in "Let's get married" when the song slows down and he starts pleading it turns into what must be the best love song ever.
He's very emotional - his hesitant vocal on "I'm so tired of being alone" makes you believe he means every word he's singing. He was involved in writing most of the songs, so it could all be based on his own experience. And yet, at times he manages to sound very laidback and understated.
It's not only when Green sings, either: a seductive brass section is a very important feature in his music, along with divine backing vocals, some of which remind you of earlier, 60s, Aretha Franklin tracks.
The introduction to "I'm still in love with you", with just 4 chords of gorgeous strings, is a fine example of soul music at its best - tugs on my heartstrings, anyway.
"Greatest hits" was originally released as a 10 song collection of brilliant songs, but was later released with extra tracks, including "Sha la la (Make Me Happy)" and "L-O-V-E (Love)", both tracks that really should be on an Al Green collection, so you are best going for the later versions of this album.
All the tracks are from the seventies, and most of the best ones in the first half of that decade, clearly a very productive time for Green.
Sadly, there's no "Take me to the river", one of my favourites. But even without that, this is a classic album that no home should be without.
 

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