Al Green Is Love
I know it's been a while since I've posted. I've been "busy" working on my hippie memoirs and taking my cat to the vet (600 bucks and counting so far this summer). I've been making slow but steady progress with the listening project--in the vinyl area, at least. Over the past week it's been Al Green vinyl, all that classic Hi stuff from the 70's. Embarrassingly, I don't own Al Green Explores Your Mind, the one with "Take Me to the River" on it. But that aside, I think I own all the "secular" records from Al Green Gets Next to You to Truth 'n Time. I say "secular" because if one takes in the Rev Al's entire recording career you have to note the dime-thin difference between his secular and spiritual records. In some ways, his secular records are better spiritual ones than his tame gospel ones.
Of course, the most fascinating vinyl document of Al's secular/spiritual struggle is The Belle Album. As you probably know, with this one A.G. separated from his longtime producer Willie Mitchell to make less pop-centered records. In the title track "Belle," Al bids goodbye to his female fans with the line, "It's you that I want but it's Him that I need." It's one strange record. Rather unproduced next to the the classic trilogy of albums he made with Mitchell (Love and Happiness; Call Me; Still in Love With You) but compelling and mostly listenable as all get out. Kind of Rev Al's combined What's Goin' On and Let's Get It On.
My 2 "sleeper" Al Green records are: 1 the aforementioned Al Green Gets Next to You. Funky and tough. He and Willie Mitchell haven't refined the classic sound just yet. Check out the horny "I'm a Ram"; the equally horny "Can't Get Next to You"; and a daffy but great "Light My Fire." "All you gotta do is stick a match in my fire!"
2: Al Green is Love. A love theology record featuring "The Love Sermon"; the bizarre "Love Ritual"; the nonsensical "Rhymes." The sound of a man at the end of his rope. And the back cover photo says it all: a stoned looking Al wearing a process, a satin orange shirt with big collars and a hideous cream colored suit coat with a brown plaid design.
When I listen to the classic A.G. trilogy, I always get annoyed by the fact that I bought the late 80's vinyl reissues that for some reason have the Motown imprint. Obviously Motown owned Hi at that point. Anyway, in a case of dubious advertising the imprint on the cover says, "Motown Classic Vinyl." Lies!
Good shows this past week: Jim White and the Pernice Brothers (why is Joe Pernice turning into a David Grisman lookalike?); Robbie Fulks (a national treasure); Teenage Fanclub (they're so professional that they sounded good even though they were obviously fatigued and just wanted to get through the show--played three encores!)
Of course, the most fascinating vinyl document of Al's secular/spiritual struggle is The Belle Album. As you probably know, with this one A.G. separated from his longtime producer Willie Mitchell to make less pop-centered records. In the title track "Belle," Al bids goodbye to his female fans with the line, "It's you that I want but it's Him that I need." It's one strange record. Rather unproduced next to the the classic trilogy of albums he made with Mitchell (Love and Happiness; Call Me; Still in Love With You) but compelling and mostly listenable as all get out. Kind of Rev Al's combined What's Goin' On and Let's Get It On.
My 2 "sleeper" Al Green records are: 1 the aforementioned Al Green Gets Next to You. Funky and tough. He and Willie Mitchell haven't refined the classic sound just yet. Check out the horny "I'm a Ram"; the equally horny "Can't Get Next to You"; and a daffy but great "Light My Fire." "All you gotta do is stick a match in my fire!"
2: Al Green is Love. A love theology record featuring "The Love Sermon"; the bizarre "Love Ritual"; the nonsensical "Rhymes." The sound of a man at the end of his rope. And the back cover photo says it all: a stoned looking Al wearing a process, a satin orange shirt with big collars and a hideous cream colored suit coat with a brown plaid design.
When I listen to the classic A.G. trilogy, I always get annoyed by the fact that I bought the late 80's vinyl reissues that for some reason have the Motown imprint. Obviously Motown owned Hi at that point. Anyway, in a case of dubious advertising the imprint on the cover says, "Motown Classic Vinyl." Lies!
Good shows this past week: Jim White and the Pernice Brothers (why is Joe Pernice turning into a David Grisman lookalike?); Robbie Fulks (a national treasure); Teenage Fanclub (they're so professional that they sounded good even though they were obviously fatigued and just wanted to get through the show--played three encores!)
posted by ken at 8:38 PM
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