MUSIC
Originally published on Monday, 26 May 2008
It’s Good to be Green
I have friends who are grown men, who literally start crying at the mere mention of Al Green. Many soul singers are an important part of people’s lives, but few, apart from the likes of James Brown and Sam Cooke, are quite as revered as The Right Reverend himself.
My personal obsession began upon hearing Talking Heads turn ‘Take Me To The River’ into a slow swamp like funk. Then witnessing his Sunday Service at Glastonbury in 1999 was almost enough to turn one to the ways of the Lord. Almost.
So when new album ‘Lay It Down’ was announced by Blue Note it certainly wasn’t met by the usual groans that accompany such announcements for new albums by the once dazzlingly likes of Michael Jackson or Stevie Wonder.
Partly produced by ?uestlove from The Roots and featuring John Legend and Corrine Bailey Rae amongst others, the album fuses current stars of today with Green’s heritage. The horns are also lent by none other than Sharon Jones’ superb Dap Kings, but that doesn’t prevent some tracks getting a little too slushy in places.
However this is The Reverend Al Green singing. He’s been doing that and preaching for 30 years. We ought to listen and there’s enough Green magic here.
The real mystery though, is why does Al Green only have 7197 friends on MySpace?
Al Green’s ‘Lay It Down’ is released today.
http://www.myspace.com/reverendalgreen